BuddhaChile

Most thais should be required to take a economic course as a prerequisite.

Most everybody would benefit from a course in economics - not just Thais.

The OP has Buddha in his name and wants to know if he can carry a gun

If Jesus had a gun he'd be alive today.

OP, the best weapon you can ever carry is common sense.

I was going to say trust your instincts, but if your mindset is to carry a weapon for self defence, in a country where you admit to not understanding the language, then that defensive weapon can turn very quickly to offensive.

Especially if you fail to read the situation correctly. It is difficult to reverse he action of sticking a knife into somebody's neck because they were a little bit drunk and were offering you a drink instead of trying to attack you with a bottle.

Either that or stay in your hotel room until your flight out......................

BuddhaChile also is a very strange username to be asking for this kind of advice, IMHO of course.

BuddhaChile - my true nature, chrisinth. I am by no means a violent person nor would I ever suggesting that anyone resort to violence of any sort to solve a problem. If my OP was taken that way then I apologise and suggest a re-read. I feel sad about the recent flurry of attacks on foriegners and thought TV might have some interesting suggestions. Always both amused, entertained and enlightened by the responses here.

Your points are well taken. I have never carried a weapon for dispute resolution - other than a quick wit and big smile. (Maybe a little slight of hand trickery as well)

All the best ..... stay safe

I have reasoned with drunks and fools my entire life. Of course, you need the capacity to reason.

What reason would someone have to harm you, are you planning to walk around with something they've been conditioned to desire? Are you planning on disrespecting the liberty, personal integrity (or image, which narcissists prize more than life or limb) of those who cross your path? Are you malicious or rude, do you have shady intentions or a black heart? Are you looking to take advantage of others? Do you have a bruised ego or the psychosis that makes lunatics self-harm in their imaginations when offended?

Don't be antisocial and no one will have a reason to harm you. You sound a bit like a Puritan woman concerned for her precious virtue.

Well, what can I say???? If you hang out with drunks and fools you will likely be one.

By the way ... thanks for the entertaining assumptions and hypotheses - very funny guy ..... but shtupid!

How about we get back on topic? How would you proptect yourself against an attack like this?

Two 18-year-old suspects accused of brutally beating a German man in Udon Thani, 16 Nov 2014.

UDON THANI: -- A 25-year-old German man was admitted to the ICU after he was allegedly attacked by drunk teenagers in Udon Thani who wanted to imitate the brutal murder of two Briton tourists on Koh Tao island in September.

Police say the German man was sitting with two Thai friends near a park in Udon Thani's Muang District in the early morning of 15 November when three Thai teenagers suddenly attacked him with a garden hoe.

The man is now being treated for severe injuries in the ICU at Udon Thani Hospital. Medical workers say he suffered wounds on his face and skull that required immediate operation. According to a doctor at the hospital, there's only "50-50" percent chance that he will survive.

The attack also left one of the German's friends with a broken arm, police say.

Police have arrested three suspects, two 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old, in connection with the crime.

Pol.Col. Surin Chaichomphu, deputy commander of Udon Thani Police, announced the arrests of the two men, named Thanakorn Khusuwan and Surachet Sripolmuang, at the press conference yesterday. The third suspect, nicknamed Wuth, was not present at the press conference because he is a minor.

According to Pol.Col. Surin, both men confessed to assaulting the German man.

This may sound obvious but I think it comes down to simple situation awareness and then carrying yourself with a level of confidence so the bad guys will think twice about you and then target someone else.

Thanks mangoman - Very good advise.

I'm 6'1" tall - about 100kg and, at 66 yrs I still look pretty fit. I can look friendly, confident and/or fierce. I don't think many would want to mess with me but this issue and this topic is not just about me. I hope to have an open discussion that many can glean good sound advise from and not simply stick their heads in the sand and pretend it isn't happening.

OP, I would suggest you get a military tank, so you will be really protected.

Or stop reading all the time about all this violence that appears on the internet sites.

This is a country of about 60Million people, incidents of violence to appear once or twice a day is nothing unusual and also nothing to worry about.

Keep yourself out of trouble, turn around and go away if there is any threat, never try to be brave.

It doesn't pay.

Hey Costas - That was helpful ...... NOT! I wonder if the guy recently attacked in Udon Thani and now near death tried to turn around and walk away ....

I am not paranoid about this but I dont think your advice to be ignorant is helpful either.

Again .... "In the big picture I don't think the dangers are that prevalent but I would not want to be in a situation without protection."

Better safe than sorry.

What with all the recent tourist murders and "accidents" I'm wondering about the best way to protect ones self when off on one's own Thailand. I've thought about walking with a large "walking stick" or carrying a weapon of some sort in order to give myself a chance if approached or attacked. I don't speak the language well enough to talk my way out of a situation - granted, one cannot reason with a drunk or a herd of idiots. The big smile and uplifted eyebrow and reverse head nod may not always work. One time in Cambodia when I felt threatened I started to clean my fingernails with my Swiss Army knife and made that visible to those whom I thought might be a threat as I told my tuk tuk driver to get us the hell outta that place and it seemed to work. Maybe just lucky that time. What's the TV concensus on this topic? Should we who stay here 6 months a year - or any tourist for that matter - consider carrying a weapon? Knife? Gun? What are the legalities around that? In the big picture I don't think the dangers are that prevalent but I would not want to be in a situation without protection. What say ye?

Anyone watcing the video at about frame 138 ..... looks like a police shirt over the back of the seat in the drunk's truck. Think the drunk might have been a fellow copper.

