Jonathan Swift

11 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

....for touching a fish????

yeah, the world is hard to understand sometimes, isn't it? Ever hear the phrase protected/endangered species? Look it up and you'll find explanations why no one is allowed to approach or interact with them. Might be over your head, though. Like climate change. 

Rhabdomyolysis (also called rhabdo) is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly. Symptoms may include muscle pains, weakness, vomiting, and confusion.There may be tea-colored urine or an irregular heartbeat. Some of the muscle breakdown products, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and can cause acute kidney injury. The muscle damage is mostly caused by a crush injury, strenuous exercise, medications, or a substance use disorder.

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

poor young man, very tragic accident,  hope he recovers fully and realizes the danger of riding a bike in Thailand. We prey he has the strength to get well.

It’s the same everywhere, not just here. I don’t think crashing your bike through a plate glass window has anything to do with where it happened, it has to do with him driving through a plate glass window.

Ever since people rode on two wheels there has been this sort of carnage, and that is everywhere, not just here. One dumb mistake, yours or the other guy’s, is all it takes. Poor guy, and his family. I no longer make my mistakes on two wheels, but something will get me sooner or later

17 hours ago, Neeranam said:

How do they know they are foreginers?

Ummmm, because maybe their passports and their names? 

In the end she'll be able to use this to enhance her tiktok stardom. Maybe at some point someone will explain how to use Grab taxi or Bolt.

7 hours ago, bogs smith said:

all taxi drivers are nutters. 

And all Brits are <deleted>? Neither is true. I find most taxi drivers to be just fine and very nice, but there's a few bad apples in every bunch. 

To all of you who are piling on with endless criticism and complaining about her "xenophobia" and supposed bias, how many of you have ever lifted a finger to do anything about the world or for the greater good besides sit in your chair, at your keyboard,  or at your local pub and complain? At least she's trying, and her intentions are without fault. She knows what she's doing, the issues she's pointing to are valid and sound for the most part well informed, in spite of all your comments to the contrary. I was an activist in the US when I was young, and did nowhere near the amount of work this young lady has done for her cause. She's trying to give voice to those who would be silenced. She's trying to take care of her own, get everyone their due, just as any and every one of you would do if you had 1% of her ambition and motivation. God bless her. 

God bless her heart for her dedication and activism, on top of being a wife and mother. 

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Why demonize foreign shop owners?

I understand promoting local production though.

Aren't most Thai shop owners simply profit seeking opportunists the same as the foreign?

Your POV comes off as toxic hyper nationalism, kind of like if xenophobic  Trump was Thai. 

Foreigners here have made Thailand their new home. Where is the respect for fellow human beings?

She sounds like she knows what she's talking about. Do you? For you to compare anyone at all to Trump shows your viewpoint to be grotesquely warped. 

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Being jailed for the rest of your life with no chance of parole is worse than death specially when the offender is young, although I'm not sure what is the penalties for a mother with a newly born baby,

just curios, are those cyanide pills so easily available to buy? 

Apparently. Why do you ask?

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

poor Indians got raided ....   when is Thailand ever gunna wake up and stop being the backward sh_thouse that it depicts and is.   Casinos are world wide,  you act innocent by banning gambling, but you allow people of authority to cheat everyone daily.

Your a wolf in sheep's clothing .... 

 

crazy thailand.

 

When is anyone gonna "wake up" and realize that no one ever "wakes up"? 

1 hour ago, nchuckle said:

They were too drunk to wear seatbelts….? ???? 

From the wreckage it doesn't look like seatbelts would have helped much. 

3 hours ago, bigupandchill said:

Is there a case to be made that this type of thing negatively effects the locals perception of other brits in thailand, and gives ammunition to those here that would like to see fewer foreigners in the kingdom?

