xthAi76s

So, I'm not so sure that it qualifies for "sick", but if he did in fact break the law, he should be punished as per the law.

not only were they being recorded, they were also right in front of the cop shop, had many witnesses around, or could have been high on drugs and wanted to get out of there before being detained by the cops.

Take your pick or make up an assumption of your own.

But the lack of a bunch of thais beating the guy into a coma while he is on the ground after being stunned does not equate to them being good guys for just running away.

Right.

Decent point, but I'm not quite so sure most any Thai would worry about the 'punishment' for carrying something like that. I doubt most people on the 'street' would even know it's illegal unless they made specific effort to check.

We all probably know that the 'punishment' would be a little backhander to the BiB.

All in all the best part of this story is the guy got up and walked/drunkenly staggered away, relatively unharmed. It could have turned so much nastier.

True. He is indeed lucky. Perhaps he is lucky that someone wanted to make a movie that day, irrespective of their motive for wanting to do so. I hope for him that someone now explains to him that he might not find himself so lucky next round.

To me, it looks like the westerner was the aggressor, although for what reason we will probably never know. I have to say, the Thai guys were fairly restrained, maybe because they were being reasonable....or more likely there wasn't enough of them.

They did have ample opportunity to lay the boot in while he was down, but left the scene instead, was this because they genuinely didn't want to fight, or because stun guns are illegal?

Either way, it was a bad situation that could have had much more serious consequences for all involved, some more than others.

Or perhaps because they were being recorded and likely knew it!

A possibility for sure, but then why would they use an illegal stun gun?

Decent point, but I'm not quite so sure most any Thai would worry about the 'punishment' for carrying something like that. I doubt most people on the 'street' would even know it's illegal unless they made specific effort to check.

actually this is nothing new... they have been selling them on every corner since before they started selling the laser pointers. Btw, it's usually the same vendors selling the laser pointers that sells the tazers. I bought one like 10 years ago that doubles as a flashlight and when you pull the sleeve off of the front you then expose the 2 electrodes. Was rechargeable as well. I used to keep it in my saddle bag on my bike.

where in Pattaya do they sell tasers ??....the thing you are talking about is not a taser....A taser fires the electrodes..and in 10 years I have never seen a taser for sale in Thailand.......

so you would rather call it a stun gun? Or what is the preferred nomenclature to be used for you

I would 'like' this, but I've reached my quota as there were MANY great posts today.

Anyway, I 'like' this.

To me, it looks like the westerner was the aggressor, although for what reason we will probably never know. I have to say, the Thai guys were fairly restrained, maybe because they were being reasonable....or more likely there wasn't enough of them.

They did have ample opportunity to lay the boot in while he was down, but left the scene instead, was this because they genuinely didn't want to fight, or because stun guns are illegal?

Either way, it was a bad situation that could have had much more serious consequences for all involved, some more than others.

Or perhaps because they were being recorded and likely knew it!

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

Absolutely.

Doomed

AGREED, and herein lies the reason that when Burma does get its infrastructure sorted and starts accepting tourists in larger numbers Thailand is down the pan. Just been to Mae Sot for a visa run before returning to the UK next month and sat talking to a Burmese immigration officer for about 20 minutes spoke perfect English, was polite and helpful and was telling me how much the Burmese were clamouring to train airline pilots, immigration staff, hotel and tourism workers etc., hurry up and sort yourself out Thailand or the tourists will go to the nicer place next door, including all your latest arrivals ie.Indians, Russians, Chinese who are closer geographically to Burma(Myanmar). I figure you've got about 10 years of rip-offs and scams left and then its bye bye money pot.

What will probably keep tourism afloat here (for awhile anyway) are the women. Thai women are such a good value in terms of ROI and price/performance.

And, IMO (not sure how other guys feel) are quite a bit prettier on average than Burmese women which tend to look more Indianized (like, say, the Cambodians). I prefer the Oriental look to the Indian look...

EDIT:

So, like most else here, again, Thailand is saved by Chinese blood.

Is this an attempt at satire? You are joking right? If not, this has to be one of, if the saddest comments on TV.

Very minor embellishing, but, other than that, no, I'm being quite serious. Surely, you know this, right?

@Furbie

Yes, the Sasin/Kellog program is THE ONE in the country that is probably worthwhile as, upon graduating, students actually receive a diploma from both institutions. For 50,000 - 60,000 USD, though, you better have some cash at the ready for the program. It is literally the only program in the whole of this country that will have any sway internationally, and you can believe this has NOTHING to do with Thailand. You are getting a degree from a top US business school.

