richard_smith237
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Posts posted by richard_smith237
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1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:
- the driver of the Songthaew was clearly at fault for speeding
The songthaew was being driven a moderate speed, according to witnesses.
And what is the witnesses idea of a 'moderate speed'... ???
We have a video - we are also 'witnesses' to the speed the Songthaew was being driven at and may even have a better idea than the 'so called witness'...
Look at things for yourself for a change, rather than blindly believing whatever is written in a news article.
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Just now, 300sd said:
Nice of you to follow the law with your car, while waiting for other road lunatics to smarten up! That's very noble of you. I hope you make a difference. I on the other hand will continue to break the law and not stop at zebra crossings for exactly the reason we see in the “stoppers” video. Let me know when things change and I'll be more then pleased to abide. Bye, bye.
Things are changing slowly.But, as you say, of ppl won’t stop for the same reason you don’t- some areas are more civilised than others.
Hope you don’t hit anyone thinking
you were protecting them.
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47 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:
With the new and improved taller moka pot design there is no need to keep the lid open, the coffee brews evenly and you can easily hear when it's nearly ready, no spurting or splashing like the old smaller design.
I also find the plastic dosing ring (pictured further up) very useful to get the same quantity of coffee and no spillage
Perhaps I need to change my Bailetti Moka Pot to a newer design as it does spurt and by the time we hear it 'boiling up' its too late...
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2 minutes ago, leonard beaven said:
Just out of interest,and noting that Thais drive on the left,What was the vehicle filming this horrible accident,doing on the outside lane????
Avoiding the motorcycles that frequently pull out from side lanes without looking...
But, as you point out - there are multiple 'hidden' facets that lead to this incident - one of them being that the 'cam car' in the outside lane blocked the vision of bother the pedestrians and the driver of the Songthaew of each other.
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2 minutes ago, Packer said:
Brakes failed. Water bottle jammed down the accelerator.
6 lanes, should have a pedestrian bridge.
Perhaps... but that doesn't excuse poor selfish driving.
The pedestrians should have paid more attention.... but that doesn't excuse poor selfish driving.
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1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:
no-one knows them, cares about them or adheres to any of them even when they are widely known....
Rubbish.
The driver in the car that took the video clearly stopped for the pedestrians.
Ok... 'some drivers do know the law'... Most don't bother with the laws and 'many' don't even know the law, thats the point.
I bet if you ask drivers if they have to stop at a pedestrian crossing when someone is trying to cross that many / most won't know the law.
Of course, with your unhinged bias that Thai's can do no wrong you will argue that because it contracts your daft delusions.
... some drivers here perhaps do know the laws and just don't bother with them... but there are many who are wholly ignorant and their only learning is that passed onto them from those around them...
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4 hours ago, factual monk said:
It's matter of few more years... Songkran will lose it cultural significance... as it is ... past couple of years... it has changed drastically... thanks to extreme commercialization of Songkran by Authorities...
No it won't... even 30 years ago the 'water fight' aspect of Songkran was a major facet - that has not change in every town across the nation - commercialisation has brought more tourism to key areas, thats all.
The traditional aspect of Songkran is still respected and valued as much as it ever was, its just not as 'social media' newsworthy to trigger netizen outrage as a ladyboy getting her norks out or someone dancing near a statue where 'faux offence' can be taken or the 'honourable family resort reputation of Pattaya Soi' to be brought into question...
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9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:
No, you are not damned both ways. You still have a foot that can remove the bottle if in the way.
IMO a driver is [damned both ways] - there are many accidents where the vehicle cannot slow or stop because the bottle is under the pedals.
9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:Also, if you slow down and drive into the side, you are of course not making an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. You slow down and at the same time driving out on the shoulder.
There are many accidents where a lorry, truck, car, motorcycle etc has driven into a stationary vehicle at the side of the road / on the shoulder... Stopping makes you a hazard (even though drivers should of course be more aware - the are many incidents of this in Thailand).
9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:It´s nothing judgemental, no hindsight and no need to be an expert. The only thing you need is to be an experienced and composed driver making the right decisions. And no, we do not get the right to call something that might pose a deadly risk for others a mistake.
