richard_smith237

That only works in more temperate area's of Thailand... In many area's its just too hot and humid to be outside for any length of time... I can't do any work on my motorcycle or carry out any jobs without getting completely pished wet through in sweat within 20mins... The humidity in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok necessitates the need for more indoor space IMO... (and living elsewhere in Thailand is not an option as Wife is from Bangkok, all our friends are in Bangkok, Son's school is in Bangkok and there is definitely no compromise there). If I lived somewhere else, Chiang Mai or Hua Hin for example, spending more time outside, evenings too would be a far more realistic option... but then there is the smog some of the year etc..

To be honest - most condo's are boring boxes.. its how they are decorated which makes a place a more enjoyable environment to spend time in... We spend a lot of time over at friends houses or them over at ours, so having space for that is great. I've been to a lot of Thai friends houses... The space some of them have is astonishing - swimming pools on second floor, massive open plan western kitchen and dining area... 3-4 floors, elevators etc... I can only dream of such a place - the upkeep must be quite costly, but they are the sort of places that could be really enjoyed. We all live within our means and the reason - its great to be happy with what we have... But if money were no object I'm not convinced we'd be living in 45sqm or 150sqm condos...

Not really. Fair enough... I had 70sqm condo when alone... that felt about right at the time while single. Then I had a 75sqm condo when married, it felt too small and we moved to a 150 sqm condo - that felt about right at the time... Now we have 180 sqm house (indoor area) which feels a bit small, I'd like more garden for BBQ's...

Define woke? Painting a pedestrian crossing in LBGQT+ rainbow colours to appear to be with the times while causing a public hazard.... So in this example... Woke can be defined as excessive political correctness, virtue signalling and progressive activism that is overreaching and insincere.

If you're happy.. then thats ok.. would you not be happier with more space ?

I find it interesting how people can live in these condos 100m+ loads of empty space and junk furniture Is it only space and 'junk' furniture that interests you ?... .... What about the people who live in a 100m+ condo with nice furniture ?... no interest in them ?... Whats not to like about having a reasonable amount of space ?

That explains your drivel... what you put in is what comes out !!

That is also dependent on where we live of course... much of Thailand is way too hot and humid for many months of the year for sitting outside to be enjoyable. I'd argue similar space is needed for opposing reasons - in the UK its too wet / windy / cold... in Thailand its too hot and humid... its nice to have space to swing a cat in either environment.

.... and also the fact that the hunger for 'wokeness' kneecapped common sense and a road surface was covered with a slick paint... If authorities want to jump on the woke bandwagon, at least do so in a manner that doesn't make things more dangerous than they already are.

The binary choice you present highlights more of your own issues than anyone else's. Do you shoehorn everyone else's relationship into one of those two pigeonholes; 'life sentence' or 'keeping it casual' ?

I thought special needs education was free. Once again, you flaunt your staggering lack of intellect - of course, I couldn't afford to pay my own school fees as a child. If your education hadn't failed you so miserably, you might have had the sense to insult my parents' financial situation instead of me as a child! Yet another overly simplified and dumbed-down response from you. Do you really think the fear of a drug test will deter an addict? The fear of a DUI test hasn't stopped your addiction to drinking and then driving, has it?

It is very hard to rape someone when you are driving a car. OMG - the response of a grade A1 fool... Drinking aside, its actually a concern that people of such low intelligence are allowed behind the wheel in the first place. ... when I saw one of my former teachers in the pub and he said... "it frightens me to death to think that some of the students I taught are now driving"... he must have had people like Malcom in mind..

