Need Advice: Starve to Death on the Street or Go to Jail?

[donnacha]

On 5/16/2019 at 3:33 PM, joe234234 said:

Do they give food to you in jail?

Yes. Unfortunately, they also give you HIV.
 
 

On 5/16/2019 at 3:33 PM, joe234234 said:

I'm a very capable with computers, but can't seem to find online work now.

As some people seem to be taking the OP at face value, I should point out that it is 100%, absolutely, without doubt, a troll post, designed to get all the bitter unskilled older guys ranting about "digital gonads" or "digital gypos" etc.

Even someone who is not "capable with computers" can immediately earn money online. It might not be much, but getting enough money for food and digs is not an issue.

This guy is claiming that, as an American, as a native English-speaker, he is unable to pick up work writing marketing articles? Or talking to Chinese students on Skype?

There is simply no way that anyone calling themselves a digital nomad would not know at least a hundred other digital nomads desperately in need of content - the perennial problem is that they generally don't have the budget to pay the 20 cents and up per word that a good native speaker would charge, but they would all leap at the chance to pay 10 cents per word to someone who is not an Indian. 

The amount of work that the American economy alone is spinning off right now is incredible, I've never seen anything like it, it seems as if every business there is expanding as fast as they can, and that means every girl running her marketing business from Chiang Mia has more work than she has writers.

Even if he never actually gets out and socializes with other DMs, he would surely have seen all the posts by chancers on the Chiang Mai DM and expat Facebook groups offering writing gigs for 5 cents per word, or teaching English over Skype for $10 an hour.

Again, none of this will make your rich, but even morons on their first day in Chiang Mai are inundated with offers of shit work. There is a whole eco-system of scumbags feeding on newbie idiots or don't realize what their education and time is worth.

I have no idea what "capable with computers" means. Does he mean that he knows how to use a Web browser? Or that he can edit photos? Or design logos? Or fix a laptop?
 

 

On 5/16/2019 at 3:33 PM, joe234234 said:

So I've been a digital nomad in CM for a few years.

So, "a few years", presumably enough time to pick up the sort of skills that an experienced DM would find useful. Does this mean he is able to write code?

I mean, if he even knows how to install WordPress plugins he could pick up any amount of "web design" work paying at least $20 a work. Actual coding of almost standard would earn him $40 - $60 per hour.

Living in CM for a few years?

If true he would know that, apart from the most fashionable young women, no-one starves in Chiang Mai, even the soi dogs are well fed.

No-one needs to top up their calories in prison. If you really need food you can get a meal in pretty much any temple. They actually have to throw away half the food that generous Thais give them in the morning. Hell, they will probably even offer you somewhere safe to sleep.

Even if you are too lazy to find a temple, you can approach any street vendor and say "I'm hungry but have no money". The odds are that they will give you something, even if only to have an amazing story about the insane kee nok farang who, for some astonishing reason, is unable to earn 500 baht per day and needs to be fed by poor Thai workers.

 

[Bill97]

Being arrested and taken to court prior to deportation is usually much cheaper than the B20k max at the airport.

And the jail time? They do not arrest you, take you to court and deport you in a day. You are in jail waiting, sometimes for weeks even if you have a ticket.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Happystance]

2 hours ago, donnacha said:

Even someone who is not "capable with computers" can immediately earn money online. It might not be much, but getting enough money for food and digs is not an issue.

This guy is claiming that, as an American, as a native English-speaker, he is unable to pick up work writing marketing articles? Or talking to Chinese students on Skype?

There is simply no way that anyone calling themselves a digital nomad would not know at least a hundred other digital nomads desperately in need of content - the perennial problem is that they generally don't have the budget to pay the 20 cents and up per word that a good native speaker would charge, but they would all leap at the chance to pay 10 cents per word to someone who is not an Indian. 

The amount of work that the American economy alone is spinning off right now is incredible, I've never seen anything like it, it seems as if every business there is expanding as fast as they can, and that means every girl running her marketing business from Chiang Mia has more work than she has writers.

