JSixpack

2 hours ago, wvavin said:

These police are utterly useless pathetic shits that failed to stop traffic accidents and now going after the video poster! 

Exactly. If only they stopped the traffic accidents, people would stop having sex on the beach! Now we have much improved logic.

36 minutes ago, connda said:

Using BIB logic - So if you have dash cam video of a serious accident caused by dangerous/negligent driving, and post it online, and the driver who caused the accident does a runner, the police will come after you for posting the video?

No. That's using TVF Poster logic about BIB logic.

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I could have sworn that the BIB and government authorities asked the public to film crimes so they could act on them. 

In the haste to bolster a false assumption for bashing purposes, you've conveniently ignored that BIB didn't tell people to post the films publicly.

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TIT = Bizarro World.  And it doesn't get more bizarre than this. 

I can quite understand how you'd arrive at that conclusion at this stage in your studies. Patience.

On 3/24/2018 at 4:31 PM, DILLIGAD said:

‘The Crossing’ looks like it might be good. Pilot out now with ep2 on 9thApril.
It’s about time-traveling refugees!

On 3/24/2018 at 5:49 PM, giddyup said:

Didn't grab me, about 15 minutes was enough.

Not very original, usual tropes and transparent plot that so far doesn't make much sense. Continuum did it cooler, The Event more interesting w/ aliens. However, the characters have a little more depth than in the usual crap so maybe there's hope. I'll continue to watch. 

On 3/14/2018 at 8:43 AM, LennyW said:

Do we really need two threads on this!!

Now we got three! Page views, my friend.

4 minutes ago, smew said:

To improve Pattaya’s image cops should eliminate: jet ski and motorbikes rental rip-offs, eliminate tourists attacks and enforce bylaws on garbage dumping, raw sewage dumping into the sea. Sex on the beach used to be a shooter drink in North America. This little nookie on the beach is saying water is getting cleaner and will improve Pattaya image

Hey--it's FAR more than that. You've only scratched the surface, man. Here's what you're looking for:

28 minutes ago, Hooliganzone said:

An expat in Pattaya has been harassed, bullied and threatened with legal action after posting a negative restaurant review on Facebook.

 

I don't know what restaurant it is. But it sounds Thai owned...

Happens everywhere, nothing in the least unusual. Why does it sound Thai owned?

https://www.google.com/search?q=negative+reviewers+harassed+threatened&gws_rd=cr&hl=en&num=30

5 hours ago, maxcorrigan said:

Well they've got to nab someone, otherwise the silly "loss of face" creeps in, and we can't have farrangs (if it was a farrang) doing that now  can we !

It's normal for them to try to nab negative publicity social media posters. Nor does it matter in the slightest WHO posted it. Enough with the farang victimism.

4 hours ago, BobBKK said:

I blame the people who built the drainage pipe. If they had not built the pipe they could not have had sex there! 

 

I mean that's Thai Logic right there init

More like ignorant TVF Poster logic about Thai logic.

4 hours ago, seeyoujimmy said:

This is what they do all the time, blame the messenger, they don't realize how stupid they sound, they should confront the problem head on and state what they will do in the future to make sure it will not happen again, like patrol the beaches, they did try that in Pattaya as usual lasted a few weeks like everything else they do,

phone the police  although they might have come for this.  

They blame both the perps AND the messenger. Avoid the usual binary thinking. And if they DID institute Islamic-style Morality Police patrols on the beach "to make sure it never happens again," the screams here would be deafening and overload TVF servers. Moreover, you really wouldn't like a Chinese Great Wall solution for the social media. 

It's actually not such a big problem that it warrants any changes to anything.

4 hours ago, seeyoujimmy said:

a complaint should be an improvement opportunity , here it is something to ignore or a reason to take you to court

True, they should put sofas on the beach. Pipes, not so good for one's back, eh.

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

What concerns me is sewerage pipes appear to go into the sea that cannot be good !

But they aren't sewerage.

