eriksen

How many criminals have gun permits?

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.

The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society. But, a firearm makes it easier for an armed mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat - it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.

People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.

People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force, watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier, works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.

The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply would not work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation--and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

Marko Kloos

That settles it, next time i go somewhere with bargirls im bringing my watergun and telling them to leave me alone or else.

Seriously thought, that was a well written well thought out post.

Very good... do you write for politicians? you do have a knack... I am not arguing for or against..as I hear both sides..

Ever heard of a knife or baseball bat? Should they outlaw knives and baseball games too? I can stick my ball point pen up your nose and kill you also, should we all switch to crayons instead? If i was a Ninja i could probably kill you with my bare fingers, ehh you get the point.

...

I could kill more people in one day with a truck than a gun can and have more fun doing it.

Do you really want to continue these silly arguments and pointless comparisons...

Obviously, there's a clear difference between guns and the other means you've cited...

When was the last time anyone heard of people getting killed in a drive-by pen in the nose spree?

Guns allow indiscriminate, multiple killing from a distance and give the average unarmed victim has relatively little way to defend themselves... They also allow for the regular and recurring (marginally) unintended killing of total innocent bystanders in all kinds of situations.

At least with knives, baseball bats, ballpoint pens or what have you, the perpetrator is pretty much going to be limited to one victim at a time in close physical proximity... The would-be victim at least has a somewhat better chance of escaping and/or defending themselves. The wounds, if inflicted, are probably less likely to be fatal.

I would have rather taken my chances with a drunk Thai policeman throwing knives, baseball bats or rocks off the overpass in a drunken rage vs. shooting his gun.

And likewise, if the Thai cop who just shot his 6 colleagues had only been armed with an knife, do you think just perhaps a few more of those guys would have survived by overcoming and disarming their psycho colleague before he had a chance slash/stab them all to death... I'd say that's a near certainty.

So let's stop with this foolishness, please...

do you think that criminals would respect police out hear if they were armed with knives.

guns keep the peice. In England people love a drunken brawl. sometimes ends with knives baseball bats broken legs and arms. i bet these things would happen less if they knew that there was a serious prospect that someone could get shot.

Not that anyone should be carrying them but maybe one in a car near by.

personally i would prefer street fights to end with a wipe of blood off the face then down the pub loser buys the drinks.

my point is that people tend to respect people more out hear. I wonder if one reason why a Thai thinks very carefully before they fight another Thai as it could be to the death.

sample .. a thai man fights a Thai man then knocks him down. The thai man who lost ocmes back later and shoots the winner of the fight.

the other sample a thai man fights a thai man knocks him down then shoots him to stop him getting vengance. Maybe this is why the Thais try to clear things before it escualtes which probably is an unlying reason why Thai people are peacefull and try to clear things before they go for the kill

Your right, life in Thailand is very cheap.

I like this post... it rings true... if you really have a beef then its not a game... I feel the same way..

Hey all, thank's for your time and input. Think we were not to clear, apologies. The issue is a freestanding house with chanotte, owned not rented. When the application (a few times now) goes in for a meter, the first time (after looking at everything and "talking" for hours) the result was "transformer not big enough" so it was pointed out that (current power comes from next door who is on the same transformer) that we are all on the same transformer anyways. Some more looking around and talking for ages, then the answer is, no more slots on the transformer.... (dunno what they look at as there is no meter, as for looking at the house side wiring, that is nothing to do with them, JUST WANT A METER OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!!)

2nd application, another official comes out, looks everywhere again and talks for hours... answer is the house cannot have 3 phase..! who the F wants 3 phase? (I hear it's more expensive anyways and the house does not have large power needs) so FINE, single phase, lets do it... then that "disappeared" ...

3rd time cannot be post here, but similar...

much fishiness odour here... need someone at a higher level to make this happen.

Yes, the average farang user we averaged out is about 3.6 Baht/unit and yes this house is paying about 7/unit and up. First Bill was 8600Baht!

So the gentleman with the 4-5k cost of the new meter count your lucky stars! By the way, if a temp power and normal power is charged at different rates then perhaps they have different meters... yeah I know, they could just change their math.. lol...

Thanks to all.