Even if he never actually gets out and socializes with other DMs, he would surely have seen all the posts by chancers on the Chiang Mai DM and expat Facebook groups offering writing gigs for 5 cents per word, or teaching English over Skype for $10 an hour.

Again, none of this will make your rich, but even morons on their first day in Chiang Mai are inundated with offers of shit work. There is a whole eco-system of scumbags feeding on newbie idiots or don't realize what their education and time is worth.

I have no idea what "capable with computers" means. Does he mean that he knows how to use a Web browser? Or that he can edit photos? Or design logos? Or fix a laptop?
 

 

So, "a few years", presumably enough time to pick up the sort of skills that an experienced DM would find useful. Does this mean he is able to write code?

I mean, if he even knows how to install WordPress plugins he could pick up any amount of "web design" work paying at least $20 a work. Actual coding of almost standard would earn him $40 - $60 per hour.
 

Wow. I find optimism in this worthy if not snarky read. 

I spent months in CM and saw a few "cyber work spaces" but had no idea there was such a demand.

Makes me wonder if I could take a stab at it?

 

My capabilities are few but text editing or maybe teaching English online could work?

Years ago I took a couple computer science classes in college, so I am somewhat familiar with editing code in Dreamweaver, not that I want to build websites...

 

Thing is, I don't need much money, just some.

[mania]

4 hours ago, dcnx said:

Actually, you’re the fool. The head of Chiang Mai immigration said digital nomads were welcome in Chiang Mai and did not need a work permit if they are not doing business with Thais. This is why so many are in Chiang Mai.

 

 

Sorry if I struck a digi nomad nerve in you ????

 

My point was not against digi nomads but against fools that cannot see when they are low on money or that their visa

has a limited amount of days...after which they are in an illegal state in a country they do not want to be illegal in.

Food in jail<sic> ????  is going to be the least of his worries
 

Quote

 

Have been overstay now for a few months, because of money problems.

Down to the last few baht.

 

 

Buy hey if you think the head of immigration is all good with expired visa's & no money for food as long as your a digi nomad

then who is also a fool? Please go give your digi brother a hand ????

[donnacha]

1 hour ago, Happystance said:

Thing is, I don't need much money, just some.

 

Yeah, I'm with you on that, but my thing is that I would rather get paid very well for a few hours each morning than be paid poorly for 8 hours work.

I would recommend the shit work to anyone in the OP's supposed situation because, frankly, if anyone was really in that mindset, that is more a mental problem than an actual economic or skills problem.
 

 

1 hour ago, Happystance said:

My capabilities are few but text editing or maybe teaching English online could work?

It is common for Westerners to underestimate or even be completely unaware of the practical advantages of their educations. I am not talking about people who paid attention in school or excelled in college, I am talking about the simple common sense and awareness that you pick up, almost by osmosis, simply by passing through.

You are not aware of the tremendous value in that until you start hiring people who have been through education in other countries and start to realize how utterly broken their systems are.

Thailand is a prime example: a relatively rich country that is churning out college graduates with less understanding of the world than American and European high-schoolers, and almost no intellectual curiosity. Their high opinion of their abilities is matched only by their complete inability to tolerate any form of constructive criticism.

It is not just Thailand, the vast majority of people available to hire online are simply more trouble than they are worth. For instance, try relying on an Indian to tell you, honestly, what their capabilities are before they take your job on, or to deliver the completed work by the promised deadline.

So, forget the humble stuff, your capabilities are excellent and in high demand. If you can perform any task reliably, on time and without the need for supervision, you will be a hot commodity.
 

 

1 hour ago, Happystance said:

Years ago I took a couple computer science classes in college, so I am somewhat familiar with editing code in Dreamweaver, not that I want to build websites...

Try to find something that will sustain your interest, preferably a field in which you can add to your skills - and, therefore, your value - over time.

Teaching can be fun at first, interacting directly with lots of people, but it is genuinely exhausting over time. It also pays poorly, between $10 and $15 per hour, you can expect the $15 if you are a presentable native English-speaker from a country that is recognized as having good English.

