BangkokReady

If it wasn't a huge contribution to the economy, they wouldn't be so desperate for it now, nor after covid. Obviously I have no data to back up the wild/hyperbolic claim that Thailand would still look like Laos, but you cannot deny the huge impact tourism has had on Thailand and Thai people's standard of living. During covid, without foreign tourists, Thailand was stretched to almost breaking point. There was nearly no money left to subsidise Thai people's everyday expenditure. As I said, no data, but I find it hard to believe that Thailand (Bangkok at least) would look anything like it does today without foreign tourists. At the very least, there would be far less infrastructure and food and fuel would cost Thai people a lot more.

They need income from abroad. If they didn't have tourism, Thailand would still look like Laos.

Farang scum! Imprison. Deport. Ban for life.

Probably the most surprising thing about this story. Isn't it quite common for 14 year olds to date twenty somethings in Thailand?

Wouldn't that be the exception that proves the rule?

The foreigner is the victim here. It is of interest and it is helpful information. In just the last couple of days, you should have learnt to stay away from Thai tuk-tuk drivers and, if you have to use them, give them the exact change, and, now, you've learnt to stay away from Thai ladyboys. (Or really just stay away from any Thais involved in the tourist industry outside tour guides and hotel staff.)

No. A gang of people beating someone is not self-defence. It is an attack. Most people don't launch a gang assault against someone simply for disrespecting their friend, hence it is barbaric. You sound like you would attack a single person in a gang with weapons, so that's probably why you can't see why most people have a problem with this.

It's a cancer. People don't realise how damaging it is. Apart from idiots who think their whole life is an online clip therefore they can do what they want ("It's OK, it's for the internet!"), you have people who don't do anything to help others in distress, they just whip out their phone and start recording, like that's them doing their bit. "Are you going to help them?" "It's OK, I'm recording it." 🙄

It would be interesting to research into why ladyboys are so violent. Could it be the natural aggression of males mixed with the entitlement of women to be violent against men?

No mention of economic migrants? These people are shockingly out of touch or straight-up lying to hide the real problems. Disappointing.

It's funny the way that the "farang-bashers" and Thai apologists work. To them, this is probably a righteous beat down of the "farang scum" who was causing trouble, while the attack against the Thai tuk tuk driver who (allegedly) stole from the Brit was an unprovoked and vicious assault. It's pretty clear what's really going on.

Either he was very busy being annoying (not impossible), or these people re going to great lengths to concoct a story that justifies a savage and sustained attack.

It's a pity your moral viewpoint isn't reciprocated when it comes to these freaks manhandling tourists against their will and thieving what they can. You're confusing morality (ethics) and moral of the story (lesson). There is nothing moral about what has happened here, but you should learn the moral lesson from it, even if it makes Thais look bad.

The problem is, this is only in your head and has nothing to do with what Thai people actually think.

I'm not sure I understand you. I was explaining that if "what it looks like" is what it is, then the driver must have stolen from the Brit before the Brit assaulted him. I think it's worth pointing out both sides, and where people only want to focus on what the Brit has done, ignoring what the driver did, then they're being dishonest due to racism.

"I just don't understand it. I gave them a helmet, I explained why they need to wear them, they seemed to understand, but now they aren't wearing them. When I asked why, they told me I didn't understand Thailand because I am farang and if I didn't like it I should go home."

And social media. When they think they can get rich by behaving like complete idiots online, they find they can't switch it off.

They're just playing at being like the joker to try to appear edgy.

They're way easier to avoid in Thailand. In the West they blend in with the various flavours of nutters there.

"Yeah, but I like the Thais..."

It looks like the Brit was asking for his money back. So the driver must have scammed him? OK. Glad you could be honest about that.

I'm sure you have something to say, but you aren't great at expressing yourself. 🤷‍♂️

I'm not really sure what point you're making. 🤷‍♂️

Hardly surprising. While Trump says and does a lot of daft things, his critics lie about him all day long. Luckily, courts are at least still impartial, so the accusations have to be proven. And when things need to be proven, the left-wing narrative often falls apart. 🤷‍♂️

All these people saying Brits are giving foreigners a bad name, when actually they're the ones making the most effort to assimilate into Thai culture.