kwilco

Just to conform my theory, here is a response to the Titanic switch conspiracy theory – just look at any response and you will be able to tick off like a checklist the features I've described. Firstly, John Hamer was a novelist, and the story he wrote, if considered "factual", sinks faster than the ship itself. At the time Titanic went down, her sister ship Olympic was right where everyone knew she was—in New York Harbour, being serviced and photographed. The idea that they secretly swapped identities is pure fantasy. When the wreck was found in 1985, every detail—the engraved name “TITANIC”, the yard number 401 on fittings, the interior layout—all matched Titanic, not Olympic (which was number 400). So unless someone managed to teleport an entire 46,000-tonne liner across the Atlantic, the evidence is pretty clear. The ship that sank in 1912 was the RMS Titanic, not a “switched” imposter — and the only thing that’s ever been faked here is the conspiracy!

Whether its Moon landings, Titanic or current political plots, conspiracy theories aren’t about secret knowledge—they’re about how the brain works. i.e. heuristics: - We’re wired to see patterns, link coincidences, and assume big events must have big causes. Add confirmation bias and a need for control, and suddenly every coincidence looks like a cover-up. Social media then supercharges it. Algorithms feed you more of what you click, repetition makes lies sound familiar, and online groups reward loyalty over logic. The result is a self-reinforcing loop that feels like research but isn’t. It's worth noting that in several of those posts, a lot of conspiracy believers also treat the internet itself as proof. Many don’t actually use search engines — they just type a claim into Google and assume the results are “what Google says”, not what random websites say through Google. They confuse a search tool with a source of information, which is why “I did my own research” usually means “I read the first three links that confirmed what I already believed.” The real twist? Most conspiracy believers think they’re the only ones thinking critically. Being proven wrong just becomes more proof of how deep the plot goes. It’s not insight — it’s psychology, boosted by algorithms. I think a lot of people on this thread should see themselves being described here – but then again they won’t, will they?

you realise that Google is not a source it's a search engine - you need tpo learn how to use it.

yoOh dear you need to learn how to research, not just search or cherry pick - RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic, the other two vessels in the Olympic-class trio built by the White Star Line. The Olympic had a long and successful career, while the Britannic was converted to a hospital ship during World War I and sank after hitting a mine.

can you offer an alternative explanation as to why??

So let’s get this straight — you think 400,000 people across NASA, 20,000 contractors, and dozens of universities all kept a perfect secret for over 50 years... and not one slipped? Any conspiracy that size would’ve leaked within four years max. That’s the problem with this “buy one, get all the rest free” mindset: once you swallow one wild claim, critical thinking goes out the window. Suddenly the moon, the Titanic, and probably gravity itself are all “fake.”

That’s not it at all. Calling out conspiracy thinking isn’t “demeaning” — it’s describing a pattern of how bad ideas spread and harden. No one’s being attacked for having questions; it’s about what happens when questions turn into dogma. People who cling to conspiracy theories aren’t being “dismissed”—they’re dismissing evidence, logic, and expertise themselves. Trying to justify conspiracy thinking isn’t open-mindedness; it’s just lowering the bar for what counts as truth. It’s not about liking or disliking someone’s opinion — it’s about recognising when thought has been replaced by reflex.

where do they drain to?

unlikely but maybe Typhoid Fever Hepatitis A Cryptosporidiosis Escherichia coli Diarrhea Encephalitis Giardiasis Leptospirosis Methaemoglobinaemia Poliomyelitis Campylobacteriosis Salmonellosis Shigellosis Paratyphoid Fever Yersiniosis

...and then he'll blame some restaurant when he ends up with gastroenteritis.

QED! - you That’s a nice personal story, but it’s not really a measure of road safety — it just means you’ve been lucky or cautious for 40 years. It says nothing about how dangerous the roads actually are. Plenty of skilled, experienced riders have been taken out by drunk drivers, trucks drifting over lanes, or cars pulling out without looking. Road safety is about risk factors and data, not one person’s experience. Saying “I’ve never crashed” is a bit like saying “I’ve never been bitten by a snake, so cobras must be friendly.” ” Good for you — but it doesn’t change the statistics.

