jayboy

There is a points system but I have been assured by an unimpeachable source that exceptions are made from time to time if a candidate flops in one or more categories including the Thai language test.In truth they couldn't care less for example whether a candidate is married or not or whether he has a patchy educational background.What does matter in these iffy cases is the amount of tax tax paid.If a well connected/ non crook farang has paid buckets of tax over the prescribed period, he will get PR - even if not generating enough points in other areas.

That has never been a constraint for Westerners. It isn't. This is the heart of it.The list of PR benefits is rather thin but the peace of mind it provides is incalculable. Is it not possible to go straight for citizenship and avoid PR altogether? Personally. I am not interested in citizenship though might have been 30 years ago. I had never considered this aspect but I see your point.

In 1787 Thomas Jefferson wrote: " What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

They really aren't.

Dream on

Yes, I had the same thought - a different and less hidebound generation one hopes and less obsessed with face.

Recently on arrival (I have Thai PR) a youngish female Immigration official - steering the hordes to their queues - insisted I join the foreign queue despite having seen my white book and stating it's the nationality of passport that counts.I shrugged and complied but mentioned to her that the rules have apparently changed.She was adamant but to my surprise appeared a few minutes later and told me to come with her to the priority queue.I'm guessing my remark that the rules had changed had unsettled her and she had then consulted her boss.I should say the complete encounter was business like in tone and without a hint of hostility on her side or my side.

Exactly

Take a wild guess.

I can succinctly summarize the vast amount of discussion on this subject: It can be useful to have a Yellow Book and Pink Card in some circumstances..But if you don't have them or can't be arsed to get them, it doesn't particularly matter.

Also my experience.I pay mine but Thais usually ignore them and there seems to be no follow up.

"OR... were you referring to your own achievements ??? " - Come off it - we're not 12 year olds The only non sad aspect is Tyson Fury himself who is obviously brilliant at his profession. Everything else is desperately second rate.

Sad at so many levels.

As another post correctly reminds, I forgot to mention you also need to take your bank pass book.

Wrong. My bank (Krungsri) took my picture using the camera on the counter desk.My passport was used as ID and a manager was called over to verify the passport photo against my mug.They weren't interested in my pink card.

Not really.I have long been a supporter of gay rights, very much influenced by gay friends from university days and before.I certainly have no objection to Gay Pride celebrations. But I remain puzzled by the phenomenon, particularly in relatively liberated Thailand, where discrimination is very limited.Same applies to UK and other Western countries.What exactly is the point? Why do British Embassies feel the need to give Gay Pride so much attention (not so much one imagines in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries) - at the expense I think of other pressing issues? The British Embassy in Bangkok virtue signals on LGBT matters to the point of absurdity - talk about preaching to the converted (to be fair not so much in the last couple of years) but how about showing some real courage in for example condemning the True censorship of BBC News broadcasts? Why do people have to be defined by sexuality anyway? I'm sure I will be misunderstood - but on my part there's no hate, in fact I'm generally supportive.But the puzzlement remains at the complete absence of a sense of proportion.

Being a decent human being is obviously a good thing. Social class has however nothing to do with virtue.In any case these days old fashioned ideas of social class are collapsing in favor of measuring class by wealth and income.But I think in behavioral terms we can usually recognize low class when we come across it. Just look at Pattaya, the people who visit, the people who live there and (most of all) the people who promote it - Buzzin Pattaya and the like.

In the UK at least, the upper and upper middle class normally speak with a received English accent though diluted in the younger generation by an estuary accent sometimes. Occasionally a Scottish gentleman will speak with the accent of his country, or at least a burr. I admit that this association between accent and social class is breaking down rapidly but however defined nobody with class would spend time in Pattaya. Incidentally accents have never dictated class, just one of several indicators.

It's a bit different surely? Pacino and De Niro are charismatic and hugely talented multi millionaires.That's not the description one would give to the (usually) large gentlemen not necessarily of much class (judging by manners and accents) tottering around Pattaya with their reformed (sometimes) bar girls.

No he isn't.He has a distinguished record in the past as linguistics philosopher but even then his record on international relations was mixed.He is sadly now little more than a dribbling old fool, slave to kooky conspiracy theories and Putin worship.

Absolutely right.In fact it has been impossible to rig elections in Thailand for several decades.Vote buying exists but it does not play a decisive role.

Most reasonably successful professionals in retirement have pension income well over $ 80,000. I was surprised the Thai Government set the "wealthy pensioner" bar so low.

I have a relatively obscure wristwatch which is not valuable at all but which I rather like.The battery needs replacing and so I would like it to be done by a skilled watch smith in Bangkok, who knows what he is doing and can be relied upon not to mess it up.Any suggestions?

Isn't that the overwhelming majority of the expatriate Pattaya community?

The battle ahead https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/thailand-s-election-will-country-move-forward