44 minutes ago, ostyan said:

Very nice, diligent work. Thai police never give up. Unless it is a red bull case or connected to Koh Tao.... for example

Was missing the ol' whataboutism. You're surely familiar with Godwin's Law:

Godwin's law (or Godwin's rule of Hitler analogies)^[1][2] is an Internet adage that asserts that "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Hitler approaches 1";^[2][3] that is, if an online discussion (regardless of topic or scope) goes on long enough, sooner or later someone will compare someone or something to Adolf Hitler or his deeds.

     --Wikipedia

I hereby declare JSixpack's law:

As a TVF online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the Red Bull or Koh Tao case approaches.

37 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

They again So fascinated by foreigners. spending all their time and money and some braincells on such minor issue.

Better go try arrest that local rapist.

 

More like TVF posters so fascinated by police interest in offenses committed by foreigners. The news makes it seem a far bigger issue than it really is. Everybody loves the sex angle. "If it bleeds, it leads." Did you know of some local rapist they haven't arrested yet?

25 minutes ago, Justfine said:

Free fuel hey. 

No.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

I'm sure the economics are different in Thailand (and you can argue about the incremental cost of putting miles on a vehicle you already own, etc), but this video explains that driving for Uber is a way to generate some immediate cash, but eventually that goes away to pay for the car- upkeep, depreciation, etc.  It's a lot like payday loans.  The ideal candidate is someone who doesn't really understand money and needs cash today at the expense of the long haul.

 

 

Sponsored by Lyft.

Doesn't get the tax angle right among other things. You need to read the comments where she's taken to task by some serious number crunchers. Suggest you not be so easily convinced.

- This chick is fool of nonsense and reading a bad script full of inaccurate information.

- $57,720-8020(maintenance)-taxes$2,282=$47,418/2080 is $22.79 per hour for the Uber driver.

1 hour ago, champers said:

Your final paragraph assumes that all spaces allocated as bus stops will remain free. This does not happen now; cabs and baht buses lie in wait for customers, one coach can take up an entire bus stop. Delivery vehicles, mobile stalls, parked cars all take up space.

Police enforcement is sporadic at best. The one exception seems to be Beach Road, moreso the nearer you get to the Soi 9 station.

Yep, to illustrate the point I had the best case scenario in mind. Does depend on police enforcement of course--which is never perfect. I'd say on Beach Rd. the cops are doing a halfway decent job of enforcing a few rules, misguided as they may seem. Found that out firsthand, in fact. In theory the baht bus drivers would help keep the stops clear for themselves if they're really required to use them. They aren't parking and waiting--mostly--on their regular routes but continually cruise. As always the effectiveness of the system depends on how well it's implemented.

18 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

I should have realised a lot earlier in this conversation that you are only here to score points and prove you are the font of all knowledge and experience.

Actually you should merely have realized a lot earlier that you might not be seeing the issues clearly. This should been the biggest clue:

On 3/25/2018 at 12:02 AM, chickenslegs said:

unpoliced,  as they usually are

And I figured once you'd run out of arguments you'd resort the usual TVF sore loser personal attack.

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It’s pretty clear to me that you are not willing to consider any point of view but your own.

It's pretty clear to everyone that I considered each of your points in more detail than you're likely to encounter from any other poster on the forum. Unfortunately they turned out to be either false or unconvincing. Otherwise I'd have agreed with them.

Since I'm back in the thread I might mention another point in favor of the stops. The gap between the curb and the baht bus is dangerous for passengers getting on and off the baht buses. That gap may extend more than a car width when the bus stops beside a parked car. In theory motorcyclists should stop but many are reluctant to do so and try to pass the baht bus through the gap while passengers are in it. Some don't even look, assuming it's safe, when a bike hasn't stopped. A group might be standing there while one attempts to pay, perhaps negotiating, and impatient bikers try to squeeze past. Stops would eliminate that issue as well for greater safety.