In a word, no. The perception of Brits or others remains the same no matter what. A country that derives most of its income from tourism is never going to discourage foreigners from entering. The only thing that I imagine might change is medical insurance requirements, but those are already in place for certain types of visas like the O-A. But it's doubtful that such insurance requirements would cover major unforeseen catastrophes like this one. If anything, hopefully, stories like this will encourage people to be sure of their own coverage. It certainly gives me pause, although I have a substantial emergency savings fund, which I don't touch,  of about 350,000 baht available if needed. Otherwise I actually make very little, about 50,000 baht per month. And I don't drive or own a motorbike. 

13 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

You are very smart, aren't you?????

I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, I know that math isn't everyone's best subject

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Do you know the meaning of 555?

Obviously NOT: so for you: Hahahahahahaha????

Actually, "Hahahahahahaha" would be 5555555 (5x7) 555!

On 4/28/2023 at 6:05 PM, Olmate said:

Dont call him Shirley! 

Shirley, you jest!

22 hours ago, Northstar1 said:

If they don’t have insurance, don’t let them in!

period!

we will be reading of yet another victim tomorrow!

when will people wake up?

You think people are going to just "wake up"? What exactly does that mean anyway? That the world shall change according to your or someone else's opinions? Your comment is neither practical nor constructive. I suggest you not run for prime minister. 

15 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Barbaric and primitive.

 

Soap and water a better solution than pointlessly surgically removing healthy skin.

Isn't that the definition of the teachings of many religions including Christianity (old testament such things as punishments for certain things) , barbaric and primitive? If things weren't barbaric and primitive where would the fun be in most religions 

1 hour ago, Regyai said:

As a UK national there are a few anomalies with motorcycles and travel insurance

 

If the families assertion re a 50cc maxima is to be believed then that a 'new to me' policy restriction but it likely refers to the UK full car licence which allows a sub 50cc 'moped'. So if he like most adults had a licence to drive a car, by default he would in the UK be OK for a moped too.

 

This leads to anomaly #1 in that UK car licences show the little motorcycle graphic (for 50cc mopeds) and it consequently also appears on the respective IDP. By virtue of this countless UK folks in Thailand are riding motorcycles (in excess of 50cc) with these documents. A ticking timebomb as come the day...no travel insurance cover!

 

Many UK travel insurances give absolutely NO cover for motorcycles

 

Some policies throw in cover for sub 125cc Motorcycles

 

Travel insurance with cover  for > 125cc (which many newer Thai 'twist n gos' now are) is as rare as hens teeth - I know of only one.

 

None of the insurers (AFAIK) extend personal liability cover for riding motorcycles

 

So even if you are in the favoured position of having a policy with sub 125cc cover, and possessing the relevant UK motor bike 'rating' that covers that size cc / equipped yourself with an IDP, suitable 'sissy-lid'  & found a 125cc rental - you still bear any liability incurred, and will fall foul of any alcohol or substance induced impairment clauses.

As an experienced motorcycle rider of many decades, safety begins and ends with the driver. 99% of accidents are avoidable. It's quite sad that so many riders here give little or no thought to basic riding skills, only to having fun and partying. 

16 hours ago, aussienam said:

"Susan said that Richardson’s insurance didn’t pay out because anyone who rents a motorbike above 50cc must have completed a bike competency test in the UK, which he didn’t know because the shop that rented him the bike only asked for his money and driving license."

 

So, from this logic, he therefore assumed that because a motorbike rental shop rents him a bike, he is covered by his travel insurance and the rental shop knows about a UK bike competency test requirement! 

Responsibility for this mess rests on the shoulders of this young man, who now faces partial blindness and other issues. 

 

And yet I see every day here in Pattaya, foreigners of all ages riding around with no helmet, thinking (or blissfully ignorant/careless) they will be fine and nothing will happen to them.  Many also speeding, drunk as well. I won't be forking out cash to help fund a repatriation or hospital costs to these people, with their brains half hanging out their head, guts ripped open, crumpled broken bodies bleeding all over the road.  Bad luck.  

 

Why do I get the feeling that you don't "fork out cash" to very many people, needy or not? I guess being dumb or ignorant and making mistakes is a crime punishable by death. Me, if someone is in need, I don't judge them for their mistakes if they are otherwise not inherently bad people. There are plenty of truly bad people in the world worthy of scorn.