richard_smith237

This whole mindset is so very wrong..... The idea that the couple contributed to the attack because they didn't comply to the thugs demands, as if its the victims own fault - this highlights a bizarre underling mentality to try and forgive the unforgivable... its very strange.

Not the drivers responsibility they did not have Thai currency. Driver does not have to chauffer them around for free. You seem woke and entitled. I despise Phuket and I vote with my wallet. If you want to go then expect to pay up. Not worse than any capitalist scumbag western country. None of it would have happened if the Taxi drivers do not refuse to use the Meter. This was a Bolt - so there were simple solutions. The Bolt Fare was 570 baht (really ???) - the additional fare was 200 baht ? (really). IF the driver had turned on the meter for the extra distance - would the passengers have become so angry ? Regardless, thats no way to behave and the tourists were aggressive ayholes... Ayhole tourists - ayhole taxi drivers - its always one or the other causing problems and in Phuket these issues seem more common than else where, as if like attracts like.

No... thats your bias interpretation of what happend. What really happend - the facts. - American riding a Honda CRF down the road along side another rider. - A Thai lady attempted to Cross the road and was hit and killed. Thats ALL we know that happend so far.... your 'suggestion' that the American was a dingbat only serves to highlight an unintelligent bias, as does your 'polishing' of events as you imply the 'poor old Thai lady was out for a walk, as if she were safely walking down the pavement, when in fact she was crossing the road. I'm not sure whats wrong with some folk on this forum - the display an astonishing degree if unhinged bias, its so bizarre. We have various folk applying vitriolic anti-foreign sentiment, then we have others applying a nasty anti-Thai bias - whats so hard about applying intelligent balance ????

Because it took 3 months for the 'social media' to reach them. Authorities will have had no idea that such activities took place, none whatsoever, until someone high-up was embarrassed by it when someone showed them a social media post.... Its the same when some fool on a motorcycle posts videos online of themselves pulling wheelies down the main roads - the police react not because they saw it happen, but because someone became higher up 'embarrassed' and instructed subordinates to deal with it...

does that mean it's OK, Richard? So many other nations DON'T behave in a similar way! I just gave you a list of a load of other nations where the same practices are the norm !!! Does it mean its ok ?... thats a very simplistic and dumbed down question which fails to understand and acknowledge a whole list of factors (which I also listed) which dictate why such behaviours exist in Thailand and similar nations [behaviours of whole families on motorcycles]. If you are willing to step outside of your bigoted prejudice and attempt to understand the world around you rather than persist in applying your nasty and negatively bias generalisations then you'll have to turn off your silly binary thought processes as these issues are multifaceted. Thus: your comments have been answered already - if you don't wish to follow the discussion on an intellectual level do so, but I will not stoop to the dumbed down over-simplification standards of your bigotry.

Of course you didn't... But, you're still trying too shoe-horn your generalised nasty negative bias against Thailand into the discussion. So many other nations behave in a similar way. The common characteristics across these regions are: economic necessity, practicality, cultural acceptance and climate - and those counties include: Vietnam, Indonesia. Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, DR Congo, Cameroon, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan Thus: The phenomenon of families riding together on scooters in Thailand but not in Western countries can be attributed to to the factors listed in greater detail below: Economic Factors Affordability: In many parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, scooters and motorbikes are more affordable than cars, making them the primary mode of transport for families. Income Levels: Families in Thailand may not have the financial means to purchase a car, so scooters are a practical and cost-effective alternative. Cultural Norms Acceptability: In Thailand, it is culturally normal and widely accepted to see multiple people on a scooter. It's a common and efficient way to transport a family. Community Practices: People grow up seeing others using scooters in this way, reinforcing the norm. Infrastructure Urban Design: Many cities in Thailand have dense traffic and narrow streets that make scooters more practical than cars. Parking: Scooters require less space and are easier to park in crowded urban areas. Public Transportation: Public transportation in some Western countries is more robust, reducing the need for families to use scooters. Regulatory Environment Traffic Laws: Western countries often have stricter traffic laws and enforcement, such as limits on the number of passengers allowed on a vehicle and mandatory use of car seats for children. Safety Standards: Western safety regulations prioritize car use for family travel, emphasizing crash safety and individual restraints. Climate Weather Conditions: The warm and dry climate in Thailand makes riding scooters more comfortable year-round, while colder or wetter climates in much of the West discourage scooter use. Perception of Safety Safety Concerns: Many Western families prioritize safety and may view scooters as less safe for transporting children, especially with the risk of accidents. Helmets and Gear: Western regulations often require all passengers to wear helmets, which may not always align with how families in Thailand use scooters. Vehicle Ownership Trends Car Ownership: In Western countries, cars are more common and often considered essential for family transportation. In Thailand, scooters are more accessible to a wider population. Practicality Distance and Speed: Families in Western countries often travel longer distances at higher speeds, which makes cars more suitable. In Thailand, scooters are ideal for shorter urban commutes. Now - if you are going to shoe-horn in your bias, please make sure you present an intelligent argument and not just blind prejudice.

