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For decades, Thailand has been labeled a “Third World” or "Developing Country", laden with corruption, etc, but in many ways, it now offers a better quality of life than some so-called developed nations. So how do we measure the comparisons? While many Western countries struggle with rising costs, declining public services, decaying infrastructure and increasing social tensions, Thailand quietly provides an alternative that many find more appealing. Affordability, safety, public services and overall happiness, has Thailand already surpassed the West in the most important aspects of daily life? Cost of living is an obvious advantage. In Thailand, one can enjoy high-quality food, affordable healthcare, and comfortable housing at a fraction of what it costs in many Western cities. Healthcare for locals is accessible and inexpensive and dining out is not a luxury but a daily norm. Public transportation, especially in Bangkok, is efficient, modern, and inexpensive compared to the overpriced, outdated, aging and often unreliable transport systems in many Western countries like the US and UK. Crime and public safety are also worth noting. While no country is without crime, Thailand generally feels safer than many urban centers in the West, where violent crime rates have also risen a lot in Western cities in recent years. Community cohesion remains strong in Thailand, with people still valuing social interactions and respect for others. Inequality surely exists, but it doesn’t feel as stark or socially divisive in daily life as it does in some Western countries where there is a higher percentage of poverty and homelessness now than in Thailand. Lifestyle in Thailand is another factor that seemingly sets it apart. The balance of work hard to enjoying life is often better in Thailand, with less emphasis on the constant grind and more appreciation for leisure, family, and social life. Culture and a sense of happiness contribute to an overall quality of life that many Westerners also find refreshing. So, is Thailand still really just another “developing country,” or has it quietly outpaced the West in many important aspects of daily life that most people heavily value? While some will argue that Western nations still lead in technology, quality of life isn’t measured by GDP alone. More and more people might be thinking Thailand now offers a better, freer, and more fulfilling way to live than what used to be considered the dream of life of living in a developed Western society.

This Forum The Heat The Women The Food The Traffic The Ladyboys Who Stole My Wallet The Pollution The Politics The Temples The Elephants The Tuk-Tuks That Defy Physics The Malls The Nightlife The Weed The Low Cost of Things The Nature The Festivals The Markets The Muay Thai The Beaches The Geographic Location The Lifestyle The Medical Care The Massages The Happy Endings The Culture The Gyms Bob Smith Or?

Never

Why does anything in this world matter? Why does a dog lick his own nads? Because he can.

One of the most awkward language habits I often see in Thailand is when foreigners refer to other foreigners as “Farang” while speaking with each other in English. Sure, it’s a term that some Thais still use to describe Westerners, but when used by an expat or tourist, it comes off as awkward and often just pretentious. Are these people trying to sound more integrated into Thai culture? Is it an attempt to flaunt their (often very limited) Taxi-Thai language skills? In most cases, it seems to be short-term visitors or those with only a surface-level understanding of the Thai language who use “Farang” instead of simply saying “foreigner” or “Westerner.” They may think it makes them sound more in tune with local culture, but to many long-term expats, it just sounds unnatural and even cringy. Most foreigners who have lived in Thailand for a long time don’t use the word “Farang” when speaking with other foreigners. They understand that in an English conversation, words like “expat,” “tourist,” "Westerner", or “foreigner” make more sense. The only real reason for a foreigner to even use “Farang” is when speaking Thai with a Thai person, especially if that Thai person doesn’t speak much English, but even then there are better words in Thai which don't carry any kind of negative stigma. So why does this habit persist? Maybe some foreigners enjoy peppering their English with the small handful of Thai words they know, hoping it adds a bit of local flair to their speech. But to others, it just sounds forced, unnatural, noob, and in poor taste.

Before COVID, Ben viewed Thailand through rose colored glasses, a common theme for noobs. He was often apologetic about the Thai government’s decisions and dismissive of the usual foreigner complaints. However, during the COVID lockdowns and restrictions, his perspective shifted, and he became increasingly dissatisfied with how things were handled. If you watch his older videos, you’ll notice a stark contrast, what was once mild criticism or justification has now turned into full blown rants against the Thai government. For his own good, though, he might want to tone it down before someone in power who doesn’t appreciate it takes notice. This trajectory is common among long term expats: initial infatuation, gradual disenchantment, and eventually either acceptance or outright frustration. The difference with Ben is that he actually became a Thai citizen well before the romance wore off, something most foreigners never do, which only complicates things further for him.

You should quit photography while your ahead.

The milk sitting the closest to the coffee cup.

Here we go again, another government demanding backdoor access to our encrypted data, bunch of back door fiends, all in the name of “security.” This time, it’s the UK government trying to force Apple to compromise iCloud encryption under the guise of the Investigatory Powers Act. If Apple folds to this demand, it won’t just be UK users at risk, it will be everyone with any personal data on iCloud, worldwide. Do those plonkers in the UK government really think people will sit back and accept this or that Apple will just roll over with no questions asked? The moment Apple allows a backdoor into the iCloud to anyone, the entire premise of Apple’s security-first approach collapses. Users aren’t stupid. They’ll pull their data, disable cloud backups, and some might even ditch Apple entirely for something that doesn’t sell them out. It would be a black swan event for Apple. Apple built its brand on privacy, caving to the demands now from that small, pesky island across the channel from France, would destroy trust and send customers running to alternative solutions like decentralized storage or more privacy-focused devices. And let’s not pretend this is just about the UK. If Apple sets this precedent, the US, EU, China, and every other government will demand the same access. Once the encryption is weakened, it’s only a matter of time before hackers exploit the same vulnerabilities, leaving everyone’s data exposed. This is straight out of the NSA's old playbook from the Bush and Obama eras, when mass data collection took off under the Patriot Act. The government began pulling vast amounts of personal user data from Google and other tech companies, a practice later exposed by Edward Snowden. The UK is now heading down the same dystopian path, demanding absolute surveillance powers at the expense of individual privacy. And as usual, it’s being justified under the guise of “national security.” We’ve seen where this road leads; mass surveillance, abuses of power, and a world where private conversations are anything but private. Apple needs to fight this. If they don’t, they’re finished as a company that values user security. And if the UK government succeeds in bullying them into compliance, what’s stopping them from demanding even more control over our data in the future? --- If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about, you can see these links below: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/07/uk-confronts-apple-with-demand-for-cloud-backdoor-to-users-encrypted-data https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/uk-government-reportedly-demands-backdoor-access-your-apple-icloud-account/

