fredwiggy

Just read the link, and many others, to see what goes on here. There is a lot more crime here than you see just on TV. And the punishment isn't as extreme as in the US either. Except for drug crimes and murders, you can't bribe your way out as easy there as they can here. From my own observance, in the US for 62 years, and here for the last 5, I don't see the interaction between men and women here like I did there. Talking, just plain talking, about anything and everything. Here, it's rare to see people holding hands in public and kissing, although I do see a little, but compared to home, very little. I've eaten hundreds of meals and barbecues in the US, and saw everyone talking to each other, men and women, wives and husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends, and family members. Here, I and many of my friends here have said the same thing, I see men in a group talking to each other, and the women in a group, on the other side of the yard, talking to each other. The ex and girlfriend said the same thing. I haven't actually seen any gun crime here, besides my ex's nephew, a teenager, who was caught with a pistol three times, and every time, brought to the police station and released to grandma, no charges. He is now in jail for drugs. In the US first offense for having a gun in possession is, just for example, Massachusetts (Others are a little different but similar) Possess without license: first offense: up to two years in prison or jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Subsequent offense: up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Possess without license outside of home or place of business: from 2.5 to five years imprisonment, or 18 months to 2.5 years in jail; with a mandatory minimum of 18 months

I lived in the US for 62 years, and rarely saw any crime, and no gun crime. I sold guns for years, and talked with thousands of gun owners. I never felt unsafe anywhere, besides when I worked in NYC, and I really wasn't in fear anyway. US cops might, some, be trigger happy, but corruption here is way more. Look at the link. Really look, and you'll see what I meant. There are gangs here, and have been here for a century, and trafficking in humans is about the highest in the world. I've been here, and talking to many Thais, for over five years, and observant, and rarely see any of the women talking to their men, besides like I said, and my ex wife and girlfriend here say the same. Others have said the same. Of course I don't live with any of these people, so I'm just going by what I've observed, comparing it to what I saw for those 62 years in the US.

Quite the contrary, this country has more than it's share of all crime, and gun violence is almost on par with the US, at least as far as percentages. I lived in the US for 62 years, and I never saw people going after others 5 on 1, and with machetes like happens here. I'm not sticking up for any country, as they all have their share. As far as communication, unlike America, where men and their wives talk, and women and men in general, here it seems the only communication that happens between men and women is the day to day work and regular activities. And the bs that men say to get sex. https://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8f/entry-3280.html

Saying he was attacked first? He brought the knife. His intention was to, in the least, intimidate. In the worst, premeditated murder.

Ear plugs are the only resort you have. The headman will do nothing ,mainly because you are a foreigner. They blast music at 6 AM every morning here, just before they talk about current events. It's been done for decades. Most Thais are up that early because of farm work, and it doesn't bother them. It DOES bother foreigners and the elders who need to sleep longer, but nothing will be done because they are in the minority. Inconsideration comes easily here, and the highways is a place you will also see this. people (a lot,not all) drive below the speed limit right on the center line, and won't move over to let you pass, which leaves you and the oncoming traffic in danger when you do. It seems that most don't use their mirrors, or just don't care. Everyone has a right to complain. It doesn't matter if this is their country or not. What happens from those complaints will sadly, be little to nothing. Disturbing the peace is wrong, no matter where you live. But again, ear plugs will be the only resort that will work.

Approached her from behind on scooter. Knew she had the gold. Someone she knows or a friend of theirs.

Going there in November for a month. I have a Thai bought phone with Thai sims. Would I remove one of them there and replace with a US sim for the month? Also, I use the Line app for calls here. Has anyone gone back there and used it?

A lot like to argue because they were told by a "friend" that something was a certain way, and like Hitler, Putin and Donald Trump's followers, they are sheep. Doing research is more than finding one link on Google just to dispute something. Some of us have been into nutrition and exercise for over 40 years, and know what works and what doesn't. As has been mentioned, unless you are suffering from a disease or genetic anomaly, sunlight provides all the Vitamin D you need. That goes for supplementing anything. Supplements, unless you overuse a few, such as Vitamin A, aren't going to hurt anything besides your pocketbook. IF you are like millions of people that don't eat right by choice, then using a pill to get back what you aren't receiving by a well balanced diet, will help.

I'm stating facts, and you're following with useless rhetoric

Actually, people , daily, rob stores for alcohol, cigarettes, food or the money to obtain these, and store owners are shot, and sometimes killed, for just a few dollars by people who are either high or wanting to be. Illegality of course ups the price of drugs, but crime will always be around because of poverty, and many people look at drugs as more important than food, and when they "need" a fix, they will do anything to get it. Price means little to an addict. They will sell their own mothers for it.

