cougar

To be honest, if you've spent your whole life working at some piss-awful job, and you've paid your contributions, then it's up to you who gets the benefit of it, not some xxxxxx in Whitehall. Most of us have put in more than we're ever going to get out, and then they screw us in our old age. Talk about spoiling the ship for a happorth of tar. Do they realise just how much goodwill this generates around the world. Your average English guy is a very sought after commodity. He might not be beautiful, he might not be rich, but he's there when you need him.

Very interesting thread. It's not usual I read a whole thread from start to finish, usually I read the first and last posts. This one kinda dragged me along. What's really interesting to me is the male/female dynamic. This boys' thread in a female forum is rather seductive. It's totally out of place, mainly consisting of hierarchical "I'm better than you" comments, and mostly lacking the peer "we're all in this together" comments one expects from women. For me, Thai men are just the same as other men. There is a plus side and a down side. It just depends whether the pluses, for you, outweigh the negatives. I suppose it all comes down to tradition. Like Thailand is perhaps now 30 or so years behind Western societies in it's treatment of men and women. Lots of Western guys love the oh so sweet, submissive, female image Thai girls portray, and some Western girls love the genteel image Thai men portray. The height thing is fast disappearing. There are plenty of tall Thais around nowadays, benefit of improved nutrition. And another thing, you talk about Thai men as though they were a whole, but the Thais from Issan, the Thais from the South, and.the Thais from central Thailand are all very different. And when you go into political, economic, and sociological differences, this whole thing falls apart. Yes, it is very nice to try and formulate people. I, personally, ignore what people tell me when I meet a new person. I've had some legal training, and I know that hearsay has little value in a court of law Take the person as you find them, I say. Usually, if you have any kind of real relationship, they will open up, and the real person come out, which may be very different from the public persona they display. Having said that, societal pressures are very strong, and the fact a person has displayed certain tendencies doesn't necessarily mean they are going to follow up on them. My conclusion, having a relationship wiv a Thai can be very rewarding, but at the end of the day family, society are usually going to win out. A short term fling can be great, long term it's difficult, very difficult.

If you live on your own an and you don't have any influential or tough Thai friends it's a pretty difficult situation. Mostly, don't show any weakness, this is what he's looking for. You should certainly report it to the police, just so you have something on record if the worst happens. After that it depends on you. Mostly I would just say move. You could take a confrontational approach, but that's always risky wiv Thais. You probably need to develop a better relationship with your neighbors, or move to an area where this is possible. Thais act in a collective fashion, and behaviour like this would be knelt upon pretty heavily if they felt you were part of their community. Your friends, neighbors should be coming down on this guy like a ton of bricks. You obviously have an outsider image, you need to lose this and get integrated. As a single Farang woman you're looked on as loose, fair game, you need to change that perception. Would he do this to a Thai girl, I doubt it. He'd have her father, brothers, sisters tearing off his balls.

I think there's a deal going down here. We just have to wait. Not too long probably.

I don't think so Chiangmaikelly. My girl would be teaching these girls what dancing was all about. Oh,I forgot to mention she was Royal Ballet trained, Oh, it's so difficult sometimes, getting beyond the stereotypes. Like a black girl, who's a classically trained dancer and can play Bach on the piano.

I'm Joe Normal it seems. Which I find rather insulting. I like Star Trek, I like Dr. Who, I like H. P. Lovecraft, I like Michael Moorcock, I like Bram Stoker's book "Dracula", Yeah, i suppose I am normal. Just didn't quite realise it until now. The weirdos are those into extreme violence. Like we're (I'm talking about the geeks, and the nerds, and the dorks) are all concentrated on making the world a better place. These normal guys just want to destroy. They even create perfect victims (Zombies) to fulfil their fantasy. No, I'm not normal. I don't want to be normal. If this involves concentration camps, genocide, torture (how anyone can torture another animal. let alone a human being is beyond me), and mass destruction then I'm proud to be a weirdo. No way am I Joe Normal. You're Joe Normal is some kind of paranoid, insane, freak. You know Sartre said the French invited the Second World War cos they did nothing to prevent it, and he meant every man woman and child in France, and this was not a stupid guy. So every bad thing that happens in this world you are responsible for, cos you do nothing to prevent it. Just imagine what would happen, if all of a sudden people said "stop" . Stop doing these bad things. I don't know the answer. The paranoid, insane freaks are in control. It's the way the world works I suppose. Most of us are pretty lazy, and unless we're affected directly we don't care. But what I would say is this

