way2muchcoffee

I think it's more a personal problem. My wife is damm sexy, yet no one that knows she is with me EVER hits on her. Secondly she doesn't put her self out there like that in situations were she would be around a bunch of guys that would likely hit on her.

LOL. You might consider removing the chains and letting her out of the basement once in a while.

What is it that makes government in the West think they can impose their own morality as to when a person should be working and earning money?

Your statement wold be more in context if you had added ".. and selling those products in US markets."

But I think you realize that your rant would fizzle had you added anything like that.

You actually seem to imply that products produced by child labor should indeed be allowed to be sold in the US. So who is imposing their own values on whom?

Nice argument klikster.

The local people you are talking about tipping are by definition, neighbours. and i dont tip the ac man for cleaning my ac, i PAY him. and if you have to tip the barber for getting a haircut the way you like, i would suggest going to another barber.

And I suggest you wake up to the economic realities of the lives of the people around you.

You do not pay the AC man for cleaning the AC. You pay the AC man's boss for that. He keeps almost all of that money and then pays as little as possible to the man who does the actual work. I don't tip the laborer's boss. I tip the laborer.

Your either living in a farang utopia or the locals swarm around you cos you flash the cash/or most of your neighbours have their eye on your missus!!! tell me did they help you doing all these things before you tipped them??? And if you were back home and your car needed a jump start and your next door neighbour helped, would you tip him???. What you are getting is what i would call normal neighbourly help, but you pay for it.

Yeah. I flash the cash for sure. 10-20 bt extra for a rainy motorcycle ride. 100 bt to the a/c laborers who just cleaned my machine for the last hour. 10-20 baht to a waitress. An annual gratuity to moo baan security. 40 bt to the man who cuts my hair the way I like it. Yep. That's me, showering the neighborhood with money. Frankly, I don't have the cash to shower anyone with. I work as a head math teacher at a local private school. Did I say I tip my neighbors? Excuse me, I suggest you reread. Income disparity here is a huge problem. So I'll share a small amount of the little I have with people less fortunate by tipping in situations where I deem it appropriate.

Man. Who would have thought the topic of tipping would produce so much hostility? Reminds me of conservatives in the US who espouse 'trickle down' economic models and then ensure that nothing trickles down from their own personal fortunes.

I understand what you are trying to say and I agreee to some extent... but aren't you worried that all your relationships with locals are tainted with the smell of money and little else? After all, everyone in the neighbourhood will be happy if an ATM opens in the street as long as it keeps spitting out the cash

Also, aren't you worried that in some instances a tip is demeaning to the recipient eg doctor or neighbour? I have excellent relationships with neighbours, and the thought of tipping them for doing somethiong nice just never crossed my mind! There are other forms of generosity that ought not to disturb the equal footing between neighbours and between a professional and his client.

Your comment re jumping the queue at the barber disturbs me. It is your right to tip of course in whatever amount that pleases you, but if you think that gives you the right to jump a queue ahead of locals who can't match your "generosity" then I am afraid you might be mistaken about "having a good reputation in your community".

By the way, I too have expereinced kindness, helpfulness from the locals, neighbours, etc and I am sure I am not as generous (or as widespread) a tipper as you.

Just my opinion, not a criticism of your tipping policy becasue frankly, it's none of my business.

Fair points. My relationships with the locals are not based on tips. As mentioned, the motorcycle boys get tips when it rains, and a case of beer at New Year. I've also been known to accept their invitation for a quick beer on the way home (at their expense). I'll usually reciprocate at a later point. This will happen a few times over the course of a year.

Security guards get tips because they watch my townhouse and belongings when I'm away. The wife and I frequently travel so it's good to know that things are being looked after.

The neighbors don't get tips. That would be inappropriate. They get a gift basket once a year. Some reciprocate. When acts of kindness are offered I won't tip a well to do neighbor, but might tip a less wealthy working man if it feels right.

As far as the barber goes, I totally agree. It usually goes like this. He gives me the nod. I move my eyes over to the others waiting. He shakes head. I shake head. He shakes head. And so on. In the end I uncomfortably acquiesce and sit in the chair. Big smiles from the barber. The waiting customers don't seem put out as they have taken in the whole exchange and seem to accept the result.

I tip. I get results.

Does not make sense for service providers who do not know you eg new restaurant. The tipping is normally "after" the result, so how would service provider know you are a generous tipper or not? Only makes sense for service providers who already know you!

