Ooops! seems like you are not aware of much. I have been living in Thailand over 25 years by now.
Have been single, partying around but now married and have 2 children.
I never talked about how many years it is since it turned into a madhouse, and that is no excuse for destroying a fine, beautiful and respectful tradition.
It´s still just overgrown children, that never woke from the teenage binge drinking phase that indulge in such mad activities. But, on the other hand, maybe you are one of them.
Also, more about newbie. Do you have a clue about what the biggest newbie in Thailand is among foreigners coming here? It´s the ones that directly take to the bars, hanging out with hookers. After that find their friends in worn out expat wannabees that sits at the same bar year after year, drinking the same amount of beer and listening to the same music every day of their sorry life. Most of them, end up in Pattaya.