ccarbaugh

I first came to Thailand in 1973. Back then, the people were infinitely more friendly,So, right off the top of my head, I would say that the attitude is very much worse. As far as what's better, maybe more places are air conditioned, taxis have meters and there are BTS and MRT now.

"I finally figured it out - the whole reason for being alive is to enjoy it."

"All I know of life can be summed up in 3 words-

It Goes On." Robert Frost.

Ya mean we're supposed to clean it afterwards?

At a Saturday Night Bizarre, (market,)

in Isaan, I saw a sweet little 13 - 14 year-old

demur, polite angel wearing a big black T-Shirt

with big, bold white letters on the front that said,

"WILL F*** FOR COKE" (but with no asterisk.)

Another one, (my favorite,) showed a paper with

child's writing that said, "Dear Santa, let me explain"

Ditto with Torrens54: "Friends were envious, foes hoped I'd fall on my face, ex-wife just wanted all the money she could get out of me before I left my homeland."

A little information might be helpful. What does the "Platinum Membership" consist of? How much is the one-time cost? Any reoccuring costs? What locations does it cover? ...

So WHERE ARE THE LINKS to a workable, clean program so that the avg person can watch a channel or 2 from the States?

After living in rural Thailand for the first year and a half, I finally moved back to BKK. In rural Thailand, I was simply a walking ATM machine. In BKK, I'm either too hiso - (aka aforementioned ATM,) or NOT hiso enough. Some Thais can show how superior they are by publicly snubbing me, - as mentioned in the OP and the "sending a cold shiver down my spine." I am still here in Thailand though because the vast majority of Thais are as indifferent toward me as they are to each other. I have met a few Thais that have gotten to know me a little and are tolerant, accepting and gracious with no financial dependency- like most of my wife's family!

I've gone a couple of times. Although I enjoy the elephants themselves, the atmosphere was far too commercial for me. Where Thais only paid a pitance, for me being a "farang," they wanted to charge 800 baht just for a ticket to sit and watch the elephants. I feel so sorry for the poor elephants that are simply being exploited so that some people make profit.

I feel somewhat ashamed and a little embarrassed that I accepted the racial stereotypes in my own home country of the migrants that were struggling to settle and make ends meet and learn a language and raise their kids...etc

in light of my experiences here I have become much more aware of their plight and more compassionate and understanding of the difficulties of uprooting culture,learning a new language and being transplanted to where, at first, little makes sense.

This applies to me as well. I think that on many occasions I could have been more friendly, more helpful, more patient.... oh well, it's all ancient history now. Now, I am so appreciative when I meet a Thai that sees me and treats me like a human-being- it almost makes it worth the wait!

The U.S. is already bankrupt- (thanks to 100 years of imposed slavery by the Fed.) At this point, the Fed is just printing more and more "funny-money" just to delay the inevitable.

I'm 60 and retired from teaching in San Francisco. I have taught adults (part-time) at various locations.

I was here in 1973- during the "student demonstrations."

About the only thing that HAS changed it the majority of

Thais attitudes about "farangs."

In 1973, a much higher percentage of Thais weren't of

the attitude that they were the superior-nationality. They

were much more frindly, helpful, considerate, accepting...

So, the "successes" of the past 40 years has been to

commercialize a much-increased percentage of the Thai

populace-(consumerism,) to instill in them a superiority-complex,

to assure them that "non-thais" are inherently inferior and that they have

no reason whatsoever to associate with them- beyond

having as many commercial transactions as possible.

Now, all the "if you don't like it- go home" crowd can fire-away!

This is not really an answer to your question but a totally unsolicited opinion. Since retiring I've lost much of the vision in one eye and I decided to stop driving. If I were back in the US I would have continued and made it a point to drive at times and in places where there was less traffic.

If you're in a rural area, this may not be so important, but in urban areas like Pattaya where I stay or Bangkok or CM, the vehicular traffic, motorcycles everywhere, pedestrians, tuk-tuks, food vendors, school children ... I decided the convenience of being able to drive was not as important as the increased risk for others if I insisted on driving. I'm pretty sure in your country things were not so chaotic. In most places in Thailand it's cheap enough to use some other form of transport or, as I've done, have someone else drive me. I would feel horrible if I injured someone because my field of vision was limited and, aside from regretting that happening, the consequences for you as a foreign driver could be pretty bad too.

Sorry if that comes across as pontificating. I've driven for over 45 years in places in Pakistan, Africa, the UAE and the US and sometimes miss it, and other times enjoy sitting back and letting someone else deal with the chaos.

Excellent, (sensible) conclusion. I have just recently lost an eye and have decided that it is not worth the risk to continue driving. I have had a life-time of excellent vision and have driven everything imaginable- airplanes, dirt-bikes, trucks,... but, now I think I will "let-it-go" and find other means of transportation and let others deal with all the chaos, risks, stress and dangers. If, however, I am in a rural setting- (no traffic!) and have a little motorbike at my disposal, I would enjoy a little putt-putt to enjoy some scenery.

Why has this taken so long? I mean hell, Lil Sis was "elected" 20 months ago and all the Top Departments have been Pheu-Thai appointees for quite some time now!

Yes. creating a "soul, higher-self, spirit,..." is all just a product of thought, (and ego) and therefore can only be a product of one's conditioning.

It creates an artificial division where in actuality, there is none. Anytime there is division, there is conflict.

Yes BPUUMIKE, - he answered me in English!

"... There but for the grace of God go I."

Yes, I am a retired teacher from
San Francisco. I moved to Thailand

5 years ago and have been willing to

teach and/or tutor for free. Occasionally,

a Thai will ask me to help them score

higher on a test they will have tomorrow.

But, as far as learning/practicing English

so as to actually learn it- "NO THANK YOU!"

I don't get it - All of the money-collectors I've seen have been serious, over 40, and not provocative at all. Who would hit on them?

"I realize we should have had a contract written up which I wanted but the family said that she was very trustworthy and would not do anything bad, looks like their idea of a good friend has flown, money beats everything here obviously."

What you said.

Don't suppose verbal contracts hold up in Thailand?

One of the MOST expensive lessons I've had to learn is that

Verbal Agreements mean absolutely NOTHING in Thailand!

Here we go......knew it wouldn't be long before someone blamed the Thais.......gotta love the TV moaners eh!

No, NOT blaming the Thais- Just observing the truth. Much like the OP, I have wondered about this "rude and arrogant" act as well. I have concluded that since we are swimming in the midst of a very distrusting and secretive society- (objective observation,) that a high percentage of foreigners adopt the same unfriendly, non-social characteristics as their "host-society." If you observe closely, you will see that Thais aren't at all friendly and social even with each other- (only with closest family members.)

I have long wanted to start a thread on this forum in order to develop some strategy to counter the (officially sanctioned and encouraged,) prevailing attitude among the general Thai population that farangs are old, fat-bellied, bald, alcoholic sex-addicts. Sure, some of us fit that description to varying degrees but I've travelled throughout Thailand extensively and the vast majority of farangs I meet are honest, (reluctantly) friendly, and are trying to enjoy their lives and provide for their adopted families as well as they can. I think this needs to be made known to Thai society instead of it being disregarded by focusing on the 2 - 3 percent that justify the current generalization of farangs by Thais now.

.... stepping off soapbox now - jus sayin...