BusyB

Dunno. If you can't get your act together where you come from (excluding war, famine, drought etc., and most certainly in developed countries) chances are you'll be even worse off in a strange place where you don't even speak the language. You always take yourself with you. Takes a fair level of drive, grit and ability to set up in another country at any age or stage of life. Those with no roof and using deleted buckets usually don't possess those characteristics. (Without being judgmental about that fact.)

'Dread'? I haven't lived in the UK for a long time and rarely return. But 'dread' visiting? No. My last visit left me feeling sad and reaffirmed the label 'rip-off' (and cheap and tacky) Britain. Fortunately I live quite well where I am, and still like LOS for long stretches (and boy can LOS be cheap and tacky at times). I like the climate, the beaches, most people, the temples and the food. Have a retirement extension organized without an agent. Not running from anything. But sticking to Jingthing's OP: If I was living in the UK on a UK state pension I'd almost certainly be overstaying in Thailand in a 4k bargirl box in Pattaya as long as I possibly could 🤣. Infinitely better than bronchitis in a cold Blackpool attic and the food bank.

Well said. And based on my experience I think there's more than a smidgeon of truth in that last sentence. But what ho! They need us more than we need them 555.

Sad comment. Many have a good life in very affluent and comfortable homelands. But they also enjoy new experiences and learning and have the wherewithal and initiative to be able to expand their horizons successfully and happily. They tend not to hang out with the negative sorts both at home and in LOS or anywhere else. I think it's called something like confirmation bias - AKA birds of a feather.

In hospital?

Just needs a tarpaulin and you've got a dream home ...

You can count on it that they weren't alone.

Compassion.

Many girls just wanna have fun - at least most of the ones I was with did and so did I and so we did 555

Tuktuks stood idle indicating a collapse in tourism.

I just found further up the thread, someone's translated it and the original apparently says 'the person who 'HIT' Felicia ...

I'm not sure whether the 'person who drove Felicia', which I assume you're referring to, is the driver of her scooter or the person who DROVE INTO her. How on Earth did that gobbledygook ever get past a second pair of eyes?

Surely not ????

Pitcairn Islands here I come ... ????

I wonder how ... ????

Sounds easy but not if you're in shock. It's why many women freeze as well. And then get blamed for not resisting. It can happen to the toughest of us believe it or not, and rarely has anything to do with sex other than using it as a means of projecting 'power' which is in itself a sign of sick weakness.

Scared perhaps? Or are you talking from experience. Rape is more than a physical event no matter who the perpetrators or victims are. Here it looks like it was being used to teach someone a lesson for not serving ice cream. Not everyone's a warrior.

See it all the time.

But only because the people like strife - otherwise it wouldn't work would it?

Does it not refer in Thai to congee soup, a thin version of which is breakfast in Thai jails? Any good Thai speakers around?

All of life is uncertainty and impermanence. Once you've cracked that it's a gas.

“There is no greater sorrow then to recall our times of joy in wretchedness.” (Dante)

There's a world of difference between being alone, and being lonely. You can be lonely in the middle of a crowd.

Good question.

They should make the punishment fit the crime.