If you are the owner of the house and the house has its own address, then you should be able to get a meter. I agree that something looks fishy.

eriksen is being charged 7.5 Baht per unit, IMHO a little more than 'some profit'

Here in Bangkok my home's monthly electric bill "per KiloWattHour" averages out to 4 baht per KWH with the VAT, acct fee, adjustments, etc., added in. The account is in my Thai wife's name, billed directly to our home address....no middle man. Our December bill was 5,547.44 baht for 1,386KWH which equates to 4 baht/KWH. Of course our monthly usage varies month to month, sometimes to around 2,000 KWH during the summer, but after doing the math, the cost per KWH has always averaged out to very, very close to 4 baht/KWH. Yes, we make good usage of air con's day and night, both downstairs and upstairs.

Now that total cost is based somewhat on how that 1,386KWH total usage fell among the KWH residential rate bands of 1-150KWH, 151-400KWH, and over 400KWH.

On the Dec bill 414.42 baht was in the 1-150KWH band (2.76B/KHW) , 934.05 baht in the 151-400 band (3.74B/KWH), and 3,880.99 baht in the over 400KWH band (3.93B/KWH)....that all adds up to 5,229.46 baht. Add in the 7% VAT of 362.92 baht, an acct fee of 38.22 baht, and a price of energy adjustment (Ft) of a negative 83.16 baht and that all adds up to 5,547.44 baht for 1,386KWH usage or 4 baht/KWH.

At the current electricity tariffs a person who uses a moderate to a lot of electricity could use the rule of thumb of 4 baht per KWH hour which includes tax, fees, etc.; now if you use very little electricity (no air con's) and can stay below 150KW usage per month, a person could use a rule of thumb of 3 baht per KWH. And keep in mind, this assumes your are billed directly from the electric company; not a middleman like your landlord who may add in some profit.

Hey all, thank's for your time and input. Think we were not to clear, apologies. The issue is a freestanding house with chanotte, owned not rented. When the application (a few times now) goes in for a meter, the first time (after looking at everything and "talking" for hours) the result was "transformer not big enough" so it was pointed out that (current power comes from next door who is on the same transformer) that we are all on the same transformer anyways. Some more looking around and talking for ages, then the answer is, no more slots on the transformer.... (dunno what they look at as there is no meter, as for looking at the house side wiring, that is nothing to do with them, JUST WANT A METER OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!!)

2nd application, another official comes out, looks everywhere again and talks for hours... answer is the house cannot have 3 phase..! who the F wants 3 phase? (I hear it's more expensive anyways and the house does not have large power needs) so FINE, single phase, lets do it... then that "disappeared" ...

3rd time cannot be post here, but similar...

much fishiness odour here... need someone at a higher level to make this happen.

Yes, the average farang user we averaged out is about 3.6 Baht/unit and yes this house is paying about 7/unit and up. First Bill was 8600Baht!

So the gentleman with the 4-5k cost of the new meter count your lucky stars! By the way, if a temp power and normal power is charged at different rates then perhaps they have different meters... yeah I know, they could just change their math.. lol...

Thanks to all.

Hey all,

Having lived here in Phuket for some years and meeting people I see some landlords "resell their utilities" this for some borders on criminal behavior most feel.

I have seen some charge other double! wow, what a great business unless your tenants beat you up! lol. Well , it is not funny really. Two of my good friends have their own free standing houses with power (electric) supplied from the developer at excessive rates.. (3600THB - 12000THB)running minimal farang A/C (3 hours day) (all night set to low) but when I stay at friends places who have their own government meter they do the same and pay 800 THB/month... <deleted>???

Then, when they apply for their own meter get all sorts of excuses like.. "no slots on the transformer available" then next application, "can only do single phase (currently 3 phase for obvious reasons if you are an engineer type) (why do Thai's presume you need 3 phase because you have that now? ok, that is another topic lol) so single phase fine but then that offer also vanished... SOMETHING VERY FISHY GOING ON!

so

to all you great people out there with vast years of experiences and contacts... how can they simply get their own meters? Easy you say? what I feel is happening here is tea money, and how to override the pleb in charge.. there must be a way (more tea money fine, they are fed up) This street is only 30% built on so all new houses will have meter needs... it is a crock... sounds funny but I tell you , we are talking a lot of markup (increase) it is ridiculous..

please help if you can... we will bless and praise you every day...

Thanks.

Why are so many posters here trying to show how clever they are? Just give us the specifics of any property that you have bought or sold in the recent past. Let the facts speak for how clever you are in your deals.

Mjo, give us the facts of your BKK townhouse purchase -- location, age, size, price paid, etc. No one is going to be able to track you down as to your identity or deal. No need to state how clever you are; we readers can figure that out all by ourselves.

