watthong

Probably webfact is sending out their own in-house "activists." Personally. I won't have this kind of "activists" working on my gay cause. "Parents," definitely, but "mother and father" as a same sex couple? No way Jose. Are you kidding? Us gays have gone too far in our quest for equality to settle for this parental gender-divider. Such nonsense. Two mothers or two fathers can't do the job? Says who, considering the most commonly heard complaint from straight unions since millennium has been about mothers doing most of the child rearing chores. Nevertheless, the takeaway from outsiders looking in has taken on this twisted interpretation of the term "equal marriage" - embellishing with their own bias such as "one of whom wants to be a man" FYI, bias = "A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment." Or let me elaborate on that: the tendency to (mis)interpret other people's words, action or intention, based on one's personal preference or inclination. Thanadech is not asking legislation to legalize his desire "to be a man." He's asking for equal marriage (same sex marriage being equally legal as straight marriage). Which means by doing that he has implicitly conceded that in the eye of the laws, he and his girlfriend are still of the same sex ie woman and woman. Not man and woman. But if you still insist on applying the "man and woman" paradigm onto an "equal marriage" bill that us gay are hoping for, then you''re not only out of place, you're out of touch (and your bias is showing!)

Webfact does what a checkout line tabloid has to do to get readership. Always grab a piece of news by the most sensationalistic angle, regardless whether that angle covers the rule or the exception. With matters regarding gender roles within the LGBTQ group, which is by nature rife with confusion, webfact would add a few potholes here and there to make sure readers have ground to sow their own biases. Case in point: Bias One : "one of whom now wants to be a man," - "One of whom," Thanadech has already gone through sex change, ie he has long passed the "wants to be a man" stage. In his mind he is now a man (whether the laws agree is another matter.) There's no mention of his girlfriend, the one whose child they are raising together, "now wants to be a man" either. Bias Two: (they, the couple, are concerned) the bill doesn't effectively mean: they will be legally considered a man and a woman and the legal parents of those children." This is what Thanadech is quoted as saying in the article" “I want the equal marriage law to be passed. It will make my family complete like any other family of men and women.” Though something might be lost in the translation, "family of men and women" in this context should be understood as "straight family." Thanadech wants equal rights for his family as those of a straight family. No where did he said that there must be a man and a woman to "make my family complete."

In the few local malls that I frequent, now and then they would have on the ground floor a mini-book fair (selling discounted books plus a few tables of stationary and knicknack) just to stir the popular reading interest up I guess. In the (translated from) foreign-language corner, you can find a lot of history books, and among these Hitler/Mein Kampf feature prominently, as if this is the latest trend... Even though this book fair does move around from mall to mall, its stock remains more or less the same. So what can we be hoping- or dispairing rather - from this?

World history interests my Thai partner mightily... However, when it comes to watching "historical movies" - most of these depicting wars - there's still a lot of hitting the pause button to explain things to him. Thais have no idea whatsoever what living in war time might entail (curfew, food ration, checkpoints, bomb raid bunkers, etc.) And so I turn to the shark-attack movies...

"It's about convenience...." and more. In Asia food courts are regarded as something of an institution though most of the time privately owned. I always considered them as the equivalent of a village square for us urban-dwellers. A place to "people watch" your own community. You can pretty much tell how well or how badly they are doing by observing a slice of their daily lives. For rootless foreigners who have no respect or awareness of social customs to barge in and complaint about how the locals live, what they eat/how they spend money, how long "old people enjoying free air-conditioning for the price of one coffee," etc. such behavior is simply uncouth, uncalled for and uneducated.

You're not alone. Same here: I have to ship over loads of second hand books also. Heavy shipping charges, but I don't read books on tablets. There's nothing like the feel of a good paperback in one's hands, or a slab of a coffeetable book that weighs 8lbs. Btw, if you're in BKK check out my Dasa Books recommendation earlier.

My recommendation is Dasa Books (used books) near Prom Pong BTS. Impressive inventory even carries Spanish books. Friendly prices. They update their inventory database daily on their website. The idea is you call them ahead of time f you see something you want, then ask them to hold it for you. If that works (I have never tried) it would be great for out of town visitors. Oh, they also buy back books.

I'm sure some of the university educated Thais would love to have access to English books too - places to browse, affordable prices - but here is the reality on the ground: The one Kinokuniyas in Siam square has reduced its English-language stock considerably, making room for, you guess right, Chinese-language materials. I no longer go there. Asia Books are now mostly children toy/stationary stores. The Annual BKK Book Fair (see photo) as far as English-language books go, have 99 per cent junk, the kind you'll find in US charity shops. (And yes, I have to ship over loads of second hand books also. Heavy shipping charges, but I don't read books on tablets. There's nothing like the feel of a good paperback in one's hands.)

I guess up till now, at your tender old age, you never been taught to keep your gloomy outlook regarding other people's business to yourself? While nobody asks you to "hold your breath" for their own affair? "I hope it is for all those involved" yeah sure we really really believe you meant well-wishes (while predicting gloom and doom on us, "a marriage visa/extension will not be allowed") Oh yes, we have to "wait and see..." However for the likes of you who have neither say nor stake in gay marriage, you don't have to "wait and see..." So get off the line now and scoot. We don't need another busybody hypocrite like you. Go bark up another tree.

Couldn't win the big argument, therefore had to settle on the small one... That spells "pettiness." Then adding a drag-queen Trumper image to support your "small one..." That spells "desperation."

Unfortunately, as far as Immigration is concerned. You still have (those) 3 days to do it, if you rather not then the fines are on you. You can't blame it oh holidays or your personal affair. I personally have witnessed one stubborn farang lady triy to bargain on same scenario to no avail. They shooed her away after making her pay, and didn't bother to even print her a fine receipt.

So what if they do? Unbesknown to your tunnel-visioned farangs, food court is a way of life in the East. It serves a communal purpose and yes, old people are more revered here than in the West. FYI, by Thai laws the supermarkets such as BigC, Lotus are required to open year round to serve the general populace. MY local Lotus foodcourt for its post covid-reopening had all the (basic) dishes prized at 25 baht and they did that for 3 months straight. Where do you get that in your lovely West?

Says who? Merriam and Webster definition of "parents" 1 a: one that begets or brings forth offspring just became parents of twins b: a person who brings up and cares for another foster parents Nowhere does it mention "father and mother" or "the same child." Main point is that gays can do both a) and b ) equally well, if not better. If you want to live by your own standard, fine. Just don't apply it onto others. Thank you very much.

Why adding " just won't sit near them" if "They don't bother me"? Because they are "Old guys on a pension"? What do you have against these folks? Their age or their class? Old guys on a pension, like me, tend to dress nicely (read cleanly,) and mind our own business. Like most customers who eat there actually. And unlike the other kind of farangs: gruffy-looking, sweaty, red-faced ones in shorts and pony tail, running around barking orders in their own language to those behind the counter.

It's sad, Mr ("Can you provide proof/annecdote/hearsay examples of...") One -and- One- Question- Only to hear the sound of one hand clapping... Where's your pal, the one that you sent thumb up emojis to after each and every of his posts? Haven't heard a single beep from him since he got called out recently. You used to kiss the ground he walked on, IIRC. But don't feel abandoned, we do enjoy your company here, as comic relief.