richard_smith237

Does that mean no such discussion should take place on a forum designed for discussion ???? We have the benenfit of having opinions, drawing conclusions and discussing them on here without the burden of proof while hopefully relying in probability even when a shadow of doubt could exist.... Would you suggest we solely discuss the burden of proof on a forum that has no access to such information ?

Speaking from experience ?

What exactly are you admitting to when you mention 'us Brits' and kiddy fiddling ?... Please don't tarnish other decent British folk with your noncey ideas or whatever it is you found on the dark web...

Small shops don't. You're looking for a problem that doesn't exist. If you want to pay cash thats fine. If someone else wants to go cashless, thats also fine. People getting angry at someone using their phone to pay is daft.... Get irritated by an idiot being slow and faffing, yep, I get that... but that person is going to faff whatever they are doing. My Inlaws take 10 minutes to put on their seatbelts in our car... I exaggerate, its probably about 10 seconds... when it takes me 1-2 seconds... I'm a complete ayhole if that bothers me !!!... ... but I get it with strangers wasting our time... but is an extra 30 seconds or a minute at a Makro checkout that much of a big deal ??? I've recently been badly injured through sports, so understand the 'hanging around unnecessarily' while some oblivious person takes their time as the pain builds up and it seems to take eons while we want to go through a regularly daily task we think would take a brief moment... But think about it - is it really that bad to get bitter and upset about ??? ... sometimes I do.. but thats not so much the knee pain etc - its the inconsideration of the other person who shows complete disregard for anyone around them... thats just the world. If you [Lacessit] were behind me, my Wife and most people I see in a shop, you'd be happy because the payment is so quick. ... now also consider the amount of people who go to the easy pass lane and cause a traffic jam because they though they were the 'clever one' and joined the fast lane without realising it was an easy pass only lane.... etc etc... life is full of such people.

I can promise you... I'm quicker than you when I'm paying with PromptPay or True Money... Unless of course you handover exact change... then we're probably within a few seconds of each other, which is to say - whichever process is rather efficient unless the 'shopper' is an inherent fumbler. The slow people are going to be slow whatever medium they are using... everyone else operating with reasonably efficient limits are not really making a difference either way.

Yes... but they're the same fools who fumble getting their walled out, then getting the cash out etc, or fumbling with with card to use... ... The 'Fumbler' argument has been used for a few years now used by those to draw an argument against cashless payment... you't get slowed by the same people getting in and out of a an elevator, hesitating to get on the escalator, attempting to pull out of a junction etc... some people are just slow... I was stuck behind someone today in a 7-Eleven... It was only after the cashier had totalled everything up that they decided they had a their own bag to use, only after then did they get their wallet out, then they had to remember their membership password (code), and then paid with a 1000 baht not, which required change.... ... in contrast my 5 item purchase was paid for in a split second... True Money Wallet open and ready to scan... The point I want to make here is, Imbeciles are going to exist... whether they are faffing around when you are walking through a door, getting on a plane, checking out at a supermarket, or even ordering a bowl of noodles - some people just forget they're not the only people in the world.

If you held on to your XRP you're probably quite happy at the moment. I'm wondering how far it will go - it 'hiccupped' over the past 24 hours. I cashed out at 87 baht... - then changed my mind and cashed back in at 84 baht. Its now 79 baht (I'm holding a lot of XPR). I've got to start looking at Cold Wallets - but don't really know to go about that, and a get 'seed phrase safe'...

A couple of questions here 1) Does anyone have recent experience of obtaining a Thai ID (1949 version) to drive on a 5 Year Thai Driving Licences while overseas in Japan ? - I'm trying to book online on the DLT Smart Queue App (but its anything but smart) as I get no option for an IDP with my 'foreigner' Log-in. - Meanwhile with my Wife's log-in, she can book for to apply for an IDP (at the moment I just plan to go at the same time with my Wife and take a chance that I can piggy-back on her booking). - Also, oddly, DLT Prakanong / Bang Chak (Area 3) is full for my Wife - so she has had to book at Chatuchak (Area 5), meanwhile, I am unable to book anything at all (even for a new Thai DL at Chatuchak - the whole Chatuchak option is greyed out for me which is strange). It looks like foreigners are somehow unable to get into this Queue (unless renewing a Thai DL at Area 3 - which I Don't need) Also. 2) Is the DLT QR Licence App still working ?: I'm registered, its worked before, its no longer working, I'm completely unable to log-in with my existing details (registered with Pink ID number (as per my Driving license) - anyone else having this issue, this is not a show-stopper (Its just handy to have access to the driving / riding licences on my phone - just incase I'm stopped and have forgotten my wallet etc). -------- Back-up solution for IDP is to get one from the UK. - My UK license expires in 6 months. I can apply for a renewal to my UK address (send a couple of Passport Photos over) and have someone go to the Post office with my Renewed UK License (and Passport Photos) obtain the 1949 IDP and then post it over to me here. But, just incase that doesn't work out, I want to get the Thai IDP

