Bangkok Barry

Doesn't matter. There'll be a U-turn in a day or so as no-one in power wants to upset the Chinese.

Exactly. More hot air, which will be followed by no action. It's the Thai way, the usual way things operate. Someone has stated something but it isn't their job to ensure it is enforced so it isn't.

People don't care. If some are scared off there's always another boatload coming. Everyone on the island knows that, so they can do whatever they want.

The hospital has what they believe is evidence she was raped. The police say she wasn't. Now, who should we believe?

There's a reason that Thais need to be scrutanised carefully before they are issued with a visa. They are known to be brazen liars who say whatever is convenient for them regardless of the truth. EU and other countries know that Thais can't be trusted. They've also heard every story under the sun countless times. They don't make up these rules on a whim (unlike Thailand), they do so from experience.

As I said, bullying is universal. And any excuse is used to generate hate and violence between people. We're a strange species.

No-one forces them to use it. The problem is that people inherently hate people, right from the time they begin school or even earlier. Bullying takes place in every school. Where does that come from? I doubt it has been learned from anywhere at that age. It's something humans are born with. Nearly every social media post draws abuse. Another example of people hating people is that they resent others sitting next to them on a bus or train or plane. Or people seek quiet and solitude, away from others. Facebook and Twitter are rife with hate comments. We usually only hear about it when the 'victim' is a celebrity. What I don't understand is why these public figures put out a name that everyone knows, instead of making up an obscure one to give to only their trusted friends and family. Making yourself available to public comments is just asking for abuse and threats. It's what people do.

The ill-fated vehicle has both mandatory and voluntary insurance. The compensation for each dead victim is 1.1 million baht in total and 1.35 million baht for the driver, killed in the accident. (TNA) Interesting that the driver's family gets a higher insurance payout than those of the passengers he killed.

Should, yes. But you forget where you are.

The van turned upside down and that didn't wake him?

See the answer below yours, by someone who actually had something intelligent to offer. I know you'll respond as I've seen over the years that Americans can't let a thing go. Just to let you know, I'll ignore it. Bro.

It wasn't windy today, and rarely is. So nothing to do with that. But thanks for the suggestion. Prob. remains. Not that it's a problem, just an observation.

It's not today I'm talking about. That was an example. But thanks.

Maybe.

Sorry bro. I asked about a scientific reason. You clearly don't have one so I don't know why you posted.

Yes, but it's very common for Thais to believe they are not intended for them, be it warning lights, road signs, road markings (if they even know what they mean). It's always Me First.

Or, in this case, manslaughter. Of course, in Thailand nothing at all will happen to the driver.

I don't understand. Gambling is illegal but there were police there taking part (sarcasm).

It seems to me that temperatures feel at least 10 degrees colder in Thailand during the winter than they would in my native UK. 16 degrees feels like 6. And it can't be the easy answer that we become acclimatised to hotter temperatures, because as an example this morning at around 6 it was 13 degrees and I could see my breath on the air. That wouldn't happen in the UK. It would need to be close to freezing, 10 degrees colder than 13. Does anyone have any scientific explanation as to why that might be. I'm just curious (translation: I don't have enough to worry about).

Those who declare war never fight in it themselves. Funny that. They just let others die on their behalf.

Pretty much everyone, I'd guess.

She would probably have got there quicker without the escort. I once had to collect the tennis player Anna Kournikova and take her to Pattaya, and we had a police escort. Problem was, they kept rigidly to the speed limit so the trip took longer.

Wouldn't it be great if every embassy or consulate operated by the same rules ie Savannakhet will issue multi, but Vientiane in the same country will not. What is the rationale behind that?

Every vehicle, apart from emergency ones, should be fixed so they can't travel at more than 50kph. I know for a fact that it's possible, as I once drove a hire car in the US where the speed limit was 55mph and on a long straight empty road I decided to put my foot down. The car refused to go over that speed. I have no idea why Thais, who are supposed to be such a laid-back people, almost universally drive so fast, often dangerously so.

Thailand is a small Southeast Asian backwater that has no importance in anything or to anyone outside of its borders. That's why. News is selective, often based on where it happens, not what happens.