On 3/24/2018 at 11:15 PM, InMyShadow said:

On 3/24/2018 at 10:04 PM, JSixpack said:

 
That wasn't the case in the top of peak season this year. In the past the lights were pretty much off most of the time including the peak season but not always. To counteract some of the nonsense, here's pic of the pedestrian light on 2nd Rd working and the traffic stopped for it:
 

The lights were absolutely off this past high season. I walked past daily and just shook my head..

4 hours ago, Pattaya46 said:

I often cross at places with pedestrian signal on Beach Road, and cars now mainly stop at red light. 

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Not a problem. Just leave the country and re-enter using the Thai Elite PE visa.

It's not a bad deal, really. Be nice if you could (cough) suspend your membership while you're using the non-immigrant visa and resume it later when you're not but that's not really reasonable.

1 hour ago, champers said:

Interesting; as is the norm; but you have to factor in Thais, who are the majority of baht bus users and are lazier and more averse to walking than any tourist or expat. That is not a criticism of Thais, just a fact, from observing their behaviours over countless journeys.

Of course, their opinion counts far more than any on this forum and they can prevail if they are concerned enough to kick up a fuss about the matter, even if it is counter to logic. I feel that is how it should be anyway as most Thais using the bus need the bus to get to and from work. Their views must take precedence over those on their way to the beach, to the mall or to a bar.

They have "form" in this regard. It was protests from local Thais that saved the Dolphin roundabout from demolition last year.

 

You're exactly right. Their country, they run it as they see fit, and so be it. Whatever they come up with on this issue--or don't --roll with flow and continue enjoying the unique experience of living here. Cheers!                                                   

22 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

You're suggesting that I don't have 1st hand experience as I no longer ride a motorcycle.

I've been driving, riding baht buses and walking in Pattaya for over 13 years - doesn't that count?

The discussion was about helmets in particular and the first-hand experience referred to being caught out not wearing a helmet, which would emphasize the point that there's policing going on. But I did urge you to speed down Beach Rd and discover in that way. Walking and baht bus riding hasn't been doing it for you, you see.

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Also, "policing" 3km of the busiest and (arguably) most important road in town should comprise more than putting on a show that can be viewed from the Red Cat Bar. How about the illegal parking, red light jumping, reckless driving/riding, etc. going on along the remaining 2.9 km of Beach Road?

If you'd just obviously speed by the station as I'm suggesting you'd discover that it's indeed more than a show, though it can also be a show if you choose to see it that way.

And your walking and baht bus riding hasn't enabled you to see the parking violators being caught. Saw a couple of guys' bikes get chained recently in front of Starbucks. There's a reason people aren't parking in front of the red and white striped curbs--which is so not normal. I wouldn't do it. I've had my bike chained on two occasions already and paid the fines.

There are no red lights on Beach Rd. except the pedestrian lights. They are jumped regularly; they obviously aren't taken all that seriously by the cops . . . mostly when no one is obviously in the crosswalk or intending to cross or endangered by the jump. No reports of tourists being injured, BTW. Reckless driving will never be eliminated from Thai roads . . . you'll see it everywhere. Which doesn't mean there's no policing, as you'll discover if you have an accident after reckless driving yourself.

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You seem easily entertained.

All is relative. But if I'm walking down Beach Rd and have the impulse for a cold one in a beach bar, that spot does offer a bit of additional entertainment, another ring of the circus. I lead a relaxed life. You'll learn there that the police pull over Thais just as well as farangs, contrary to forum myth. Some of the characters getting pulled over--you wonder how they possibly thought they'd get away w/ riding down Beach Rd. without being pulled over. :)  Do try it and learn, since you're, you know, walking around.

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The topic is Baht Buses and enforced bus stops. I have my opinion, which is that baht buses are beneficial but the bus stops are not. IMHO one of the benefits of having random drop off/pick baht buses up is to slow down the traffic.

Slow down the traffic and create accidents and near accidents, yes. They're a constant hazard, esp to motorcyclists. The stops, if used, will be helpful.

