dinsdale

Sorry but this is complete and utter nonsense. It's a herb. You dry and smoke the heads. As for self medication George Bernard Shaw wrote "Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life". Nice but one could replace alcohol for weed. There would be less societal damage this way.

I'm very laid back thank you very much. I for one suppport the legalisation of all drugs. The Portugal model is something you should look at. Crime down. Prisons emptying. Employment up. Drug dependence down. But you are right I'm not quite laid back enough. Another toke I think. ps I have read the bible cover to cover and have read an unabridged version of the old testament. I am in no way religious because I think faith is just silly but it is a good read.

Oh dear god good try. I suggest a small toke for you, relax and read your bible. I would go for the old testament. Really good novel. Try and read the unabridged version. I might be wrong but burning babies alive springs to mind. Definitely not something someone who has had a chuff would think of doing. Also not sure what the elderly (???????) potheads have to do with it. The one's I have met have been very laid back nice people. Way to go in my opinion. It's the yaba here that's the problem. Not weed.

I think you should all wake up. Marijuana is a very, very dangerous drug that will lead anyone who smokes it down the road to mental illness and harder drugs. That's all I've got to say except for I believe it's time for a beer and a bong. Ahhhhhh! That's better.

These warning levels are not given or changed lightly. Interesting. Australian Foreign Affairs shows no such warning.

Understand but if KN95 an N95 masks which I believe have been tested for pm2.5 are not fitted properly then there really is no point. It just becomes a fashion accessory. Interestingly there seems to have been no scientific and peer reviewed studies about the efficacy of mask wearing and covid-19. Funny really because the year the Chinese let covid out was the same year or time thereabouts that PM 2.5 was making the news and people were wearing masks for the pollution. Again if not properly fitted they are next to useless.

Corruption top to bottom depends on a compliant society. Compliancy is taught through so-called cultural and religious education.

The disposable surgical masks (which the majority use because they're cheaper) are as effective against pollution as they are against Omicron. That is to say not effective at all.

Well that might be the case where you are but last wk I went to my local branch of Krung Thai forgot to take a mask and they wouldn't let me in.

Can Thailand’s political parties take us out of the middle-income trap? Interesting. Top 5% own how much. 90%+ of Thailand's wealth. What % are in poverty? Reduction of poverty? Well I'm guessing the lockdowns increased poverty substantially. As for political parties it's all about filling their own and their mates pockets. Fairly sure there would be 10's of millions who would love to be in a middle income trap. Headline seems to defy reality.

My missus puts a mask on only to go into shops, the bank etc. Often just forgets to take it off. I remember plenty of times in the 1st year of this completely forgetting to take my mask off. Now I forget to take one with me e.g. if I have to go into the bank as they wont let you in without one.

Sorry. Yes of course your opinion is correct. Having lived here 18 yrs full time, having a family and a house does not give me the right to an opinion on if it's time to "ditch the masks" and why Thais (and farang, so not just Thais) are still wearing masks. I did ask a teacher last wk why they were still wearing masks. Answer was covid. Mask was around his neck. As I have just posted I think it's because no one has said take off the masks. Told to put them on but as of yet not told to take them off. Lots of masks still to be sold, plenty of money to be had but wearing masks has never been compolsory. Interesting sociological/pyschological phenomena.

Then I guess this comment is directed @Rooster. I cant see a problem with saying "it's time to ditch the masks" because it is time to ditch the masks. Faces are part of human interaction and communucation and I, as does @Rooster, want to get back to this. If still wearing a mask is a cultural rather than medical thing just what part of Thai culture is it? I believe Thais are waiting to be told what to do. At the very beginning of the pandemic I masked up. At this stage Thais were only wearing masks for pollution. Then they were told to wear masks and it was almost 100% complience. Thing is no one has told them to stop wearing masks.

"95-100%" of Thais still wearing masks in BKK he says. I'm just outside of BKK and it's the same although I am just starting to see a few (usually younger) more not wearing them. 06:15. "My message at the moment to the Thai people in particular is ......please ditch the masks. The pandemics over...." I can only agree with this comment but the thing is the pandemic has been over for more than a year and yet almost all Thais are still wearing masks. I believe this is not the case in places like Pattaya and Phuket. As I have been saying IMO since Omicron there has been no need to wear a mask. Know a farang who was a bit of a mask wearer who got omicron. Only knew this because a friend tested positive so tested themselves. Positive result. Symptoms nil. Asymptomatic. No longer wears a mask. I think post Songkran the masks will come off.

