richard_smith237

Does that mean you'll be avoiding all the following airlines... because their base of origin is a Mulsim country ??? Emirates (UAE), Etihad Airways (UAE), Qatar Airways (Qatar). Saudia (Saudi Arabia), Flynas (Saudi Arabia), Oman Air (Oman), Gulf Air (Bahrain), Kuwait Airways (Kuwait), Royal Jordanian (Jordan), Iraqi Airways (Iraq), Middle East Airlines (Lebanon), Syrian Air (Syria) etc etc ect.....

How do you think they can get the weight of a 'dead body' safely up the steps into the crew-quarters ??? I read that the crew attempted to take the deceased passenger through to Business class to place them in a more secluded seat, but were unable to do so... which leaves me wondering 'how large' the deceased was.... ... It certainly seems they had significant difficulty 'handing' the weight of the body. What really could have been done differently ?... I'm guessing there are very specific procedures for such and event and the crew followed them.

Would driving around in a cashmere Jacket, flat cap, smoking a cigar not look somewhat odd in this era ??? Seriously though - there have been some outstanding 'classic' conversions to electric, the issue of course is the price (LandRovers, Porsche, Jag E type Eagle)...

After the Otto Warmbier incident I would be very cautious about travelling to this country - its seems there is no reason to visit whatsoever.... Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old American student, was prevented from boarding his departing plane and arrested in North Korea in 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. After 17 months in detention, he was released in a coma in June 2017 and died shortly after returning to the US. His mistreatment in North Korea led to international condemnation. Ultimately - Iran and North Korea are two places I would never want to go to unless I had a very good reason and I've been to some very ropey places....

You'd never fly with Qatar Airlines because 'once' someone died on their flight and there was nowhere to top the deceased other than 'covered up in a seat'.... What do other airlines do ???... would you stop flying them all ?? Of course, the solution would be to move the nearby passengers up to business class etc (if there is space etc).... BUT... IF YOU are going to making such decisions based on such scenarios... have you any idea what you could do differently if part of the crew on this flight ?

That an Airline such as Thai Airways was unable to resolve this issue positively speaks volumes. This is an outrageous standard of service... Flying within the EU this warrants €600 compensation per traveller - I wonder what these travellers are entitled to as compensation for this horrible ordeal. Placing them so far from the airport is also horrible.... were they in a remote area ?

Just pointing out the variations in the English language from different countries. We call them ATV's in Texas, which implies 4 wheeled ATVs since 3 wheelers were banned eons ago. Or 4 wheelers, though that risks confusing them with 4x4 pickups, also Texas slang. Technically, a bike has 2 wheels. That's the Bi. The posters that claim that quad bikes is universal, haven't lived in a lot of places. Got to love the brilliance of internet debates.... where people descend into the depths of absurdity, passionately arguing over the name of an ATV or Quad bike, as if the fate of the universe hinges on it. You’d think we were discussing the secrets of the cosmos, but no, it's just another thrilling round of “My Term is Better Than Yours,” despite the glaring reality that languages are riddled with colloquialisms. Its amusing the frequency which which we (the forum) manages to go down the rabbit hole of such inanity ..... whether earth-shattering Scooter debacle? When someone dared to call their step-through Vespa / Fino type motorcycle a "scooter" and suddenly, battle lines were drawn? Honestly, does it even matter? When there’s a PICTURE right there, making it blindingly obvious what’s being discussed, do we really need the debate on the proper nomenclature?

A seatbelt on an ATV ??? I think in this case a 'bungie' cord may have saved his life !!... or just not entering the corner at speed (if thats what happened)... However, we should never be thethered (by seatbelt) on any vehicle which can potentially roll over on to us... the safest option (of a lot of unsafe options) is to get thrown away from the vehicle. A seatbelt on an ATV would be just as daft as a seatbelt on a motorcycle.

Its because they don't lean, they tip over.... as you point out, the 4 points of contact can make riders over-confident, whereas on a motorcycle (even a scooter) perhaps riders are naturally more cautious...

The vehicle itself cannot be licensed.... The closest licensing could get (in Thailand) is if the vehicle is under a certain power (usually electric) and it can then be classified as 'disability transport'... This ATV is too far from that. But... its somewhat moot from the perspective of 'road safety' while they are more dangerous than a regular car or motorcycle, there are also so many other 'dangerous' vehicles out there on Thailands roads that also do not meet licensing requirements.

