Chip Allen

This would be unbelievable in any other country. Just sad. When will Thailand get serious about addressing this problem? it's a huge black-eye for the whole country. Even Cambodia has been more pro-active in its approach to this problem.

Incredible irony. "Be fair to us", while we trash your country and your ideals.

1 minute ago, FredNL said:

 

If farang not come to Thailand it never happen"!!!

 

That is what I heard coming out of the mouth of a Bang Phlat police officer when I had to file the theft of a 40 ft container loaded with wines when it was cleared at customs.

Thai logic at its finest. I hear this kind of rationale frequently and they actually believe it. You are ALWAYS responsible for bad things that happen to you because you do not belong here, you are not Thai. It is the mindset that subsumes all logic and common sense. This even includes diseases and reckless driving on the part of Thai motorists that claim farang victims. There is simply no way around the inevitable mantra:  "You no Thai.....you no unnerstan."

Sick, sick, sick.   I have no words.  Just heartbreaking.

3 hours ago, rabas said:

 

Reality?  He (ze?) says from a safe room clutching a trigger warning list.

 

Thai are Buddhist. Buddhism teaches all about reality, that is it's purpose. American exceptionalism may be going to the moon before it is possible, making quantum computers, but Thai exceptionalism is about reality and existence.

 

(trigger warning!) Go buy a book on Buddhism, you might even become happy.

3 hours ago, Johnniey said:

Why do you have a numpty as your avatar?  Why do you live in a numpty culture, you are free to go anywhere you want, aren't you?

I live here because it's inexpensive. On my modest retirement funds, Thailand fills the bill. I am not obliged to condone every stupid facet of their culture and their inattention to reality. I am as critical of America as I am any other country. US warmongering has endangered its citizens on a number of fronts.  Thai "culture" is nine tenths rampaging stupidity and about one tenth charm. They are not unlike Muslims in their insistence that their culture should take precedence over all others when there is a conflict. Inferior logic and bad government are the hallmarks of so-called "Thai culture".    Their recurring mantra is "U no Thai....u no unnerstan."

13 hours ago, atyclb said:

were there not a fair % of thais that liked his video?  they know it is important to face reality and at some point will need to look in the mirror

Facing reality is not a staple of Thai society.

9 hours ago, Johnniey said:

LOL, an American makes a jackass(is that the right word?) of himself with his cultural insensitivity and people start criticizing the Thais

Are you American by any chance, "Chip"?

I am American, but I LOATHE "American Exceptionalism" and its Thai counterpart. "U no Thai....U no unnerstan."   Thais are the crowned heads of butthurt.

"Culturally insensitive"....code for "I refuse to overlook grinding stupidity even if it offends your culture."  Thais cannot ingest criticism on even the most conservative scale. It is the reason they are frozen at the third world level when experience would indicate that they should be at the level of Singapore, at least. Numpty culture.

Just now, jlwilliamsjr18 said:

Here's a fact....He is not sorry, not one bit. 

Nor SHOULD he be. A person's stupidity and mindless nativism should be worn like chains.

Whinging, entitled Thais wanting absolution for their stupidity. Very typical and quite sad. Butthurt meets nativism and spawns a bastard child named Somchai.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I would have guessed the implementation would be delayed. The main reason for that is look at how complex the half baked rules are about bank account treatment and medical insurance as well. It wouldn't shock me if indeed this new thing never happens at all, though I suppose I would guess it probably will eventually.

 

As far as "not replacing anything" I will continue to take such vague language with some skepticism as they come from front line officers not in charge with actually writing the national rules. Add to that that the details of the national rules don't even exist yet adds to that.

 

Also, has one person asked anyone in credible authority (that would NOT be a front line officer) whether this new thing is intended to replace the O-A visas currently only issued abroad from home countries? From what I gathered, nobody has even asked the provincial officers that SPECIFIC question. Also keep in mind, provincial officers, just like many people here often use incorrect terminology. So saying O-A visas to them, they might assume you mean something else (see the list of four general paths) I recently listed.

