Spock

38 minutes ago, GBW said:

I think from the start it was a agreed that all of the boys extracted would have their identity/names suppressed due to the media barrage that could and would unfold, not only to the immediate family, but to all related, friends etc  ... This is why a blanket on media has been enforced at the cave and from CR Army base to the CR hospital.  I think it was a good call.  Imagine having cameras and people shoved in your face asking how happy you are that your son/friend/acquaintance has been miraculously saved and your only thoughts, over sleepless nights, are for all, including rescuers to have the same positive outcome.  Lets get em all out, we can talk names, dates etc etc later. 

But their names haven't been suppressed. Nor the names of their schools. Their correspondence with their parents has been open to the public. And the identity of the first two has been revealed. Won't take long for the media to put two and two together or 4 and 9.

1 hour ago, Soi Dog said:

very well done.  I have lived here for 17 years and the whole cave episode has been Thailand at the best I’ve seen during all that time.  

I love your avatar.

I must admit the boys in a cave story has been utterly riveting. I was one of the readers who believed the boys could not have survived their ordeal but was elated when proved wrong. It's hard to imagine them being evacuated successfully, but I am as hopeful as anyone else that they are going to emerge from the cave alive at some stage during the next few days. The efforts of the rescuers, both Thai and foreign, throughout the whole ordeal has been admirable. There is every reason to cling to hope that this dangerous rescue effort can be successfully accomplished. Faith in the strength of the human spirit and the skills and professionalism of the rescuers almost demands a suspension of disbelief and pessimism. 

As you say, the episode has been Thailand at its best. I wish the boys and rescue team the very best of luck. This has just got to have a happy ending.

22 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

And he knows, I'm sure.

He could check one of his 25 watches for an approximate date.

32 minutes ago, tropo said:

I did use the word "if" in relation to the option of waiting. I don't know what's the safest option. Only the experts can advise on that.

 

Allow me to adjust the "100% safe" to "the SAFEST option". Of course with a 4-month wait, there's more chance that a rescuer or member of a support team will perish.

 

If my wife was one of the 13 trapped in there, there is no way that she could be extracted by diving. She is absolutely terrified of water and being submerged. Perhaps some of the kids are the same. Apparently, none of them can swim.

 

 

None of them can swim?! They can play football, ride bike and go many kilometers deep into a cave, but none of them can swim. That's outrageous really. Swimming should be one of the first skills taught to kids, particularly if they are going to be led deep into caves during the rainy season by irresponsible adults.  Anyway, Australian press is reporting the rescue will probably take place tomorrow, which means they won't be swimming out. As for the psychologist saying the boys will feel guilt for the costly mistake they made, surely the only one who should be feeling guilt, and lots of it, is the adult who led them 5 kilometers into the cave.

13 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Australian airbnb's are not likely filled with skint backpackers, hordes of Indians, spitting Chinese or drunk Russians.

They are often full of noisy young folk partying. But mostly, as I imagine with Thailand, they largely cater to ordinary folk looking for cheaper and more informal short term accommodation.

18 minutes ago, bkk7 said:

I'm really wanting to know how I can report someone who is an AirBnB/Agoda/Booking.com/etc. illegal hotel renter.

 

This person is an incredible nuisance and a terrible neighbor. He's renting out a house for short stays mostly to crazy partying Russians. He doesn't own the house. He has zero licences. He pays zero Thai taxes, much less hotel taxes. He does not report any of his guests to immigration. He has no work permit. He's on a tourist visa. He speaks zero Thai. The money all goes into his bank account but it's marketed in the name of his Thai gf.

 

I am stuck in this place dealing with this terrible noise and behavior. I pay 35k per month for my place and have to deal with this crap while he rents out for 10k per day. 

If you are paying 35000 a month, you are obviously not short of money yourself. I am sure you are in a good position to complain to the relevant moo bahn authorities or slip the police a brown envelope to expedite action regarding your concerns. You are obviously quite friendly with your neighbour or you would not know the intimate details of his financial arrangements. Maybe warn him of your intentions and point out to him the risks he faces in the current anti airbnb climate. 

Anyway now that airbnb is public enemy number 1, you have the perfect opportunity to call for action over the disturbances. Interestingly, airbnb is perfectly legal in the more affluent countries, such as Australia, which have much tighter regulations regarding noise, taxes, sub-letting etc. It is kind of strange that less regulated and wealthy countries such as Thailand choose to clamp down on practices that seem perfectly acceptable in Australia, Europe and America. 

I just booked an airbnb room in Bangkok last night in a condo for 18 nights beginning the end of June. The money has already been taken from my account. Can only hope that my stay is not affected. Never used airbnb before. Chose a bad time to try it.

24 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Whilst I don’t disagree with your comments I am not aware of any country where people are sent to jail and their vehicle confiscated for failing to give way to an emergency vehicle.

In Australia the penalty is a fine and points on the licence,

I have never heard of anyone being fined in Australia as I expect the police would have to witness the offence.

Then again the majority of drivers either pull over or make sure they get out of the way of the emergency vehicle.

In Australia, 99.9% of drivers pull to the side for an ambulance. Even someone driving a stolen car would most likely give way to an ambulance. It speaks volumes for Thai drivers that so many just don't seem to care about others less fortunate than themselves.