And no need to analyze the market or give us your conclusions. What we are trying to do with this thread is to build up some real transactions data so that each reader can come to his or her own conclusions. How difficult is that to understand?

agreed, just state the facts..

sure u can find good buys in the jungle... but capital gains is great.. I made more money than I could work for doing this..

seaviews, blah blah.... I dont care for it, it seems expensive... but I get the capital gains you will not get in the non busy areas..

not about the money? well depends if you have/get enough...

very good topic... why spoil it with a bunch of blah blah intelectual BLAH...

there are many of us invested in this field so if u dont know then leave us alone..

nice to meet the rest of u real guys.. lots of money in this..

It gives us something to do when we aren't getting rubber.

Yes it's a social forum not really a technical one, meaning it is supposed to be fun and informative. Jim

Fair enough.. yes it is a good topic.. I know a few people, Thais and Farangs into this and will check it out..

for now let me state this, it seems the price swings are vast.. one month 50 then the next 150.. wow... I asked

the GF why they cannot sore it and then sell at a better price.. they tell me for one they need a sheet making machine..

and secure storage... hmm, sounds simple.. I guess they live day to day.. but doing the math it's intereresting..

So do you guys have any info on :

1/ Where to see true live/updated prices for rubber

2/ Details on the sheet making machine

3/ What else is involved

Thanks to all and happy rubber selling..

Agree with most and ad my 10 Satang worth:

Most men are "caught" ie pressured into marriage and thus are up for some action.... simple...

HELP PLEASE

you will laugh but this situation is true!!

A few of us have houses, and many have apartments.. all going through a meter and then subdivided by the owner..

AND CHARGED AT AROUND 7.5 THB/unit..... how does that rock you? we estimate the cost at 3.5THB unit...

and for you that don't think in the math world... the biggest invoice has been over 8000 THB for one month.. and others in a 2 bed condo over 12000 THB/month... for only 2 people...

so we simply want our own goverment meters... how to do?

the local phuket town official simply says there are not slot left on the local transformer.. yeah right... (new transformer more than 100 000 THB) is he getting paid off? what do you think? (we would love to see him fires/charged/go to jail,

we need to go higher... you cant tell me if a thai made a house they would say this..

anyone have any knowlage in this field would be GREATLY APPRECIATED..

very good topic... why spoil it with a bunch of blah blah intelectual BLAH...

there are many of us invested in this field so if u dont know then leave us alone..

nice to meet the rest of u real guys.. lots of money in this..

How would anybody know in advance unless they were a Thai BiB?

Yes quite impeccable writing for someone in such distress, and so much detail from somone suffering head trauma.

Beat the hell out of him for absolutely no reason eh? I don't think so.

The guy is a maniac, didn't understand Thai mob mentality and was given a flogging. I also doubt they were wanting reparation payment for nothing. Perhaps if we wait a few more days we'll get the real story.

Not sure about the Thai mob bit - I didn't think it was Thais he was fighting with.

He does seem to have changed his mind from his alleged previous facebook post quoted in the other topic:

"On a positive note, I managed to break a few orbital bones, at least a couple jaws, and (left) some unconscious bodies laying on the ground before I blacked out from loss of blood and apparently had to be resuscitated in the ambulance. So, how was your weekend?"

as he is now claiming "All of my attackers remained standing in the bar unharmed"

Yes, thats the first thing I noticed.. no need to be sherlock..

Well, we now know which airline most Germans will use in the future...

totster

yes, I noticed Germans seem to be big fans...

My 10c

Sure it's most likely true about his anger management, having said that, but how often do you see

a group of "troublemakers" wanting to pick on / test someone? A big friend of mine used to often get picked

on so some here could prove themselfs, I used to bodybuild and often have armwrestling heroes approach me

and when declined start to get nasty.. If your a bit different its a chickenpen out there indeed..

Surely everybody has heard of or at least suspects Thai prisons are not much fun either.. I guess they forget

that when on the plonk.. and what about getting shot/stabbed properly?.. I shutup now.. blah blah..

TOPS supermarket (Central) sometimes has it, or else Villa supermarket in Chalong should have it..? I also prefer Marmite, which I always keep a good stock of. Plus I keep one jar of the other stuff, in case of emergencies..!

ah u brits... yes vegemite I see in Villa always.. now for a real challenge.. I love PROMITE!!

anyone seen that about??

Yeah, what is it with the 2nd hand sales here? It's nuts.. Peng mak mak..

It depends if there is a leak.... common sense..

the trick is.. to fix the leak.. not be charged for a regas every month...

You spelled organized wrong. Also its not a word most people would associate with Thai traffic. Not meaning to be pedantic lol, but if the bikes did stay in their lanes and accelerated as you imply and as per the road design, yes it could work, however they don't and they end up using the entire width of the road and all lanes because "Everyone of them wants to be first". Fundamental problem right there.