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I doubt very much that on those rare occasions when it takes 30 minutes to drive 3km along Beach Road that the baht buses are the cause of the hold up.

When nobody's moving, baht buses are just part of the jam of course. Taking half of them out might improve things slightly but that ain't happenin'.

10 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

20 years back, not so much.

 

Seems the trend is a roller coaster ride, hopefully going back to the numbers 20 years ago.............................

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

They were, more than nowadays?

 

Pre 10 years back, attacks on tourists were unheard of, and I have felt the increase was more 'recent' times.

No. Stop wearin' them rear-view rose-tinted glasses, man. 10 years ago? Try 20 already. Not only were they "heard of" but regularly reported and decried by the hysterics and fear-mongers of that time. Pattaya was already inundated with obnoxious thugs insulting, assaulting, drugging, robbing, and extorting tourists. Police helpless! And also setting up and extorting tourists! It was so bad that the Golden Egg Layers were already going the paradise of Cambodia, leaving the impoverishment we see today.

And since then we've just been caught in the Perpetual Pattaya Death Spiral with yearly death announcements by our professional TVF Coroners. There's never any improvement, as you well know. No wonder!!!

There are two types of articles appearing in the Pattaya Mail with regularity: those where business and political leaders decry the decline in tourism and propose ways to improve the situation; and a steadily increasing number of reports of tourists being insulted, assaulted, drugged, robbed and extorted. All the good intentions and empty proposals by community leaders are not going to change the behavior of the people at street level, and it is they who are driving away the life blood of the city.

. . . It doesn’t matter if the streets are cleared of garbage, no one is going to walk down them if doing so leaves them open to being insulted and assaulted. Having a beach promenade doesn’t matter if strolling along it means taking the risk of being knocked down and robbed. No one is going to participate in the vibrant night-life if there is a good chance that they will wake up three days later in the hospital with all their possessions gone, or in some cases, not wake up at all. No one is going to seek an exotic experience if it means they might be set up by girls with both a legal age and under age ID, and then extorted for immense sums by the police.

On 3/24/2018 at 8:23 AM, mikebell said:

Others would call it incompetence.

Who might that be?

10 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

I assume you have a dashcam. Maybe you could post a video of your 3 km 30 minute journey.

Don't have a dashcam and don't intend to get one. People assume wrongly that I give a shit what they think. Living here and having ridden down Beach Rd. in all conditions I know whereof I speak. Suffice it to say that when I see traffic back up for miles on Nua and Klang, I know from experience what that jam's gonna be like and I'll avoid if possible.

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As far as I know, helmets are not compulsory when driving an SUV, riding a baht bus, or trying to cross the road.

So no first-hand experience on Beach Rd. Nevertheless you may overcome the illusion that there's no policing by sitting over at the Red Cat bar just up from the police station on Soi 9 and watching bikes get pulled over. Cars and even baht buses get pulled over sometimes, so you could regularly try speeding through there and when stopped, tell them to buzz off, there's no policing on Beach Rd.

It's more entertaining that having that same old conversation w/ a bar girl. Don't tell me: your last conversation w/ a bar girl was in 1992.

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You appear to believe that faster traffic on 2nd road and Beach road would be beneficial. I disagree.

So you regret the widening of Beach Rd., which did speed up traffic. Shudder to think how it would be now w/o it. Indeed one of the major complaints repeated on the forum relates to the heavy traffic. Faster and more parking, good. But you needn't worry. It's merely going to get ever more clogged, with even less parking, until it's SO intolerable (to Thais, not TVF posters) the local Authorities, like those in Bangkok, will have to come up some major improvement, like real bus service or the touted tram. They'll of course be combing through all the ace solutions put forth at least weekly by our TVF Traffic Engineers since 2003 and consider each carefully before making a final decision. Lacking the qualifications to be an ace Traffic Engineer, I make no predictions but roll with whatever is.

1 hour ago, jenny2017 said:

Why didn't they try these updates first with people who are using the Insider Program and then release them?