richard_smith237

Agreed... Without blindly adopting local driving methods its important we (riding and driving) adapt to local driving methods and as you mention - there is a significant laziness which which many approach their manoeuvre - cutting corners, but the biggest one for me is a reluctance to brake. I see most accidents occurring when both parties are refusing to slow or brake - IF only one of the parties had been sensible, the accident would have been avoided. One of the things I see here is people subconsciously 'broadcasting their intentions'... not by indicating etc, but their road positioning, their hesitation, the manner in which they allow their vehicle to drift etc.. (many indicators - not 100% accurate of course, but often a good enough indication to recognise what someone might do)... ... Wife will be driving and I'll say to her... Careful, that car is about to change lanes and cut you off... She won't see it, but somehow its possible to 'read' the interpretation of the other drivers intention. Of course - the worse one of the 'aggressive flashing of lights' as if to say... "Don't you dare pull out in front of me and make me touch the other pedal"... It seems many drivers would rather get 'close to a crash' than to have to apply a brake pedal or slow to give space.

I've read of a similar story on this forum in the past - a few years ago. Don't bother with it and don't worry about it - I doubt anyone will be that interested in you anyway, this seems more like a 'generalised sweep' to catch the local lads who've been up to mischief. Its a heavy handed and rather lazy way for the Police to enforce laws, but also can have a positive impact of taking a few nutcases off the streets or bringing them into line. The issue with such behavior is that its difficult to 'stand up for your rights' - the BiB need cause to test you, but also, refusing a test will make you look like you have something to worry about. The Police and community won't understand anyone 'standing up on principle'.... If having to 'volunteer' yourself at a centre for testing, I wouldn't bother. If the BiB turn up at your house and request a test, then just do the test and forget about it. Refusing could make things in the community more awkward for you as this somewhat backward idea of testing a whole village already implies a backward mentality.

Yes & no... The motorcycle was approaching at what appeared in the video to be high speed. But, the pick-up driver also drove 'straight into' the motorcyclist. Two issues here and this is not a 'victim blame' but a criticism of the manner in which many drive and many ride. - The motorcyclist rode without any regard for his own safety - travelling at what appeared to be quite a speed, he would have struggled to avoid most issues when travelling at this speed on a relatively small road. - The Pick-up driver simply didn't see the motorcyclist, it's not completely uncommon for motorcyclists not to be seen by cars and 'we' motorcyclist 'should' be riding accordingly. - Or, the Pick-up driver saw the bike but made the assumption that the bike would give way - in which case he drove with reckless endangerment. The dual issue: - Motorcyclist travelling too fast and not riding with appropriate caution. - Pickup driver failed to see the motorcyclist or simply just didn't bother to give way. Clearly 100% the pick-up drivers fault, but 'blame' is somewhat irrelevant if one is dead.

I made the same point asking about 'swimming zones' and accountability of those swimming in open water outside of swimming zones and was immediately accused of victim-blaming by a virtue-signaller. Someone swimming in open water not so easy to see, this could have been any vessel striking the swimmer. Its a tragic death, but I'm not sure the guy on the Jet-Ski should be or can be held accountable unless they'd strayed into a portioned off designated swimming only area.

Reminds me of the guy who smashed into the two graduates at the toll booth. They burned to death trapped in their car.....but he couldn't be breathalysed or give a blood sample as he had banged hie knee....!!!! Also of Orachorn "Praewa" Thephasadin na Ayudhya, who, in 2010, at 16 years old crashed in mini-van on the Expressway in Bangkok killing 9 onboard. She received a 2 year prison sentence, suspended for 3 years (she spent no time in prison) and was also mandated 48 hours of community service annually for three years, totalling 144 hours. It has been reported that she did carry out her community service. These cases all highlight the inequality and legal leniency for high-profile families that we often discuss within these forums with numerous other examples, most notoriously, Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya.... ... Also Kanpitak "Mu Ham" Pachimsawat who, after a quarrel with a bus driver, drove his car into a group of people waiting at a Bangkok bus stop, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. He was sentenced to 25 months in prison, its unknown if he spent any time in prison and there is no information available, he is the son of a senior associate of in the foreign direct investment practice group at Weerawong C&P, a leading Thai law firm. ... then there is the 2011 incident involving 19-year-old university student Peerapol Thaksinthaweesap, who fatally struck a 17-year-old Laotian girl with a Porsche Cayman in Pathum Thani, cutting her in half - his family paid 350,000 baht to the victim's family, the driver fled the scene and later reported to police, he was not tested for DUI or drugs.

