richard_smith237

At Big C / Near Big C... the same thing for some... i.e. both at and near could both mean in front of Big C - that in itself is not really an indication of a fabricated story. This just sounds like someone passing along something they've been told, the info could be of value to some of us. There are numerous unscrupulous police around - it could be a reality that a couple in the area of On Nut are behaving like this, its fortunate most don't because there is little downside to getting caught (inactive position).

Agreed... That said, unlike some, I'm not so sure this is a made up story - The Thonglor police used to get up to similar shenanigans a while ago, so its perfectly feasible that either some BiB harassing foreigners or some 'fake police' are... Both happen and have happened in the past. As others have pointed out - IF facing such a situation and the BiB want to fine you, refuse the fine insist on going to the Police station. In the vast majority of cases a photo of the ID page on your passport is fine, as is a Thai DL or a Pink ID card. Those criminals (Police and fake police) attempting to extort people back down when they know they are getting nowhere.

It's a legal requirement in Thailand to be able to produce 'government authority issued photo ID' within a reasonable timeframe... For most of us thats a passport... Having been here for over 25 years Ive been asked for my passport a Three times by chancing police in BKK (I didnt have it). - Two occasions, two BiB pillion on a motorcycle, late night (3am-ish), pulled up the taxi I was in on some back soi's (Thonglor area), they wanted a passport, I just said no firmly, they asked where I was going and I just said 'Home'... they seemed to back down. - On other early evening (7pmish - Asoke Juunction) they wanted me to get out of the taxi, I ended up calling a friend who works for the police and that was that. Those occasions very much felt like a shakedown... extremely rare, but its happened.

The issue here is not that a girl went for treatment, but that long term damage has caused as a result of poor training and poor standards. This could be considered 'mal-practice' however, I wonder if such a place has a licence to practice in the first place. The insult here is the offer of a refund for the procedure and not compensation. Of course, all such places of treatment should carry insurance to cover such eventualities... I doubt many do.

He was born in the UK. His parents (Indian Heritage) moved to the UK from Kenya in 1960. What is 'British' culture exactly, and how can a person who was born in the UK and lived all his life there comprehend 'British Culture' any less so than any one else born in the UK ?? Your comment seems a bit racist to be honest.

We are one planet, circling a star which is one of 200-400 billion Solar Systems in the Milky Way which is one of an estimated 2 Trillion Galaxies in the observable Universe. Thats 8 quintillion (800,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) Solar Systems... The probability of intelligent life in the Universe is high. The probability of witnessing such life is an impossibility until we (or an intelligent alien life form) achieve methods to travel significantly faster than the speed of light.

Obvious reasons... Who wants wants to carry around a card and make frequent online payments etc from an account with a lot of money in it ? Account A) - Plenty of money in it (cards & book kept in the safe, never used for online transactions) Account b) - Limited money, periodically topped up from Account A, card in wallet, used daily, used for online transactions etc

Thats some impressive playing the persecuted victim hyperbolae there !!!...

Was this Op ghost written by Bob Smith ????

One wouldn't have to be a member of this forum for a long for it to be of no surprise whatsoever that the people Bob Smith hangs out with face these sorts of questions !!!...

Yes... and its somewhat self deprecating... But we also don't need to over-react at the term either. I'd obviously react if I heard the term out of context, i.e. someone who knows my name (i.e. company of friends, family or colleagues etc) referring to me as 'The farang'... But when used as a descriptor to describe a Westerner I've no issues with its use. I'm not going to over-react and start drawing parallels between N-word, Jek and Farang etc because that would be to 'shoe-horn offence and outrage' out of something innocuous.

I'd agree that many are... But it also seems that in their 'attempt' to not to be 'door-mats' some are so fearful of being disrespected & treated with inequality that they also react to problems which don't exist. In general Thai's will other Thai's (they don't know) with a general degree of indifference. In general Thai's will treat foreigners (they don't know) with a general degree of indifference. Some foreigners get upset by this and consider it poor treatment, but it's just people being people, thats it.

Theoretically yes... But, just as officers exercise discretion when they 'see you'... They may exercise discretion when you are in a line for 'more important people'.... So, for a 'borderline' entrant using the fast-track lane could influence the immigration officers decision not to press for questions etc. That said, it would never be wise to leave something such as this down to someone else's discretion.