Of course, his actions were wrong.... BUT... what triggered him into this aggressive response ?? Mentally unstable and randomly attacked any vehicle ? OR... Had the Pick-up driver driven in a manner that placed the motorcyclist at serious risk and the motorcyclist took revenge etc ?? - there is nothing of this side of the story in the article, but rightly or wrongly, something caused his anger at the pick-up driver.... Just yesterday I was 'angered' as we were in the right lane to turn right onto the expressway. Cones placed out so that people 'followed the correct path'... I then had to brake hard as another vehicle went 'around' the cones to 'jump ahead' but in doing so nearly drove into the side of us... and slamming on the brakes nearly caused the car behind to hit us.... Of course, no further reaction from me, but I can sometimes see why people do react - its the same when on a motorcycle and another vehicle drives in a manner thats dangerous for us.... it can easy trigger anger and annoyance... (which of course we have to manage). So... the question here is - What did the pickup driver do ??? As far as no plates - there are lots of bikes around without plates - the police do nothing. Quote from the Tiger:

No not really as they can't be registered .I have one ,so first hand info . RIP to the poor chappy - he put in a life of hard work offshore, usually brutal conditions... I do wonder why he was riding an ATV (Quad) - he was 62 and thus relatively young... Was he using it as some form of mobility scooter ??? Otherwise why not a car or a motorcycle ? An ATV (Quad) does seem like a convenient machine to get around on, if one doesn't want to be riding a motorcycle - but as this accident shows, stability is an issue. That said, there are Samlors (motorcycles with those frame side carts) that are being ridden around everywhere and they are far worse IMO... certainly no better than an ATV or even those Mobility Scooters... For such an incident to happen I do wonder if booze was involved... But, I also wonder if 'another vehicle' was involved ? accidentally gave the ATV a nudge on the corner ?? - there's no mention of that in the story, but IMO, something like this is always a possibility on the roads....

Got to love a comment dripping with accusations of stupidity - especially when the genius behind it is too dense to tell the difference between a motorway and a U-turn flyover. There are also some horrible nasty crass comments on here.... (people below - be ashamed of yourselves).

IF this works as an 'accident insurance scheme'... where by Tourists who've arrived can get medical treatment in the event of an emergency or sudden illness then this is thread. Maybe there is less need for the famed 'go fund me' now... People can get treatment without the government claiming they are a burden on the medical industry. This has always been an excellent idea - of course the stumbling block is how to 'collect' in the most efficient and non-intrusive manner. - Arriving tourists may not have Thai baht - Include it in the ticket, then Thai's pay it too (which is unfair) - they queue for a rebate ? - Paying online with the new TM6 make it more efficient, the the whole TM6 idea is daft anyway - its not needed at all with Biometics.

Which is difficult when you (I) am a weekender... ... Getting down there after school on a Friday afternoon is ok... But as pointed out, getting back on a Sunday afternoon can be horrific... But... to be honest, getting back into Bangkok from any direction on a Sunday afternoon / early evening is not fun. Given the proximity of Pattaya, that can be a decent alternative and the 'grime' can also be avoided (as its not all about bars etc)... Koh Chang is also a good trip, but that starts to feel like a little but too far away for a 'quick weekend away' kind of trip. A quick flight across to Vietnam can be an option - but they Immigration lines there are notorious for taking a long time... A flight Krabi and a Boat across the Raiyleh beach is often a good option, as is a flight to Krabi and a cheap car hire to Koh Lanta....

No... Its not the same... You described a large Thai guy showing restraint against an idiot and not nearly / potentially killing him - thats more akin to doing his job professionally and within legal boundaries. The incident of this Op, involves a Thug nearly killing an idiot both of whom lacked restraint. This is assault, it could also be classified as attempted murder. Its an extreme and illegal response, it seems that just because someone is a 'security guard' or 'bouncer' they are above the law - this is obviously very wrong.

A couple of facets to this... 1) Idiots should never be getting so drunk, acting so foolishly and into the types of situation whereby security need to intervene. 2) Security should not be 'knocking anyone out'... So, we have an idiot drunk thug and a actual thug pretending to be security. Of course, already some idiot posters are suggesting that this 'Brit got what he deserved' These are idiotic comments - No.. he didn't deserve to get knocked out and potentially killed, he 'deserved to get restrained' for the police to take over, take him back to the Police station to sleep it off.... Thats a civilised response to uncivilised behavior. There are too many reports of these guards having a 'trigger finger response' and acting with savage and ferocious barbarity - they are often not 'security guards' in the true manner of the sense, they are unhinged characters looking for an opportunity to react. Meanwhile, there are too many idiots behaving like to$$ers, but the short-cut to violence is not the way to control these idiots - Bars covet the drinkers, the spenders etc but they can get out of hand so a 'trained security is needed' and IF they cannot control a situation, the police then need to step in, thats what the police are for. No one should be getting knocked out in this manner.... its a very close step away from killing someone..... These Bouncers / Security guards need training.

We have those already on the 'Flat Earth' and 'Anti-vaxxer' threads !!!!