100%... Thai forums are already discussing how the police did not undertake a DUI check as the boys family name is a known 'hi-so' name... I very much doubt we'll be reading of or hearing any more on this matter, this will go quiet very quickly.

He wrote Kitchen-counter not roofing !

We used Boontavorn https://www.boonthavorn.com/rocka-1145847?page=1 Quite happy with their service...

Perhaps not knowing 'knowing' is worse when being critical of the intellect of others. Cultural differences play a role here - parents allow their 16 year old children to ride motorcycles etc, some the UK countries also allow this - which seems madness to me. At the very least, this young man was driving a car, which offered some degree of protection. Yet the greater concern, one seemingly ignored by the parents, is the potential danger posed to innocent bystanders. The issue here isn’t a lack of love for their child but rather a profound absence of foresight, responsibility, and accountability. It often astonishes me how often I witness 'the tail wagging the dog' - where weak parenting fosters youngsters who, having been spoiled and rarely told "no," grow accustomed to doing whatever they please without consequence.

Agreed... I think the Op was just highlighting that instead if sitting back and doing nothing, his wife was willing to roll up her sleeves and seek out alternatives to sitting home and doing nothing, highlighting that there is opportunity for those willing to seize it. The Op is clearly proud of his Wife which is a great positive example a successfully relationship, this seems to have really triggered the negativity in some.

No need to prove anything... There are just some haters who assume people posting outside of their range of experience are lying... ... I suspect some are just a butt hurt because they married unemployable BG's and just can't accept that others have taken a different path.

Is the Op not a Canadian Citizen ??? - IF not, what nationality / citizenship do you 'imagine' he holds ??? As a Canadian, the Ops Wife can obtain PR while outside of Canada (under Outland Sponsorship') and can receive her PR card in Canada, it would usually take 2-3 months and she would have to remain there. As you pointed out the Op said his Wife was there for 2 weeks (Op - reconfirm ?). Travel is permitted without a PR card with the issuance of Permanent Resident Travel Document (while awaiting for the card to be delivered to a Canadian address). Thus: Its not impossible for the Ops wife to be in the situation she is and holding a PR card having only been in Canada for a short period of time. Yep - seems I do know better, or rather, the info you posted can be contradicted. Whether or not the Op is trolling - thats remains to be seen, the info he's posted is not impossible.

Does it really matter ??? The Op has showed a partial residence card, obviously with the personal info covered up, the card is accompanied with a handwritten note that shows he has the card in his possession right now. Unless the OP himself has jet black hair and a PR card, then who else could this card belong to ??? - Note: PR status can be obtained through a process called 'Outland Sponsorship' (application while outside of Canada, hence is perfectly feasible that the Ops Wife applied while in Thailand and they collected her PR card on a trip there (which was inadvertently cut short due to a job offer in Thailand). - Under PR there is an obligation to remain in Canada for a total of 730 days (non consecutive) within 5 years, but, there is an exception to physical presence clause when accompanying a spouse overseas.

It seems she returned to her employment on the basis of promises that were not fulfilled by the company. Her behavior is called 'quiet quitting'... the Op's wife appears to have played the game well and received a solid compensation package - I'd argue thats smarter than allowing herself be continuing to be bullied in the work place.

