chang1

4 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

In many places in the US he would have been shot dead (legally) by the clerk or store owner. 

Some people even think that is a good thing. All it actually achieves is robbers also bring guns and many innocent people get killed. Which is better - a punch in the face and 4000 Baht gone or having a gun pointed at you and some idiot manager coming out with another gun? Now you have 2 guns both pointing in your direction. Which scenario are you more likely to be killed in? Then look at what it is over - 4000 Baht.

36 minutes ago, P100 said:

There are two staff, the second one comes only to bring tissues?? He should have take up a long knife or a hammer or somethig. They let him get away like a good friend saying good bye? Thailand is just a different planet....

And they both probably walk home alone late at night. Easy targets for the robbers mates to injure or even kill them, well away from any CCTV. On their wages why would you risk it? Also a weapon may end up in his hands and being used on them. The robber left without any bad feelings towards the staff, I doubt that would be the case if they had brought out a knife. 

2 hours ago, phka said:

Don't care about the money but if he swung for me like that I would rip the f****** life out of him

Not a very smart move. Why make yourself a target for future reprisals? It's not your money and the pain will soon be gone, so just let him go and let the CCTV and police do the job for you. Far better than worrying about being attacked on your way home for years to come. 

1 hour ago, HHTel said:

If that is the case, then why is there a specific penalty for not stopping at a pedestrian crossing:

 

 

I assume, if the traffic lights are red you have to stop. This is when pedestrians can cross. How this works if the lights are on green and a pedestrian who should have waited gets run over, I don't know. The road traffic act doesn't mention pedestrian crossings that aren't controlled by lights.

16 hours ago, BradinAsia said:

 

So many farangs (especially on this forum) hold onto the ludicrous assumption that when they visit an Asian country, the customs and rules and laws should match those of their own home country. And when these don't match they get a severe case of apoplexy and proclaim that Thais are not very intelligent, and that they lack many of the requisite values to be considered real humans. I would remind these folks, that a number of Asian societies were making advances in mathematics and astronomy and were developing ingenious inventions when most of Europe still had no writing system, were still living in squalor and engaging in endless tribal warfare. Some folks are not aware that several Asian societies had highly organized civil service examination systems a thousand years before Europeans even had books.

 

The first time I visited an Asian country in 1960, I had the eerie feeling that I had travelled back 2,000 yrs in a time-machine. It was extremely fascinating. If folks visit Thailand and get upset bcoz most Thais don't speak much English and eat foods that folks back home would never eat... hey, what the holey moley did they even come here for? If these folks are so self-centered that they want an exotic, ancient Asian kingdom to somehow play by all the same rules as home, they'd surely be much more contents if they didn't do something so brash as to visit an exotic, ancient Asian kingdom. They'd surely be better off if they just stayed home and avoided adventures in exotic lands.

 

All the years I lived in Thailand, I found it an amazing place. And if you want to talk about weird food -- in Thailand I never saw anybody eats coagulated blood sandwiches. 

 

The guy who sat down in the crosswalk and threw a hissie fit is a superb example of narrow-minded falangs who would be much better off to stay home. The U.S. has 50 states, each of them are much like different countries, they all make their own laws. If you travel state to state you can have lots of problems if you can't accept the fact that different places have different laws. How much more one should expect if visiting an exotic Asian country.

 

Just some thoughts...

I mostly agree with you. When I first came to Thailand it was another world but now it has become like Spain. I was a backpacker then and we'll able to look after myself in that rough and ready environment. We have to face the fact that Thailand is developing but important things like safety and law enforcement are lagging behind. This case highlights just how bad they are.

Zebra crossings don't give pedestrians the right of way. If they did Bangkok would grind to a halt (when it does get to move). They are there to indicate where pedestrians should cross when safe to. They are usually at junctions with traffic lights so should actually be pelican crossings (no stripes, just lights). Zebra crossings should be safe places for pedestrians to cross quieter roads away from other distractions (traffic lights, junctions, roundabouts etc). The US developed over time and we can't expect Thailand to stay stuck in the past just for our pleasure. Thais should have a safe environment to live in like we do. I now have a young son and don't want him to end up as yet another road kill. So anyone who helps Thais wise up to where things can be improved should have our respect. It is a hard task and needs unconventional methods to get anywhere but every little step in the right direction helps.

Back to your post - I could just as easily say "If you don't want to be in a modern safe Thailand then you should move to somewhere like Africa or parts of the middle east". After visiting family in Thailand I intend to go to Vietnam or the Philippines - they may also be unsafe but at least they are still fun.

11 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

Different countries and cultures have different norms. Thankful Thailand is not a western country. Plenty of western countries to live in if that suits you. Everyone knows here to be careful crossing the road and driving and that suits me fine. Just a different norm and it is their country. 

If you ever have children your attitude will change completely. If you already have children I pity them.