100% Nazi salute:

100% Nazi salute:

True. Thai cards can't be added to Apple Pay. But you can still tap and go with many Thai bank debit cards and credit cards. Basically the same thing as the way Apple Pay works, but still using physical cards. For local transactions, alternative digital payment methods are also widely used in Thailand. PromptPay, for instance, is a popular QR code-based system that facilitates direct transfers from your bank account to merchants. Additionally, digital wallets like TrueMoney Wallet and Rabbit LINE Pay are commonly accepted and can be linked to Thai bank accounts for seamless electronic payments from a smartphone.

Corruption exists even in the wealthiest nations, though it takes more polished forms. In places like the U.S. or U.K., it’s not uncommon to see politicians influenced by corporate donors, special interests, or lobbying groups. Money flows into campaigns and legislation in ways that are technically legal but morally questionable. Tax evasion by the ultra-rich and multinational corporations like Apple, Amazon and Google is widespread, draining billions from public services. Even the massive 2008 financial crisis in the US stemmed partly from corruption in the banking system and poor regulatory oversight. Child welfare and animal care aren’t what they should be either. There are still school districts in rural areas of the U.S. where children ride on old, unsafe buses that lack proper seatbelts, and countless American schools are in disrepair, with crumbling buildings and underfunded resources. Meanwhile, stray animals are an issue in many Western cities, and shelters are overcrowded with abandoned pets. Puppy mills operate under weak enforcement in the U.S., churning out sick and neglected animals for profit. Road safety is a major problem too. The U.S. has some of the worst traffic fatality rates in the developed world, largely due to drunk driving, speeding, and distracted drivers looking down at their smartphones. In cities like New York or Chicago, potholes can go unaddressed for years, damaging vehicles and even causing accidents. Cyclists are routinely injured or killed due to poor infrastructure and driver negligence, and pedestrian fatalities are on the rise across much of the U.S. Infrastructure isn’t immune either. Power grids in wealthy countries are aging and unreliable. California experiences rolling blackouts regularly due to wildfire risks and grid capacity issues. Storms regularly knock out power in many states, leaving residents in the dark for days or even weeks. Water crises aren’t limited to the developing world; Flint, Michigan, is a prime example of how poor management left a city with toxic, undrinkable water for years. Meanwhile, rural areas in both the U.S. and parts of Europe still lack access to reliable high-speed internet, putting them at a disadvantage compared to urban centers. Human trafficking is a global crisis, and wealthy nations are no exception. In the U.S., victims are trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation in significant numbers. Europe faces similar issues, with traffickers targeting vulnerable migrants and refugees for exploitation in agriculture, domestic work, and prostitution. The enforcement of trafficking laws often lags behind the scale of the problem, leaving many victims without justice or support. Crime is another persistent issue. Knife crime has surged in parts of the U.K., particularly in cities like London, where youth violence continues to rise. The U.S. faces one of the highest rates of gun violence among developed nations, with mass shootings being alarmingly common, averaging at least one a day in the U.S. In both Europe and the U.S., systemic inequalities and poverty fuel many of these crimes, while overcrowded prisons often fail to rehabilitate offenders, perpetuating cycles of violence. Immigration and labor exploitation are also ongoing concerns. In the U.S., undocumented workers often face unsafe working conditions in industries like farming, construction, and domestic work, while many lack legal protections. In Europe, forced labor in agriculture and manufacturing is not uncommon, and migrant workers often face poor wages, unsafe conditions, and discrimination. Hate crimes, including murders motivated by race and religion, remain a sobering issue in developed countries. In the U.S., racially motivated large scale killings have made headlines, such as the Charleston church shooting in 2015, where Black worshippers were targeted in a hate-fueled massacre. Similarly, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018 was one of the deadliest attacks on the Jewish community in American history. The U.K. has also seen high-profile cases, such as the murder of Jo Cox in 2016 by an extremist influenced by far-right ideologies, and attacks on mosques and Muslim individuals have increased significantly in recent years. These crimes expose the ongoing presence of racial and religious hatred, even in countries that champion diversity and equality. So while the West has made incredible strides in technology, infrastructure, and governance, it is far from flawless. Many of the issues that are blamed on poorer countries exist in the West too, albeit in forms that are often hidden under the surface. There’s no denying progress, but there’s still a long way to go to solve these global problems.

Or one could even say (kaw tod jak jai jing jing) to strengthen the apology even more. But I've never heard this phrase used in a real life situation. Perhaps you have, but even so, I would say that it is a very uncommon phrase and not a normal expression of one's guilt or regret used in a situation where one person has wronged another. I guess my point is that we can think of creative ways to express an emotional apology from the heart using everyday words from the Thai language, but I don't think they would ever follow a typical expression of social norms when confronting a situation of personal wrong doing between two people. Perhaps the most common phrase that you will hear on an everyday basis and used in many situations would be something simply like (kaw tod dooay krub).

Thank you, but from my understanding, the phrase you suggested is more an expression of sadness over a situation, an outcome to an event often caused by a third party, rather than a direct admission of personal regret for one’s own harmful actions between two people.