This actually has a lot of truth in it, even at an individual level. You should always speak out about injustice. Or believe me, eventually they will come for you. Live and learn as they say. Sometimes you can be too nice.

Was into the ZX81, Sinclair computers, and DOS. Gave it up for Kung <deleted>. Biggest mistake I ever made in my life. Well there are one or two women who could also claim that title. I can still do a wicked side-kick though and my knife hand is pretty devastating. Doesn't pay the rent though does it? Nerds and Dorks and Geeks. I love them. Great people to have as friends. You know this old English program "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Well that's where the "call a friend" thing comes in. I lost it somewhere around the UNIX stage. I really must make an effort to get grips with modern technology. I rationalise this by convincing myself that missing one or two stages doesn't really matter. But I'm just being lazy.

Like how much money is brought into this country by ex-pats. I'm sorry, but I think the Thai's severely underestimate the money brought in here by Farangs. You employ a Phillipino, most of his or her money goes home. You employ a Farang, all his money is going to be spent here. OK, you can take the cheap option, but I think you're going to regret it, as a country. Farangs bring savings with them. As a Farang you're lucky to break even. I suppose what I'm saying is that you need to look at the broader aspects. If you really want to force Farangs out fine. But you will take a very heavy financial hit. We can spend our money at home, no problem. Just learn where your real interests are? At the moment Thailand is seen as as an attractive destination, but that might not last. It only takes one or two bad reports for a country to become a no, no. You have Russians, you have Chinese, you have Indians, and you have me.

it's always the end of an era in Thailand. long live the new era. This country is not going to change. They've found a winning formula, they're gonna stick wiv it I think. Men like submissive women, and women like stupid men.

Just do it the normal way. If you're all you say you are you'll be spoilt for choice. Thai women are not that difficult to seduce. There's so many gay's and Katoeys over here, if they find a real man they're really grateful.

Well at the moment you need good legs. Showing breast is a "no no". You're probably going to to tower over most Thai men, so wear something flat, gladiator sandals are a good option. You will also need a good handbag and a decent mobile, you will be judged by these. Thai men can be lovely, but they also expect you to know your place, so don't be too assertive at the beginning. If you really love him and he loves you you'll get it together. Expect a lot of problems from the family, the first baby will sort that out.

Well basically it's too subtle for Thailand, well at least in the sticks. I've read stories of guy's stoning cars, and robbing and murdering the inhabitants when they stopped. Don't stop, for anything. go to the nearest inhabited area and report it to the police. You're gonna get one or two wild cards in every country. It is really a very safe country, especially for Farangs, cos they know if they mess wiv you their's gonna be a big stink. Thai on Thai violence is a different thing.

I don't know what this big thing is about "coming out". Just get on with your life I say. I think we're past the days when it had any shock or beneficial value. In fact it's probably counter-productive, We all know that being gay is now accepted as normal around the world, tacitly if not explicitly (it probably always was, apart from a few bigots). The challenge nowadays is to break down the organisational barriers that still exist. Most ordinary people accept gays I think, and value the contributions they make to society. Some people have an interest in exploiting any outsider group in order to maintain their own position.

Nobody swears nowadays. They just reproduce well worn cliches. When somebody really swears you know it, you're shocked. Swearing is about broaching taboo subjects. A middle class woman saying "f*** i*" is about as effective as Rhett saying "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a dam_n". Sex (the middle aged woman) , and religeon (Rhett) are no longer taboo subjects (Islam excepted). But there are plenty I think. The point about swearing is it is offensive to many people.