Obviously, the only correct option is not to have anything that can roll under in the first place... thats the correct decision and its made before taking to the road (we have a tray compartment as part of our centre console, my wife put a water bottle there and I had to get her to remove it due to this very risk).
You (and others) have suggest one solution in the event of this issue (slowing to a stop and removing the item) because the accident in this event occurred a certain way... had the bottle rolled under the pedals and the accident occurred differently, it would then be argued that he should have tried to remove the bottle.
Your comment about 'composure' stands out - thats the key in any issue - remain composed, sometimes there is no perfect solution to an issue.
9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:But, all of that is of course only my opinion, and based on my experience driving cars and riding motorbikes for over 37 years without any accidents. Anyone with that kind of track record, are of course welcome to oppose.
You have 1 year of experience and have repeated it 37 times ???...
5 years experience repeated 7.4x.... ?..... Thats the issue with quoting experience as a time-frame - its not a valid metric of 'quality'.... Its also the issue with stating no accidents - you are always 'another drive' away from one (hopefully not of course)...
...But time and not having had an accident before are not an accurate measure of a better driver.... its simply an accurate measure of time and luck in most cases...
... there are life long 'advanced driving instructors, police drivers etc. who have had accidents'..
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On 9/25/2024 at 12:27 PM, Finlaco said:
One of the better methods is to use boiled water in the chamber and use a paper coffee filter. I use a basic Bialetti (4 cups). The Moka pot metal conducts heat very efficiently and if you start with room-temperature water, you are burning the coffee grinds as the water boils. Brew it with the lid open and as soon as the coffee begins to come through, remove it from the heat and be careful not to over-extract the coffee as this is the main reason why many people give up on their Moka purchases after a while.
Give it a try.
There is a very significant taste difference between starting with boiled water and room temperature.
There is a subtle difference between using a paper filter and no paper filter.
100% this - though I've never used the filter paper.
As mentioned, using boiled water prevents burning of the grinds.
Also brewing with the lid open means you can observe the extraction, as soon as the fluid (coffee) starts to flow out of the spout, remove from the heat to prevent 'over-pressure and spurting' - where the boiling water lifts the grinds in the 'brewer organ' and passes through the coffee with incomplete extraction... (filter paper may also help this).
Using a Moka Pot requires some trial and error to 'perfect' the extraction, but once achieved - the end product is very good value for money if not wanting to go the whole-hog and get a decent espresso machine.
Note - Consistency of grind is perhaps the most important part - thus: Use a quality grinder or have pre-ground beans.
I personally like Espresso ground coffee and like the Moka Pot Coffee slightly muddy.
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On 9/25/2024 at 3:25 PM, WebGuy said:
Moka, is this the coffee that tastes like chocolate? That's my favorite coffee I buy in Amazon.
If it is, which of these two types of coffee gives it that chocolate taste, Arabica 100% French Dark Roast or HillKoff Arabica coffee?
Thanks
While similar sounding... Mocha coffee and Moka Pot are different things.
Mocha is a coffee bean that originated in Yemen and was known for its 'chocolatey' notes - this evolved into Coffee Shops making Mocha coffee with regular coffee and cocoa powder (or actual chocolate).
Whereas the Moka Pot is a specific brewing technique (subject of this thread).
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30 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:
Anyway, not need to be any Sherlock to understand. If a bottle or something else falls down, you keep your composure and drive to the side, picking it up. Anything else is a dangerous person on the roads.
As pointed out... when slowing, anything that has rolled into the footwell, can also roll under the pedals.... There's a strong argument to suggest it should be retrieved as quickly as possible (though the accident itself contradicts this)...
... this is a case of 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' - the link below highlights an accident where a thermos rolled under the pedals, perhaps there's an argument to suggest the drive 'should have' retrieved the flask ASAP.
Its easy to judge with 20/20 hindsight.
IMO - thats rather poor hindsight - should those judgemental enough to suggest they have never made a mistake on the road not instead suggest that nothing should be present to roll into the drivers footwell in the first place instead of suggesting he slowed to a halt ?