You anticipated correctly. It's astonishing that amidst a universe where gravity consistently moulds large celestial bodies from small moons to colossal stars into near-perfect spheres, yet some of you still cling to the notion that Earth alone defies this fundamental principle by being flat. For such a view one must also accept that countless professionals, astronomers, pilots, sailors, engineers etc... are either complicit in a grand conspiracy or hopelessly misguided... it also requires a suspension of critical thinking so profound that it borders on performance art.

These entities that don't exist or are out to get us, for the most part (approximately 99% of them) are beneficial Viruses which often pay a neutral or a positive role. They Regulate the Microbiome: Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) help control harmful bacterial populations in the gut, skin, and other body parts. They Boost Immunity: Some viruses train the immune system to recognise and fight harmful pathogens. They Fight Harmful Microbes: Certain viruses kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, providing a potential tool for medicine (phage therapy). The enable Gene Transfer & Evolution: Some viruses integrate beneficial genetic material into human DNA, playing a role in evolution. The study of beneficial viruses is still evolving, and they may hold keys to new medical breakthroughs. You've added a binary aspect to the discussion which highlights a flawed approach. While I have little doubt that there are contributing factors to our illnesses and diseases that are man-made, the (your) suggestion implies that without these man made factors these illnesses and diseases would not exist and that is incorrect. The issue with your debates Stiddle, is that you are partially close enough to having a valid response that it draws further debate - one of the points you have mentioned is stepping close to nature to discover solutions or avoid illnesses in the first place - one such method is the study of the Virome's positive role, but you don't believe it exists. In 'stepping closer to nature' researchers have harnessed the tardigrade protein Dsup to protect healthy human cells from radiation damage during cancer treatments. This approach exemplifies how science draws inspiration from nature to develop innovative medical solutions.

Your claim that viruses are indistinguishable from cell debris or exosomes under electron microscopy is incorrect - this alone suggests you my not have known precisely what you were looking at. Viruses, exosomes, and cellular debris can appear superficially similar, however, they are distinct entities with different structures, compositions, and functions. Viruses Have Unique Morphological and Structural Features: Under electron microscopy viruses exhibit specific symmetry, capsid structures, and sometimes lipid envelopes that differentiate them from random cellular debris. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that lack a capsid and genetic material for replication, unlike viruses. Trained virologists can distinguish viruses from cellular debris based on size, shape, surface proteins, and structural organisation. Viruses Are Not Merely Debris – They Replicate: Viruses are biological entities capable of hijacking a host cell to reproduce, something exosomes and debris cannot do. The genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a virus is distinct and encodes for replication inside host cells. Electron Microscopy & Biochemical Techniques Confirm Viruses Exist: Virologists use purification techniques, immunogold labelling, and molecular sequencing to isolate and confirm viral presence, separate from exosomes or debris. SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and influenza viruses have been extensively imaged and studied using these methods, proving they are distinct from simple cellular waste. The Body Does Not Simply “Expel” Viruses as Waste: If the immune system only "expelled" viruses, viral infections would never establish or persist. Instead, viruses actively evade immune defences, integrate into host genomes (HIV, herpesviruses), and use complex replication strategies to persist. As for as your try “Walking Barefoot in the Forest” comment - your metaphor to 'become one with nature' is flawed - the implication that nature could replace our medical advancements is backwards thinking, though I agree we 'should' also look towards nature for answers, we have the technology to also look past nature and that saves lives. In short: Viruses are not just cellular debris. They are distinct, identifiable biological entities with unique structural, genetic, and functional characteristics. The idea that viruses are indistinguishable from exosomes or debris is scientifically incorrect and does not align with decades of virological research.

I think there is no harm whatsoever in getting a second opinion. Astigmatism is quite easy for an optician to evaluate.

I'm sure with his approach to science he'd insist on having to acknowledge the possibility that it is.... The good old 'Appeal to Possibility' ... the favourite refuge of those who think that just because something 'could ' happen in some vague, hand-wavy, "well, you never know!" kind of way, we’re all supposed to take it seriously. Never mind that science and logic have already kicked it to the curb; apparently, if you can imagine it, that’s good enough. Then these posters go and double down on the nonsense with the 'Burden of Possibility'.... the utterly daft idea that science has to entertain every ridiculous claim just because someone declared it "possible." As if reality has to bend over backwards to accommodate every wild theory, no matter how much it contradicts what we actually know. Because, obviously, if we don’t treat mermaids and time-travelling lizards with the same weight as physics and chemistry, we’re just being close-minded. Flipping from a well-supported scientific stance to utter nonsense is not the mark of an open mind and indication some form of intellectual flexibility, its more a swan dive into stupidity than anything else....

Now you can google.- has a person ever fired from being attacked by a house cat…? I’m sure it’s happens but drawing any such parallel with Pitbulls would show a similar lever of galactic stupidity as your comparison.

Too much wrong with all of your comments to bother replying to the idiocy... Just know that without viruses, you wouldn't even be alive.