connda

Imho? This is a worthy discussion.

...and then they stop being contributors, throttle their posts, and site statistics drop. As well as the incentive for those posting ads to - post ads. Perhaps AN should rework their User Interface so you have the option to "Ignore" even emojis. Then those who are offended by such things will not see them and trigger them to be offended.

The problem is that someone may actually find a post funny. Then the poster becomes "offended", and yet, the emoji reaction may have been to something that was actually funny. I have a thicker skin than most I guess. But I find the easily offended simply offering themselves up as targets to those who oppose their views. I'm anti-censorship/pro-free speech (regardless of the content) but - Aseannow can do what they wish. Even if it effects their viewership. Up to them. However, Aseannow isn't Twitter or Facebook. It's a publication with a limited number of high-volume contributors. Alienate enough of them so they just slow up their visits and postings and then - ad revenues drop. Really - take all the emojis away. I'll live. But how will Aseannow fare? Just saying......

Sweet. Really. Censoring 'emojis' is almost desperate. And what does it accomplish? You quote the post and add a laugh or one of the other hundred emojis. Glad to see them back. I hope they stay. If you don't like other people's comments? Well, you can "Ignore" them. It they laugh at you (I've been laughed at), toughen up.

You need to move, not complain. There are plenty of guest houses available. Look for guest houses that cater to people who do yoga (however, in my own experience from my solo (sans wife) trips to Pai, I've found the guest houses catering to people who do yoga to be the places where your could find - weed - and other mind-expanding sort of stuff)

No - you will not.

I want to "laugh" too as it's so obvious. So..................

1. Find a ganja friendly guest house. 2. If the hotel or guest house specifies that it's rooms ore 'non-smoking,' then respect it; And... ...return to item #1.

Thai government to increase capacity in four airports – 200 M arrivals by 2031 Well, unless the World Economic Forum and it's billionaire buddies have their way. In that case you'll "own nothing, go nowhere further than 15 minutes from you 'home' (tent, card-board shack), and you'll be happy (or else). The WEF has different plans for the plebs then those countries who depend on tourism as a significant percentage of the GDP. By 2031, only those with private jets will be able to fly. That will include corporate jets to shuttle the indentured servants to and fro to do corporate biddings. "You're a 'conspiracy theorist.' Nope! I'm just repeating exactly what they are promoting out in the open. Read WEF members books and articles. It's not a secret.

A weak THB is fine by me!

Exactly.

So sad - no laugh emoticon because this is funny.

It's not a legal document. No.

200 quid for a policy that covers motorcycles? Sign me up.

Dave. Dave? What are you doing Dave?

Oh. And if you really want to make somebody's day. Look around the hotel before you leave, find them, and give them the tip around their friends. It's throwing rose petals on your path back.

Wow! I've never thought of a Thai cleaning staff 'giving me the Evil eye!" Usually when crossing paths (cleaning staff are usually, well, cleaning) as I leave the premise, I don't have a lot of contract with them during my stay. I smile, exchange pleasantries "Hello. How are you today <in thai> Have you eaten yet? (purely thai phrase). But leave the cleaning crews do the cleaning. And if they are not done? I leave. Go do something else and come back later when they are finished. Do I tip on a daily basis? No. Do I give a trip on my last day as I leave? Yes. I'm sure they appreciate that. And if I was in New York? Seattle? LA? I'd tip too. Why should Thailand be different. I tip because I appreciate what service people do, here and aboard (home country). So, 'No.' I've never had Thai cleaning staff give me The Evil-Eye. Now cleaning staff in NY, SEA, LA?

First off - you need to be a HiSo Thai. Lower your sights a little and find a gal from a good family. You'll be happier.

Yep.

That's a clear as mud. Like what?

Talk about hyped excitement over nothing. Amazing. The US response? Hit it with a missile. That was stupid. Fire a few bullets through the balloon once it was over the Atlantic and then wait for it to drop and then recover the equipment. If it's "spy" equipment - then "Tada!" A Geo-Political win. If it's weather equipment - then, admit it and let the Chinese come pick up their equipment. Instead they hit the equipment dangling from the balloon with a missile. Well, so much for recovering any intel. Now we're going to be deluged with "China China China" just like we're deluged with "Russia Russia Russia." The US and the West just has to have 'enemies' everywhere. It keeps arms manufacturers busy. They could have downed the balloon with a couple hundred dollars worth of 20mm shells. Instead they used a 188 pound AIM-9X Sidewinder missile at the cost of somewhere between $370K to $470K USD.

Ditto - there is no such thing as a "Free" Thai wife.

I've been here 15 years. At some point in time you just have to get over it. Yeah - it sucks. What I do is talk and joke with those selling over-priced entry fees about being Puu Sung Ayu or a elderly person over 70 years old. The conversation I use generally is to mention whether or not there is any respect for elderly farang like their is for elderly Thais. Age does mean something to Thais. Sometimes it works (I don't get charged), sometimes I get a discount (most of the time), and sometimes they pretend they can't understand me (they do but the are saving face). What I do is to simply make them live up to their own rules about respect for the elderly. I keep the conversation light and humorous if possible. What I'm doing is pulling down the mask of their own "Face Saving" and then hold up a mirror, metaphorically speaking. Don't confront these people with anger, confront them with humor. And remember, the person selling you the ticket probably makes 10K THB a month or less.

@Crossy I voted "No Opinion" but I will chime in to say that I believe there is enough interest in these subjects to warrant a separate sub-forum. I'd just go the Nike route and say, "Just Do It!"