Additionally: this incident could have occurred in many other ways. Had the driver stopped to retrieve the item and was rear ended by a truck, would those with 20/20 hindsight not then suggest he should have retrieved the item quickly to avoid stopping and becoming a hazard.
Too many variables of course - the non-variable are the 'experts' forgetting they too are human and that mistakes are made.
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6 minutes ago, 300sd said:There is a lot going on here.
Unfortunately for the family they pay a big price and they have my sympathy.
It is unfortunate that they failed to look “both” ways.
It's unfortunate that the guy in the fast lane stopped for them. He should know better!
The driver of the cam car in the right lane should also have not stopped and broken the law ?
Its such attitudes and behavior that enables drivers to continue driving in this manner contributing to Thailands terrible road accident and fatality stats.
6 minutes ago, 300sd said:Thai drivers don't see this as a red light! Thai drivers mostly don't see a zebra crossing at all! Also a vehicle behind this “stopper” as a rule will swerve into the other lane to get by!
It's unfortunate that zebra crossings give many a false sense of security.
I get the point you are trying to make - its made by many - but its an uncivilised attitude that will never lead to any improvement in 'road attitudes'
I read posters on here suggesting they never stop at a pedestrian crossing as it offers the 'crosser' the impression of safety (that its now safe to cross) and another driver / rider will blow through the crossing hitting them.
When first at a crossing, I 'try not to stop' when on my motorcycle for fear the vehicle behind will not stop and hit me, but in the car I follow the law and stop - its up to the pedestrians to also cross with safety in mind and look out - all of the videos I've seen where pedestrians are hit on a crossing have crossed without looking for traffic, which I find a somewhat shocking lack of self-preservation given Thailands driving standards.
6 minutes ago, 300sd said:It's unfortunate that zebra crossing in this country don't work like other countries.
What they offer is a place to cross at your own risk.
Thats because the reckless drivers are 'enabled' by the lack of enforcement and lack of penalties - it contributes towards the uncivilised road attitudes.-
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5 minutes ago, Rimmer said:Why can not introduce the same system as that exists as in UK
'If a person has one foot on the crossing he has the right of way and if you hit him you are in trouble'.
The laws in Thailand are actually pretty good - the 'same system' you suggest, actually exists.
Pedestrians on a crossing in Thailand do have right of way.
The issue of course are not the laws themselves, but lack of enforcement, lack of penalties to such an extent the laws become useless and no-one knows them, cares about them or adheres to any of them even when they are widely known....
All of that said: Walking across the road like that, particularly with a child, without attempting to pay any attending to oncoming traffic shows an extreme lack of self preservation and awareness it borders on complete parental negligence.
Thats not victim blaming - the driver of the Songthaew was clearly at fault for speeding and showing no regard for anyone else's safety - but unless these drivers are dealt with seriously and publicly, no one will take notice of the laws that are in place already.
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1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:56 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:
Have you seen the amount of violent gang fights which took place over Songkran involving just Thai youths? All over Thailand. One involving a shooting.
Witht the daily reporting of a foreigner doing something wrong her, some don't realize that 99% of criminal and stupid activity here is still locals against locals.
More than 99%... but most of it is of no interest to the social media rhetoric that either likes to point the finger at foreigners, or serves foreign social media.
There is also the element that when Thai's commit violence it considered normal by many because it is expected and they know no better, where as foreigners 'should' know better than to behave as they have, for some reason attracting more commentary.
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2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:
Of course. It's one drunken idiot and a crowd of mostly Thais encouraging him. Noting is done to deescalate or defuse, and he doesn't actually get violent with anyone, but eventually one security guard, who shouldn't get violent with anyone, punches him. As soon as he is down, loads of Thais (who he has not harmed and he is no threat to) rush in to attack him while he is vulnerable. They even attack his friend who had only been trying to calm the guy down. If they had not been stopped, they might have killed him, and there was likely a racial element to their anger and desire to harm him.
I'm not sure how you can not think this makes Thais and Thailand look bad.
100% - but you'll be accused of being a 'Farang Apologist' and a 'Thai Basher' for making such observations...
Of course, its easy to suggest the Western guy had it coming, because he did... But as you point out, 'security' should be held to a higher standard and de-escalate the situation instead of actively escalating to violence.