Sort of chicken and egg thing going on here I reckon. If one never tips, one may never get the additional attention to detail and better service upon return visits. Moreover, I believe that my tipping will increase the likelihood of better service for the next guy, even if I never return to the restaurant. Service in Thailand is notoriously poor. Do you think restaurant service in the US would be good if there were no tips? It may take a while to catch on here, due to the rampant tightfisted selfishness amongst many Thais and Expats, but it will eventually dawn on service staff here that their incomes may improve considerably by providing better service.

I've never understood this fear. Either you share a trusting/loving relationship and you have nothing to fear, or you don't trust your wife, in which case you better work on that. Either way, a sexy woman is a sexy woman. Neanderthal men view their wives as property and will pick up their club and bash another for appreciating what all men appreciate - beauty and youth.

Online degree in Physics? I wouldn't hire a person with that qualification unless they had years of experience teaching physics or years of experience in a physics-related career. Our school pays 12k per month additional to the 50k basic salary package to science and math teachers with appropriate degrees and experience.

Yeah. I see your point Dumball. I'm not claiming that tipping is directly responsible for all those acts of kindness. Certainly demeanor and attitude are important in having good relations with your community. What I am saying is that for me it is part of the package. It feels right to me.

My wife's family isn't wealthy. I've stayed in itinerant tin tin shanties on construction sites drinking with her cousins. I've been up close with the poverty, both here and in my home country. I couldn't imagine having to get by on 5-7k per month. These are people who work all day for a pittance, making someone else rich. 20 bt may enable a working stiff to enjoy a cold bottle of Leo at the end of the day that he wouldn't otherwise have had. The friendly girl at the restaurant gets a somewhat better meal that night, or a new shirt from one of the neighborhood stalls. I tip the people whose work directly impacts my life. Never large amounts. Just a bit. Everyone benefits.

And to be perfectly honest, I'm selfish too. If I didn't perceive a real benefit to myself by tipping I probably would be more reluctant to tip.

And if you think that when in a bind any of the above will step in and help you against a thai just cos you gave them a tip, your misguided.

Ok. I'll tell that to the motorcycle taxi guy who, along with our friendly Chinese neighbor helped find our current townhouse rental when we had problems with some new tuk tuk driving neighbors at our old place down the street.

I'll tell the motorcycle drivers at my local stand who didn't mind ferrying me around for a couple days last year when I lost my wallet.

There are the security guards who bent over backwards helping out when we moved in.

And the maid who found and returned my bag with wallet and cash I'd left by the pool on a trip a few months ago,

There is the neighbor who found a friend to come over to give us a jump on a Sunday night after the wife had left the truck door ajar killing the battery.

The barber who occasionally forces me jump to the queue when the place is extra busy.

The restaurant up the street who always seems to give me larger portions.

There's the local a/c guy who sent his friend over to look at our wiring and replace a couple fuses and wires at no charge.

Couldn't forget the time my wife got a flat tire on the Wave down by the 7-11 and one of our local motorcycle guys pushed it home for her and wouldn't accept a tip.

How about that night I was walking to the 7-11 when a couple of punks came out of a karaoke joint looking for a fight? They selected me to vent their frustration. Before things could get out of hand, the noodle shop guy and the Khao Ka Moo guy ran over and sent the drunken louts packing. Both were food carts I and the wife frequent. It also helped that a couple of the guys from my secondary neighborhood motorcycle stand were moving in as backup.

Again. I absolutely believe that a kindhearted tip now and again generates a great deal of goodwill. Neighbors, vendors, service people - they all talk. Having a good reputation in your community makes life more livable and can be very useful, particularly as a foreigner.

I tip. I get results.

1. Security at Moo Baan. Two or three hundred each at new year. There are five of them. Also the occasional M-150. Will they tell me if a someone scratches my car? Maybe, maybe not. But they sure are more willing to assist with a problem.

2. Bell Hops. Usually 40 bt.

3. Chamber Maids. Whatever coinage I've accumulated during the day. Usually 20-40 bt.

4. Food Service. Depends on the restaurant. Anywhere from 20-100 bt. We don't usually have bills much more than 1500.

5. Taxi Drivers. Usually about 10-20 bt on a 100 bt trip. If they are leering at my wife or otherwise rude they get nothing.