Try telling the family of one of the 2800 extra judicial killings many of whom there was no evidence against, many of whom it was also reported are innocent. You call it woke garbage because you lack the intellect to comprehend the response. I'm not disagreeing with you that the drugs are an issue - I am disagreeing with you that extra-judicial killings is somehow justified as a course of action. I am also disagreeing with you that 'sweeping drugs testing of whole communities' is a solution its not, its lazy policing and a fast track to getting more corruption, the police will love the extra tea money from anyone testing positive. Sweeping tests and drugs testing communities is not a solution, its a lazy knee-jerk response. But, I wouldn't understand you to understand basic civil rights - you don't even respect the rights of others not to be exposed to your drunk driving. The dumbed down 'freedy farang' comment is also plain stupid, as you have missed the point that such actions are not about 'my individual rights', but the rights of the nation citizens and how compromising a legal framework can impact a nation - its just too much for you to understand so you simplify and dumb down the issue... The lower price is due to over-supply... have you ever thought about who controls the supply?... its not the users or dealers - is the untouchables in green uniforms at the top of the chain...

maybe, maybe not.. guess you will never know, richard! bob. No Rolex and just not smooth enough with the ladies - its obviously Malcom !!!

'him' ??... You are using the 3rd person bob... is that not you ?

Any more info ? How did the motorcyclist cause the accident, according to your friend ? Hope the driver had a dash-cam. ------- It happens time and time again to me. I indicate to change lane and the motorcyclists just keep on coming and coming - all ignoring the indicator. The only thing to do is to drive without any sudden movements and move slowly into the next lane... still, motorcyclists will try and squeeze through impossible gaps... Thats not to suggest the same happened in this case, but on a daily basis I do see the manner in which so many motorcyclists ride is with complete disregard to their own safety.

I agree... the drugs are a serious issue... and that must be addressed within a legal framework. None of that condones drink driving, or your the justification of a hypocritical liar. (In your 'drink driving thread' it was clear that you have more than 'a couple' (two) beers before driving home). Ignoring your attempt to trigger... I agree, one persons comments on here will not make a difference how the Police fight the issue of drugs in Thailand, neither have I suggested it will. What I have suggested is that testing children without parental permission and testing individuals within general public without cause exceeds the legal framework within which the police are permitted to operate. They will not be targeting the middle class and higher echelons of society with these generalised tests because they know it will back-fire.. the Thai Police only target the poor and those without the education and resources to react. Thats a good example - he went rogue, permitted extra judicial killings... Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, Freedom House, U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports led to Thailand's human rights rating dropping from "Free" to "Partly Free," with scores declining due to these abuses... In turn... a lower human rights rating has an impact that laymen and the poorly educated are unable to identify, it is this impact on a nation on a national scale that people such as yourself will be unable to identify because you have no frame of reference to what 'could have been' without such actions... issues such as... - Reduction in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Divestment - International Sanctions, Trade Restrictions - Decline in Tourism - Reduced access to International Aid and Loans, Reduction in Aid, Loan Conditions - Impacted Economic Growth and Development, Stunted Growth, diminished Human Capital - Impacted Reputation and Trade Relations - Forced additional Legal and Compliance Costs - Generated Social Unrest and Costs Ultimately, Thaksin was the source of major civil unrest costing the nation billions - Its not very clever to use his actions as an example of the 'right way' to do things... 2800 extra judicial killings was an example of how "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely".... Thus - you can sit back and suggest that Thailand can and will do what it wants and I'd be inclined to agree with your assessment on a dumbed down level - Thailand does do what it wants, when it can 'get away with it'... ... and, those in power in Thailand are able to get away with nudging through policies which compromise the legal framework... but, compromising the legal framework is not without nationwide consequences, its just that simpleminded folk such as yourself are unable to recognise or identify such consequences. ... instead you'll try dumb down the discussion to the base intellect of a moron because you fail to assess these issues beyond this base level. Thus, while people like yourself may support 'generalised spot drugs testing' it is an abuse of power, one which has an impact invisible to people such as yourself. A better option than sweeping generalised action to drugs test a 'community' would be effective policing within those communities instead.

How idiotic - you're quoting someone else's flawed opinion as if its some form of factual link... You really are oblivious...

Another quality tourist Yawn - try harder 'drunk driver'...

It 'wouldn't' sit right we me either IF Thai's behaved negative towards me, but they don't... in over two decades, there have been very very few negative encounters - I'd hazard a guess and suggest there would be more issues in the UK. But you have gaslit my response.... Whenever I go out, day time or night, with the Wife or with friends, partying, getting drunk having a good time etc Thai's do say and do whatever they want to me / us... In exactly the same manner I say and do whatever I want to anyone around me... i.e. having fun and not causing conflict.

