spidermike007

Yes, no doubt they were not wearing seat belts. Not that it would have made a difference at 150KPH. They were probably drunk, and it is easier for the authorities to just say they fell asleep. The authorities are used to making things up. That is their MO. The bar is set so low for the driving tests here, and they teach nothing in the way of driving etiquette. When I am on the highways here I am astounded at the number and frequency of goombah moves that other drivers make. Very little concern for their own safety, and the safety others. The only surprise here is that more people are not killed on the highway.

Do not concern yourselves in the slightest way. Pronouncements like this one are always forgotten within weeks. They will tire of this task quickly. Besides, customs already has a license to steal. Relax, little will chance. The only things that truly change here (read progress) are higher prices, and more difficult visa policy. But, we love the place nonetheless, right?

As regards all the generalizations about Thai people on this thread, a little story. Years ago I was managing a small resort on Samui and we had continuing problems with the pool being cloudy.Our manintenance guys couldn't fix it despite having maintained the same pool for a couple of years, and I didn't have any experience maintaining pools despite having completed several years of college chemistry classes. We brought in a small Thai company to help us and they had it sparkling in short order. Turns out the two principals both had degrees in chemical engineering. I think less talk about national characteristics and more awareness of specific individual knowledge would help these kinds of 'discussions'. I am also guilty of saying things like, "Thai people........" and will try to do better myself.

Being married to a Thai, and living in Thailand, which I do still like ( though the gloss has pretty much worn off ) I'd really like to be able to say it's about <specific individual knowledge> rather than <national characteristics >, but having been exposed to local ( "national" ) characteristics far more than before getting married, i have to admit that i can never go into the town ( not a tourist in sight ) without mind boggling instances of utter stupidity being in evidence all about me. Even as I write this, I can see a continual stream of idiot m'bike riders exhibiting a total lack of any sense of self preservation or sense.

If it wasn't so sad, it'd be funny, in a pathetic way.

The nation was cursed with a terribly poor genetic gene pool. It is that simple. Having traveled here for over 30 years, and lived here for over 6 years, there is simply no other plausible explanation. The lack of colonization does make them more stubborn than their neighbors. The nationalization taught to them by their leaders over the past 30 years or so, has contributed to an incredible degree of narrow mindedness. The educational system seem to stifle any creativity, and individual thinking. Thais are very, very rarely able to think outside the box. There are exceptions of course. I have seen some. But, on the average, the number of nearly brain dead individuals in this country is astounding.

All we can hope for is that this insect gets life in prison. Then he can experience the joys of rape. Anal. From his good looking buddies. His entire family should be fined, and disgraced in public. A deterrent should be created to discourage this kind of nonsense.

One more season of flooding, without an effective plan in place, and we will see multi-nationals start to exit Thailand in earnest. They will only tolerate the plant closures, damage, and production interruptions for so long, without a solution. Does the resident genius have one? Hope so. She says she does.

Not sure why so many refer to her as fine. She looks like a 44 year old mom to me. What is hot a out that?

Some very good points made here. Especially the ones about the inability of the Thai people to see clearly, and make a rational decision when money is involved.

This is a very good point. I will give an illustration of this. For many years, my friend and I have discussed the fact that the average Thai, was possibly not blessed with particularly high quality genetic brain stock. Some nations, such as the Indians, the Germans, and the Chinese were. The Thais, I do not think so. Think of when was the last time a Thai person won a Nobel peace prize, or a Pulitzer prize, or any other international measure of creativity, or intelligence. I realize this is a terribly politically incorrect thing to insinuate, but the writing is on the wall. Just the other day I went to retrieve a motorbike that I had reserved for a friend of mine, from a bike shop. Turns out he did not hold the bike for us, as we showed up too late in the day. That was after I had left a deposit for it. I asked for the deposit back, and the guy started screaming at me. Very emotional. I have rented from him many times in the past, and planned to continue using him for years to come. I explained that to him, and asked him if he was prepared to sacrifice the years of patronage, for a measly 400 baht? He did not even hear me. The thought of parting with 400 baht today was paramount to him. The future meant nothing. He went nearly hysterical when I requested he give me my deposit back. Is this an intelligent business mind? How many like this have you run into? Where are the brilliant minds? Are they only at the universities? I am a businessman. I will do anything to keep a customer happy, and maintain my excellent reputation. I have given $6,000 cash refunds to make a customer happy. So, I cannot understand when someone like this is willing to sacrifice a good customer, for $13. Beyond my level of comprehension completely.