6. Motorcycle Taxi. I take these daily. My regular drivers don't get tips from me too often, but I'll give the local stand a case of beer at New Year. My life is in their hands. Unknown motorcycles get what I give them. I never set price. I know the general price and give about 10 bt over. When it is raining, I always tip. Kind of stupid to sit on a motorcycle in the rain, but if I'm on the way home I rather enjoy the sensation. It's dangerous, but refreshing.

7. Air condition guys or other household repair or labor. Usually 100 bt.

8. Water delivery. 100 bt/month (every 4 visits)

9. Hair Cut. Price is 60 bt. I pay with a 100 and don't take the change.

10. Garbage guys. Never thought to tip them.

11. Police. If I needed something from them, I'd tip.

12. Doctors. Not usually. But if I needed a major surgery, or wife gets pregnant I certainly would.

13. Bathroom Attendants. These guys get 20 bt the first time I use the toilet in the evening, but nothing more after that.

Tipping may not be expected, but it certainly is appreciated. I have the money. They don't. I don't feel compelled to tip by some kind of tradition or moral obligation. I tip because it makes sense to me. I get better service. The service is personalized. A job will be completed more professionally. I develop contacts. People will step in if they see I'm in a bind and they happen to be nearby. A small tip here or there generates a great deal of goodwill. Everyone benefits.

On a related topic, we do fruit gift baskets for our immediate neighbors at New Years. We also give baskets to favored neighbors at previous locations.

If I walk into a store and see workers being mistreated or abused I will choose not to purchase from that store. I will move on and buy what I need elsewhere. This is not construed as meddling in the affairs of the business I chose not to purchase from.

You are absolutely right and I apologise if you felt it necessary for me to clarify I was talking about recent Thai history (though the context made it plain).

The obvious antecedent was represented by the fascist groups and up country thugs mobilised in 1976 to terrorise the progressive and democratic student movement.The backers of these murderous thugs bear some startling similarities to the PAD/yellow movements backers at least in the early days.

There's plenty of reading material on all this available, but it's problematic to discuss in detail on this board.

No need to apologize. I didn't realize that you were going back to '76 in your reference. I understand and accept the 'problematic' aspects certain topics. No need to delve into those here. So then, who from 1976 is now active in the PAD today?

PM sent as inquiry.

The discussion was about the similarities between the Thai political movements and the Chinese Red Guards.This requires some knowledge and background of the Red Guards purpose, motivation and backing.The only real candidates in Thailand are the Yellow and Red movements, not the blues or blacks who made very occasional and in the scheme of things insignificant appearences.The yellows pioneered intimidation and violence and had powerful though shadowy backers.The reds followed in the yellows footsteps with the backing of Thaksin.Both groupings were large and socially significant and both contained genuine idealists.I don't know how to make this any simpler.

Please document precisely why you believe the Yellows 'pioneered' violence and intimidation. You are evidently well-read, so it should be no problem to summarize your views, with suitable references. I am particularly interested in the 'pioneered' aspect. It is my understanding that political violence is common throughout Thailand's history.

Deadbeat dads are all the same. I like how some of the other deadbeats on here jump in the boat with him lol! To the deadbeat dad op. So are you going to stay here without a passport or go back home to go to jail? Eventually you'll get caught here without the passport and end up in immigration jail. You have 2 choices. Thai Immigration jail or some random American jail. In court it will not look good for you at all hahah! Uh yes your honor i left my kids so i could go whoring in Thailand. What a douche. You get what you deserve. If i knew where you were right now i would report you to immigration for not having a passport.

I find it laughable that the OP is labeled 'deadbeat' here. He is, and has been, sending 50% of his monthly earnings home for years. There are no jobs to be had at home with upwards of 10% unemployment. He's reached the retirement age for teachers in his district in the US. Now he is just eeking by on 15,000 bt/month, while giving 15,000 to his family. With this paltry sum, survival is barely possible here in Thailand, but not at all possible in the US. I agree that he should look for work here to supplement his income, and send half of that home as well. Unfortunately he won't have this option for quite some time, now that his passport has been revoked. All of this assumes that the man is being completely honest about his situation.

Conditions for the perfect storm.

Yes. So it would appear. The events of the last 2 months, ramping up over the last 2 weeks, and the impending conclusion of the assets case, all point to the possibility of very troubled times ahead in the very near future.