I wouldn't suggest that 'getting drunk every night and renting a bed partner' is quality... for some it might be... but that lifestyle is very unlikely to get them to 80 years old anyway... (generalising of course)... I don't think anyone wants to live to 90 if their quality of life is diminished beyond the ability for life to still be enjoyable - but I do wonder what enjoyment can be had to drinking and sh@gging every night - that also gets pretty boring after a while. As you mention, balance life and enjoy it... my comments have been in response to the 'get drunk and rent a bed partner every night' comment.. it seems to me that someone who suggests such behavior has no other options, their life is a void, no hobbies, no friends, few acquaintances outside of boozing... Given the content of their posts... I can see why such posters would drink themselves to death..

Zero problems in the past 10 years, neighbours quiet, dogs not allowed, zero noise ..... although the birds are tweeting a lot this morning. Agreed... I've never had issues with neighbours... there is also an element of luck with this though, that can be said of any country, but the difficulty in Thailand is selling on second-hand property. But, if living here long term and choosing well, owning your own property (or wife owns) will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Yeah.. we are all different - but one of the things I value most is that I had time with my grandparents, that I still have time with my parents, and that my son gets to spend time with his grandparents. Had my father been drinking every night, no... I very much doubt he'd still be here to spend time with his grandchildren. Had my father been the 'type' to move to Thailand drink every night and rent a bed partner, I doubt the family unit would be such that there is much consideration for each other. It does seem to me that those who have moved here 'drink and rent a bed partner' are likely to be estranged from their families in their home countries which perhaps triggered such a move in the first place.

Firstly - if a person doesn't shoot their mouth off the chances of getting involved in any 'trouble' here is minimal. Secondly - things can escalate to very dangerous, very quickly... Years ago, in my 20's... I was walking home with a friend (in a provincial town)... Two young lads came past on a motocycle and shouted "F$%k you farang"... I shouted "F$%k you" back at them. They stopped, got off their bikes and walked towards us... I was ready to fight... then decided against the idea and rode off... Less than 10 mins later, the two guys turned up with another 4 guys... they got off their bikes and walked towards, me, I was about to get the kicking of a life-time... I saw that one of them had a machete, I waied & apologised... I was extremely fortunate that this did the trick... they got back on their bikes and rode off. That night could have ended very differently and I learned a very strong lesson - never react, always be calm, walk away. Of course, there may be situations we cannot walk away from, but being sensible we can 'read the room' and avoid this potential in the first place. Examples would be... a handful of us going to a provincial night club (again when younger)... the club had a bit of a reputation for fights etc (amongst the locals) but we were young... we got some attention for being foreigners, friendly at first... but as the night went on we recognised the attitudes shifting as the locals got more drunk. We decided to leave when one of the lads came back from the toilets a told us a Thai guy had lifted his shirt to show him the gun he was carrying... wise choice in hindsight when sobre. Another time... in Bangkok, a friend over from the UK wanted to go to a more 'local place'.. I took him to a very local place, the kind of place that didn't serve JW, or even 100 pipers.. .. it only had 'Hang Dong' rum... it was a cheap place for local labourer types... we were the only two non-Thai's in there.. my friend decided he was 'Brad Pitt' and started walking around trying to pick up girls, even when they were on a table with guys... I didn't like the looks we were getting but my friend was oblivious... I didn't want to leave without him, but I didn't want to see things escalate. It was when the bouncers came over and said the place was closing in 5 mins, we should leave before it does that my friend got the message, we left... he would never accept that his acting like this was gong to pi$$ of the local lads.... Act properly and trouble won't follow you.. What surprises me, is that given bobs antics, he has not attracted physical attention from others when drinking...

Nope... because check-points for DUI are fully legal when there is a commissioned officer present. What's really fascinating is how your responses reveal your profound ignorance. You’re painfully oblivious to how much you don't know. Yawn... yet another dull, half-witted, and unoriginal attempt to get a reaction.