“He has been maintaining pools for 20 years. Today, he just did something wrong. It was just an accident,” he said.

This is the best statement about Thai mentality given by a Thai.

The rule worldwide when handling chemicals: Chemicals INTO the WATER.

NEVER Water into the Chemical.

Reason for this rule: when putting water into the chemical there is not enough water for cooling and if the heat created in the mixing gets high enough there can be an explosion.

Typical Thai, for 20-years puts chemical into the water and then one day has a hair crosswise up its ass and puts water into the chemical.

Had similar encounter the other day with a building maintenance employee, 18-years does a fine job then the other day a door would not open. The door had a door closer. The obvious procedure, disconnect the articulating rods and see if the door closer arm can be moved. Simple isn’t it. After 18-years to this Thai all of a sudden it was not that simple. He took out his Power Screwdriver and rattled away trying to tighten the (ALREADY100% THIGHT) Reeden Prince Head screws holding the door closer onto the door with a Philips Head screwdriver and in the process rounded all the heads. He tried, door still did not open. Picked up his tools, walked away, and told the secretary in the office “cannot be fixed”. Over and out. So the job was left for me the owner to do.

Disconnected the articulating rods, tried to move the arm, would not move, piston inside cylinder jammed. Simple, install new door closer.

But it was not that simple because all the screw heads had been rounded. Screws of High Tensile steel, difficult to drill out. Had to drill away the aluminum body of the door closer around the screw heads.

I’m really at 85 getting a bit too old for having to fix the ####ps of Thais. Seriously looking for a buyer or buyers for the properties so I can throw my clothes in my satchel and move on. From previous living there Dalath in Vietnam sounds appealing, Maybe Baguio in Philippines or Bandung, Indonesia, the Indonesians did find out by now that the Dutch weren’t so bad after all.

Yes, I have seen this happen on countless occasions. I was traveling recently, and stayed at a hotel on Samui. Misplaced my room keys. They sent up a maintenance guy. He fooled around with the door, and after 30 minutes could not get it open. I gave him some suggestions. It seemed to me that instead of trying to force the lock open, you could see that if you just eased something into the crack, and coaxed the lever up, it would open. He would not listen. How could a fareng know how to open a door? They sent up other maintenance people, and nobody could open it. Finally, one 18 year old kid with a sparkle in his eyes, and intelligence behind those eyes, walked over, looked at the door and the lock, did exactly what I was suggesting (without me saying anything), and pronto, it was open in 3 minutes. All of the other guys were laughing, and just shaking their heads. But, do you think they learned anything? Will they be more open minded next time? Of course not. My friend refers to the closed minded people, who are unwilling to learn, change, progress, or develop their lives, as the buffalo people.

Children doing a mans job. The level of technical expertise in Thailand is scary. So many people are doing jobs they are not qualified for, or do not understand. I was speaking to someone the other day, who was referring to the lack of expertise when it comes to getting a question answered about wine, at a restaurant in a 5 star hotel. They are charging 300 baht per glass, and the only details they understood was that there were two kinds of wine in the world. Red and white. Only the GM of the hotel had any detailed knowledge about varietals. How about water management? When the US Marine Corp offered early last year to teach the Thai engineers about water management techniques they were told that Thailand will never suffer major floods, as they had a lot of experts in water management. How much longer can Thailand keep up this charade? People are going to notice this sooner of later, right?

You do realize that Thailand is a developing (third-world) country, right? If you want wine expertise, go to Europe.