Doomed

AGREED, and herein lies the reason that when Burma does get its infrastructure sorted and starts accepting tourists in larger numbers Thailand is down the pan. Just been to Mae Sot for a visa run before returning to the UK next month and sat talking to a Burmese immigration officer for about 20 minutes spoke perfect English, was polite and helpful and was telling me how much the Burmese were clamouring to train airline pilots, immigration staff, hotel and tourism workers etc., hurry up and sort yourself out Thailand or the tourists will go to the nicer place next door, including all your latest arrivals ie.Indians, Russians, Chinese who are closer geographically to Burma(Myanmar). I figure you've got about 10 years of rip-offs and scams left and then its bye bye money pot.

What will probably keep tourism afloat here (for awhile anyway) are the women. Thai women are such a good value in terms of ROI and price/performance.

And, IMO (not sure how other guys feel) are quite a bit prettier on average than Burmese women which tend to look more Indianized (like, say, the Cambodians). I prefer the Oriental look to the Indian look...

EDIT:

So, like most else here, again, Thailand is saved by Chinese blood.

Larger countries just hide their corruption better. Look at Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve - he "lost" almost $600 million and has not been brought to task. I've been following this one closely, and it appears that it will be swept under the rug. And this is just one case of just about every U.S. politician, each of which should be hanging their head in shame.

The culture of the corruption in Thailand is the main difference to the legal corruption that takes place in the west. Some people from the west show shock and disbelief at the boldness and scale of the corruption in Thailand, but fail to notice just how bad it is in the west too. Refer to the above quote for example.

The quote has been referred to like it's some scholarly written article in a peer-reviewed journal or something. LOL

This is such a tired argument, and it's one that is indicative of a very juvenile thought process. People point to examples of criminals, and then use such examples to argue that "see, it happens everywhere". Of course, the argument is NEVER that it does not happen everywhere. The difference here, for example, is discussing the differences in attitudes towards the practice.

A few differences between Thailand and the US:

1. You would NEVER find a poll of people in the US who think & admit corruption is OK as long as they benefit. Strikingly, neither very poor people nor the very rich or anyone in-between would accept, conceptually, corruption in any significant numbers. We are taught to think that it is fundamentally wrong and while it may benefit a few, it would likely do more harm than good.

2. Borne out of our education and belief that corruption is wrong, once uncovered, evidences or suspicions of corruption are brought into the public domain (by a truly free media -- which does NOT exist in Thailand, btw) for all to criticize and deride (because Americans have free speech -- which Thais do NOT have really, at all) and for the legal authorities to correct through a robust legal process that is not perfect but cares to try to be (which Thailand does NOT have really, at all).

3. When the law in the US is found to have a flaw that allows for systematic abuse, it is taken to task to be changed. It sometimes takes much time, but it generally gets done by a legal body which is largely (not wholly) honest and not easily manipulated by other interests. Can the same be said for Thailand? Of course not. In Thailand, the laws are changed with every new government, often not based on sound legal principles to protect rights, but more often manipulated in an amateur manner to benefit a few people.

Please stop comparing Thai corruption (or that of most any 3rd world country) to more selective, governed and often corrected abuses in developed countries like the US.

What a pathetic country. Since I don't like this, I'm going to plan to leave. I know how to get back home.

For what it is worth this has nothing to do with TrueVisions other than they do not want to pay Grammy (The Euro rights holders) a large sum of money when by rights they should be getting the feed via local terrestrial TV. This is typical Thailand justice-totally upsidedown. Who is blocking the feed? -3,7 and 9 clearly. Why are they blocking the feed? On the instructions of Grammy the rights holders because True will not pay them extra for something they should already have.

Basically the courts are backing Grammy's bid to squeeze a payment out of True. It's not what you know in Thailand it is who you know.

Strikes me that the biggest losers in all this are the terrestrial TV sponsors. By not having True they have basically cut out the entire upper and middle upper classes in Thailand-all the people with money. If I were a sponsor I would be refusing to pay the terrestrial channels.

Soi Cowboy is a great place to watch-also loads of places around with Astro feeds and if you are tech savvy then an IP cloaker with a Russian HD sopcast feed and BBC 5 live streaming in the background with virtual cable and radio delay to sync the feed :-)

Happy Hunting.

Rather than just allowing the feed so that subscribers don't get 'shafted', and then working out the legal and compensatory issues with True without affecting their customers. The reason things are done this way in Thailand (most odd, actually) is because companies know they cannot rely on the legal/regulatory bodies here as everything is corrupt and underdeveloped. So, you essentially have to hold something or someone hostage to sort out a dispute. It's not a whole lot different from mob rule. We see it all over Thai society. Politics, business, personal disputes -- all handled in the same manner.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer company. Thrilled that finally True Corp is getting some bad press and this only helps GMM in free publicity for their own services. I have slowly removed all my True services. From 4 I am now down to 1. I give my business to companies that know the customer deserves to be respected.

