Jonathan Swift

I wasn't aware that Thailand was the only place with "dangerous roads". I take it that there are no such accidents where you come from? All roads are dangerous to anyone who is not careful. Wherever there is driving there are going to be accidents and fatalities. It's a statistical certainty. There are just too many people on the roads for it not to happen. But yes, the question between the lines is, what can be done to address it and can/will such measures succeed? It's up to the investigators, and then the bus companies and government to implement what they learn.

This was 12 midnight. So what would you do? Close bars at 10PM? If you use your head even a little it would be clear that drinking hours are not the thing that creates the behavior of these kinds of people. They behave this way wherever they go, whenever they go. If the bars were closed they'd be doing it on some sidewalk somewhere. Maybe you should listen less to the voices in your head and pay a little more attention to how the world really works.

Better an idiot than a heartless, compassionless empty shell of a human being

That's not nice. Yes, that was not a smart thing to do. Or it may have been an oversight. Maybe he didn't do his homework or was naive and trusting. Maybe this was his first trip abroad. Everyone makes mistakes, or are you one of those perfect individuals who has never done something regrettable?

Stress occurs to different people in different ways under different circumstances. It's a shame that person can't be more like you. You're a true role model.

If you go to the source article, Pattaya News, the groom was the shooter, he had an argument with his bride, shot her and the others then himself.

Probably meant .240, which is not comatose, and many alcoholics can actually function at that level or higher, except for the driving part.

Pretty sure there is, but the talented and best educated ones likely find jobs elsewhere. High school diploma gets you a job at Thaiger and the other local tabloids. They get what they pay for. I met a Thai lady photojournalist who works for Reuters. Wonderful woman. She was at a forum (FCCT) about holding governments accountable for violence against journalists. She had her eyes lacerated by a broken bottle thrown by police. Here in Bangkok. She recovered. For real journalists you have to go to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT). I have another friend who is a director for FCCT and also is deputy director for Human Rights Watch of Southeast Asia. I would listen to anything these two professionals say, and I often do. The club is a great place to go and toss down a few pints among interesting people. The conversations and events there often touch on the dirty little secrets that we all know are bubbling beneath the surface, from Viet Nam to Burma. I'm the piano player there, performing on 8 December. FCCT has a facebook page which is interesting.

You ain't lyin'.

You must mean Thai tiger air

Motion sickness - rough ride? But high anxiety can cause knots in one's stomach

No one, because if you do you will be punished by the administrators, being that it was written by one of them.

So you must no doubt be movie star magazine cover material, pointing the finger as if you're some shining example? Nah I'm picturing you making Steve Bannon look like George Clooney, dribbling cheap beer down your chin and belching while you type. 2nd thing to do if you want people to respect you - show respect in the first place by not ridiculing people for their appearance and blaming and gloating over their misfortune. Most of us adults in the room don't judge people by their appearances, nor do the police, fortunately for the victim. You're about as worthy of respect as the thieves who robbed her.

Your overflowing compassion is admirable.

And in a subsequent post as you likely have done in the past you will no doubt complain about "racism" and discrimination directed at white westerners by Thai people, as you sit here literally promoting ethnic discrimination against darker skinned people.

So having a bit of a laugh isn't a positive? A little satire here and there to lighten up otherwise serious issues? I see no harm in this, either intentional or indirectly. Life getting too complex for you in your old age?

I would think that it would behoove themselves to have a sense of humor. Certainly this was done in a lighthearted spirit. Even the pope has a sense of humor, I'm sure he's get a chuckle if the same were done to him. And one might ask, what would Buddha himself think and say? Better to laugh than to cry, suffer, or hate.

What if they find out that it was the monks themselves who did it? Aren't they entitled to a little fun?

The Buddha Boys

And when you die we will all laugh, OK?

Telling the truth about American violence alert, again. I'm American. Seen shootings in my old neighborhood, 6 murders over the years. One shooting two houses from mine last year. All in the same block. yes, why DO I live in Thailand now? Ah yes. Violence is maybe 1% of what it is in the US.

Knackered depends on the caliber of the bullet, where exactly the bullet went, and the success of surgery. Surgery has advanced quite a bit in today's world. High powered rifle, very bad. Pistol, more like a puncture wound. None of which is good of course.

They live in the selfie universe - they don't exist unless they see themselves in a selfie. If you take their phones away they'll disappear. Hmmm, maybe not a bad idea.

So happy to know a person who never in his life made a bad decision even in hindsight. Be careful you don't fall off your high horse and end up like these people.

I dunno where you hide yourself but everywhere I go in Bangkok since last year I see renovation and new tiles being installed on major sidewalks. I was actually quite surprised and impressed. So, yes the sidewalks are bad in places, but the work is being done. Is that not good enough?