MangoKorat

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

You're an extreme case

Actually not.  The fact that you are gay does not make you normal or that you form part of the majority.  Things that may not be distasteful to you, are to a hell of a lot of people.

Warnings are given before certain types of things such as extreme violence are shown on TV - I don't see what the problem is with warning about homosexual acts.

Its time that gays and other deviants accepted that they are not normal, mainstream or anywhere near in the majority. That is in no way meant to state that they are less than equal in terms of rights - they certainly are eligible to the same rights as everyone else. However, homosexual behaviour is not what the majority of people want to see.  There are, I am sure, plenty of opportunities to see such behaviour, if you so wish, within your own community and that is fine........for you.

Ridiculous to state that I should research the content of TV shows - because of a minority??? No way!  The TV companies have actually lost out because of their 'inclusive thinking'.  Whilst they have lost a lot of viewers to streaming etc. many others have stopped watching programmes because of their gay content.  I know I have and I also know of others who have done the same.

As a gay, homosexual behaviour may be normal and acceptable to you, it is not to the vast majoirty of people.  Just as we are asked to accept you, you need to accept your differences.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Homo disgusted triggered guy needs safe space and wants to censor media for everyone else. Now that's perverted.

 

Totally wrong, if you want gay TV, that's fine for you - talk to the TV and media companies.

Just as gays have rights, I have a right not to see acts that make me feel ill.

People should have a choice.

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

What are normal people? Everybody is different in all sort of ways, sexual, political, economical, religion, habits, .......

You know very well what normal is in terms of sexuality.  I used to have this argument with my brother who is gay.

Normal is as nature intended for procreation - male & female.  That there are deviations from normal is without doubt but that does not lessen the meaning of 'normal'.

On 12/14/2023 at 2:23 PM, JBChiangRai said:

 

Is that with your postman Bob?

 

On a serious note, it's good that we see this, for too long it has been illegal and resulted in prison or suicide, society has a lot of catching up to do and I think seeing this is a good thing.  We need to break down the barriers from people who prejudicially find it distasteful and if that means it's in our face for a while, that's a very good thing.

No its not 'good that we see this'.  I am not anti gay and in fact support most 'gay rights'  but the sight of 2 blokes kissing makes me want to puke -  on TV or in real. Its just how I'm made, its not a voluntary action. I am fully aware of homosexuality, I just don't want to see it.  I wouldn't go into a gay bar for that very reason, why should I have to see it on TV?

Other than a peck on the cheek, I also don't think its necessary for hetrosexual couples to be kissing in public or on TV either.

I think that TV/Media have neglected the fact that homosexual people exist in our society for so long that they now think they have to make up for it but it seems to me that the proportion of 'gayness' on TV and in the Media is far greater than the reality.

Perhaps there should be a 'gay' warning before a TV programme containing gay acts starts, giving those of us that don't like it to switch off. Better that its not shown at all though - not necessary.

2 hours ago, lanng khao said:

No chance in korat, I'd rather go by myself if I could 

Agreed, they don't even like giving you 60 days WITH your wife and will try for 30 unless you state what you want.

23 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Are there people that don't realize they would have nothing without the staff? 

 

An employer that whant to pay less is greedy, but an employee that wants to be paid more is not? 

Missed those 2.

1. Yes there are - or at least that's how they behave.

2. That depends on how much an employee is worth.  I used to have no problem at all in paying my staff different rates.  Two of my mechanics for example - both were excellent at their job but one was faster than the other, earned me more so I paid him more.  The other wasn't bothered and didn't exactly work slowly but he consistently made me less.  Their basic pay was the same but they had the opportunity to earn more through bonuses. The faster one regularly made 50 or more chargeable hours per week from 40 actual and no comebacks.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

300/8 = 37.5, not 30.

Most of the Thai's I know that work in factories work 10 hours per day but in any case, let's not fight over 7.5 baht.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

A greedy capitalist that has to pay everyone the same minimum has no interest in hiring an old man, when they can hire a 30-year-old for the same money. 

Then that capitalist needs to wake up and discover the facts (documented from research in other countries) - in many positions, there can in advantages in employing older people.

https://ageing-better.org.uk/blogs/older-workers-are-solution-not-cause-uks-productivity-problem

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33612506/

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20191112-how-the-elderly-can-reinvigorate-the-workforce

Not all capitalists are greedy but there are certainly some and possibly the percentage that are is quite high in Thailand - its not the worst country though. However, it is often found that low pay goes hand in hand with serious health and safety issues.