They're trolling you... Not that you needed to, but you've posted enough info to show that you are not being deceitful - The PR card is clear enough (with the handwritten and of course personal info missing) - The Messages / account balance shows a transfer. Those looking to find holes in your story will do so no matter what evidence you post. Not everyone remembers every detail perfectly and there may well be minor contradictions from time to time, thats also normal. I think we just have a handful of mongers here who have issue that your Wife makes her own money, meanwhile they are stuck paying someone and are unable to see things outside of their limited perspective. 5 months / 6 months - its hardly a major error. Additionally, some have no concept that compensation can be negotiated for - its unknown if 'previous employment and experience' with the same company can be tagged on to the compensation, but clearly that seems part of the process in this situation. You have nothing to gain by lying - I'm not sure why so many posters are so quick to accuse others of lying - seems as soon as a topic steps outside of the narrow experience of some they are very quick to make accusations.

I’ve never quite grasped the fuss myself. I know plenty of guys married to Thai-Chinese women, including those from wealthy families, and it’s really a non-issue. Yet somehow, there’s always someone eager to inject a dose of reverse snobbery into the mix. It’s baffling, really, back home, men marry women from all sorts of backgrounds without anyone batting an eyelid. But in Thailand? Suddenly, “white-skinned” Chinese-Thai women becomes unattainable in some people’s minds, and anyone claiming otherwise must be a liar. Then, of course, comes the reverse snobbery, neatly shoehorned into the narrative: remarks about “pasty white skin,” accusations of being snobby hi-so, or the tired trope of not being “real Thais.” It’s as if they can’t help but project their own insecurities onto others. I don’t think it’s jealousy, per se, more likely a cocktail of misplaced stigma and self-inflicted inferiority complexes. Whatever it is, it’s an odd little quirk of expat life that seems to persist no matter how ridiculous it becomes - Marry an Isaan farm girl and you are both salt of the earth, Marry a Chinese-Thai girl from Bangkok and you are either liar and / or she is a characterless snob (or something similar).

It’s interesting how some individuals manage to summon some form of offence over others having a Thai-Chinese partner. In some threads posters are accusing anyone who claims their spouse isn’t an Isaan farm girl of fabricating the story. As for the OP's point, it’s a fair observation: his partner, upon facing unemployment, promptly secured new opportunities. This rather neatly dismantles the tired narrative that bar work is the only option for those in challenging circumstances. For those willing to roll up their sleeves, there’s evidently no shortage of alternatives. Perhaps it’s not the lack of opportunity that’s the issue, it’s the willingness to seize it.

You really feel an extreme need to support your cheapo crusade against paying a mere 139 baht per month... We get it, paying for Spotify is beneath you because you’ve already graced the music world with your spending and now deem your tastes superior, arrogantly speaking for others here. Truly bizarre behavior. No further comments from me - for such a trivial thread you seem to be getting angry and childishly argumentative - the Op has is info, I'm not so sure he needs your silly arguments to justify your penny pinching.

Again.. "up to you" as they say... meanwhile 252 Million people think otherwise.

Another point: The Thai guys are wearing 'normal clothes' they are not in any 'Security Uniform'... We're they really security ?... or local lads (MC riders etc) ready to step in if things get heated ?

Many news accounts in America of folks dying after fighting ex college football bouncers. Valid points - I think the type of person such work attracts, lends to horrific outcomes once some of the 'outliers who are unable to control themselves' are triggered. Nightclubs and bars in Thailand are certainly no stranger such outcomes, I'm sure the same can be said of bars and clubs in many other countries - once the 'big thugs' are triggered the consequences can be devastating. Thats not to suggest the subject of this thread was not behaving terribly, more to agree with you that this behaviour may well have attracted a very heavy handed reaction anywhere. Nevertheless, putting someone in hospital is an excessive response, here or in any other nation.