29 minutes ago, fitzcaraldo said:

does he really have to do this ??

is he hurt ?

No and doesn't look like it.

Now watch the video in the post after yours. 

Maybe if more people did do this, 

 that woman would be alive today.

19 minutes ago, rumak said:

Be careful what you wish for.   More likely there will just be another law that all foreigners must

pay for street crossing insurance to stay in Thailand.   THAT  law will be enforced  ????

And you would just accept that as well. How about standing up for yourself (and others) instead of just giving in?

A small change like being more assertive at zebra crossings (while being very careful) will help drivers become more used to giving way and make a change in the law more likely. If everyone waits until there is not a car in sight nothing will ever change. Or if you are less agile and a car driver, give way to pedestrians more often even if it does confuse them.

What a can of worms this has become. A quick scan through the traffic laws gives no mention of having to give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing. They do say pedestrians have to use them though. If a vehicle is turning into a soi then they have to give way to pedestrians even without a zebra crossing. 

So on the face of it he was in the wrong.

This doesn't mean what he did should be frowned upon though. He was standing up (or in this case sitting down) for the rights of pedestrians. We all need to cross roads on foot so anyone trying to make that safer should be applauded. Those saying he will not change anything should look at how any people led changes happen. If no-one stands up nothing will change but if one person does then it can start to snowball. He was seen by many on TV. 

Many times I hear "this is how it has been for many years, no need for any changes". Usually said by older people (not only the stupid ones) who seem oblivious to the changes that have occurred making the old ways unfit for purpose. Just because no-one else makes changes doesn't mean changes are not needed. 

Glyphosate may be relatively safe by itself but when mixed with other chemicals may not be. These days we are exposed to many different cocktails of chemicals that can be dangerous. For example, pregnant women are advised to not travel in brand new cars due to the mixture of vapours released by the materials they are made from. Add in some pesticide vapour and who knows what that may do to you. Especially hard to know as there may not be any symptoms until months or years after exposure. Red meat may be perfectly fine but the things the cows are exposed to may build up in and get passed on to us in the meat.

36 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

40 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

It isn't good stuff:

 

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html

 

Interesting reading. They are saying basically that it is low toxicity and does not cause cancer. The harm to wildlife is practically zero.

Or they are saying that when mixed with the chemicals used in the finished product, as used by farmers, is rather nasty stuff that should be used with care.

15 hours ago, Chazar said:

he IS ultimately responsible, if he had a conscience he would  not drive reckon he checked his  tyre pressure before he left? all  lights  working? etc etc not working, refuse to drive and yes LOSE  job, not to worry he lost everything in the end

If the company had put a 12 year old at the wheel would you blame the kid?

The company put that driver there so it is ultimately responsible. Do they require him to do the checks? Do they make sure he is rested sufficiently? Do they sack drivers who say they are too tired to drive safely?

3 minutes ago, Xonax said:

Time to have two drivers on Thai busses, just like on an airplane.  Better chances that one of them will stay awake.

I guess you have never driven a vehicle on a road.

2 minutes ago, legend49 said:

A nice list if you were talking about UK, USA etc , remember where you are living most of those criterion dont exist here.

My point exactly. So why just blame the driver?

18 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

20 hours ago, chang1 said:

Looking at the video it seems as though something is very wrong with the lights and barriers. The lights are on red and everyone stopped except the bus. Then the barrier starts to come down then the lights turn green. Meanwhile the traffic on the other side is flowing even before the green light. 

I doubt if there was any confusion with the countdown timer. He probably saw the timer showing it was about to turn green and the barrier was up so thought it was safe to go (possibly like the oncoming traffic). Then for some reason the barrier came down when it should have already been down and now going up.

He should not have gone through the red light but it doesn't look like the barrier was doing what it should either.

 

It didn't appear to confuse the other drivers, did it.

"I doubt if there was any confusion with the countdown timer."

In this sentence I am saying that even the bus driver may not have been confused.

"He probably saw the timer showing it was about to turn green and the barrier was up so thought it was safe to go (possibly like the oncoming traffic)."

Here I am speculating on the real reason he went through. Also, are the vehicles on the other side "confused"? They start moving early, assuming the green lights come on at the same time on both sides of the road.

Looking at the video it seems as though something is very wrong with the lights and barriers. The lights are on red and everyone stopped except the bus. Then the barrier starts to come down then the lights turn green. Meanwhile the traffic on the other side is flowing even before the green light. 

I doubt if there was any confusion with the countdown timer. He probably saw the timer showing it was about to turn green and the barrier was up so thought it was safe to go (possibly like the oncoming traffic). Then for some reason the barrier came down when it should have already been down and now going up.

He should not have gone through the red light but it doesn't look like the barrier was doing what it should either.

46 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

Even coffee shops aren't safe anymore, when will they invade your home.......

As soon as you get something connected to the internet brought into it.