Marijuana should have been legalized everywhere decades ago. Pot smokers generally aren't hyped up like meth users are. Some people cannot handle drugs of any sort, but stopping them from using is near impossible without intervention and desire. Money is made from all drug sales, and that won't stop even if you you target the main suppliers, like they do. The war won't stop anyway because much of the drugs are made, and grown, in country areas away from civilization, and are protected by cartel members with weapons, and a lot of police are involved protecting them. Like was mentioned, rich like drugs also, especially cocaine, and that again is protected by crooked law enforcement in every country, because money is to be made. Some drugs should be legalized, most shouldn't. Drugs cause changes in the brain, and some who use them get violent. Alcohol, another drug which is legal, kills far more than any other daily, and there are laws about alcohol use that are ignored, like driving under the influence. Doctors kill thousands of people a year over prescribing opioids, drugs that are extremely strong and very addictive. Where there's money to be made, illegal sales will continue, as will corruption. People love drugs. The problem is that they, like sugar, is addictive and it causes that addiction to continue. Penalties should fit the crime. Users that aren't hurting others should have rehab as an option. People selling drugs to children should get maximum penalties. People who kill others in their search should either get death, of life without parole. People are weak, but some are easily addicted, unless they have strong will power and can stop themselves.

You spay, or neuter, every dog you can get your hands on, you'll reduce the population exponentially., thereby reducing bites, diseases and road accidents. Where I lived in Texas, in a subdivision surrounded by country, where the city incorporated us, animals weren't allowed to roam freely, and you rarely saw a dog loose. Animals had to have a rabies tag, and people were fined if their dog was picked up. Problems were non existent. The government here needs to put money towards this, and take it from the military, which is totally unnecessary.

One of the ways a civilized country proves itself is by how they treat their elderly, homeless and animals. Yes, it's in the governments best interest to put money into a spaying operation countrywide, but like the road carnage that goes on and is preventable by enforcement of laws that are already on the books, this won't come easy because they just don't care.

Actually, Bim is right on for the situation. Neutering and spaying reduces the amount of babies, which reduces the problem. Dogs do indeed mirror their environment, and owners. If they are treated well, they won't bite anyone. If you step on a dogs tail, they can bite, meaning if you abuse them, they will abuse others. I have owned many dogs, and not one has ever bit anyone. I never hit them unless they were doing something bad, and always showed them love. Even the pit bull, which can kill if taught, can be a docile animal that doesn't know it's own abilities against a human if humans have only been kind to it. Dogs bark because that's how they communicate, but can be taught not to. they also bark when left alone, bored, for too long. Fixing dogs isn't to make us feel better but to fix the problem for both us and the animals. You could round up all the strays and kill them, and that would solve the problem temporarily, but in this kind of unregulated country, it would be next to impossible to do, meaning the man hours involved, the fact that a lot of these animals are owned, and dogs will still roam,making new babies daily. Fixing a lot will reduce the population for the most important time, the future. Just like humans, having more babies that aren't properly raised, the over population causes most of the world's problems.

But you seemed to have missed the other I wrote, again, stating how I treat humans makes me a good person, or do you know other ways it can? Stating that serial killers usually come from mistreatment of animals isn't an argument. I don't argue but state facts.

I'm guessing you never grew up with dogs in your family, because if you did, you wouldn't make such an ignorant statement. Owning dogs enriches both the owners and dogs lives. They are loyal companions and provide comfort to all , especially older owners who have lost partners and have children who have moved on in life. I have owned dogs all of my 66 years on earth, and have loved their companionship. They have protected my property and been playmates to my children. How does owning a dog become selfish in your mind? What cost does having a loyal companion bring? How do others around you pay for your ownership of your dog if you are taking care of them properly? None of my animals has ever caused anyone trouble besides the most disturbed I have already mentioned that poison dogs here because they run into neighboring cassava fields. None has ever been aggressive or bit anyone. You are obviously an animal hater, making such ridiculous, uneducated statements.

Actually I'm not in a hole at all. It's you that are making ignorant statements. If you bothered to read my whole post before you commented, you would see that I wrote that just being an animal lover doesn't make me a good person but how I treat people also.

Calling people stupid for loving dogs is stupid. Dogs are among the most loyal of animals and have saved countless lives on earth, and are used to sniff out drugs and bombs, which also saves lives. It isn't selfish to own a dog. It's selfish to own dogs and not take care of them.

These people? I'm guessing you're referring to me here? I'm not a good person just because I treat animals with respect. It's because I treat people that way also. People who mistreat animals are highly likely to also treat people with disrespect also, and serial killers and those that murder innocents usually come from a background of mistreating and or, killing innocent animals. Victims of dogs attacks can have themselves to blame if they either hit or approach animals that act unfriendly. The dog is to blame because they are vicious, which usually means they have been mistreated by humans.