Personally, I enjoy writing. All you really have to do is care about what you produce and try to develop a distinctive voice. As you noted, my voice is snarky, so, I specialize in articles that attract attention by being somewhat controversial and, I hope, funny.

Whatever your style, once you start to find clients whose websites benefit from content in that style, you will never be short of customers. I knock out around 1000 words each morning, five days a week.

I spend about two hours writing and one hour either editing or emailing the clients, resulting in one article per weekday.

For context, this post, that I'm writing right now, will be around 900 words and will only take 20 minutes because I'm writing for fun. A thousand words for a client would take around two hours because there would be a certain amount of research and rewriting involved, but at the end of it he has something that will keep increasing his traffic for a long time and I have my €200. 

In theory, I could double my income by doing the same thing again in the afternoon but, honestly, I would hate it. I prefer putting in a solid, creative 3 hours in the morning and then just enjoy the rest of my day. 

That means I only earn €200 per day (I can charge €0.20 per word because I've been doing this for a while), which is €1000 per week. Not a huge amount but it allows me to spend time in pretty much any country, rather than get stuck rotating around cheap countries (that are rapidly becoming expensive countries anyway). Knowing that you are in Thailand by choice, not necessity, is good for your longterm mental health ????

So, my advice would be to avoid the temptation to slum it in a low-paid job, try to find something that will allow you to trade in just part of your day for around €50K per annum, the equivalent of a normal middle class job in the West. 

Not everyone can write entertainingly, or derive enjoyment from the process, so, a better bet for most people is something IT-related. I understand your reluctance to do Web design, but there are so many areas in which people need and will pay for competent help.

You just have to find a niche you enjoy. The bonus of IT is that you keep learning and probably get more out of each job than your clients do. You can keep adding to your value in a way that, beyond a certain point, writers cannot.

Maybe start with online teaching, just to get your feet wet, and then move on to more interesting stuff when you begin to get bored.

Whatever you do, don't make the rookie mistake of undervaluing yourself. Life is expensive. You should be too.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Maybe you should go outside from time to time. You will see many monks with a lot of food. And as far as I know they share the food with people in need. Just ask them.

[JimmyJ]

18 hours ago, Rama said:

hmmm...digital nomad (should be more than familiar w internet), in thailand for years (new tv user), unfamiliar w how to leave w overstay...

Plus:

 

Doesn't use a VPN.

(Any doubts I had were allayed when I learned this in Post #4).

 

Was a DN but lost his job?

 

Unaware of the Facebook group one poster mentioned, plus all the info which donnacha has provided in his excellent posts. Yet claims he's been here as a DN for years.

 

 

[Just Weird]

6 hours ago, Bill97 said:

And the jail time? They do not arrest you, take you to court and deport you in a day. You are in jail waiting, sometimes for weeks even if you have a ticket.

My comment was about the expense that another poster claimed was higher if arrested, jail time did not come into it. 

[watcharacters]

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

They will give you food and a bed in any temple if you ask.

 

Do they check for a current  immigration stamp in you passport?

 

 

[Vacuum]

16 hours ago, nausea said:

Troll, no-one starves in Thailand, not even the soi dogs.

Correct, temples are available for sleep and food.

[Trujillo]

So, you were working illegally and overstaying your visa. 

Now you want some tips on how to restart your illegal activities and how to circumvent the penalties for overstaying. 

According to ThaiVisa rules: 

 

3) You will not post about activities or links to websites containing such material that are illegal in Thailand. This includes but is not limited to: gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing, file sharing of pirated material, pyramid schemes, etc. Discussion of the above is permitted only as news items, but never as a "how to" topic.

 

Personally, having lived in foreign countries for 34 years now, and having followed all the rules for work and visa, I have zero tolerance for anyone who is either too stupid to understand their responsibilities or who flouts the law. 

 

Take your medicine and start over somewhere you can try to game the system again; just not here. 

[XenZen]

On 5/17/2019 at 4:02 AM, mania said:

Here a perfect example of why Thailand want foreigners to now lock up XXX amount of Baht & next to have health insurance.