28 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

I expected at least one unintelligible reply to my contribution. Congratulations ! You get first pick of the Kupie doll on the back shelf.

In essence, that's what you said. They are an admirable society because they derive devotion and unconditional love from their doted-upon dog, until the dog performs it ultimate function as a food source. You all but painted a rosy picture of the family consuming their furry friend. You seemed to imply that this form of dog ownership yielded the ultimate consumer reward by proving useful in life and death, like sheep or cows. I'll have the mischievous looking doll on the left, thanks.

58 minutes ago, Artisi said:

No, not happy with the condition some of them seem to be in, but wouldn't blame the government as many are in no better condition on the streets. The blame lies with the stupid bleeding hearts who protest about extermination and a reduction in the overall number of half starved soi dogs roaming loose throughout Thailand, get this under control and those wishing to do something constructive with homeless dogs might stand  a chance of getting on top of the problem. 

I agree about the need for action. I cannot support any response to the problem that fails to cater for the basic needs of the dogs in these shelters. 

4 hours ago, Cadbury said:

For your information Vietnam doesn't have the problem described in this story or the nor does it have the same problem of Thailand's soi dogs and rabies outbreaks which have seen people die. In Vietnam there is no equivalent to Thailand's mangy, unloved and uncared for and dangerous soi dogs. The Thais can be callous people when they conveniently choose to be so.

The Vietnamese love their dogs and part of their care for them is to keep them in a controlled environment. If they don't and let them wander about to to be a menace to other dogs and people they would not last longer than 24 hours. After that they are put to good use on the dinner plate.

And for your ongoing information that practice started because of starvation caused by oppressors such as France, Japan and America. The French and the Japanese stole their rice and the Americans poisoned it with Agent Orange. Millions died as a result. So if you are thinking of blaming them for a traditional practice of eating dog, don't...... blame the invaders of their country. 

 

They love their dogs but eat them. And foreigners are to blame for this hypocrisy. Yeah, right! 

5 hours ago, Artisi said:

Good on the government, now a lot less mangey, diseased useless soi dogs roaming loose. 

Hope they intensify the round up. 

Time to reset your moral compass if you are happy with the suffering caused by this thoughtlessly executed round up and the cruelty it has inflicted on the dogs.

5 hours ago, jamie2009 said:

Maybe people’s opinions would change if they got bitten by one. I have been walking into Soi Bukhao using the same route for over 18 months. I see the same Soi dogs every time, never bother me. Thursday one of them bit me on the leg, broke the skin, never seen it coming as it came from behind me, I was more focused on a truck which was passing close too me.

 

City Hospital, Pattaya, 1 Tetanus and the first of 4 Post Rabies Vaccinators, the last one will have to be in the UK as I will not be here.

Couldnt fault the service after booking in straight too the Emergency Room, sorted in 20 minutes. 

 

For me round all the Soi dogs up, take them too a local compound at the same publicising if the dog is not claimed in 2 weeks it will be put down. I love dogs not their fault what goes on but what benefits do Soi dogs bring too the community.

You are yet another poster to miss the point. It's the manner in which the dogs are held without food or care and the attitude of Thais that has allowed this situation to occur that is at issue here. Soi dogs are a problem, but that problem can be dealt with humanely or inhumanely. I have been bitten and had to have rabies too but still feel compassion for the dogs. It's not their fault they have been dumped and left to procreate.

5 hours ago, Ks45672 said:

I don't even beep the horn 

I prefer to run over the dogs arrogant enough to sleep on the road..... 

You can yourself to some of the others in the thread rivalling for roles as lower body human orifices.

19 hours ago, Richard Pumpaloaf said:

All I'm saying is that dogs meat is a commodity the same as pork or chicken. If more was shipped to dog eating countries we wouldn't have as many problems with dogs as we do now.

Cull the sick ones Ship the healthy ones.

There doing the same thing with pigeons in lopburi.

The dogs are tortured and often boiled alive. It's not just a case of being an alternative meat source. It's the manner of killing - the total lack of empathy for another living creature and in this case a sentient being. The 'healthy ones' would be subjected to all sorts of tortures before being inhumanely put out of their misery. You make the food solution sound so simple but you ignore the detail of how it's actually done.

6 hours ago, Wilsonandson said:

Hmm?

You are quoting/displaying the exceptions rather than the reality of Thai attitudes towards dogs.

21 hours ago, Happy enough said:

a lot of those dogs are domesticated. and they end up in that dump even the healthy ones

i hope some thai's get enraged about this when they realize what's happened to their pets they were convinced to part with

and course parvo is gonna kill them all off if they don't separate them

I'd be ****** fuming

The Thais with pets did not have to give them up. It was their choice. Don't try to excuse their lack of love for their pets.

21 hours ago, Get Real said:

That´s exactly why they should have been shot off long time ago.

As should the Thai people who have allowed this to happen.

42 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

No, I didn't blame her for the corruption; what I did was comment that she had made a derogatory comment about corrupt practices after contributing to them by voluntarily paying bribes to Thai authorities in order to get her son's case fast-tracked.  That is called hypocrisy.

 

And any ignorance is not mine!

If it was your son would you have left him in jail or fast tracked the case. I know what I would do.