I don’t really fit into any of the categories you mentioned. I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was seven years old. In Thailand, I’ve owned two pickups and two motorcycles and ridden many more rental bikes. I hold a full UK motorcycle licence and previously had a Thai motorcycle licence as well. I’ve also held a Thai car licence for more than 20 years. I’ve never had an O visa — mine was a B visa for over 20 years. That said, I agree that foreigners are becoming a growing part of Thailand’s road casualty figures. Unfortunately, the authorities have never collected detailed statistics by nationality, which makes it difficult to get a clear picture. However, Thailand is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (since May 2020). This treaty — recognised by 91 countries — ensures that properly licensed foreign drivers can legally drive in the Kingdom. However, Thailand does not recognise “small bike” or moped categories in the treaty (like 125cc step-throughs). To ride any motorcycle here, you must hold a full motorcycle licence. It’s also worth noting that after 90 days in Thailand, you’re expected to have a Thai driving licence rather than relying on a foreign licence or IDP. Many insurance companies will not cover you on an IDP after this period. As for closing rental companies—that’s simply not a realistic or helpful solution. It’s a huge industry, and the real issue is enforcement, not availability. • Rental shops often fail to check proper documentation. The authorities have said they’ll prosecute, but enforcement remains weak. • Most rental insurance is the legal minimum — which is almost worthless. • Mechanical and safety checks are often minimal, and some larger bikes are grey imports or rebuilt write-offs. Education is also a big part of the problem. Many visitors don’t know Thai traffic laws, road conditions, or safety expectations (like helmet use and lane discipline). All of this feeds into Thailand’s wider road safety crisis, which is ultimately a national public health issue. So in conclusion—while I understand your concern, I don’t think your ideas are practical or compatible with international treaties. And an O visa certainly isn’t a measure of driving competence.

I think the word is "pootle" - but you show an alarming lack of awareness.

I What surprises me is how many expats spend years here without really learning much about the country — especially those who never look beyond the walls of their own backyard. The fact is, many people simply don’t feel confident driving in Thailand, and that’s perfectly fine. But instead of just accepting that choice, some try to shift the blame — suggesting the problem lies with Thai drivers, when in reality they don’t fully understand how driving here actually works.

There seems to be a paradox here - Many foreigners in Thailand insist that “all Thai drivers are crazy,” so they refuse to drive themselves — and instead hire a taxi, which, by their own logic, must be driven by one of those same “mad” drivers.

so you never get to see Thailand

THe bike ended up near here – https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qfd6seXRn7eu1zEH8 by the concrete paving slabs in the median

I don't think making up new rules for the Thai authorities will have much effect. There are laws already in place, but they aren't enforced; the road design is questionable; we don't know how roadworthy the machine was; we don't know how educated the rider was. We also don't know how effective the first responders and emergency services were, and the whole accident won't be evaluated properly. At that time of the morning, traffic was probably quite light, so the temptation to throw caution to the wind was there.... The road itself is a wide 3-lane road with markings of questionable value painted all over it. The biker had just gone through a pedestrian crossing that is controlled by lights – we don't know if he was required to stop or even if he stopped. All over the road are 60 kph limits, although I don't see any signs on poles. There were signs on poles with arrows indicating a bend. It is possible he had slowed for the lights and decided to roar off and lost control of the front wheel ....... IF that was the case, he would have hit the kerb, and the rest is history – there's nothing there to absorb the energy of a road incident. I get very concerned when I see the new "fad" in Thailand for painting all sorts of information on the road itself. Firstly, they get ignored, as there is little or no enforcement – e.g., cameras or follow-up to any fines or penalties. Secondly, painting on asphalt can interfere with the traction properties of the road surface, especially if it is wet or damp. Road markings in Europe all have to pass a coefficient of friction test before they are permitted to be used. I'd say there is a very good chance that speed was a factor in this, but unfortunately the road design is very inefficient at absorbing all that energy and a human body is even less so, with tragic results Any evaluation of this incident is likely to be perfunctory. We are unlikely ever to know what really happened. It would also be nice to know if the rider was licensed, experienced, DOI or anything else that may have lead to this incident

It's not a cause, it's a facctor.

I know this bend but if you want to check it out go to street view on Google Maps – you can see a recent photo of the curve. Poor road design and traffic engineering are a hallmark of Thai road safety. The world is full of "bad drivers" (not an expression I find helpful) – but road safety is a public health issue - it is about implementing systems to protect road users from themselves and each other. You can come of a motorbike at high speed on a race track and just dust yourself down and walk away – but if they planted trees and placed lamp posts around, the situation would be very different. It is the RESULTS of a crash in Thailand that makes their road injury figures so high – not a proliferation of stupidity that is a world problem.

"Cursed corner" - means there is a fault in the road design – this is the road, the surface, signage, and even lighting – but as Thailand seems to be devoid of road traffic engineers, these places continue unabated.

worth noting that there are no barriers armco or concrete on this stratch - only trees ... once you've lost control your chances of survival are considerably less when you have to encounter trees and lamposts.

this bend as a high rate of accidents - or do you think it attracts stupid riders?

unfrortunately they need protection from themsleves and this road fails to do that.

how did he find out?