The idiot Westerner makes Thailand look bad, but so do the security and all the others who join in.
While watching the video, I'm surprised the Security didn't react earlier, he showed initial restraint and of course, like most people I wanted to Western idiot to receive his comeuppance, after-all, what an utter tosspot - nevertheless, the reaction from the security does nothing to service Thailands reputation as anything other than a mongers paradise full of idiots and violence - which of course is untrue for the vast majority of areas - but the normal stuff is not spread through the social media - just this craziness.
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On 4/15/2025 at 4:30 PM, Red Phoenix said:
A day not laughed, is a day not lived...
Indeed... thank you for being someone to laugh at - you're a great service to the forum community.
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31 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:46 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:
Because you're a perfect driver and have never ever made a mistake.... right ?
Evidently considerably better than you
And there is your flaw.... the delusion. The moment you announce you're “better,” you expose the exact opposite. Confidence built on ignorance isn’t superiority.
Your response shouts 'Dunning-Kruger effect'... highlighting your cognative bias and zero self-awareness. You’re not making a point; you’re performing your own lack of insight.
Claiming to be a “better driver” than someone you’ve never even encountered? That level of baseless arrogance is cognitive flatlining.
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2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:4 minutes ago, koolkarl said:
Parents should be charged with gross negligence and have their kids put up for adoption. Parents are simply lazy and use those phones as a babysitter. Recently I visited a friend whose wife is exactly as I described. Their adopted son is 6. When I walked into their condo he was gaming on an iphone and couldn't even say hello to me. A generation messed up beyond belief.
Same was said for previous generations. They'll be fine (most of them, anyway!)
& we can see how 'some' of the previous generations were messed up with their daft 'boomer' generalisations....
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2 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:
What roads do you drive on? Just asking so I can avoid them.
Because you're a perfect driver and have never ever made a mistake.... right ?
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10 minutes ago, WDSmart said:
As long as no one else was hurt, I say just fine him. There is no need for jail time. Also, he could be required to take a very complete driving test to verify that he should be able keep his license.
Why 'fine him' ?.... it was an accident, he made a silly mistake... They happen all the time all over the world...
Its the same as if someone pulled out in front of someone else - its an an accident, no one gets fined for those sort of events.
He wasn't speeding or drunk etc...
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It was an accident, he made a daft mistake... Luckily no one else what involved or hurt.
At least it wasn't a Drunk Driver, dangerous driving etc causing the accident like so many others.
Some excellent 20/20 hindsight going in this thread already !!...
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30 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:
Nonsense. It’s one building. A thousand soldiers each picking up a stone from day one would’ve had it cleared with a lot of people saved. I’ve been to the site a couple of days after. Lots of emergency vehicles, people in uniform all around the site, hardly any movement.
These 'stones' weigh tonnes - its not a pile of small rocks that can easily be handled.
GeorgeAlberts response above should help educate you a little.
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26 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:Nonsense. If there was a will to speed things up lots of people wouldn’t die. The number of rescuers standing around way outweighed the numbers doing any rescuing. I saw that for myself.
You highlight the true ignorance of someone who has no idea of the subject matter they are attempting to discuss.
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German Tourists Hit by Songthaew While Using Zebra Crossing in Khao Lak
in Southern Thailand News
Posted
Wow — someone skipped their anti-pedantry meds today!
As I mentioned (and as others have pointed out), stopping in a car — especially unexpectedly — carries a genuine risk of being rear-ended. That’s not paranoia, it’s just reality.
That said, I will always stop in a car.
When I’m on my motorcycle and I’m first at the crossing with pedestrians waiting, I don’t stop. Why? Because doing so puts me at significant risk. Drivers behind might not expect me to stop or even notice that I have — which could end very badly for me.
So no, your comments aren’t just flawed — they ignore the realities of motorcycling in traffic in Thailand.
And let’s be clear: I’m not endangering pedestrians. If they’re on the crossing, of course I stop. But if they’re just waiting? I’m not risking my life and will ride defensively instead.
That said, I agree with you on the hypocrisy front. It is breaking the law. But I value my safety and these are the compromises we have to make to remain safe.