You completely missed my point. If one is paying 10,000 baht per night, at a major five star hotel, one expects an international standard. If I was staying in a bungalow for 500 baht per night, I would not. It is about standards. It is not about being in the 3rd world. If I were staying at a major 5 star hotel in Mexico, Hanoi, Bombay, etc, I would have access to wine experts.

I've occasionally worked with the Thai Army as a consultant/technical adviser on some US made trucks over the past 10 years.

They've had this equipment for over 20 years. Their level of expertise is at the bottom of the barrel.

Basically they NEVER EVER change or check the oil, so eventually the engine seizes up. They then proceed to remove every single part of the truck, to "re-build" it, when all it needed was a new engine.

I love the country & without fail, everyone I've worked with are the nicest of nice people, but when I try to show them a way that is 100 times more efficient to do something, I get a smile & they just keep on doing what they were doing before.

I often say that it was a kind of curse, that Thailand was never colonized. I know that is a very incorrect thing to say. I realize it could offend a lot of Thai people. But, if you compare Thailand to Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and many other countries that were colonized, you see how much more open minded those people are, than the Thais, who are very, very stubborn, and closed minded people. Their way is the correct way, and it is nearly impossible that another way, or especially a fareng way, could be more efficient, better, or more effective, than their way. It is not a productive way. How Thailand became the worlds 22nd largest economy, despite this mindset, is a testament to the Thai spirit.

Children doing a mans job. The level of technical expertise in Thailand is scary. So many people are doing jobs they are not qualified for, or do not understand. I was speaking to someone the other day, who was referring to the lack of expertise when it comes to getting a question answered about wine, at a restaurant in a 5 star hotel. They are charging 300 baht per glass, and the only details they understood was that there were two kinds of wine in the world. Red and white. Only the GM of the hotel had any detailed knowledge about varietals. How about water management? When the US Marine Corp offered early last year to teach the Thai engineers about water management techniques they were told that Thailand will never suffer major floods, as they had a lot of experts in water management. How much longer can Thailand keep up this charade? People are going to notice this sooner of later, right?

That's exactly it. THEY DON'T TAKE ADVICE FROM ANYONE! And people are perfectly aware of it and accept it!

Why are some people putting down Thai people in general when some accident has happened. What happened with the chemical also has happened in the west as well , europe over the years in swimmingpools. I can remember some of them. one right in the city where i live in the Netherlands. Accidents with chemicals , in factories, with fireworks, they can happen everywhere and anytime.

Of course accidents happen everywhere. But, the safety standards, enforcement, and training here are amongst the worst in the world. The educational system is terrible, and it is not creating the best and the brightest. I am not so sure the future looks bright for Thailand, despite how earnest many of the people are. The lack of colonialization has created created a stubborn mindset, arrogance, and lack of open mindedness, that sets the country back, time and time again.

Lack of training and awareness of what safety is constitutes one of Thailand's weakest facets.

Thailand has dismal safety records, not only in traffic, electrocutions and safety of tourists and food poisoning, but also in civil defense (flood preparedness, standards for electrical public wiring and/or installations, building and zoning, etc.). Add to that and their laid back attitude regarding personal safety, and that of others. It is becoming common knowledge in the world no matter what TAT says. Thailand is not a safe place for a pedestrian tourist. Motorcycles riding on sidewalks, motorists oblivious to the presence of pedestrians at crosswalks even at red lights, motorcyclists riding with one hand, while on the mobile phone, without helmets and with 2 or more people on board: all at the same time! That should make any sane person cringe. The list of what ails this country is long and sad and can bring about a recession.

Taking for granted the success in tourism of yore is one of those ailments. This country has a rich culture, good decent people as a whole, and potentially can have a better future. Alas, Thais are reactive and not proactive. Thailand may become one of those countries that could have been but didn't...

I agree completely. I believe that all of these issues will catch up to thailand in the long run. they keep getting black eyes in the press, worldwide. the secret is out. I love Thailand, but I have to hold my nose and bear some of these issues from time to time. Eventually, it will catch up. I expect tourism to decline over the next 20 years, and some places like Samui run the risk of becoming vacated tourism museums.