End of an Era indeed. I don't even know the place. Came here first time c. 1994. I must say all the old places are rather used up and without merit. The girls you met then and the girls you meet now, no comparison. Glad I got at least a taste of what it was like at it's height. Missed the best of it, but the one's I did have, just wonderful. What can I say, for a sex starved expat from the UK, just wonderful. Thai girls I love you.

Well my pension is inflationed indexed. And I did a lot of hard work and took lot of bullshit to get it. What do I really worry about? First they'll keep upping the pension age. Second, my wife will find out where I live. I thought I knew what evil was, but I was wrong. Evil is a woman, intent on destroying you.

I wouldn't worry too much. Just somebody trying to start a new Urban Legend. The last sentence says it all.

Usually eggs - boiled, fried, scrambled - and of course "wholemeal" bread (although toasting it probably destroys it's vitamin content anyway), and a glass of fruit juice, preferably beetroot juice, cos I read somewhere this helps the blood pressure problem, tastes foul though (why is it everything that's good for you tastes foul). If I'm pressed for time and hungover it's coffee and a cigarette, and maybe an aspirin . Weekends I add a few extras - bacon, sausages, beans, occasionally fried bread (how I love fried bread). Never rice, despite all my girlfriend's protestations I refuse to eat rice for breakfast. When I start eating rice for breakfast I'll become fluent in Thai, have cosmetic surgery, and apply for Thai citizenship; or go home. .

Usually eggs - boiled, fried, scrambled - and of course "wholemeal" bread (although toasting it probably destroys it's vitamin content anyway), and a glass of fruit juice, preferably beetroot juice, cos I read somewhere this helps the blood pressure problem, tastes foul though (why is it everything that's good for you tastes foul). If I'm pressed for time and hungover it's coffee and a cigarette, and maybe an aspirin . Weekends I add a few extras - bacon, sausages, beans, occasionally fried bread (how I love fried bread). Never rice, despite all my girlfriend's protestations I refuse to eat rice for breakfast. When I start eating rice for breakfast I'll become fluent in Thai, have cosmetic surgery, and apply for Thai citizenship; or go home. .

Interesting. I wonder if any of the more controversial works will be on show - "Dharma and Adharma; The Days of Disaster" by Pratuang Emaroen, the "Inferno" portraits by Vasan Sitthiket, etc. I've read about these in an old version Of "Rough Guide" Would love to see them. Anyway will definitely pay a visit. Just like old times, when I used to go to the Tate and the National Gallery.

Well I'm not surprised. The teacher/ student violence thing is never far away. As an example, there was a student fight in our local market, a call went over the tannoy for some teachers to break it up, the two teachers that were there walked in the other direction.

There is like a massive cross-dressing community in most Western societies. It just isn't accepted. Here it is and it is visible. I often hear Farangs say Thais are an effeminate race. It just isn't true. They have a choice as a child, go lady or go boy. We don't. The result is you get very masculine women, very effeminate women, very masculine boys, and very effeminate boys. Most tourists see the very female women and the very female boys. But there's a whole other thing going on in the background. A very masculine woman might cut your throat if you insult her, and a very masculine guy might shoot you. Just to complicate matters a masculine woman might go wiv an effeminate girl, and a masculine man might go wiv an effeminate boy. I wouldn't say Thais are an effeminate race, they just let out things other people keep hidden. I certainly am not going to call one of my local minivan drivers gay, they'd probably kick my arse, given their performance in the impromptu takraw competitions they give every now and then. No I think the difference between Farangs and Thais is they choose their sexuality, we have it forced upon us.

My condolences to the loved ones and families of the dead and and my sympathies to the injured. It is really shitty. You come to Thailand to have a good time and you end up dead or seriously injured. What can I say? The mental pain must be unbearable, especially cos it was so unexpected. Most of the time most of us have a really good time. These things happen everywhere. Maybe in Thailand you have to be a little more careful about safety issues.