NativeSon360

What! A British handbag thief in Thailand. No way! According to the Brits, the only farangs in the LOS who steal, are "the blacks", as reported by several Thai bar-girls, I've met. 

"hagiographies,  stouche" -  please Winnie, give  the rest of us lowly Cretans a break here. Ok? Thank you,

1 hour ago, Winniedapu said:

 

What passes for Thai history is a group of hagiographies and a selection of fantasies to help the Thais feel good about themselves and foster a sense of nationalism that the kleptocracy can use to whip up support when required. In fact, Thais have never won a reasonably-sized stouche yet and even lost against a bunch of Laos farmers in the late 1970's - under General Chavalit, Mr Blobby himself. It's all about self-image and feel-good face. As is just about everything in Thailand.

 

Winnie

Well expressed  Now, consider this: In how many other countries (in your travel experience) can you (as an obvious foreigner) walk the streets, alone at night, sloppy-falling-down drunk, in a city the size of Bangkok, and absolutely no group of local menfolk will either accost, or attempt to rob you? That is also a Thai "cultural" phenomenon, well-worth any thinking person's consideration. Wouldn't you agree?

All you farang (from your own countries) "knowledgeable" Prayuth detractors on the forum, should kindly give the Prayuth constituency a round of applause.  Much unlike his PM predecessors, who were all talk, the Prayuth regime actually produces substantial "products" for the Thai people, and that's according to the (rank and file) Thai citizens, themselves. End of story

22 minutes ago, Winniedapu said:

 

 

Fully agree, Sanctions would be a problem though. so I doubt it would happen. Sanctions wouldn't be a problem for the average Thai but Prayuth's bosses would not take at all kindly to having their snouts ripped out of the trough the army made for them over decades of unseating properly elected governments.

 

Tell me though, because I forget. Who's the boss of the armed forces again?

 

Winnie

I have no clue of whomever the Thai- PM's or even the Oval Office occupant's bosses might be. If you ever figure it out, best you "safely" keep it to yourself. Cheers!

7 hours ago, F4UCorsair said:

 

I presume you're saying that it goes without saying that Thai would have bought a maintenance package??

 

Many airlines do buy a training and maintenance package with new aircraft.  The manufacturer trains the crews who then go back to their home country and train the other pilots.  Information on the number of sectors, hours flown, and a host of other information is sent automatically back to the manufacturer, a constant flow during the day, and overnight/ daily maintenance is scheduled, making it easier for airlines in developing countries to maintain their aircraft to the manufacturer's specifications.

Exactamundo! There are several other retired Flight_Tech subscribers on the TVF. Cheers

14 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

The Thai Police don't get off their behinds unless there is a chance to make money.

 

To self-serve and collect.

Do you suppose the "Police don't get off their behinds unless there is a chance to make money" phenomenon is peculiar to Thailand?

2 hours ago, JayBeeee said:

 

Absolutely! I say stop the reward system immediately, and come down hard on bribery.  All the roadblocks will disappear overnight and there will be no incentive to plant drugs on innocent backpackers!

"there will be no incentive to plant drugs on innocent backpackers!"  ~ has never been my experience, as a farang backpacker to nearly every nook & cranny location in Thailand. I have been stopped and searched more times than I care to remember, but "knock-on-wood", I have never experienced any Thai cop (thus far) actually attempting to "plant" drugs in my backpack, despite being racially profiled by those same Thai cops.Maybe I've just been lucky in that regard.

15 hours ago, keith101 said:

better they get a reward for doing their job than taking a bribe for not doing it .

The reward money is a percentage amount of the assessed street value of the drugs "seized", paid to the "informant" regarding the location of said drugs. Working as an "active" registered police informant,  is a real "profession" in Thailand. I personally know of a Thai informant who earned 10M-Baht on a single bust, alone. His reward was all the cash currency present on the premises, at the time of the seizure. How do I know about it? Thais like to brag.