So 230,000 Police Officers in Thailand should ignore all crimes, no matter their severity until they successfully apprehend Vorayuth Yoovidhya ???? Because, that seems to be the spectacularly brainless, deluded, asinine, senseless and colossally obtuse sentiment you are suggesting...

Talking of redundant comments.... So... what is your contribution to the discussion on this discussion forum ? - any ideas regarding how a child such as this should or can be rehabilitated ?... Or, are you just going to stick with 'virtue signalling against those you accuse of virtue signalling' ???

.... and when there is such evidence and its clear cut.... below is the clear solution. Remove the animal from society - he's proven that he is subhuman, he does not need to be treated with humanity.

Very racist comment. There are plenty of deviant beasts in Thailand who are Thais. Not really - it does seem that Thailand is a 'destination' for deviants - thats kind of the selling point of places such as Pattaya where guys boast about their monging - which is fine, its consensual and legal - but there is a minority of visitors who, because of a financial advantage believe they can take their perversions further and because of slack policing think they can 'get away with it'... ... That by no means detracts from the fact that there are also Thai sicko's who do the same thing, just that Thailand seems to also attract some foreigners of a similar mindset.

Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. You let your dog 'come and goes' as it pleases and don't care if it chases down a kid on a bicycle... and how would you know it doesn't ? you are not there... you've already admitted you are not there all the time (if your dog comes and goes)... It also seems you have admitted your dog has already bitten people too - and of course, like so many of a similar mindset, you will not admit responsibility...

Always the same stupid arguments when it comes to dogs. I only offer compensation if my dog bites someone outside of my property and that depends on the situation. There are enough stupid people who threaten with a stick as a precaution and wave it in front of their nose, then my dog bites and there is no compensation... My property is fenced in and has warning signs. No one has any business inside the property and it is their own fault if my dog does its job. So, you train your dog to attack people... nice... I hope there are no kids in the neighbourhood who attempt to retrieve an errant ball... your trained 'mauler' will deal with them....

Very true - one of the comments I make that reenforces this. - On a 2 hour journey from the Airport to my home in the UK - I don't see anything that makes me gasp or think, what the fluk - what was he thinking ?.... conversely... - On a 30 minute Journey from the Airport to my home in the UK - I've never 'not' seen anything that makes me gasp or think, what the fluk - what was he thinking ?.... There are plenty of good drivers here - there are just a lot more poor drivers here - thats not bias, its just observation. ------------------------- Some really stupid ones... - I was on foot. Wife was in the car - slowly moving queueing traffic (about walking pace). I'm on the pavement walking up towards our car and am about to get in, when a motorcycle manoeuvres up on to the pavement and rides towards me as I'm about to get in the car.... He stops in front of me so I can't open the door, hits his horn... I have to get out of the way, then step back to where I was so I could open the car door. - Toyota Camry, U-turning under a Bridge, so basically turning right into two lanes of traffic. I'm driving. I'm behind the camry thats not moving... I'm trying to be patient, but the driver is making no attempt to pull out. Cars are approaching, but there is a lot of space and plenty of gap to pull out... after waiting some more I do something I've never done before (and something Kwilco will surely fire a shot at me for), I went around the stationary Toyota to the left, pulled out into to the road, and waved to the Toyota that he/she could not have space to pull out (maybe they were an extremely nervous driver), they still didn't move.... So, I just drove on, in my rear view mirror, the road was empty with the exception of other vehicles going around the Toyota - maybe the driver was unwell... but their road positioning was good, but it seemed the were extremely hesitant to pull out into the road, even with over 50m (estimate) of free road to pull into. - Then there was the guy on a scooter pulling out without looking and nearly riding into the side of me - I hadn't stopped he'd have hit me (of course - the 'dent' would have been repaired on my insurance). Just one day brings loads of examples of stupidity and W.TF moments on the roads here. ------------ BUT... and this is a bug 'but'... our area in the UK is rural - B class roads (these are narrow roads, with dashed white line in the middle, enough splace for two cars to pass driving at normal speeds) - C class roads (single lane roads with a periodic 'wider spot' for vehicles to stop and give way to allow approaching vehicles to pass). Once I get to my area I notices how fast people drive - the B Class road - people driving at 60mph (which is the speed limit)... the approach speeds are thus 120mph (which is a 193 kmh closing speed) which seems just insane to me. On the C-Class lanes they drive anywhere from 30-60 mph depending on visibility and weather, which is even more insane. Surprisingly few accidents, but when there is a head on crash, its catastrophic and over the past 30 years or everyone in the area knows of those catastrophic accidents - 4 that I recall - which is not bad over a long time span. But, I still cringe when I get back to those roads that everyone there is used to and seeming belting along without any concern. People seem to drive those smaller roads a lot more carefully over here in Thailand.