In any case, I'm ouuta here now.

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Without low wages, Thailand would not attract the multinational businesses they do. 

Some of what I've seen is nothing short of modern day slavery.

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

You saw a chauffer driven Mercedes on Sukhumvit with back windows you could see into? 

Yes I did.  I don't think tinted window film was so popular in those days but whatever, this one didn't have them.

23 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Yeah, universities are generally not much more than leftist indoctrination mills. 

Well I will in fact answer you, if for no other reason than to give someone something to do (removing my post).

There is no way that I was indoctrinated either way by my experiences at Uni.  I was far too long in the tooth for that (40).  What it did however, was to offer an alternative explanation of the effects of capitalism and make me consider differing points of view.  I still believe that those who take the risk of running a business should get the greatest rewards but they must also realise that they most likely wouldn't be where they are without their staff.  There is no need for exploitation or greed.

Thailand with its long hours and low pay rates is a prime example of all that's wrong with the bad side of capitalism. The gap between rich and poor in Thailand is massive - its changing but very, very slowly as the dinosaurs continue to control the politcal situation and therefore their grip on power and wealth.

One of my very first visions of Thailand 21 years ago, and one I'm sure many here will have also witnessed- was a young man with no legs pulling himself along the pavement on Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok. He was on on a piece of what looked like cardboard but it must have been something stronger. At the very same moment, the slow moving traffic allowed me a glance of a passing huge chauffer driven Mercedes Benz with a middle aged Hi-So woman sitting in the back, dripping with gold.  For a moment, the woman was directly in line with the poor guy on the board and I just thought, what a contrast, what sort of a country is this?

Those who object to an increase in the minimum wage should maybe give some thought to the fact that for many - 300 baht per day = 30 baht an hour. I don't even think its possible to buy 2 coffees in Starbucks for 300 baht now and most Thai's have probably never bought a coffee there.  Yes, people get by on 300 baht but would you want their diet? Have you seen the cuts of meat they think of as normal? Good health should be the right of every Thai citizen, not an aspiration.

Any increase in the hourly rate will be welcome to most people, I'm sure but I doubt it will come close to covering the cost of living increases seen over the last 2 years.

8 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Yeah, universities are generally not much more than leftist indoctrination mills. 

 

There is a reply but it would be off topic and I'm already in dispute on that matter. Leave it.

If you intend employing a double wall - Western style, concrete blocks outside, autoclaved areated concrete blocks/Q Con/lightweight blocks inside - although I don't recommend them at all now.  Also, in the light of recent probems in other countries, never use AAC blocks structurally.

Why never use them outside?  Using Thai construction methods you might think they are OK because the house will most likley be concrete framed and from a structural point of view, that's fine.  However, one of the 'selling points' of AAC blocks is that you can cut them very easily with nothing more than a hand saw. So, if you want someone to be able to almost sliently saw their way into your house - go ahead. In a single wall construction, it would not surprise me at all if they can be 'kicked in'.

It is also, impossible to get a strong fix into an AAC block - they just break up without much pressure.  I've seen door frames simply pushed out because a door has been slammed ect./ect.  When I went to fix some security bars behind my French Doors, the blocks just shattered - I didn't realise that I might need to add security when I used QCon blocks. Yes, you can get what looks like a decent fix into them if you are very gentle with the drill but what you are fixing won't take much weight or offer much resistance. Try fixing something to them and then give it a tug - it will break away quite easily - plastic plugs pull out without much effort.

One tip to get a better fix (if you must) in AAC blocks is to use a drill bit 1 size smaller than is normally required for the plugs and don't use the hammer function on your drill. Using the correct sized drill bit usually results in a hole a little bigger than the drill size because they are so soft. There are various types of special plastic plugs that are designed for use in lightweight concrete blocks - I find the above works just as well. However, overall, the fix is only as strong as the block. The special fixings can also be hard to find in Thailand.

I used Q Con blocks because of their insluation properties, I won't be using them again.

1 hour ago, JackGats said:

indeed maybe to emphasize no one is forced to accept a job (much less to have offsprings they can't support).

Just remember please that we are talking about Thailand.  In many cases, people are not trying to support 'offspring' they are simply trying to support themselves and because of the way Thai society is organised, they may well have to support their parents.  People can choose whether to have 'offspring' or not but I've yet to hear of anyone who chose not to have parents.

11 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

there is no prostitution in Pattaya.

Correct, as confirmed by both Pattaya and Bangkok police chiefs.