1 minute ago, heybruce said:

I did find one of your posts that puts you in perspective:

 

" I've smoked marijuana for 55-years."  http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/940685-survey-more-us-adults-use-marijuana-dont-think-its-risky /?page=2#comment-11107803

 

No doubt Prayut is proud to have you as a supporter.

I am nether a supporter , nor a detractor of PM _ Mr.Prayuth. If your reading comprehension ability were on a par level with your pretentious, self-aggrandizing diatribes, then you would have more readily "grasped the drift" of my comment, in that gentleman's regard. 

The closing of this dialogue level begs the question ~

"You", were an commissioned officer, in the U.S. military? Huh? You should thank my lucky stars, that I missed the opportunity to serve under your  (ahem) command, especially, out in the bush . Capisce?

43 minutes ago, Winniedapu said:

 

The decision as to whether or not to believe or trust a person is generally based on one's perception of how that person looks and sounds, not whether that person has been honest or trustworthy previously. Sometimes it's based on obedience to what someone else has told them.

 

You probably base your perception of him on his appearance or what one of the local ladies has said.

 

What is probably astounding to you is not that so many farangs speak against the man (though that is certainly true and well-justified), but that so many people, who seem intelligent to you, don't agree with you, and you just don't understand how that could be.

 

But perhaps they just know more than you do. That's possible. No shame in that.

 

Winnie

Again, duh! "It is absolutely astounding to me, that so many farangs on this platform, have so many "knowledgeable" suggestions about "how" the body politics of the Thai government should function. Especially, when they (themselves) come from countries that are total economic-political circuses of their own".

Now, what I do know is the value of minding my own "citizenship" business. If Thai Immigration policies do not change, to adversely affect my "guest" status in The Kingdom, and the Thai currency remains reasonably stable, then whatever else that transpires within Thai society is really none of my, or any other farang's business. No shame in "respecting" the turf-boundaries of other people either. Capisce?

5 minutes ago, heybruce said:

I see, a conspiracy theorist.  I didn't know I was dealing with a member of the tin-foil hat brigade.

No, you don't see. Good morning, and have a blissful life, for the duration. Ciao!

11 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Do you dispute my post?

No, SIR! I wouldn't dare consider doing such an "intelligent" thing, 

6 minutes ago, heybruce said:

 

I've reviewed your last few posts, I didn't see anything that causes me to reconsider my post.

 

I'm a retired officer from a military that doesn't stage coups.  I don't like generals that preside over a corrupt military and topple legitimate elected governments, in fact I hold them in contempt.  Also, my opinion of westerners who support these generals isn't very good.

"I'm a retired officer from a military that doesn't stage coups" -

I believe this reply to be directly in conjunction with the context of the OP topic thread.

I've smoked marijuana for 55-years. If I don't have it, then I certainly don't "crave" it, and I've never met anyone else who did, for that matter.

In addition,  I'm definitely not going to commit a violent crime, a robbery, or steal money from my mother's purse, to buy a stash. Period!

14 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Seriously?  If you respect this self-serving douche you are in a small minority.  The fact that he bought his way to the top of a thoroughly corrupt military speaks volumes about the man's character.  Also, coup's aren't risky in Thailand, being elected is risky.

 

Don't confuse propaganda and harsh censorship laws that forbid criticism for respect.

 

I'm sure John F. Kennedy would definitely confirm your notion that being "elected" by the people, is risky.

Thank you for the clarity. I'm not much of a know-it-all, but please read my previously edited post update,

1 hour ago, JAG said:

Yes, initially "on the start line" you will probably see familiar faces. The last two elections were judged by reputable international  organisations to be basically fair, not perfect but essentially fair, so I think that could be done.

The point is that the freedoms that go with democratic government will allow popular and political pressure to reform effectively. The desire to gain election, and reelection will make that pressure more effective. The old faces will fall if they don't change. They may not be able to change - so they will fall.

You have to trust the electorate.