Yes, I think we all feel this way. I can spend half a day in Siam Paragon. I avoid malls like the plague in the US. They are lifeless, boring, and unpleasant. The food is terrible, and everything is overpriced. At Siam, I can eat well, watch beautiful women, buy great books at good prices at Kusikoniya, catch a movie at an amazing cinema, go bowling, etc., etc. The malls in Thailand are lovely.

Always scare when a country feels a need to have pro-government demonstrations when there are no anti-government demonstrations going on.

Clearly this is the path to reconciliation.

Well, even my die hard friends from Issan, who backed Yingluck without question, are now openly scorning her, and referring to her as hapless, incompetent, ignorant, and unable to lead the country. So, when that happens you know there is a need to stimulate the masses, who are losing faith in the ability of this absolute neophyte to at least appear to be in control. And for those of us who took a wait and see approach to the whole thing, we have long ago given up on this rather feeble leader. Of course, the alternative Abhisit was a bought and paid for whore, who was only interested in doing the bidding of the Army, and in helping to protect the fortunes of the richest in Thailand, so was he any better?

Yet another post that pours scorn on Abhist without knowing the facts or understanding where Abhisit came from. Beats me!

He was truly bought and paid for. I believed in him at first. But, what did he do to benefit the average Thai? What did he do to improve the country? His hands were tied by his masters. And he did as he was asked to do, by the powers that be. To believe otherwise, is to visit the Land of Oz.

The pollution in Chiang Mai is far, far worse than in Los Angeles, or Bangkok. Every time I am up there I marvel at how bad it is. Nothing seem to be done about it. Does anyone in power care? It is a great city, and a very nice area, and a terrible shame nobody is able of willing to do anything. All that would be required would be to pass a law preventing burning of crops, enforcing it, and jailing a few farmers. Word would get out quickly, and they would find another more ecologically sound way to clearing the crops, like most civilized countries do.

It appears that the Vietnamese are more advanced than Thailand and neighbors, at least from the point of view of no fires. (But also that the Chinese government not so.)

Perhaps northern Vietnam will become the next favourite for expats?

What the Vietnamese have is a penal system. In Thailand the only crimes that are pursued by the police are ones that concern drugs, weapons, and murder. Other than that, there are no crimes. So, when it comes to fires, and causing life threatening pollution, there are no authorities that are concerned, and if there were, there would not be anything they could, or would do about it. In Vietnam they pass a law, and if you violate it, you spend time in prison. Same with Malaysia, China, Indonesia, India, etc. In Thailand you do as you please. And if you do get arrested, you come up with some cash, and then go home, and continue breaking the law. The system here is broken. But, nobody will admit it.

That map should be posted everywhere on the internet,it is a disgrace that this is going on here in Thailand so long with very little action from from the authorities.Forgt the terrorist warnings,this smog is much more dangerous and to many more people,

Roll on the rain!

What authorities?

Always scare when a country feels a need to have pro-government demonstrations when there are no anti-government demonstrations going on.

Clearly this is the path to reconciliation.

Well, even my die hard friends from Issan, who backed Yingluck without question, are now openly scorning her, and referring to her as hapless, incompetent, ignorant, and unable to lead the country. So, when that happens you know there is a need to stimulate the masses, who are losing faith in the ability of this absolute neophyte to at least appear to be in control. And for those of us who took a wait and see approach to the whole thing, we have long ago given up on this rather feeble leader. Of course, the alternative Abhisit was a bought and paid for whore, who was only interested in doing the bidding of the Army, and in helping to protect the fortunes of the richest in Thailand, so was he any better?

If you believe him, then you will believe that the ladies working in the bars are really nuns collecting money for Mother Theresa's orphanages.

I am told by both the Israeli embassy, and the Iranian embassy, that these girls have already raised over one million dollars, for the Calcutta orphanage. The best bet is to Never, ever believe anything either the Israeli embassy, nor the Iranian embassy says. They are both snake oil salesmen.

Thailand has long turned a blind-eye to many of the unsavory activities that occur internationally. You cannot do that without one day being held accountable.

I have always believed they have stayed out of harms way primarily because this was the place where they hide, get fake passports and fly reasonably under the radar.