I want bamboo roll up blinds for shade on my deck. I know there are lots of other options but I want bamboo roll up blinds for shade on my deck. I got some in Bali for my place there - you can buy real nice heavy bamboo blinds everywhere there.

There seems to be lots of bamboo here too but bamboo blinds are hard to seemingly find. <deleted>?

Does anybody know where I can find some roll up type bamboo blinds - near Udon Thani or Nong Khai??

If a man with no arms has a gun ....... is he "armed"?

I suppose next we'll see the "angels" wearing helmets and camo gear. Dumb - just plain dumb ......... Maybe this will catch on and we'll see Christ wearing a sports jacket and tie.

This is why my missus won't let Graham out of her sight for a minute. He's out in the garden at the moment pottering about, burying a turd (I think) and she's in and out every two minutes checking on him, but I'd like to see anyone hop over our fence and risk a 7 inch spike in the sac or through the gut....

If anyone comes to try and nab him we'd know about it. He barks like mad at anyone, even the neighbours and he knows them.

< He's out in the garden at the moment pottering about, burying a turd (I think)

Your dog buries his turds? Wow, there's a keeper!

I'm just starting to build a house in Isaan. Starting with a retaining wall. We are building right next to a khlong and the excavator dug too deep and hit wet clay and the water table - now we have to fill back in with large as possible fractured drain rock or the wall may settle and sink into the wet clay.

Does anyone know where I can get 3-6 inch (8-15cm) fractured drain rock or busted concrete? And also, I've had a hard time finding separation fabric and 3-4 inch perforated drain pipe - or - what we call in Canada - Big O. This is used for draining any water that might get in behind the retaining wall.

Thanks in advance ..........

Too many Canadians here in Isaan bring their arctic winterweather with them ...........

Deep prayers of healing - pray for a miracle - pray for this man's life.

How much should I pay the contractor before he starts building? My wife tells me I should pay 50% up front to build a wall. Labour is a flat 75,000 bht. I will buy and supply most of the materials but the contractor has bought the rebar and I paid him for that.

PUPPET POWER!!

Not that much different than the US of A, Canada, the UK or many other so called "developed" nations ...... Always a different puppet on the podium with the strings pulled by the same big corporations who line the puppets and the puppets party's pockets.

They come - they go - but it's always the same show.

Time to WAKE UP and smell the petunias, people.

You can call me Ray or you can call me J or you can call me Johnny or you can call me Ray J ...... but you doesn't have to call me Johnson.

PS: Just don't call me late for dinner.

I watched my Thai wife get badly ripped off at one of those local fairs. Given the opportunity Thais will take anyone to the cleaners.

"Some Thais will take anyone to the cleaners" ...... as will some Brits, some Americans, some French, some Germans, .... you get my drift.

> They later found the body of Tuwaemarawyee Tuansulong, 34, with two shots to the head. He was reportedly wanted on five arrest warrants, with a .38 pistol near him.

Well, we can rule out suidide.

. . . . . And then, there's the 3rd Option; constructing a dwelling with Light-Steel Frames; which is more cost-effective and enables one to super-insulate (Walls & Ceilings) as well !

There must be a sound reason why most homes built in the US; Canada, OZ & NZ are now built with this brilliant system.

Since recently, there's a company in Thailand (NZ-Machine installed) manufacturing this simple system and if you're interested, just PM me and I'll put you in touch with them.

I'm from Canada and I can tell you that most homes there are built using wood frame - because there's lots and lots of trees for making lumber. The smarter, way more expensive way to go is "polystyrene block" (http://www.iceelite.co.za/photo-album/abp-building-block.html)

Still, I'm interested in seeing this "Light-Steel" system.

Sez the guy writing on the internet. alt=cheesy.gif width=32 height=20>

What a putz.

How hard is it to leave your phone, smart or otherwise, at home or turned off? What does it matter if you have a dumb-phone if people still have you number and can/will call you?

I know people like to kvetch, whine and complain endlessly but seriously, pick something important to complain about.

It is not just about having a dumb phone it is about allowing him self the time to enjoy life with out checking in to all his various services that the smart phone allows him. Why buy a smart phone when all you want it for is to make a phone call or receive one.

Stop .... take a deep breath and relax. Regain your composure and take charge of your life. It's so easy to not answer the phone when you don't want to be disturbed. The same technology that allows you to talk to your brother half way around the world gave you the "Off" button. Chillax, bro ..... stop trolling and go fishing. alt=cheesy.gif width=32 height=20>

You also missed the point of the article. He was not saying he didn't want to have people call him or he didn't want to call others. He basically was saying he wants to be in charge of his life not a smart phone that will do every thing but use the bum gun for you.

It does raise a question, do people feel so lonely or disconnected that they have to be in communication all the time?

If I'm stuck in the airport, for example, I might check my email and the footy results, but I'd rather read a good book.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you are rite there. I knew one guy who had two smart phones.

I myself have a dumb phone it is 8 years old and it still takes calls and makes calls. The only thing smart about it is if I punch the star button it will tell me the time orally. In the middle of the night if I wake up I will often grab it and push the star button and decide if I want to get up or not. It works better in bright sunlight than any smart phone I have ever seen for telling the time.

I can call Canada and the States on it or my next door neighbor. I had to laugh at a clerk in the apple store I was looking at the I 5 and I asked him if he could do this I pressed the star key and it told us the time. He said no then he thought a moment and said yes he proceeded to play with it for a bit then touched a spot and it did say the time. I bet he couldn't do it in the dark.

And my point - in case you missed it HelloDolly - was to simply be smarter than your phone. If that requires you to have a dumb phone then so be it.

Two of my favorites are "long far away" (long distance) and "is'n cheap" (expensive)