Sorry for english being my 4th language, but you obviously still got it

red lights are designed for bikes to use the full width of the road, that is how it is organised here. Take a look next time you are in one, its not in english, its written in Thai as we are in Thailand

bikes do not very often have designated lanes except on roads with speedlimit above 80kmh. Very few such in Phuket.

The 1979 road act with later updates does not say bikes must stay in left lane either. It says slow vehicles must. So when an ordinary car like a Vigo, Fortuner or Vios stops for redlight in right lane, they are wrong, as most bikes are much faster off at green. One of the reasons why the bike boxes ahead of cars STOP lines was introduced a few years ago

80 % of cars sold in Thailand care unable to accelearate on par with my local runaround scoot, a simple Honda PCX 125cc

Not 1% can accelerate on par with my Ninja.

So move over please

well is that what is says? you know, I actually like that.. SLOW go left... yes, even if u are in the latest sportscar, u might be on a slow drive..

I guess it's then just comes down to something else then... , for the life of me, if I intend to go slow, then I feel like a complete arse holding up trafic in the right lane..

Don't slow down for idiots when in a car or on a motorbike. Just go around them and keep booting or you may get a water truck up your behind. Better to deal with traffic from 3 sides instead of 4

I know for some it sounds strange.. but i agree.... as it's going to end up being your fault/farang pay.... or worse... water truck full/cement truck full

smashing your little Jazz and killing you.

I can just imagine the strict training and licencing for heavy trucks here... like in Samui testing centre whilst waiting and watching with amusment the driving tests.. a truck comes for the test... fails.. then drives home to possibly come back another day... Whatthe?

there's bad drivers everywhere, i don't think phuket is worse then any where else i've lived

Really? wheres that?

Joined 36 minutes ago and newbie pops open a massive can of worms !!!

Which was the thread where one poster says he purposely drives super close to motorbike riders to force them father left? Then it was flamefest.

I just basically got sideswiped while I was running around Nai Harn lagoon, so you needn't be on a bike or in a vehicle to get wiped out by a car here, and yes Tanuki, drivers here are pretty close to the worst, Thais and Fortuner Foreigners alike

There are some pretty stroppy Jazz drivers as well.

Fortuner Farangs.. ha.. yes indeed, driving home one night from the Roxanne bar group area down the hill away from the seaside, there was a Fortuna driving at fast walking speed, at first I am thinking he/she is looking for some location, then it wanders across to the other side of the road, then seeing the fence/ditch/shops then wanders back to the oppisote sid again and again.. I though Geez, never seen it so bad before... I accually consideres driving back to the beach and to chalong the other way... Toot, toot toot, but probably so tanked they could hear me... wow, unbeleivable..

Perhaps people should notify the police next time they see something illegal on the road.

Lol... it all depends on what tea money is involved .....

I drive in Phuket daily. Chalong Circle Warrior etc. Too much driving as of late. One week 2 Patong trips, Big C Central, and this morning Hilton Karon... All from Rawai! I agree that high season is worse, a no brainer. I do also agree that so far this years traffic is worse. Its a combination of many holiday makers, motorbike users and us folks whom get more keyed up with the new hazzards. Plus the tour vans are on the money curve for the year so they are mo agrssive. Look, I posted earlier in this thread about a beater old tuk tuk that wanted to pass me heading out of Patong... The commericial passenger transport people are the problem, they are causing accidents everywhere. Travel from Rawai to Central and back, oyu'll see one. Yesterday a very portly

Russian wearing only a budgie smugler skidded out of contro in the Lotus car park. He traveled 3m with the bike on one leg.. I just drove on. In Patong by the temple ther was a fast bike (aka crotch rocket) turned over with the driver and lady rider in only swim wear. Two solutions are to first control the passenger trade. An op mentioned something about no moving violation stops. Traffic is a moving violation. You'll not get anywhere if you emulate the traffic safety video at Land T office.....

I do have to say that control the retal market is most important! No Motorbike lic no rental.. Never happen. Solution for expats. Drive a big truck with alot of power, you'll need it

I have to say sure, the truck feel safe, but when the <deleted> brake hard meters from the front/or pull out and I have to slam on the brakes.. like just the other day in the modern pickup.. I was appalled how bad it slowed down.. my other car is a little sports car and I estimate it can slow down at more than double the pace... and as we all know it's the Farangs fault so I am actually a bit on edge driving the pickup thesedays..