Those days may be gone. It now seems we have a home-base for some rather nasty people and I don't know that they will wait to hit their targets outside of Thailand.

Yes indeed. It is very difficult for bad things to happen in Thailand, so it is OK to ignore the world. There is a magic shield that surrounds the country, and with the blessing of the great Buddha, nothing bad will ever happen here. Also, because so many of the people are wonderful, and do good things to many all the time, the merit earned will ensure further protection. Lastly, because Thai people are so smart, unlike the ignorant farengs, this will further prevent bad stuff from happening, since all badness can be outsmarted by the local people with such powerful brains.

• Quote
  
• MultiQuote
  
• Edit
  

&lt;deleted&gt;?

Is that not terrorism???

Is that not murder sanctioned by government???

I think you're right. If bombing Israeli diplomats is terrorism, bombing Iranian scientists is also terrorism. However, keep in mind I think Israel is justified in bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. If they do, that would be an act of war and not terrorism. If Israel is behind the nuclear scientist killings which is of course likely/probable, etc I personally think that was a mistaken tactic. While I support the right of Zionist Israel to exist as the world's only Jewish state (no, Boca Raton doesn't count!), which the Iranian regime does not, that doesn't mean I agree with every policy decision of their government.

What so few are considering, including yourself, is that this could be a war that lasts 30 years, and bankrupts the planet. Oil at $200 per barrel could do just that. It could bring the worlds stock markets to it's knees. What would that accomplish? Iran is probably fine with the world going back to the 18th century, but are you? The unforeseen consequences of this war are horrific. Israel has no right whatsoever to invade Iran. If they do so, they bring on whatever happens. Their desire to go to war with just another neighbor outweighs any common sense at this point. And Obama being the lapdog he is, will go along with it.

The Thai Ministry for Tourism has guaranteed that tourism will be unaffected by the warnings.

Thai National Security has guaranteed that it is rather impossible for Thailand to be a target for wrongdoing and indeed not possible for Thailand to be host to any dangerous activity that a paying visitor/tourist should concern him/herself with as Thailand is a peaceloving™ country friendly with all people and nations.

The Thai Tourism Board has demanded that the countries responsible lift the warnings as it could affect tourism.

The Thai hotels board will increase prices of rooms and Thai airways will increase the price of tickets to 'make up' for the drop in arriving tourists.

Suvarnabhumi will organize scams in the King Power Duty Free and with arrival transportation to 'make up' for the drop in tourism revenue.

In exactly one week, the Thai Tourism Board and other agencies will advertise in local media that tourism numbers are up 345% from this time last month.

Random Thais (being quite proud and nationalist) will organize marches on all warning issuing Western embassies, but will ignore those issued by any Asian embassies.

EDIT:

** Actually, looking at the 'system', I'm not sure whether or not it's pure genius.

Yes indeed. It is very difficult for bad things to happen in Thailand. There is a magic shield that surrounds the country, and with the blessing of the great Buddha, nothing bad will ever happen here. Also, because some many of the people are wonderful, and do good things to many all the time, the merit earned will ensure further protection. Lastly, because Thai people are so smart, unlike the ignorant farengs, this will further prevent bad stuff from happening, since all badness can be outsmarted by the local geniuses.

Yuthasak said yesterday that Tuesday's blasts affected Thailand's security, adding that state agencies had been ordered to beef up security following the incident.

"With the increased conflict between Middle Eastern and Western countries, Thai security agencies will have to intensify their work," he said.

The foreign minister added that other countries had confidence in the Thai security agencies, as he expressed concern about the negative news targeting the government as well as the rumours swirling after the incident.

Giving these goombahs more weapons, is like asking my 9 year old neighbors son, to guard the house. These men are fabulously incompetent, as is the Thai army, and the Thai police. The foreign minister is just making crap up, on a minute by minute basis. Other countries have confidence in the Thai security agencies? Name one. Maybe Yemen. Maybe. Maybe Surinam. Maybe. What have they done to earn that confidence, besides set up 100 roadblocks in the south?