Sondhi, Sondhi, look mate, Taksin stopped helping you with the bank so you did as advised and started the PAD thing to help oust Taksin, good boy. You did it again to oust his puppets when they actually got elected despite all the army's efforts, good boy. But the deal was finally done by the army and co-conspirators to install compliant Abbhisit as PM, so unfortunately your services are no longer required. Starting your own party is going to take votes from the Democrats and sorry but that just isn't on. Pack it in and join Taksin in Cambodia, or else.

Interesting analysis.

Bei Otto on Suk 20 do a lovely Roasted Goose. Reservations and pre-ordering is necessary.

Every soverign government has its on right to determine what is or is not a government secret.

You may not like the decision but I would surmise that you could find many differences with government secrets of any government.

Actually that is not true. Countries that engage in international flights with commercial carriers are signatory to international agreements regarding aviation practices.

As this Cambodia - Thailand spy conflict was hitting the news, a similar situation erupted between Peru and Chile, An air force officer was accused of spying for Chile. Many Peruvians are upset and this has sparked outrage in Peru, which is why Mr. Garcia left the APEC summit. Mr. Garcia is seeking to calm the general population and to get an explanation from Chile.

It is interesting to contrast the difference in the handling of the two events. While Mr. Garcia was seeking answers and the Chileans politely denying all knowledge, the Thai PM in the midst of crisis set off for APEC photo ops allowing the spying allegations to get out of hand. What was he thinking?

Similar? Wow. I didn't realize that Chile has a fugitive ex-PM fomenting rebellion at every turn, who became an economic advisor for Peru, and that the Peruvian leader rejected an extradition, repeatedly insulted the Chileans, and, just to further irk them, decided to cook up espionage charges against an air force officer. What a coincidence!

The link is to the benifits they can receive as a single mother , cheap housing(subsidised by the government) , living allowance , special other allowances once a year for clothing and xmas , free dental etc .

Perhaps there wouldn't be so many single mothers if boys would learn to be men.

And why should the poor be treated any differently.. It's this sort of sentimental socialism that causes the problem.. ''Oh dear he's had a hard life let's not make him obey the law..'' . . . .

You might have considered reading my follow up post to see what I was driving at (hint: it's the one right above yours.)

I obviously wasn't being serious about the sliding scale thing. I was just trying to point out that the fines for traffic violations are probably priced about right, given the huge numbers of working poor in Thailand. The fines here certainly seem low to you, me, us, and to wealthy Thais, but then again, I've never had to live on 5,000 bt/month for decades at a time.

As someone else suggested, I think it is is a good idea to have different levels of fines based on the class of vehicle driven. I don't mean the make/model, but along the lines of 2-wheel, 3, wheel, 4-wheel private, 4-wheel commercial, and large commercial truck or bus.

Thanks for the heads up on Dasa. Might have the check it out next time I'm in that area.

Right, and I bet a large proportion of those music lovers were wearing yellow shirts.

Nah. I reckon they removed their yellow shirts before heading for the show. Wouldn't want to be attacked, beaten, stabbed, injured, maimed, or killed now would they?

Ever been to a benefit concert? Did you go to see the artists, or did you go because you wanted to donate money to a cause?

Please exercise some attempt at objectivity. Your statement displays an overt desire to discredit those voters who would surely prevail were an election to be held today.

I thought I was being perfectly reasonable and objective. Wearing a yellow shirt to a redshirt benefit would be suicidal. It wasn't too long ago that various violent incidents from redshirts has occured:

- The CM51 group was actively involved in violence against known yellow shirt supporters.

- The Udon Thani fiasco comes to mind.

- The nightly bombing of the government house PAD encampment (an act that directly led to the airport takeover).

- The Din Daeng gas tanker incident.

- The killing of market-sellers during Black Songkran.

- The attack on yellow shirts by villagers blocking the roadway in an attempt to prevent them from reaching Prah Viharn temple.

- The hurling of fermented fish at politicians.

This list goes on and on.

I would never say that all redshirts are violent, because that would be patently untrue. I do, however, recognize the deep divisions in Thai society. These division feed on bitterness, anger, and hatred, from all sides. Match and tinder box comes to mind. Furthermore, there is always a potential for mob violence in any large gathering. This potential is color blind, but any ensuing violence would always be perpetrated against those of the 'other color'.