I believe this is the topic of the OP and this thread is it not? Rooster Reports 7: Hello Thai people: The pandemic's over now, pretty please, ditch the face masks!

No where did I say this. I would guess almost 100% of people in Thailand have been exposed and will continue to be exposed. Masks will not prevent this.

Tell me why Thais are still wearing masks. Tell me why Thais think Omicron is dangerous and can kill them. You say superiority, I say rational and educated. I've been here 18 yrs full time and I'm married. I do have some idea about what I'm saying. I'm sure if some Thai 'expert' was to come out now and say mask wearing wards off ghosts many, many, many thousands if not millions of Thais would believe this.

Nup. Not very obsessed. Not even obsessed. Not sure how you come to that conclusion. I don't wear a mask and hopefully Thais will see the light and stop paying for and wearing them. They serve no purpose. Worn properly, worn improperly or not at all it's all the same. Covid-19 is an airborne virus. Masks will stop spittle and that's about it. The virus will happily escape the mask through breath. I've always had a bit of a giggle when I see people lining up at the local shabu restaurant all wearing masks, all crowded together and then the masks get taken off when they're inside. Pretty pointless really and as more information comes out may have been completely useless from the very beginning.

What a silly comment. The pandemic is over, this is a fact, and mask wearing is not necessary, this is also a fact.

It is not necessary to wear a mask in 711, Lotus'ssssss, BigC etc, however, it's mandated that the staff do. As for the "coughing in the ear" I have seen since the beginning of this thing sooooo many Thais pulling their masks down to sneeze. Sad truth is that most Thais are just sheeple and have absolutely no idea about the reality of mask mearing (absolutely no longer necessary) and the reality vis a vis Omicron. I was in a 7 the other day and a Thai had forgotton their mask. Pulled up their shirt to cover mouth and nose. Absolutely no idea but trying to do what is still considered to be the right thing to do. Girl at 7 told him to nevermind. You do not have to wear a mask.

Yep. The pandemic is over everywhere. It's now endemic. No need for masks that don't work and no need for boosters unless you are at risk then you should also be getting a flu vaccine. It's been pretty much over since Omicron kicked out Delta. Few weeks ago had a shocking head cold or maybe it was Omicron for the 2nd time. Didn't test. What's the point. It was all over in a few days. I've been posting for some time now to TAKE OFF THE MASKS. Wearing a mask or not wearing a mask is exactly the same. I guess the warehouses are still full and there are profits still to be made.

Yes mental health is a serious issue but a spoilt manchild is down to society. Plenty of examples of this when a so called adult throws a baby tantrum, has a gun and kills or shoots to kill. No gun? Nevermind a knife will do. This is more than just a mental health issue. Even the PM Prayut has thrown tantrums.

Misleading headline. This is only a sample but I would be suprised if only 80% had been infected.. Some didn't get infected, some were asymptomatic, some had minor symptoms, some had severe symptoms and some died. Some reported and some didn't. No idea when this figure comes from but I would suggest that a figure of around 100% exposure would be close to the mark now. Omicron is super infectious, endemic and not life threatening to the majority of people. For me I tested positive for 10 days, wasn't too good on day zero, better day 1 and pretty much all over by day 3 except for extreme bouts of tiredness.

I support their actions only in that what alternatives do they have that is not a financial negative to them. As I have previously posted there are times that the cost of production of rice has been greater than the price recieved for the crop. A net loss. Big stick or carrot approach? Big stick will not work. Curfew? Well this is some thought bubble of an empty headed idiot. Carrot? Subsidies, assistance etc for the farmers is the correct direction but the govt does nothing. Blame the farmer or blame the govt? As for illegal burning in forrested areas this does need the big stick but who is doing the burning and how well connected they are is an altogether other issue.

Agree but it's helping them that's needed. Do the farmers want to burn or is it they see no sound finacial alternative?