One of the elephants in the room is the economy. Permanent junta government will preclude significant investment, as it did in Burma.
Without that investment it will sink into decrepitude, as did Burma. Democracy will allow it to revive,  as again  was the case with Burma. 
 

It is absolutely astounding to me, that so many farangs on this platform, have so many "knowledgeable" suggestions about "how" the body politics of the Thai government should function. Especially, when they (themselves) come from countries that are total economic-political circuses of their own. Should I name a few, of those other Red, White & Blue, so-called "First World" perfect countries?  Democracy is an over-rated, mercurial abyss of a political platform. Period! Sadam Hussein proved that much to be a fact!

On 8/31/2016 at 4:28 AM, Rorri said:

"while he himself has not spent any money to buy favour from the people." No need to buy anything when you take it by military force.

In addition, the Prayuth regime has earned the respect, and favor of the rank-and-file Thai people. The fact that he (Prayuth) put his own life "one-the_line", and managed a military coup, without resorting to violence, speaks volumes about man's character, and the culture that produced him. How many dictators have you ever heard of, who actually love their subordinated people?

Why not give credit, especially when the "achievement" credit has been earned, not bought. PM Prayuth has definitely earned it.

On 8/31/2016 at 4:28 AM, Rorri said:

"while he himself has not spent any money to buy favour from the people." No need to buy anything when you take it by military force.

Disenfranchising the power Elite, by military force, is a totally different (plain English) issue, compared to buying favour from the masses of the people, as TS did. Think, about it

Anyone who believes that Omani story, will also believe there is "Oceanfront Property" for sale in Ethiopia.

This really is, indeed, the last civilization of people, on this planet, duh!

11 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

My money is on it being Renfo pilot error.

 

Shuttling around a couple tourists snapping photos and not watching his air space or announcing his location on the radio.

Presumably you are a certified, experienced Flight Technician, with TSB actuarial  training, eh?

6 hours ago, selftaopath said:

If you don't mind I'd like to know what a "respectable" lifestyle is for a Thai? Does that include running water in the home? Or perhaps a four wall domain? Or able to eat meals not largely made of rice? Or perhaps the family has enough money to decide not to send their young child to work in Pattaya?

It never ceases to amaze me, how many "farangs", posting on the TVF,  who, obviously have very little travel experience, in their lifetimes. Apparently, sir, you are no exception.

There are no (0%)starving people in Thailand. Possessing the ability to adequately provide for oneself, and one's family is the most fundamental level of personal dignity, and self-respect.. The poorest, least educated Thai can do that much for himself. Can the same be said of AU, UK or US? Huh? Good Morning

24 minutes ago, Winniedapu said:

 

 

I suspect you'll find it was ironic laughter. No need to be abusive, it doesn't speak well of you.

 

Winnie

Don't try that deflection ploy with me. I know the arrogant likes of you, quite well. So get yourself "unconstipated". The abusive comment was on your part, and that shame is on you, sir. Done. Now moving progressively along with the topic issue!

51 minutes ago, Craig krup said:

It's really simple, and it doesn't cost a bean. Pick a year and just teach all the kids Thai using the Roman/western alphabet. They already have an approved dictionary. The kids will learn how to say "it's okay, it doesn't matter", and they'll learn to spell it Maiphenrai. No massive alphabet, no complex shapes and all the "ah, buh, cuh, duh, eh" learned just the way the English speakers do - synthetic phonics for the forty sounds, and the subtle little nuances will live in the spoken language just as they do in every other language. Nobody but nobody requires every single aspect of pronunciation to be represented in the alphabet and the words themselves, which is what Thai currently provides. It's as if the international phonetic alphabet was used to express English words. Nobody uses the international phonetic version in dictionaries to say English words - people learn naturally through usage, and even ESOL students learn in spoken English classes. 

 

Make the big switch. Abandon the present alphabet and all your problems are solved. It'll never happen, though. As John Stuart Mill said, in the orient tradition is the iron rule. 

Ditto! That nail was squarely hit on the head by Craig.