Scouring the forum to look for an argument with anyone who's drawn an assumption or had an individual thought !!!

Opening a second Bank Account anywhere should not be a problem at all IF you meet the criteria for opening an account. i.e. Regardless of whether or not you hold an account with the same Bank, you will still need to meet the requirements (which obviously vary depending in location, branch and the person you are dealing with but usually its a Work Permit or Yellow House Book etc). My Example: I held an account with a reasonable sum of money in it with SCB. To protect this account I wanted to open a 'user account' which had less money in it which I could use on a regular basis and top up from my 'main account'. Even though I held an account with them with plenty of money in it, SCB would not let me open an second account with them unless I showed them a Work Permit - at that point it was a no-goer. Months later I'd secured a Yellow House Book and used that. All very silly to be told, yes we know you have an account with us but you don't meet the requirements to open an account !!!

I've been here since my early 20's (with work) and now base myself here and work rotationally outside of Thailand. I visit the UK regularly and would also be happy living there. I'd be happy to work for as long as I'm physically capable, I have plenty of time off already. One thing which does concern me if I were to stay long term in Thailand is access to reasonably priced health-care. IF living in the UK and going the ILR route, my Wife can get full NHS care for a fee. I know NHS has its critics and I agree with most of the criticisms, nevertheless, care for 'serious stuff' is there. Conversely, in Thailand, insurance premiums become prohibitive and paying for care outright costly. It's somewhat of a conundrum - of course, securing nationality is one option around that, but not working in Thailand, thats an impossibility.

Pay extra than what ?? where have you had Mac-n-cheese in a restaurant in Thailand (or anywhere) before now ?

Don't need a passport. I'm amazed at the number of people who ask me for one for other things than travelling abroad. Why amazed... its a the most common form of government issued ID for any non-Thai in Thailand. And, as you don't look Thai, when ID is required, this is the normal ID you will be asked for. The words Passport and ID are used synonymously in Thailand when foreigners are concerned. I think you are looking to feel offended when people don't automatically know you are Thai.

I very much imagine that personal battle is ongoing !!.... its locked in to ThaiVisa (and now Aseannow) folklore along with the GOM thread !!!

Without wishing to get too deeply into the Farang debate... There are times when I would find it offensive if used... ... i.e. If extended family (InLaws or BiL, Aunties, uncles etc) called me 'the Farang'... that'd be pretty rude when they all know my name... Of course, thats never happend because they are polite and respectful. ... The same when in a group of Thai friends who all know my name. Conversely, I've no issue at all when walking into a shop and overhearing one shop assistant say to the other "go and help that Farang"... But if the Shop assistant said to me "Farang, what can I help you with" I'd find it clumsy... usually they'd just avoid the use of the word 'Farang' when addressing me directly and perhaps use the word "Mister"... Thus - I suspect the word 'Mister' is used as a more polite replacement for the word 'Farang' when someone is addressing you.

What does a Sarcasm emoji look like please. Is 555 not enough? You know, ha ha ha Its an upside down smiley... .????

Sure is You can have all the Thai documentation in the world, You are not Thai. We've been through this before, if he has a Thai Passport and has a Thai ID and all the rights as a Thai Citizen, he's Thai. However, in a country such as Thailand which is exclusively dominated by people a South East Asian race Thai's will judge another's nationality based on appearance / race. IF a person of Chinese or Malay Nationality / race (etc), also holds Thai nationality, that nationality will not be questioned by Thai's, however, if a 'white person' has Thai nationality, a Thai will usually enter 'does not compute' mode. Conversely, IF a person of non-white race carries US or British Nationality, no eyebrows will be raised as those nations are multi-racial / multi-cultural. There may be discussion or even questions as to cultural and national origins and lineage, however, the nationality itself will generally not be questioned.

Now I'm confused... You could care less or couldn't as you keep commenting !!!... The Yiddish origins make sense...

With the British having a reputation for excelling in the art of sarcasm, also considered one of the lowest forms of wit.... it's interesting how the phrase 'I could care less' seems so odd... Perhaps us Brits don't get 'American sarcasm'... I've heard the phrase uttered by US politicians without the slightest intonation of sarcasm which makes it seem more odd.

No. I'm just being true to authentic Americanisms. If you don't like it, I could care less. I see... So there is room to 'care less' about this topic... This Americanisms is interesting, it's a completely illogical colloquialism.