Bangkok Barry

Are they also going to introduce a new initiative to crack down on bad behaviour by Thais? And what action will they take against Thais? Just an hour ago I saw a girl who could not have been aged over seven, with an even younger girl on the back, riding off on a motorbike down the wrong side of a busy dual carriageway road. That's five laws broken right there - too young, no license, no insurance, no helmet and driving on the wrong side of the road. Leaving from right beside a police booth too.

Another case of Me First, I assume.

A nice portrait of Thailand in just one sentence.

How much ease of communication is needed in giving change to the person who paid?

In your opinion farangs come below soi dogs. I guess from that you must be Thai, not a soi dog farang. Nice. Now say that to a farang's face and see what happens. Of course you wouldn't as you're just another 'keyboard warrior'. Pathetic. If you aren't Thai, I assume you consider yourself also lower than a soi dog. As you are clearly unaware of politeness and protocol, it has nothing to do with farangs thinking they are more important than Thais, but everything to do with what happens in the real world where if you give a person money then they return the change to you and not someone else.

The immigration police came to the house after I'd applied for my marriage extension, and despite me being the only reason they were there they completely ignored me. I was invisible.

Yes. It's deeply ingrained that farangs don't count. I've several times been walking into a shopping mall and when the 'pretties' handing out a free sample of something see me as a farang approaching their arm is pulled back. Pathetic.

Over 19 times. 20, 25, 100? Bizarre reporting. Obviously, no matter what the number is, this idiot needs to be jailed for a long time. But then, what is the maximum sentence for theft? It's not like he was drinking a beer after 2am or vaping. Then he'd really be in trouble.

I wonder if you read the linked article.

Err, I suppose seeking medical attention didn't occur to her, like it would to most people. Her only thought was to dump the kid, alive, into a canal.

Such as trying to bribe an old friend with 50 million baht, only to be exposed.

I gave up long before that. Life is too short.

It's the sign's fault. It didn't work.

They just don't get it, do they. They always believe that Thailand is the best place in the world to be and everyone should be be clamouring to stay there - at a cost, of course. Apart from the internet, almost none of the infrastructure is world-class, and anyone who spends 10 minutes on Google will know that the government and anyone in a uniform can't be trusted. There are plenty of alternatives for people.

Not then, but probably tomorrow. In Thailand red lights are treated as a suggestion, not an order.

They can't. Apologies to those who have read this before: There are many reasons Thais drive as they do. 1 - I have never detected any sign of common sense in a Thai, and I've been living here for over 26 years. I am not sure how you teach that, but anyway there is no movement to do so. 2 - The Thais have a Me First mentality that is deeply ingrained, and that is the last thing you want to see in a driver. 3 - The education system demands that you do not think for yourself but listen and obey, so Thais do not develop the necessary skills to actually think. That may result in my first point above. 4 - Learning to drive in a proper and responsible manner is quite difficult, and Thais do not do difficult. Thais do 'near enough', but on the roads that isn't 'good enough'. One mistake can cost lives, so being lucky enough to get it right most of the time isn't good enough either. 5 - They have absolutely no concept that the vehicle they are attempting to operate is a potential killer. No concept at all. 6 - Along with inadequate teaching of all things about how to drive properly and safely, there is no test to determine if you have reached a standard where you are not a danger to yourself and others before you take to the road. 7 - Thais do not seem able to join the dots, and realise that if, for example, they drive at 120 kms an hour five metres behind the vehicle in front, or drive at night with no rear light (or front light if they are driving on the wrong side of the road because they have no concept of the danger), then they would have no time to react if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly. Ask any Thai what their safe braking distance is and they would have no idea. 8 - There are zero police patrols to help prevent accidents by pulling aside selfish and stupid drivers. Their only presence is setting up road blocks which seems in my experience to have only one purpose - to check your tax disc is in the window and up to date. 9 - Police have absolutely no interest in enforcing the law even when they are static beside the road, watching kids three or four on a bike go by with no helmet, no license, no ability to properly control the bike they are on. And that goes also for the parents and schools who allow Thailand's future to play Russian Roulette every time they go out. The police know they get paid anyway, so why work? 10 - The government does nothing to resolve the road death/accident toll as nothing practically can be done. The problem began decades ago when Thais first began to drive in numbers. No meaningful test was introduced and enforced, and now it is far, far too late. It would mean retraining every driver (and who would do that - it would be similar to those who teach English not being able to speak the language themselves). And it would mean the drivers having to take a proper western-style test before gaining a license. And it would mean police patrols to catch those who drive as if they are playing a video game. Now, anyone can drive as they like and put themselves and others in danger as they know they have zero chance of being caught. They can drive that way with total impunity. And it would require said (non-existent) police to actually enforce the law. And not one of those things is possible in Thailand. And that is why the government does absolutely nothing to address the problem, as it is out of control and without a fundamental change in the whole of Thai society and culture it cannot be remedied. The government knows that but can't say it. To finish, nothing can or will change and survival on Thai roads will continue to be a lottery. All we can do is remember the words that were used in the 70s police drama Hill Street Blues as the force were sent out on patrol - 'Let's be careful out there'.

Exactly why it didn't need 2 billion spent there. It was perfectly adequate to serve Podunk. Reminds me, though of the time I found a large but old-fashioned looking hotel in Malmo, Sweden. It was right at the end of the runway and yes, there were cows grazing among the approach lights. It was a Sunday and the hotel was actually closed and carpets were being cleaned, but they gave me a room and rustled up a cold meal, and next morning took me to the terminal in an old Daimler. I've always had the feeling that if I went back the place wouldn't exist and I'd been in The Twilight Zone.

Anyone is allowed to have a baby, no matter how inadequate, stupid, immature or unsuitable they are. That is a problem that will never go away. And so people die or are abused. It's the way the world works.

Maybe the need to get out of Bangla rd and soi sokkoprok in Pattaya and see the real Thailand then They are not in Thailand but have read plenty about the country. But thanks for confirming that such people are 'at work', and where, to confirm what they think.

It's really quite simple. If you drive in a safe manner (safe speed, correct side of the road, paying attention) then these things don't occur. Of course, having two drivers in the same place at the same time doing just that is a bit of a lottery in Thailand.

With 20-25,000 deaths a year that's quite a lot of health oops (whatever that is).

It's never about it being the wrong thing to do, is it. It's always about damaging Thailand's image. Which to most that have mentioned the country to me is that it's a hub of ladyboys and prostitution.

Just the often-seen Thai thing of cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. Thais so often appear to be incapable of moderation and have to go to extremes, be it driving at max speed, playing music at max volume or repeatedly kicking someone when they're on the ground. Asking. 'Did you know you have to pay for that water, sir?' obviously didn't occur to them. And I can't help but wonder if they would have done the same to a Thai.

Thank you for informing us of your ignorance about one of SE Asia's most popular tourist spots, And what you used you work at, where you lived, what hotel you once stayed in and where you have visited in Thailand. But what is your point of telling us all that, please, in relation to this thread?

Don't worry. Thailand will join the 21st century cyberworld eventually. Not sure when as the alien word 'maintenance' was used in the linked article.