 

Because fools like this exist

it is easy to call someone a fool and laugh at their poor choices, horrible existence, and mock them for even being alive.  i am sure many wish he dies, has the worst life ever, gets arrested for 100 years and goes to h.ll for the end of eternity.  i wish him the best, and i wish him strength and support in a difficult time.  but that's how i roll.  

[Trujillo]

"i wish him the best, and i wish him strength and support in a difficult time."

 

He's a criminal.

Sure, not a murderer or something, but he has broken the laws here and does not deserve any sympathy or pity. Remember, this was all his own doing -- no one forced this upon him nor was this an "act of God." 

He broke Thailand's labor law and overstayed his visa. What? You "wish him the best"? of what? Cellmate? 

[mikey88]

You need to contact your family and humble yourself I’d say.

[JulieM]

Guys, you may have missed the post above but the OP is a troll. This is not a real person with a real problem.

[EricTh]

I think if immigration catch up with you, the penalty will be heavier so it's better to surrender yourself and ask your family to send some money over for the air ticket and penalty.

 

There will also be a ban for x years from coming back to Thailand.

[Lacessit]

15 hours ago, donnacha said:

 

Yeah, I'm with you on that, but my thing is that I would rather get paid very well for a few hours each morning than be paid poorly for 8 hours work.

I would recommend the shit work to anyone in the OP's supposed situation because, frankly, if anyone was really in that mindset, that is more a mental problem than an actual economic or skills problem.
 

 

It is common for Westerners to underestimate or even be completely unaware of the practical advantages of their educations. I am not talking about people who paid attention in school or excelled in college, I am talking about the simple common sense and awareness that you pick up, almost by osmosis, simply by passing through.

You are not aware of the tremendous value in that until you start hiring people who have been through education in other countries and start to realize how utterly broken their systems are.

Thailand is a prime example: a relatively rich country that is churning out college graduates with less understanding of the world than American and European high-schoolers, and almost no intellectual curiosity. Their high opinion of their abilities is matched only by their complete inability to tolerate any form of constructive criticism.

It is not just Thailand, the vast majority of people available to hire online are simply more trouble than they are worth. For instance, try relying on an Indian to tell you, honestly, what their capabilities are before they take your job on, or to deliver the completed work by the promised deadline.

So, forget the humble stuff, your capabilities are excellent and in high demand. If you can perform any task reliably, on time and without the need for supervision, you will be a hot commodity.
 

 

Try to find something that will sustain your interest, preferably a field in which you can add to your skills - and, therefore, your value - over time.

Teaching can be fun at first, interacting directly with lots of people, but it is genuinely exhausting over time. It also pays poorly, between $10 and $15 per hour, you can expect the $15 if you are a presentable native English-speaker from a country that is recognized as having good English.

Personally, I enjoy writing. All you really have to do is care about what you produce and try to develop a distinctive voice. As you noted, my voice is snarky, so, I specialize in articles that attract attention by being somewhat controversial and, I hope, funny.

Whatever your style, once you start to find clients whose websites benefit from content in that style, you will never be short of customers. I knock out around 1000 words each morning, five days a week.

I spend about two hours writing and one hour either editing or emailing the clients, resulting in one article per weekday.

For context, this post, that I'm writing right now, will be around 900 words and will only take 20 minutes because I'm writing for fun. A thousand words for a client would take around two hours because there would be a certain amount of research and rewriting involved, but at the end of it he has something that will keep increasing his traffic for a long time and I have my €200. 

In theory, I could double my income by doing the same thing again in the afternoon but, honestly, I would hate it. I prefer putting in a solid, creative 3 hours in the morning and then just enjoy the rest of my day. 

That means I only earn €200 per day (I can charge €0.20 per word because I've been doing this for a while), which is €1000 per week. Not a huge amount but it allows me to spend time in pretty much any country, rather than get stuck rotating around cheap countries (that are rapidly becoming expensive countries anyway). Knowing that you are in Thailand by choice, not necessity, is good for your longterm mental health ????