+1... It’s common for sweeping generalisations to emerge, often fuelled by media attention. Ironically, those who get caught up in such generalisations tend to voice them most vocally. While I find it frustrating to be unfairly grouped with others of my nationality who behave poorly, I also recognise the absurdity of such broad judgments. Any reasonable person can easily distinguish the actions of a minority from the decency of the majority. This principle applies broadly to stereotypes and generalizations. Judging an entire nation based on the actions of a few is not only shortsighted but also fundamentally flawed. That said, stereotypes and generalisations don’t emerge out of nowhere; they often stem from a grain of truth or a recurring pattern. Take, for example, the stereotype of Russians in Phuket. While it exists for a reason, it’s far from an accurate depiction of all Russians, many are, in fact, very pleasant, especially once you get to know them. Similarly, stereotypes about Brits and Australians suggest a propensity for rowdy behavior, yet I personally know none who start fights in bars or behave poorly in public. The same applies to Americans; though often labeled as loud or brash, most I’ve encountered are quiet and reserved. Ultimately, while stereotypes and generalisations may have roots in reality, the most accurate generalisation is this: generalisations are nearly always flawed.

It maybe the fact that we are in Thailand that we are exposed to such news more, but there also exists the issues that bouncers have killed folk in the bars in what can only be described as 'thuggish over-reaction'... and far beyond doing their job in extracting people from a bar.

I kind of agree... But, then, I also have plenty of Japanese friends and they certainly 'appear' to carry on with a better degree of respect and behavior, particularly when it comes to thuggishness when drunk. They are also far more discrete and don't parade their floozy around as 'some' westerners do... I don't know any Westerners that behave like this either, but see plenty of it in the malls, so I get your point. Also note, the Japanese still get themselves into plenty of trouble overseas and in Thailand too, we just hear less about it because it doesn't make the news / media sources we are more commonly exposed to... i.e. if our information source is limited this forum which is particularly English (language) centric, then we are not made aware of their antics. I agree that there are cultural differences and your Japanese example is good one, though its not so black and white due to other factors - Also note: The Japanese have one of the largest organised crime networks in the world. Thus: To answer your question: Do Thai's see us 'Westerners' as a 'superior' to other foreigners in Thailand in the same way you described others on this forum seem to express. The answer is multifaceted as we can't shoe horn a generalisation out of whole nation particularly as 'foreigner' density and nationality population varies from area to area. Thus: 1) I think most Thai's are completely indifferent to our presence - they are getting on with their own lives and don't care one way or another. This is the feeling I get in Bangkok and other locations outside touristy areas, the interactions I have on a daily basis are generally pleasant without any negativity at all, in very much the same way Thai's interact with each other. Therefore, In area's outside of major tourist hotspots I think Westerns are viewed upon with attitudes ranging from general indifference to well liked but judged based on individual merit (i.e. appearance, attitude, behavior etc). 2) In areas of high tourist footfall Westerners seem to be viewed upon with attitudes from being disliked but tolerated (familiarity breeds contempt) to general indifference and this stems from the the type of foreigner these area's attract (a minority who make the news), much of the 'judgement' may stem from the fact that these higher tourist footfall area's are highly money focused and the type of Thai's these area's seem to attract are somewhat more mercenary in their attitudes. I think its impossible to generalise we'd have to consider on a city by city basis - as an example Russians in Phuket may have drawn more negative attention from the locals primarily due to their numbers than anything else - whereas in Khon Kaen, there are hardly any Russians so the locals will not have an opinion. Where 'Western Foreginers' fall on that 'totem pole of attitudes' varies across the nation I think - but I still think with any interaction for the most part we are not viewed with any prejudice until we draw it upon ourselves, though there are also numerous exclusions generalisation as well.

Some would disagree Thai food street stalls ? What is cheaper,what is more expensive, obviously rent thankyou very much !!!!! If you are forced to live on Thai street-food, you can't afford Bangkok or Thailand in general. Bangkok is more expensive in virtually every aspect - its basic economics and bid-rent theory. And yes - even the Thai street food is more expensive in Bangkok compared to other cities. Only in area's of high tourist footfall is the price higher, in those same cities (i.e Pattaya) away from the tourist area's the price is more competitive and cheaper than the general prices in Bangkok.