Mileage on how the DLT interprets each Visa varies... Some insist in on a Non-Immigrant Visa to secure a 5 Year Full Thai Drivers License and for any other visa not considered a 'resident visa' they will only issue a 2 Year Temporary Driving License. However..... At the very same DLT (Area 3 Bangkok), I have used my Thai Elite Visa.... once, when renewing a 5 Year Driving Licence, and they would only renew to a 2 Year Temporary License. Then two years later with exactly the same Thai Elite Visa they issued me a 5 Year Visa. That was pretty much when I gave up trying to figure out rhyme or reason when dealing with Thai bureaucracy. Its not a major issue - BUT... If someone wants an International Driving License, based on their Thai 2 Year licence, then it becomes an issue as (if I'm not mistaken) we can only get a Full IDP to drive in other countries (such as Japan etc) when on a full 5 Year Driving License (slightly off topic - but that has caused me issue in the past - but not not a major issue as the Wife drove and I could just chill with a beer !!!).

Just on a note about charging etc... The wife does most of the driving, school runs and her stuff about town etc... We had to run a few errands today, myself included, then pick up my son from school... We got in the car and it was something in the region of 25% charge. We did what we needed to quickly in town, then drove out to our sons school on the way, stopped off at a PTT station and ran a Fast Charge while we grabbed a quick bite to eat... we were up to 76% by the time we got back to the car. Thus: the uncertainty of 'being out and about' and getting caught with the pant down and low charge is not really a concern unless on an extremely tight time bomb... Wife did ask - what happens if stuck in a major traffic Jam for hours (it happened to friends a few weeks ago when one of the lanes was blocked in Sukhumvit 39 cycle lane debacle) - I think the car goes into 'low battery mode' turns off the AC etc and goes 'full eco' in a worst case scenario. But - realistically, I don't ever expect that to happen - after running rudimentary calcs - the car would have to be sitting stationary in a traffic jam for approx 22 hours to run out of power (from 50% with Air conditioning on) Assumptions: Base vehicle electronics (infotainment, lights, etc.): ~0.5 kW. Air conditioning: ~1.5 kW (for cooling in warm weather). No other electronics being charged. Total estimated consumption: 2.0 kW. Time to deplete the battery: 50% Battery: 44 kWh ÷ 2.0 kW = 22 hours.

I view it from another perspective: Caution and preparedness are essential in navigating the unexpected. One reason I engage with discussions like these is their reinforcement of a crucial mental practice - acknowledging that absurd incidents can and do occur around us. These reminders serve a valuable purpose. Today, I was tempted to share a video of a motorcyclist I encountered. On a narrow soi, he pulled out from my right without so much as a glance, no helmet, no regard for safety. He came alarmingly close to colliding with the side of my car. Frankly, I struggle to comprehend how such recklessness and a lack of self preservation is even possible. Observations like these are not rooted in prejudice but in an honest reflection of behaviour that warrants scrutiny. This forum, intended for Westerners living in Thailand, provides a platform for such discussions. Similar critiques arise in online spaces in the UK, where reckless individuals and poor decisions are also called out, they also exist on local Thai forums, discussed by Thai's and the comments could be a copy and paste (translation) from many comments on these pages. Let me reiterate: criticisms here are aimed squarely at the individuals whose behaviour is dangerous and, where relevant, at the shortcomings in local enforcement. The focus remains on the context of living in Thailand, which is the purpose of this forum. As I mentioned earlier, Kwilco, you seem so committed to defending Thai practices that even when confronted with glaringly irresponsible actions, you appear to overlook them entirely in your need to defend Thai's instead choosing to levy accusations of racism - perhaps you need to look inwards at your own lack of balance when such discussions take place.

