Chongalulu

Not my experience. The couple I met here (not young) had impeccable English and Dutch too.

Belgium, Holland and the Scandinavian countries all speak very good English.

I've noticed a fundamental intellectual laziness here, perhaps even beyond what you could blame on the obvious culprit of the insidious education system. I mean that despite the shortcomings of that, and too the social conditioning, Thais must know that the West is much more advanced and wealthier,so why aren't they curious to find out why, especially in the digital age where information is at their fingertips? Is it because they are kept, although suppressed, just comfortable enough not to become a nuisance to those that are reaping the benefits of a reasonably developing country? Why do they chose to remain blind to the obvious corruption that robs them of so much more? Apathy seems to be the default setting which I hope the younger generation can throw off,but significant political change will be required to enable that.

That's a function of English being the default second language globally of nearly all countries. When they need to communicate with each other English is required . So with English as your native tongue what second language would be your obvious choice? There isn't one really. I learned French to A level and have mastered some very basic Thai just by being here,but in terms of the former it's never been of much use.

That, although perhaps you didn't realise it is an indictment,and a justified one, of the average Thai's failure to grasp anything outside their tiny bubble of experience,and more damningly a curiosity to look beyond it. The West is far more advanced and obviously so yet it doesn't intrigue them...?

Everyone keeps mentioning the 400 or 800k baht in the bank,but if not wanting to tie up that sort of capital at poor rates there is the income option. A letter from your embassy here in Thailand confirming you have an income (pension?) of 40k baht per month marriage,or 65k for the administratively easier retirement visa

Yes,I think this is the defining issue. Even if they can massage an exclusion of Pita everyone knows the grounds are effectively manufactured and aren't in any way material. Coupled with an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the current incumbents they are going to have to calculate what the lash back might be. The signs are it would be considerable so can only hope they conclude it would be too volatile to suppress. Then there'd be the international opprobrium from such a transparent manipulation. You've had your time,get out before the country erupts.

It’s relatively low level criminal damage for which the penalties in most parts of the world are an appropriate fine ,full victim compensation and a criminal conviction,often even a caution. Jailing is just a silly overreaction.

Apparently at formal functions in Benidorm a black tracksuit is required! JD sports Liverpool is their only branch with an "evening wear" section! ????

Masks over your shoes now as well? Is that effective….?

Just so long as you don’t compound the sin of not wearing a mask by wearing a good quality helmet on your motorcycle- it’s supposed to be the other way round…! ????

"Your call is important to us but all our operatives are busy right now - you are 30,000th in the queue,in the meantime here is some "musak " . "I love the sound of breaking glass" ????

Was he wearing a tracksuit- the Benidorm uniform…?

More like 1,000. You’re forgetting the now legally established " broken wing mirror " precedent allowing for 30x punitive damages uplift..

Don’t forget the Hanged,drawn and quartered . You don’t wanna let him think he’s got away with it,do you? ????

Well,I think they're just going to burn her some more if you think that's a "better place"...?

I wonder what the perp will be charged with- a series of assaults?

Even if he strongly disagreed with the Putin regime? What about all those that have fled the war so as not to be conscripted?

Define 'far left' . You seem to be classing progressive with that label. The vested interests and shameful inequality,coupled with a poor education system being addressed along with observing democracy is hardly'far left'. Thailand needs much better than the current dinosaurs

It's a subliminal message that it's all going t1ts up? ????

I mentioned him as he was just on the same episode of the Art Sutter show. My father had a watch that hadn't worked for many years, and started miraculously after Uri was on TV. He is good at what he does. Perhaps Prawit's dead friend effected a repair via a ouija board? ???? ????

Quoting a communist. Do you by default think that by definition EVERYTHING a communist says must be incorrect?

There is never an excuse for forcefully taking over government especially by a totally unelected junta (who then cynically changes the constitution for its own benefit) . It's even less valid by orders of magnitude than an overstaying one. You talk about ”peaceful’ collating that with ”suppressed”. A favourite tool of any dictatorship... The current incumbents have been bad for the country by any metric and will only increase that disadvantage by more suppression... sorry... peacefulness....

As an unrequited junta shill I won't convince you,but for others there's the small matter of overthrowing by force a democraticly elected government,the poor economic performance Vs ASEAN peers ,poor procurement of vaccines (given you mentioned COVID) plus lack of FDI that a junta causes

He went to Harvard so have to presume he's not naive,so have to consider what his strategy is. Perhaps he knows that he's gonna be stitched up by the current powers (a reasonable assumption) so he's drawing up his battle lines early?