 

The hint I see (albeit certainly not conclusive ... nothing here is yet) that links O-A visas (obtained only in home countries to this new VERY half baked changed is in the press reports calling the new thing LONG STAY VISAS. That is exactly what O-A visas are called on Thai embassy websites abroad -- LONG STAY VISAS. Single O visas are not that and neither are annual retirement extensions. So I think the BASIC question I've posed here about O-A visas (and whether this new thing will truly be SEPARATE from them) remains a very relevant and STILL unanswered question.

 

Cheers.

Very good analysis and valid points. Asking I-O flunkies questions is like consulting a crystal ball. Answers differ with whom you ask and where. Typical Thai crap. No consistency, no uniformity, no accountability. Rule of whim.

19 minutes ago, newnative said:

Poster just reported from Hua Hin Immigration visit. Was told the 10 Year is a visa option and not replacing anything. Also, the implementation will be delayed.

Thanks for posting this. I wish the government could provide clarification before they release anything. It would certainly save much confusion. They change the rules frequently on a whim, plus the rules may vary for different locations. Add to that the fact that some rules are not enforced or selectively enforced and you have the prescription for chaos. TIT.

The NERVE of this guy, thinking he has freedom of speech. Waterboard him and crucify him. 

Now, I do not have a country to go back to. The USA has been taken over by racists, nativists and xenophobes. I can stay in Thailand  and get that. 

4 hours ago, newnative said:

I think it doesn't make sense to some posters because they are trying to make this new 10 year visa something that it's not and blowing everything way out of proportion.  It's not a replacement for any of the current visas in place--but that's not stopping some from leaping to the conclusion that it might be. If you try to force it into being a replacement, it doesn't work or make sense--like trying to force a puzzle piece into the wrong spot.  Why is it not a replacement?  It's only available for 14 countries.  A visa replacement would not be limited to just a few countries and exclude some of the biggest.  The 10 Year is just a limited visa option for affluent people over 50 in a few select countries.  Thailand isn't making a big deal about it and Immigration isn't making a big deal about it because... wait for it...it's not a big deal. 

Hope you're right. We will never know until they clarify it. Clarity is NOT a staple of Thai Immigration or any Thai government bureau, for that matter. Obfuscation is the norm.

The first step in  extending the Lese Majeste law to police and public officials.

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

An American? citizen getting extradited from America to a country under military rule?

Kidnapping for ransom in Thailand can incur the death penalty, all quite weird.

Perhaps now, the USA can begin returning Chinese dissidents to China to face charges. Don't forget the many persons in the United States committing Lese Majeste on the internet.

You are ALWAYS wrong if you are a farang. Doesn't this man KNOW that??? 

4 hours ago, tx22cb said:

These generals need to take a chill pill.

No.....they need the Saddam Hussein scaffold walk. When that trapdoor drops, it's the end of the people's problems.

On 11/27/2016 at 4:58 AM, nausea said:

I would suggest you take the current required income for retirement here - 64,000 baht a month (roughly £1500 at current exchange rates), as a minimal ballpark figure for a comfortable lifestyle. Of course, many people live on a lot less, and many on a lot more. The impression I get is that c. 30,000 baht is the minimum survival level, whilst to really live it up you need 100,000 baht or more.

<deleted>....I live on 2455 USD a month, and while I always have money left at the end of the month, it is a lean lifestyle. Idiots who think you can live like a king on 500 dollars a month are apparently using LSD.

Always the media's fault. Those journalists should just form cheerleading squads for the regime.

Connections. Charges will be dropped.

44 minutes ago, lostinisaan said:

 

  Why don't you marry a "washing machine?"

 

     No disrespect to Thais, just a joke. 

Laugh if you wish. My fiancee excoriated me for washing my own clothes. Said it was "her job".  HA!!!!!!  

I've used these before and the owner explained it to me as best she could. It was such a hassle that I decided to use the laundry in my condo and quit washing my own clothes. Less hassle in the long run and almost as cheap. The LG (Fuzzy Logic) machines are confusing.