An almost identical story: That incident happened in 2012 when David Cameron, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time, accidentally left his then eight-year-old daughter, Nancy, in a pub. The story made headlines and became a much-discussed event. What Happened: David Cameron, his wife Samantha, and their children were having lunch with friends at a pub near their country residence in Buckinghamshire. After the meal, the family left in separate cars. David thought Nancy was with Samantha, and Samantha thought Nancy was with David. It wasn't until they arrived home that they realised Nancy wasn't with them. The incident was widely covered in the media, with some criticising the Camerons for the mishap and others viewing it as a relatable parenting mistake. I see such carelessness as negligence and an example of terrible marital communication ignoring the basics - especially in when we have mobile phones and can call one of the occupants of the other vehicle and double check with extreme ease.

I don't think its selfish - its just feckless stupidity and carelessness to assume your child is in the 'other vehicle'...

That I can understand more... A family riding a bike is undertaken more out of necessity than leisure, it has nothing to do with the carelessness displayed in leaving a child behind. You might also note - this is not solely a Thai event, such carelessness exists everywhere. Regarding families riding a bike - it would of course be preferable not to see this, but socio-economics necessitate the vast majority of society uses scooters (motorcycles) as a main means of family transport - its horrific to see babies, infants and children on bikes without helmets though - helmets should be issued to families for free.

I can see how this could happen... but, can't see how this can happen in any caring family. The carelessness and lack of value placed on the lives of children here often astonishes me.. ... from the frequent village pond drownings to examples of astonishing carelessness...

Erm... stay off the booze !

Do you have all the facts of this case, as the information provided so far is quite sparse and uncorroborated. In the face of blind bias, facts will not make any difference..... People such as SF will only ever see to blame the foreigner, his posting history highlights this, he will then get upset with critical responses suggesting he's being targeted. I don't see how anyone can blame either the rider or the pedestrian at this stage without any other information.

Was there a pedestrian crossing ????

Why ? if he was not at fault at all. Looking at this from a callous perspective - IF this incident was the ladies fault, for the rest of his life the rider now has to live with the fact that he collided with and killed someone... ------------ Slightly off-topic (but not too far).. one of the reasons I object to people not wearing helmets when riding is the elevated risk of their death when involved in an accident - i.e. if my Wife is driving perfectly legally and a motorcyclist pulls out on her and kills themself, my wife would be devastated and take a long time to get over the incident which may well have not been deadly if the rider was wearing a helmet... ... the similarity in this case is not helmet wearing, but the possibility being the root cause of ones own demise where others are also involved.

Thats simplified and dumbed down.. IF the guy was riding legally, within speed limits and the woman stepped out without looking, he is not at fault. IF the guy was speeding, drunk etc then he was at fault for not seeing a pedestrian. There is no certainty of what exactly happend - this is why I have dash-cams (fwd and rear) on both my Motorcycle and Car. On the surface this looks to me like a tragic accident, but I don't rule out recklessness of the rider, or careless lack of road awareness of the deceased pedestrian.

And fully road legal as any other 'factory' Honda CRF is.... Many forum members have this bike as a daily rider. There are some completely ridiculous comments on this point which go down the rabbit-hole of stupidity. Bike was fully road worth - any discussion of such is a dumb red-herring.

It's amazing how quickly the RTP can charge a farang with these types of crimes, yet when a Thai commits them it's just business as usual.. No its not.... This is a the standard charge applied every time there is a road incident resulting in a death. This has nothing to do with the rider being a foreigner, every single Thai receives the same charge in similar situations - its SOP. You can't shoe-horn your nasty and negative Thai bias into this when the police are following the same procedure they do for Thai's.

Yep... that makes sense. The bird strike caused the initial engine failure (and thus main hydraulic failure). The backup electrical system also may have encountered a failure. Thus: this was also failure of redundancy.

I'm going to go back on what I said... This Japanese guy deserves whatever is coming to him... he acted like a total d!ck.. If he'd have just let the policeman take the lantern I'm sure nothing would have happened. That said: Why stop this one lantern when thousands (possibly tens of thousands) of lanterns were being released all over the city? Video below:

I kind of agree with that. A significant amount of the social media discussion involves the berm-wall - I think its universally agreed that this crash would not have been so deadly had that berm-wall not been there. But, there were also a series of cascading events which led the the air-craft landing without flaps & slats and without landing gear after suffering a bird strike and losing one possibly two engines - I agree withe pilots comment on this point, everyone discussing this wants to know. However, I think the pilot's comments are also flawed when he questions "in what world.... " because the answer to that is obvious... 'in the world of catastrophic failure and emergency landings'.... i.e. in a world where the aircraft can no longer remain airborne !!! Additionally... When the pilot mentions "its their job to keep the operation within the lines"... the very nature of an emergency is when the operation steps beyond the bounds of those lines - again his comment seems to miss this point.

How do you know its fake ??

Yup.. fair enough - I have missed that point.

Would you suggest he was accidentally carrying an ISIS flag and didn't actually know what it was ? Would you suggest the potential explosive devices found in his vehicle where something else ? Would you suggest the FBI made a mistake in classifying this as a terrorism ?

An ex US serviceman who served in Afghanistan. Yes, he was obviously a patriot.... The type of patriot who carries an ISIS flag and potential explosive devices around in his vehicle.....

Avoid riding at night, and as mentioned above, avoid riding in the rain due to slippery surfaces. Avoiding riding at night eradicates numerous risks. - Getting hit by a drunk driver - A lot of people have poor eyesight here which is worse at night (poor night vision) - A lot of vehicles have very dark tint making motorcyclist harder to see of the drivers