richard_smith237

One of the positive qualities of Thai's is that in general they possess the intelligence and discernment not to judge individuals based on sweeping generalisations or media-driven narratives, but on individual merit and direct interaction. They seem well aware that the news often distorts reality, injecting bias and unnecessary dramatisation. Wherever I go in Thailand, I find that Thais are consistently polite, respectful, or at the very least, indifferent, just as they are with one another. This cultural approach fosters a refreshing sense of neutrality, free from the knee-jerk prejudice found elsewhere. However, in areas with heavy tourist footfall, there is often an unmistakable air of contempt, likely a byproduct of overexposure. The old adage "familiarity breeds contempt" certainly holds true. This is further exacerbated by the fact that entertainment districts such as Pattaya and Patong tend to attract neither the finest foreign visitors nor the most upstanding local characters.... ... The result? A volatile mix ripe for conflict which we read in the news daily.

Some are... but you are painting with a very broad brush... Of course you are 175cm 75kg, 6 pack adorned adonis - right ? Perhaps there should be IQ tests before boarding too... Tell them to take the bus or walk to Thailand ???

Decent non bigoted human beings object to it.... Someone may be large through no fault of their own - medical conditions etc... Transporting 100kgs of trim muscle also costs more than a 40kg slim lady... should the lady get a discount ???....

Its frightening to consider what 'might' be on that needle (i.e. HIV etc)... Hopefully it was just a clean needle... Nevertheless, this physical assault needs to be dealt with firmly - Criminal Assault charges filed and due process... ... the issue of course is that such attacks are usually considered 'minor' and punished minimally.

Just crossing the road, being in a taxi without seatbelts, being in a tuktuk that has an accident etc etc... stepping in a pothole in the pavement (sidewalk), getting electrocuted by a light pole etc etc - the list is endless due to slack safety standards... ... And Yes... I completely agree, any 300 baht Tourist Tax should also be put towards covering the costs of any such incidents.... But also towards making tourist area's safer in the first place.

Sure, so he would have talked to nobody, and the relatives have no clue what insurance company he have used. Neither does he have phone banking that he paid the insurance with, so you that way can find the name of the company. My Wife knows which policy I have becase we share the policy. However, I can understand a situation whereby someone takes out travel insurance, then omits to carry proof of that insurance (a card) or tell anyone about it... Its going to be very difficult for anyone to find out who the policy is with until he wakes up. His family won't have access to his banking records through which (we assumed) he paid the insurance. Neither is it likely they'll have access to his e-mails with confirmation of insurance. Again - for anyone who has insurance, carry proof of it in your wallet.

Agreed... There is talk (once again) of the 300 baht Tourist tax - it is these examples where some of that tax would be well spent... 'looking after tourists who've met with unfortunate circumstances'. Regarding the travel insurance: It seems unclear if he has insurance, but is unable to 'clarify' so due to his condition. This highlight the need to not only have travel or health care insurance, but also to carry around a card with you. Since Covid - most insurance companies have refused to issue a physical card - something I have fought with them over and always end of up getting one made.

Sure... If the airlines are going to charge half price for my Wife who weighs half my weight !!! The only intelligent and resonable balance I see here is... IF the flight is 100% full and the passenger cannot fit in an Eco Seat, they can't fly for safety reasons. IF the flight is close to 100% full and the passenger wants to guarantee they get on the flight they can be offered a 'second seat' at a discounted rate (which I think is fair). IF the flight is not full, I see no reason not to give the passenger their seat and a 'free centre seat'... no one else was going to use it - thats just good customer service. This whole approach needs to be taken from a customer service perspective and not a bigoted penalisation perspective that most here seem to view it from. Check in crew must like me - because on most of my local flights I'm nearly always given an exit row.. I'm not particularly tall (just 183cm), but the clearly recognise that this makes a comfortable difference, so why not ?...

It turns out the Thai caused the accident, an argument ensued and the Thai hit the foreigner with his helmet, the foreigner retaliated and fought back... As pointed out - the video only shows the conclusion - and some idiots see that as the whole story to feed their bigotry.

Indeed it did... Khaosod English News (linked below): reports things quite differently and the Thai man is not painted in the virtuous light of innocent victim after all.... a) The Thai collided with the foreigner (i.e the accident was caused by the Thai man). b) This led to an argument in which the Thai man struck the foreigner with a helmet. c) This led to the physical altercation. As I wrote, numerous times - there is always more to the story... Oh... and as usual... delusional Malky is completely full of.... sh... Again, not condoning the actions of the Foreigner (Swiss man) to flight at all - but this other news article highlights exactly why I'm sceptical of the initial reports we read on here as they are often so one sided and some unintelligent posters take them as 'fact' using the flawed information as an opportunity to express their bigotry. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/03/17/late-night-altercations-in-pattaya-thai-foreigner-clashes/ So... we have the Thai mans side of the story, which the media was very quick to distribute... and now we have the 'Foreigners side of the story'... ... somewhere in the middle is the truth.... This highlights why I don't automatically believe the first article I read here as it very often contains the bias from whomever fed the reporters the first snippets of information and misses out critical facts and balance.