If this junction were truly so difficult to navigate, how has the OP and everyone else (most) watching the video found it so straightforward? The answer is clear: the correct way to approach and complete the turn is glaringly obvious to anyone paying attention. Even the Songthaew driver knew this and made no genuine mistake - what he attempted was deliberate. He was trying to "pull a fast one," forcing his way ahead of the OP’s car by disregarding both courtesy and rules. This type of behaviour is far too common at junctions in Bangkok. Take, for instance, a typical T-junction on a three-lane road controlled by traffic lights: Drivers in the left-turn-only lane frequently turn right, cutting around the outside of those in the correct lanes. This manoeuvre disrupts the flow, causing hesitation and slowing down traffic for everyone. Drivers in the right-turn lanes sometimes swerve out of line to bypass and cut off the car ahead, creating unnecessary congestion and potential hazards. Such behaviour cannot be excused by poor road markings or confusion. These drivers know exactly what they are doing. Their actions are neither accidental nor misunderstood - they are calculated. They are aware that their moves are cheeky, wrong, and risk causing accidents, but they proceed regardless. Why? Because the roads are so poorly policed that they can almost always get away with these selfish and inconsiderate antics without consequence. This is not a matter of poor design or unclear rules and markings. It’s a matter of deliberate disregard for others on the road, driven by a lack of enforcement and accountability.

That just shows how little comprehension of the video you watched... well, perhaps you haven't watched it yet, hence your comments.

Not all Thai drivers are antisocial, selfish idiots, far from it. It’s a minority that stand-out and are more visible due to their reckless behaviour, which unfortunately disrupts the flow of traffic and puts others at risk. These drivers are often responsible for accidents, speeding, running red lights, obstructing traffic, and drink driving. Their actions leave a visible impact, making them hard to ignore. That said, the majority of Thai drivers drive in a perfectly reasonable just like most others here, especially when you consider the challenges posed by high traffic density and the presence of other disruptive motorists. Many drivers navigate these conditions with admirable patience and skill, which deserves recognition. It is this contrast that validates comments regarding the minority of problematic drivers, whose actions give rise to the frustrations frequently discussed in forums like this one. Interestingly, Thai people themselves engage in similar discussions on local platforms such as Pantip. In fact, many of the viral videos showcasing dangerous or absurd driving behaviours originate from these Thai forums, where locals voice their own concerns. Given this context, it’s worth reflecting: while it’s true that expatriates and visitors should respect their host country, what do you say to the many decent Thai citizens who share exactly the same frustrations? Suggesting that only Thai's are entitled to an opinion about such matters risks dismissing the universal desire for safer, more considerate driving habits - something that benefits everyone here, regardless of nationality.

No.. he was still trying to ‘go around & then cut in’ until forced to fall back in line with the cam-car which was in the correct lane.

No I don't - I point out how incredibly inept people are at watching videos and how little they know about road safety. You mean you pour out how you strangely see something completely different to shoe-horn in an excuse for the stupid as you believe they is some underlying racism when comments are made on the behavior of some on the roads here. This junction / exit from the mall cannot move clearly signed & marked, yet you still refuse to accept that the driver of the Songthaew was just a selfish idiot trying to force his way in. The obviousness of the stupidity is lost on you because you are so deep into this rabbit hole of trying to blame everything else but idiocy - & sometimes it really is just pure idiocy… nothing more.

Who needs a San Martin ?? - I can tell the time on my phone !!!...

It seems you often go to great lengths to excuse blatant selfishness and irresponsible behaviour on the roads here. Regarding the man with the flag, his role is straightforward: to ensure that traffic on the main road yields to vehicles exiting shopping malls or similar premises. Such attendants are a common sight across Thailand, stationed at mall exits, office car parks, and similar locations. Their presence is necessary precisely because many drivers refuse to show courtesy or give way. As for the Songthaew driver in question, these drivers run the same routes daily and are well-acquainted with the road layout. He knew exactly what he was doing when attempting to force his way ahead of the original poster (OP). This isn’t a complicated junction or a scenario difficult to grasp. It’s simply another example of the widespread lack of consideration, sense, and courtesy exhibited by many drivers on the roads here. Had this happened anywhere else in the world such as the UK, it would still be blatant selfishness and irresponsible behaviour - Mine isn't an anti-Thai comment, its an anti-idiot comment !!!!