Now, if anyone here who is threatening to move from TrueVisions to another provider does so successfully, please let us know how you get on. I will follow you and then my life will finally be free of True. Period.

The wife has already spoken to True and we will be leaving next week (they just said they'd come round and pick up the box) - if you have a semi-decent internet connection, you can stream ALL the football you want from here...!

There is some delay at times, but mostly it's pretty good. And free, which is the main part...

Good point, and thanks for the info! But, sadly, this is not really a solution for most people, as you can't really easily hook this up to a large TV (and receive a good picture) and invite your mates over to watch and have beers... Such services/solutions do exist but are not workable in Thailand as the international internet pipe is woefully inadequate.

The unscrupulous way True Vision has treated its subscribers for years is one of the major reason why I moved out of Thailand to a neighbouring country. Now I get to watch HD channels and sports broadcast in English for free with the platinum equivalent package for just THB980 a month instead of THB1800 a month.

A major reason you left Thailand was because of True Visions? Dam_n.

Yes, it was apparent from your very respectful message that you were just curious and not that your intention was to be belittling or perhaps even condescending.

I don't care to put ANY effort at all into answering your question, so there you go. We both don't give a frack, so carry on then.

Why will you not answer the question....if you trying to make a veiled reference to "fracking" why dont you just day so ?

Why would I feel compelled to answer you in a public forum?

Why wouldnt you answer ?

Have a good evening, if it is evening wherever you are.

Take care,

Yes, it was apparent from your very respectful message that you were just curious and not that your intention was to be belittling or perhaps even condescending.

I don't care to put ANY effort at all into answering your question, so there you go. We both don't give a frack, so carry on then.

Why will you not answer the question....if you trying to make a veiled reference to "fracking" why dont you just day so ?

Why would I feel compelled to answer you in a public forum? Let's see how long you hang onto this...

I bring the respect to avoid jumping prematurely to conclusions based on my own biases and assumptions.

That one is for you.

Lovely, now it would be nice to bring this topic back onto traditions please. Thank you!

Yes, not sure why I was attacked, but it don't matter.

Anyway, let's see. Maybe if I highlight those traits I have brought from my homecountry that are perceived as negative, then, perhaps, I will make moe friends.

I also bring with me my very American (USA) habit of attacking things very aggressively and frankly (which doesn't often work well in Thailand)!

My father is from the USA and is the least aggressive person you would care to meet and to class your country folk as aggressive would be a total misconception.

Dad has passed down so many traditions and continues to do so in Thailand.

Come and share please!

I bring the (typically regarded as) American tradition of dislike for absolute authority.

Of course many Americans are not agressive. In order to attribute a 'tradition' or 'habit' to a particular people (something being discussed here at length), one is most often forced to be a little imprecise.

Reading for the sake of learning or enjoyment rather than reading to look smarter and more sophisticated.

"Oil Consultant"....what exactly do you do ?.....cure peoples acne or something ?

Currently, I relax, my friend. I don't need to work, have a long-term visa -- the works. Every-so-often, I will give talks at conferences.

Just curious as to what you "Oil consult " on and please dont be obtuse...I really dont care what visa you have or whether you have to work or not

Yes, it was apparent from your very respectful message that you were just curious and not that your intention was to be belittling or perhaps even condescending.

I don't care to put ANY effort at all into answering your question, so there you go. We both don't give a frack, so carry on then.

I bring the respect to avoid jumping prematurely to conclusions based on my own biases and assumptions.

That one is for you.

Lovely, now it would be nice to bring this topic back onto traditions please. Thank you!

Yes, not sure why I was attacked, but it don't matter.

Anyway, let's see. Maybe if I highlight those traits I have brought from my homecountry that are perceived as negative, then, perhaps, I will make moe friends.

I also bring with me my very American (USA) habit of attacking things very aggressively and frankly (which doesn't often work well in Thailand)!

Reading for the sake of learning or enjoyment rather than reading to look smarter and more sophisticated.

"Oil Consultant"....what exactly do you do ?.....cure peoples acne or something ?

Currently, I relax, my friend. I don't need to work, have a long-term visa -- the works. Every-so-often, I will give talks at conferences.

How about you?

EDIT:

Being honest, though, your comment was funny as h3ll! Yes, I provide services to suffers of Acne P. Vulgaris!! Good one

I bring the respect to avoid jumping prematurely to conclusions based on my own biases and assumptions.

That one is for you.

Finally, I bring with me the habit of actually admitting that I don't know when I don't know something rather than obfuscating.

I also bring with me the habit of listening to someone carefully before saying "No" or "I don't have" or (more frequently) "it does not exist".

I bring with me washing my hands with some kind of agent (like soap) after using the rest room.