Far too many people oversimplify this issue, reducing it to crude generalisations that betray both ignorance and a degree of bigotry. The reality is that airline seats are a tight fit for various groups of people, not just those who are overweight due to poor lifestyle choices. 1) Individuals who are overweight due to inactivity and unhealthy habits. 2) Athletically built individuals—think rugby players—who are naturally broad and muscular. 3) Taller individuals whose height alone makes standard seating restrictive. 4) Those with medical conditions that contribute to weight gain. 5) Dedicated fitness enthusiasts who maintain a strong, muscular frame. I fall towards the 'edge' of this debate myself. At 90kg, I am athletic, fit, and healthy, playing football twice a week and leading an active lifestyle. Walking through town, sitting in bars, I'm clearly fitter than many of the other foreigners around me. And yet, I am at this so-called 90kg "cut-off - you mentioned.... Yet, I am not a bodybuilder, no huge muscles, just solidly built. I know men of my height who train, they are broader at the shoulders, more muscular, yet well over 90kg, perhaps closer to 100kg. When I was younger, in peak athletic form for rugby, I maintained 100 to 105kg through intense training. When I switched to football, my weight naturally dropped closer to 90kg by season’s end. The point is simple: airline seats are not just an issue for the "fat and lazy." Consider a naturally large, fit, and healthy Samoan or Fijian sitting next to you. These men are built like powerhouses, not through choice but through genetics. Penalising individuals who are larger due to athleticism, genetics, or medical conditions is not just unfair - it borders on outright discrimination. Suggesting otherwise leans dangerously close to prejudice IMO and airlines should be accountable for a level of inclusivity that recognises the diversity of the world we live in. I am also understanding of the reluctance to be tollerant of the 'fat lazy slobs' who do nothing to support their health and flow over their seats into the 'space' of another passenger - but really, how often do we see that ??? I'm a very regular flyer and have never seen anyone who can't fit in their seat (possibly because they'd know that already), though once I did see a guy who was unable to get his tray table down.

No it’s not…. Not by a long shot… One a public health issue (whether agreed with or not), another a barbaric fundamentalist regime who will murder women for not complying to draconian rules… I get your point with the tracking & somewhat Orwellian nature, but the Velayat-e Faqih of Iran is in a different league along with the Taliban…..

Real observation: “Reading your comments in this thread & concluding no one is as smart as you & so daft at the same time; ergo you are clearly twisting ours melons !”

Nope…, I don’t think anyone you are debating against is ‘suggesting’ a billion humans could be wrong… Apart from the fact that your ‘a billion humans’ comment is a hyperbolic conjecture… No one is suggesting… we are ‘stating’ - as in a statement of scientific fact - “a billion (or however many) humans are wrong” !

careful not to run anyone over while drunk driving after 12 beers…. You give all us foreigners a bad reputation!!

I actually agree with that - but to judge any individual based on their nationality alone is bigoted… … & you paint with a very broad brush & just write off societies & nations…. That’s bigoted in the extreme….

please say he was South Asian Swiss - It’ll make Malky pee his kickers a bit… 🤣

If you’re taking ‘flat Earth’ - I’ve been belittling the subject throughout the the thread. or if referring to ‘’children’ in the concept of ‘gods children’ & the idea of other intelligent alien civilisations - then how would a discussion of such a possibility be belittling? With or without the concept of a god or supreme intelligence ?

Probably a lot more… It’s not a valid generalisation though… it’s just a handful of idiots who happen to be Swiss…. The behaviour is not indicative of the general Swiss population. Take any group of people of nationality & some of them will behave poorly…. That’s just human nature.

Other planets exist in the ‘Goldilocks zone’…. But to travel there would take ‘near’ speed of light travel & relativity (theory of) dictates we’d return millions of years later…. & never be able report back… Thus: ‘the children’ could be elsewhere too…. In fact given the numbers, it’s very likely intelligent life already exists elsewhere…. …. would they only be flat planets too ?

His nationality is irrelevant until you brought your bigotry into it.

A complete fabrication made up by the bouncer who Knocked out the elderly (& aggressive Brit)…. There were full videos of that event, no kick to the nuts visible in any of them… . But you believe a thug who’ll attack an old guy…. Not untypical of your vapid character.

Well, at least you admit you are a bigot to add to your list of faults….

I haven’t blamed the Thai - I’ve argued a possibility that there more to this than we’re seeing…. & given possibilities, especially when looking at where the motorcycles are positioned I’ve also highlighted you could be bang on the money this time… It’s called keeping an open mind & being rather cynical of what we read given the history of incomplete reporting we often see..

Four 1. The Phuket woman kicker. 2. The Trang Granny Supermarket basher. 3. The Prachuap dog biter 4. The Pattaya kicker As you said, they are just the ones who have made the news because they were caught on camera. Attacking women is not acceptable behavior, larger farang males attacking small Asian women is a disgrace. Ok 4…. your sweeping generalisation is still that of bigoted bias & a failure to show any intelligent balance…