Jonathan Swift

You were there? You know what he was smiling about? You were in on the joke? You're psychic and know what he was thinking? My experiences with Thai police, even on rare occasions when I was guilty of something, is that they are quite good natured, and I sure would prefer a jovial cop to a mean one. And I think if you or I were there the sight of the guy digging would likely have been pretty funny. The guy was a fool and deserving of being laughed at, if that's what it was. But how do you know the photo wasn't staged? It doesn't look like he was digging near the wheels. It looks like the car was already out of the rut, likely pushed out by whoever was gathered around.

Does greed make people stupid? Or is the greed a byproduct of stupidity? The risk of incarceration in a Thai prison isn't worth any amount of money. When I first came here, before weed was legal, I wouldn't set foot within a hundred yards of anyone with a joint or weed pipe. I knew before I came here about the little circles of corruption where the cops would wait for the hippies to buy weed from the farmers in Pai on the way to the waterfall, then get busted on the way back, with a percentage paid back to the farmers who SURPRISE ratted out the hippies. Before I came here. So when I ran into one of those "roadblocks" on my way up I was smiling and smirking because I knew what was up and I don't even smoke the stuff.

There it is again, the same old refrain, "wahhh, they're picking on foreigners, racism, while Thai people get away with murder". I've got my mini violin out, playing to your song and dance. Why do you people even come here when all you do is complain about things that are out of your hands? TIT, ever hear that?

Obvious mental illness. Hope she gets help. But once again, bare female breasts pose a great threat to humanity - forget about the fact that for the whole first year of our lives we stare at them constantly as we feed. Near as I can tell no one has ever been assaulted or harmed by a breast, or driven to insanity by the sight of them, notwithstanding Austin Powers's machine gun jugglies. Although there is the occasional juvenile gawking and commenting, but that comes from the imposition of our hypocritical sexual values. Strange world, strange values.

As a Norwegian with brown skin and thick curly black hair I resent that. Funny how you happened to choose to describe Black people as your example. A Freudian slip? You could have chosen any kind of example. So you don't like Russians, and you don't like Black people. Another run of the mill racist who just can't avoid wearing it on your sleeve, can you?

Most of the clueless complaining commenters, as usual because of their insensitivity to Thai people and how they conduct themselves, will not understand and appreciate that for Thais to voluntarily undertake sensitivity training to try to de escalate confrontations that are in no way their fault, is a testament to their cultural sense of courtesy and politeness which is an example that the rest of the world fails miserably to measure up to. The hospital staff do not deserve to be denigrated or ridiculed for wanting to take the high road and voluntarily do their best to make things better. I doubt most of you are capable of doing the same, to your own detriment. And nothing of the sort exists in your home countries, certainly not the US where I'm from, hence I choose to live here without complaining

You haven't a clue what you're talking about. Anyone can charge anyone whatever fee they choose for a service, and that's not robbery. That's commerce. Hospitals will inform you in advance what the fees will be, and it's up to you, your choice, to accept the services or not. Not robbery. You also have the choice to get insurance or not. These are things every adult knows. Responsible adults. Maybe you need a grade school level dictionary. Look up robbery and a few other words you seem to not understand. There is no justification for getting angry in such situations, it's not mature adult behavior - are you emotionally unstable or chronically ill tempered? I've had nothing but great and satisfying experiences in Thai hospitals over the last 10 years, they showed me respect and I showed it to them. Russians are well known for their bad attitudes and behavior. I've seen it many times. If you think it's so bad here, Go back where you came from, you're just as bad as the Russians, and we don't want or need you here. Or, maybe you're Russian? In which case, please self deport back to your daddy Putin. Nobody wants to hear whiny chronic complainers repeating the same old exaggerated victim stories.

yeah, currently you're not allowed to criticize them without being punished. Stay tuned about what I just said. If you don't hear from me again you'll know.

Meth = frazzled. And yes, probably not the brightest bulb. It's sad, really, these guys are sick with their addictions. No one would choose to live like this if they could turn back the hands of time. My brother died of his addictions after spending much of his adult life alienated from his family.

Thai people actually getting arrested for crimes against foreigners. How many of you complainers does this prove wrong? Doesn't matter because you're not the sort that ever admits to being wrong, that would spoil the fun of complaining.

Oh Wahhhhh, unfair to falang, wahhhhh. This whining gets old. If you don't like the way Thailand does things go back where you came from. I don't blame Thai people for being angry at foreigners when they misbehave. They have every right to be prejudiced if that's the case, it's just human nature. You're all a bunch of intruders to them, they didn't invite you here. And from where I sit it doesn't look like you have much understanding or respect for them. (I'm not referencing this incident or these particular criminals, only the ones you generally imply are "so unfair") And it's the kettle calling the stove black - you're no less prejudiced, your prejudice against Thais is transparently revealed by all your remarks. You have no moral authority to preach from. Nor do any of the rest of you. Who cares how the press covers it? There is little or no real journalism left ANYWHERE in the world. The rest of us didn't come here to listen to a bunch of doddering complainers. We know where we're better off - here - and we're grateful. I've managed to get through 10 years here without being treated so unfairly that I have to cry to the newspapers. Imagine that. If you want to change the world join the Peace Corps. And lastly, this is an example to prove all of you wrong - Thai people actually being arrested by Thai police, but that's not good enough, is it? Of course not. You enjoy complaining too much.

A new passport might have the same old number, depending on when it was issued. My last 3 all had the same number, but this year the passport design changed and so did my number. Subsequently I presume I will keep the same number with each replacement, should I live so long.

Stamps are not what matters, the number of remaining pages are all that matters.

Wahhhh racism wahhhhhhh. Nothing in the article suggested any sort of prejudice. Is this your theme song everywhere you go? Picking on the poor foreigners again wahhhh? All the article said was they were "dressed like foreigners" which was simply the way someone described them, no more, no less. What if they were dressed like clowns? Would you cry bloody murder about clown prejudice? Probably if they were dressed like foreign clowns, Ronald McDonald maybe. They probably were dressed like foreigners as the average person might observe, even if their features were Asian. I see Thai people dressed in western fashions all the time, and that's how I would describe them. I actually often laugh because of what's on t shirts that they themselves can't even read. BTW would you have us believe that there are no prejudices or stereotypes in your country? Lastly, you weren't there, never saw the video, all you see here is a blurry still frame, but boy you sure pile it high and deep based on virtually no information. You must be psychic. If so, why don't you help the cops solve this?

I have never entrusted this to an agent for the reasons you have clearly demonstrated, plus it's an unnecessary cost, it's easy enough to do on your own. Anyone who says you can't do this on your own doesn't know what they're talking about. I've been doing it for eight years. Thousands of people do it on their own. You search out the requirements online, download necessary forms from the immigration website. If there are any errors you can just come back the next day and correct them. You can make an appointment online 3-4 weeks in advance. Rather than keeping a small fortune uselessly parked in a bank just for this purpose, why not use the income method of showing 65,000 baht per month deposited in your bank? Do you not make at least that month? To reiterate what has been said, if you get this in your country it will be the O-A with insurance requirement. If you convert here in Thailand from the tourist visa you get the O. On the other hand, most agents get the job done without any mishaps, and if you're not motivated to do the work there is likely a reliable one somewhere.