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

We do not get productivity.

 

employees do not meet targets.

 

Both irrelevant in the eyes of the union and they are trigger happy forcing staff to strike.

 

The sooner we <deleted> off the Thai staff the better.

Well then, in that case, that particular model doesn't work. That doesn't mean it can't - far from it. It can be an excellent way of both parties achieving what they want.

23 hours ago, traveller101 said:

"Increase in the minimal wage means so many thousands of jobs lost"

"The market should be left to set the prices of goods and services"

2 statements of an uneducated, ignorant person. They're both plain wrong  on all fronts. What's been suggested here is the implementation of unfettered capitalism  in its purest form. With disastrous consequences last experienced in the feudal society of the middle ages. In today's times, it would propel the already large wealth gap between "haves and have nots" to extreme levels.

I have to say that many years ago, I held similar views (to the ones you have quoted from Jackgats).  I was a proper 'right winger' and ran my own business.

However, midway through life I decided to change careers but needed to go to University to obtain a degree to enable that career.  I'd never bothered much about education when I was younger - not formally anyway, so I didn't even have the qualifications necessary to get into Uni.

The University agreed that if I took a foundation degree and passed (choice of subjects), they would let me on to the course.  I looked at the range of subjects and purely as it seemed the easiest choice, I chose Social Science.

Boy did that change my way of thinking - especially as my 'right wing' views prevented me from totally accepting the 'left wing' bias of the course.  What it did for me though, was to cause me to stop and think about people's life chances, the uneasy 'balance' between rich and poor and the exploitative reality of capitalism.  I'd previously thought that capitalism was the only way, I still do to a point but capitalism does not need to encompass exploitation - that comes out of greed.

8 hours ago, superal said:

Totally agree . Generally the Thai school kids are taught the bare minimum and will end up in mundane , dead end jobs which is what the elite Thai Hi So want . In my experience , I have found that most young Thais can learn new skills quickly , if given a chance . However their futures are normally mapped out at an early age and give little hope of a prosperous life . My lady pays here restaurant staff 300 baht a day plus 2 free meals . She often has inquiries from job seekers who are willing to work for less . Any significant wage rises would mean a hike of the menu prices and customers will just find somewhere cheaper to eat which would result in business closure and loss of jobs.  

A little contradiction in your post there Al - whilst you clearly understand the rich vs poor and education thing, you also state that significant wage rises would lead to less customers.  Clearly I don't know your lady's business but would say a 5 or 10 baht increase per meal give staff a better deal without forcing customers away?

38 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Unions demand 5 months salary yearly bonus at my work.

 

They can <deleted> right off.

Obviously I don't know the rates at your company but I can see situations where that could work out quite well for both employer and employee.

Providing the rates are set right, the employer gets the productivity they require whilst the employee only gets their bonus if they achieve targets.  What's wrong with that?

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Roof space in Thailand is hotter than hell, what could you possibly store there?

I store quite a lot of stuff in there. I also seem to have spent a hell of a lot (too much) of time up there either fitting electrical gear, camera wiring etc. or fixing electrical faults - all the electrics and wiring are up there.

I'd probably store far more if it was fully boarded and had better access which would also mean I'm in and out quicke -  as you say, its hot as hell.

My next house (new build) will incorporate a fully boarded storage area with a hinged access hatch and a drop down loft ladder - if I can find one that accomodates Thai ceiling heights.

On 12/11/2023 at 10:26 AM, Surasak said:

80% of the population are stupid and the other 20% live off them.

Don't you mean 'kept stupid'?

On 12/11/2023 at 8:44 AM, JackGats said:

Lots of people on this forum with their EU-socialist frame of mind supporting the minimal wage jobs destruction machine. Each +1 euro on the minimal wage means so many thousands of jobs lost. It is well known even to the socialoids, but ideology trumps everything. So the job destruction goes on, more industries delocalize, even the higher middle class can't afford repair men or household staff and end up living a drudging life.

 

Is it funny to live in South East Asia and not being able to afford someone to clean your condo?

 

The market should be left to set the price of goods and services, period.

Tosh!

16 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Start at the bottom and work your way up.

And you've tried that in Thailand have you? Educated in Thailand were you?

19 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Yeah ive worked min wage jobs.

Worked = past tense.  Everyone has a right to a decent standard of living - one that doesn't shorten their life.

20 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Min wage rises = we lay off staff.

Yeah and you'd be happy to work for 300 baht per day or whatever pitiful amount it is wouldn't you?