Barnet1900

Background checks would be a blessing. I'm not sure if they have to get the Thai police checks, like foreign teachers do. I've never heard of it happening. The schools should be insisting on this rather than rely on laws but then again...should...

Allowing ambulances a pass through: No

When I see parents riding with their kids on a motorbike without putting a helmet on them it says it all. Doesn't matter what they're told, they won't listen, won't change. They seem to enjoy the challenge of dodging rules rather than upholding them even at the cost of their own children. Wherever you're from, what possible reason can there be for risking smashing your kid's skull to pieces rather than putting a helmet on? Put a facemask on but no helmet. I get the whole give me strength to accept what I can't change thing but when it comes to seeing the kids being part of the risk it's never acceptable.

Haven't heard that for years.

Agreed for all. Add the most important one, self-responsibility. Even if there were no cops, cameras or enforcement people with half a brain wouldn't drive drunk, or speed in the way Thai drivers do. All these measures year upon year doesn't change their behaviour. They shouldn't need to be encouraged to drive safely. Can't fix stupid. Especially when you add selfishness to the mix.

Luck in terms of injuries and suspensions. That 1 Chelsea game cost us 4 players, 3 points and possibly 9 more following the game. What I like about us this year is despite the horrific injuries and suspensions, we've not panicked and made the most of a very threadbare, average second string. With Madison, VDV, Romero and a few good signings in January we should be optimistic about mid to late January onwards. COYS

That was my initial question. God loves a trier.

I was there for the cold snap too. Certainly cool at night but a welcome break from this year's heat. Sadly, won't last long though.

Butterbean's back! Remember him?

Well, I'll leave the post to others. In summary, in my own experience I feel safe living in Isan. I don't fear locals or natives that I've encountered. Living in Isan is favourable to other areas I've lived in, both in Thailand and the UK. If I were to worry about anything it would be driving or building faults such as electrical wiring etc.

I replied in regards to young Englishmen, British or whatever you want to say, posing more of a threat to me whilst living in England. You're actually jumping in on a debate I'm having with another member about my own experiences of crime in the UK. When asked if I'd I experienced it I replied yes. In England, by such young males, whilst walking home at night. You've actually tried to assume I was talking about immigrants just now. Best part of all old chum...how do you know my ethnicity anyway? Or are we to assume that you've judged that already? How do you know if I'm English, or an immigrant or black, Asian? I expressed an opinion based upon my general experiences of living in both England and Isan, and Thailand as a whole. Instead of telling me what I should have said why not just tell people your own opinion or experience? You could easily have said that you've experienced violence in Isan rather than pestering other people's posts.

And my point all along has been that I've never felt threatened on the streets in Isan. Never, not once. It happens in isolated cases that people are quoting but I personally feel no threat. In the UK, London, whatever, I have felt threatened, I do feel threatened at times and I don't see it as a safe country to live in.

Have in fact, but not enough to talk about them, which is what my argument is based upon. My opinion is on British culture as I have experience of that. Are you now saying that it doesn't happen? I don't get the immigrant bit nor other European countries. My point is based upon life in the UK.

I've only lived in London and the south. Tell me other UK towns are different. I haven't because I'm basing it on experience. You need to step up and categorically say....it doesn't happen. I have said it does. Shared my experiences in the areas I've lived in. So have you!!! It's what the question asked!!! Is it based on my experience! Read it!! Get the specs on. They ask if my post is based on my own experience to which I replied it did, and in the area I've lived in. Why on God's earth would I say it happened in Moss Side, or Liverpool or anywhere else?

Once more, scraping the barrel. Forums are about general statements. Yours are entirely the same. Some, some, some... Go ahead and finally give your response. How safe is living in Isan for you?

Nothing Todo with nationality in the UK. They're English, British, couldn't care less. I don't stop to ask. It's the age, and general look. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't play dumb.

May I throw the question back to you? Do you feel at ease walking through a group of teens, young adults whatever we are to call them, at night in the UK? In London a no-go area means that the police would avoid going into the place without full back-up? They are also advised not to wear their uniforms in some places because of the threat of violence. I've never been to Banyang, no idea where it is in fact but is this comparable to this?