Very true. I've never seen so many unfriendly dogs in all of my 66 years. Most dogs I've encountered in America I could approach and pet. Only a few were aggressive and didn't want me to approach or ran away. Dogs can sense fear and seem to know when a person is unfriendly also. I see a lot of abuse towards cats and dogs here, even from people I know are basically nice

Been a dog owner, and lover, all of my 66 years. Been bit twice. Once back in the late 70's by a tiny dog when I went looking at a motorcycle for sale. Nipped and tore my pants. Second time, a few months ago here, after leaving a wedding. Dog was someones across the street from the wedding which nipped my hand when I went to pet it, as I do most dogs I encounter. The problem here is that the government should take control of the situation for everyone's good by paying to get the loose dogs spayed or neutered. Releasing fixed dogs into the population leaves a lot less to make more babies. In America, there are low cost spay and neuter programs , a lot which are mobile, but it doesn't include strays. Strays are picked up and put into shelters in a lot of states, until they are either picked up by their owners or adopted out. Some euthanize after holding for a period of time. People here don't care much about their animals past the cute puppy and kitten stage, and as far as adoption, it doesn't happen much here, and they are left loose to breed. I had 3 dogs here which were poisoned by a disturbed farmer because some dogs in the area were running into their cassava fields, knocking down a few plants. So for the price of a few baht losses, they killed the dogs. Mine and at least 4 other pet dogs. Another valid reason the government needs to do something to reduce the amount of strays roaming. I've never seen so many limping dogs in my life as I do here, which shows the amount of vehicle accidents there are, and hitting a dog on a scooter can be deadly for both.

Most research that's done here is to argue with someone else, and a lot of it is done on the spot. Like I mentioned, and you rebutted, most supplements are a waste of money, UNLESS they are needed because of a deficiency. There is NO substitute for a healthy, varied diet. If you cannot eat such, you are cutting corners and trying to replace what you aren't eating with a pill, which yes, helps, but again, isn't a substitute for the food. Some people have certain conditions which warrant supplement use, and a lot of them are because they didn't follow a healthy lifestyle originally. I have been weight training for 48 years, and have always followed a healthy diet to this day, and have supplemented with some things just to see if I could increase strength. I have always eaten a healthy, varied diet, and have had no signs of deficiencies whatsoever. I have been certified as a trainer, with nutritional classes, four times. Nothing has changed in decades as far as what a healthy diet is, besides fads that are temporary fixes, and don't work in the long run. Again, unless you have a deficiency caused by a disease or genetically, taking multivitamins are not a substitute for a healthy diet, which everyone besides the very poor can afford. If you aren't working all day long, you always have time to eat healthy, and can make things in advance, and buy healthy most everywhere. Also, a lot of links people provide, just to argue without prior knowledge, are just other's opinions and not based on facts or studies.

Just like in America, people build houses where they don't belong, to have a place "by the sea", to show off. Millions of people live in areas where past history has told them not to build, yet, just like in new Orleans, they get flooded, then rebuild again, in the same places. This is why insurance companies won't allow flood coverage, and when the people lose everything, they're sol. Many well to do's build houses on hills overlooking the ocean, again, to show off, not understanding, or caring, they've created an eyesore. Flood prone areas will always flood. Just takes time.

Suicides are by people who have depression. A disease which is prevalent in every country. Some things lead people to take their lives. Poverty, bad leadership, seeing family members dying daily on the roads, a boring lifestyle (especially in the country here), lack of good therapists, most people living for themselves backstabbing their "friends" (the best of friends talk about each other behind their backs), inability to complain without consequences about leaders, that boring lifestyle leading many to use drugs, or mostly, cheap booze, which leads to more depression. All of these and more exacerbate the depression many have. Medicine is available, but many won't go the extra yard to make sure they are getting the right medicine (the therapists job is to evaluate regularly, and make changes if needed). I read somewhere where a survey was made, telling that there are millions of teenagers here with depression. How many are being evaluated, and helped with this? Depression is genetic, and I've seen, in personal experience, an ex wife and girlfriend who have clinical depression. The former did nothing, and that lead to our divorce,along with her being a narcissist (most come from neglect, or spoiling, in their formative years, by parents). The latter is on meds, and is doing better, although has an environment which is depressing in itself. Medicines can, and will help, if they're the right ones, but the best defense against depression is having support from someone who truly loves and cares for you. This isn't happening here, as it seems, like I mentioned, that there are very few that have real friends they can turn to, who won't turn around and tell others that you have depression, which is where the stigma arises, that you are "sick". Of course, suicides happen worldwide, but because of the previously mentioned problems, it happens a lot here.

So, it's just a few times then, out of the, how old are you?, and how any times have you been on the streets here? I've been here over 5 years, and have near misses daily, and a few that actually hit my clothes while I was on a scooter. No farangs by the way. Lived 62 years in the US, had a few accidents, but drove over 2 million miles and never had more than a few close calls, and none where my clothes were touched. Thai boys cut you off, not thinking that if they came in contact with your car, they might, as many do here daily, die from the impact or in the least, get hurt. There are more scooters here than most anywhere else besides India, and that in itself is a reason to not compete with an automobile. There are good drivers here for sure. It's just the majority that worries me, and others.