Jonathan Swift

16 hours ago, JoePai said:

 undercutting Thai operators

 

Is it possible the Thai operators are charging too much ?

You have it upside down. More likely that these guys are undercutting Thais and not fairly competing. That's what happens when you flood the market with underpriced services and products. You also can't trust people who do such things, they're more likely to misrepresent things and not honor their word. That's why we have strict immigration laws about work permits and visas. Anyone who wants to knows you can negotiate prices with the Thai tour operators. They are absolutely not "overcharging" unless you don't know enough to negotiate. If someone doesn't negotiate, then they are ok with the price and they pay, so nobody is losing business because of overcharging. I've never done business with anyone but legitimate tour businesses. If someone wants to run a legitimate business they can take the necessary steps for operating a business in Thailand. If they cheat the government then they're more likely to cheat their customers. The whole point of this is whether these vendors are operating legally, which is doubtful. 

3 hours ago, Homburg said:

 

They could be aiming to take the Brits' "bad behaviour crown", and seem to be on a bit of a roll..... 😉

Are there a lot of Swiss people smuggling guns then? I haven't heard of any

18 minutes ago, hoopmonk said:

 

Perhaps the oldtimer just wanted to bring a Swiss gun home for a souvenir.

 

From the BKK Post: 

 

During questioning, the Swiss man reportedly told police that he thought bringing a gun with no ammunition or magazine onboard a flight was not prohibited. He had decided to bring it to his home country because he thought it was not against the law, police said.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2879947/swiss-man-arrested-with-gun-at-phuket-airport. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

That might be true, but he should have checked. wait, there are those signs with photos of hand grenades, pipe bombs, guns, and everything that is prohibited. I suspect perhaps senile. 

14 hours ago, brianthainess said:

I wonder if it was in his carry on, luggage or checked in luggage. 

Doesn't really matter much - I think checked bags are x-rayed. But I would guess carry on. Maybe he has Alzheimers, that would explain something like that at his age. 

14 hours ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

Bloke is positively drowning in ganja  😂   Even the cops look stoned. So much for the weed champs saying pot's harmless...

Medically and physically harmless is not the same as bad behavior. They are two separate things. Nobody is claiming that weed is 100% harmless, only that it appears to have no harmful direct physical effect on users. It typically doesn't cause any such behavioral problems. This is backed up by decades of research. This guy was probably already a misbehaving loser before he smoked or ate anything. In my 67 years going back to the 60s among dozens of hippie friends I have never seen marijuana cause any such bad behavior. And I don't know where you get the term "weed champs". Are they chasing you down the street, climbing in your windows and doors, hollering out the glories of weed? Are they marching in parades, running ads on your favorite football games? You sound like you yourself may have smoked a little too much. 

5 hours ago, Bohemianfish said:

Why is this a scandal if this is de facto business in Thailand?

 

My expat Thai wife and I have talked about this and part of the reason neither of us want to live in Thailand. America can suck, but it aint bad at all.

It depends where you are in America, and whether you're in a place where the national sewer isn't overflowing your shoes and assaulting your body and mind at any given moment. I still prefer Thailand. Each to his own, good luck to both of you. Chok Dee.

24 minutes ago, itsari said:

Tampering with evidence , obstruction of jutice ,negligence and perviting the course of justice should be a good start to have the company owners placed in custody until the investigation are complete.

The victims families need to be shown that the authorities are serious .

 

Well, those are the criminal charges in the US and other countries, but do Thai laws mirror them?

The Move Bowel party

8 hours ago, Andycoops said:

What else do you expect with the political chaos, ever changing laws and rules on how to do anything.

 

The left foot never knows what the right foot is doing because they are only focused on their own bubble, oblivious to all that is happening around them.

You are correct sir. My take is that mismanagement of economic policy has been a major handicap, it doesn't seem like they ever have someone competent to do the job. 

11 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Yeah, I'm going to have to add a new column to my idiot foreigner spreadsheet.

Russians. Brits. Aussies. Now Belgians.

Bad behavior and drunkenness are not confined to any specific nationality, so you might as well put them all on your list

Serious alcoholic, possibly mental illness thrown in. But entertaining except for the smell and the cleanup

Just now, mstevens said:

No, it's not extortion. In Thailand, if you are the victim of a crime, you can negotiate with the perpetrator to settle it in lieu of criminal charges being dropped.

 

So what many stores do is signs saying that it is their policy to charge anyone caught shoplifting 10 x the value of the stolen items, otherwise criminal charges will be pressed. Personally, I think the store is being decent, offering shoplifters a way out. Otherwise it's a date in court and as a foreigner with a criminal record, that means possible deportation.

 

 

I think this as a great way to resolve things amicably and respectfully. I had to do it once, and was happy with the outcome. In the US either the cops would shoot you or you'd get sued into bankruptcy. 

Not uncommon for people to do compulsive things like shoplifting things that they can easily afford. Who knows what the old guy's cognitive abilities might be. When my mom got to be that age she wasn't all there. She would hide her pension money in the freezer in a cookie tin, she never forgot growing up in the great depression. 

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The problem is these Aussies originate from prisoners from England, you can't blame them, it's instinct 

We can't blame you for such comments, we don't make fun of the developmentally disabled. Here, let me get you another beer. 

11 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

It looks pretty bad but from the report she was lucky.  Could have been a lot worse. 

 

Question is how did she 'fall' from a nearby building?  Strange. 

Tripped? Lost her balance? To name a few. Why is it strange? This is a news report. Not exactly reliable as to facts coming from third parties. Duh. 

10 hours ago, johng said:

Ohh dear  I hope the Municipal, military, and ombudsman officials

found some alternative accommodation for the tenants not just turfed them out on the street  otherwise it might have a negative effect on Thailand's image 😋

Point taken. But people with this much money to spend could surely find some friendly hostel to take them in. 

15 hours ago, proton said:

30 minutes to free her- why not just cut it's head off instead of letting it escape?

I don't know, maybe there was a good reason. maybe no one had a chain saw or machete in their back pocket.  I suspect it is the Thai people's fundamental respect for all living creatures, and knowing that this is not the same as a rogue tiger or rabid animal which would pose as ongoing risk. The python was just being a python. 

STDs for sale, special on Gonorrhea this week. 

15 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

So immigration just happened to be at this condo. And saw this foreigner acting suspiciously? I'm sorry but what is suspicious behavior in a condo where he was just hanging out and living? 

 

Sounds more like someone tipped immigration and the man began to act suspicious when immigration began walking his way. Other than the threat to be stopped. why would the man act suspicious and immigration be called to check? 

Anyone with any experience in law enforcement has known enough of criminals to pick up on cues based on their behavior. Since they didn't describe it in detail you don't know one way or the other, do you? Anything is possible. But I agree that it is possible they were tipped off. 

14 hours ago, gargamon said:

No charges for the aunt?

Be patient my son. Thailand works in mysterious ways. 

17 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Although it´s cruel, I can understand why as they might be barking all night. In an organized world, there would be no dogs running around barking, biting and chasing people in the cities.

If you know the location of your organized world I'm sure we'd all love to hear it. 

And no doubt he'll make money off this video