I did say paranoia plays a role sure. I've had 2 attempted muggings in London, both by groups of young youths. I've been to football matches where thugs embark on violent missions purely for the thrill of it. I'm proud to be English but I'd be the first to say that young English men pose more threat of violence than any other nationality. Again, based only on my experience. I've never felt that in Isan, nor Thailand on the whole. There is a plentitude of absolute idiots among the population here but in my opinion, I don't fear groups of Thai kids kicking the hell out of me for my phone or the like. I don't fear drinking in another town and being attacked for wearing the wrong football shirt. It's purely in response to the question. How safe is Isan. To me, much, much safer in response to street crime, road situations excluded. I'd consider myself streetwise and I've never been in any "serious" altercation to call upon that I can recall. However, when I visit the UK each year I feel like the public and authorities are losing control of the local areas. No need for psychology. Based upon prior experience and the general behaviour in which they conduct themselves. More to do with stereotypes and constant stories of street crime in the UK. Some people will choose to criticise such anxiety but it exists. I'd love to walk comfortably through a group of such folk, say good evening and feel totally at ease but I'm sharing how the situation makes me and countless others feel when encountering the same.

Agreed. Bit of a rant for sure but I stand by it. We have the divine right to destroy animals at will yet see reason to allow our own species that commit far worse atrocities to continue to live and in many situations , repeat the behaviour or increase the evil in it.

Please...please..put your reading specs on. I specifically said ISOLATED MAYBE....go look again. Apart from lunatic drivers in Isan....I feel no threat from locals. Again, you're simply agreeing with what I said yet trying to belittle it. It's the same thing you've just mentioned. I have never said whole towns. I said "I" don't feel safe in certain situations (town centers on a Saturday night, or when approaching local youths) You need a trip to Specsavers.

What places are no go areas in Isan? I'm not talking about isolated places like snooker clubs or such but general life on the streets. Everyday, normal life on the whole. Answer this honestly. Would you feel safer walking around a town center in the UK at night (as a previous member raised) or any given town in Isan? 6 pubs one night might be safe 1 weekend and then a completely different story the next. I was sitting in a pub garden, our local, with a group of friends a few years back when a random woman simply rammed a pint glass into another woman's face yards away from us. Her only motive being she took offence to someone from another town coming to her town. Isolated maybe but I don't get that feeling sitting here. 99.9 percent of people here just enjoy themselves with kids running around unharmed. And please, as I answered in reply to this topic, Isan is a very safe place to live, answer the topic question yourself. How safe do you feel living in Isan? My point has always been that I feel 100 percent safe. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. I wouldn't recommend the UK anymore and I take no pleasure in saying that. I grew up in London and never felt concerned as a kid. Then it changed and it's never felt safe since. I personally don't feel safe walking around areas of the UK at night. I don't feel safe knowing my kids are out on their own in England. Not everywhere granted, but I'd never allow them out after dark to go to the local shops. If I see a group of youths, hoodies, various races, both white and others, I immediately find myself tense up. Maybe paranoia sure but in comparison, no, I've never had that feeling here. That's why I can say I appreciate the feeling of security, safety and lack of threat living in Isan. Apart from lunatic drunk and dangerous driving I feel no threat whatsoever from the locals.

The topic asks if I feel threatened or safe. Based on my experience I feel safe, as do all I know here. That incident is isolated and over 10 years old. There were arguments that it related to a road rage incident. Not saying it did but it's inconclusive. Tragic as it was it's not representative of everyday life here. That's like using the Tsunami to warn people from visiting Phuket. Personally speaking, if you live here, lock your property because there is theft. Be sensible and respectful and you'll encounter no problems. People can knit pick all day long but in general . I feel very secure here.

You've pestered and picked on my post which was explicitly clear when I made the point I feel safe here. That is based on having seen street crime and been subjected to it whilst living in London and Suffolk. I have never had any form of physical threat from locals whilst living here. The post is about Isan not all of Thailand like you're now saying. So please, tell us, like the topic asks, how safe is living in Isan, based on you finally saying that you feel safe here. That's exactly what I said all along yet for some obscure reasons you have questioned my response. As for you saying that you've always felt safe in the UK, that's good for you but there are untold instances of yob culture impacting innocent lives. Either you don't follow the news or believe that the media are all leading us on and street violence is a myth.

I've posted about experiences in the UK. So I have seen it, regularly. You're criticizing yet openly admit you haven't seen it or experienced anything. What's the point? I've lived in the UK and Thailand in equal durations and have family in both countries. Both myself and others have reported grievances in the UK dished out by local yobs. I have never, ever met a soul in Thailand who's been attacked without reason by local Thai youths. 20 years travelling around Thailand and not once have I felt threatened whilst walking around. I am basing my opinion on experience. Like you've freely admitted. Your argument is based on zero facts, zero experiences.