So, my advice would be to avoid the temptation to slum it in a low-paid job, try to find something that will allow you to trade in just part of your day for around €50K per annum, the equivalent of a normal middle class job in the West. 

Not everyone can write entertainingly, or derive enjoyment from the process, so, a better bet for most people is something IT-related. I understand your reluctance to do Web design, but there are so many areas in which people need and will pay for competent help.

You just have to find a niche you enjoy. The bonus of IT is that you keep learning and probably get more out of each job than your clients do. You can keep adding to your value in a way that, beyond a certain point, writers cannot.

Maybe start with online teaching, just to get your feet wet, and then move on to more interesting stuff when you begin to get bored.

Whatever you do, don't make the rookie mistake of undervaluing yourself. Life is expensive. You should be too.

 

My compliments. Having read your post in its entirety, I have to say it's fairly rare to see a post of this length with no mistakes in spelling or punctuation. Whatever the material is that you write, I'm sure it looks and is professional.

[JimmyJ]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

My compliments. Having read your post in its entirety, I have to say it's fairly rare to see a post of this length with no mistakes in spelling or punctuation. Whatever the material is that you write, I'm sure it looks and is professional.

Much more important, rare to see a post with so much good and interesting info.

[JimmyJ]

6 hours ago, JulieM said:

Guys, you may have missed the post above but the OP is a troll. This is not a real person with a real problem.

It's irrelevant for a lot of people here.

They would direct their anger at a wall and lecture it if no other options.

[mania]

22 hours ago, XenZen said:

i wish him the best, and i wish him strength and support in a difficult time.  but that's how i roll.  

Do you just roll verbally? Because this guy whose ignorance your applauding needs $$$

This guy is the reason many others who followed rules of Thailand for decades now have heaps more required of them

 

So........Please support with a PM to him offering your real "support" not just "zen" lip service

[suzannegoh]

To get deported and have someone else pay for your plane ticket home you may need to confess to an unsolved murder or kidnapping in your home country.

[Traubert]

23 hours ago, Trujillo said:

"i wish him the best, and i wish him strength and support in a difficult time."

 

He's a criminal.

Sure, not a murderer or something, but he has broken the laws here and does not deserve any sympathy or pity. Remember, this was all his own doing -- no one forced this upon him nor was this an "act of God." 

He broke Thailand's labor law and overstayed his visa. What? You "wish him the best"? of what? Cellmate? 

Are you aware of how many laws you unwittingly break every day?

 

Sure this feller (if indeed he does exist) seems lackadaisical rather than malicious, but being dim isn't a crime in itself. The rest is pure consequence.

[Andyfez]

On 5/16/2019 at 10:09 PM, robusto said:

If you get to an international airport with a valid onward ticket, you will be fined 20k bath max and be free to go. You'll still have to pay for your ticket if you go to jail first, but then it will be a lot more complicated and expensive to go. Try to get the money somehow instead.

Yep. You'll get food on the plane.

[dotpoom]

On 5/16/2019 at 10:22 PM, darksidedog said:

Not a pleasant predicament, but you do have my sympathy.

I have sent you a PM with a suggestion and a contact for online work.

Turning yourself in when you don't have the 20,000 baht fine and the airline ticket home means you can expect a lengthy stay in Immigration detention until a friend or family comes up with the money.

Once you are back in funds, the situation is still grim, but a whole lot better than going to IDC broke,. You can go to the airport, pay the fine and leave without delay, albeit with a temporary blacklist from returning.

Yes, they do have food there, but if you don't have money to supplement what is on offer, you are again in a dark spot.

Had a few tough times in the past, but worked through it, so wish you the best.

The OP's IP address resolves to Chiang Mai, so he does not appear to be an offshore troll.

Constructive comments, not unwanted judgment please people.

Excellent advice....

[I am More Thai Than You]

On 5/17/2019 at 12:33 AM, joe234234 said:

Do they give food to you in jail?

Yes and it is really delicious! I suggest you go out with a bang and commit as many offenses as possible until caught.

 

[soalbundy]

On 5/17/2019 at 1:56 AM, DingDongLing said:

U have to stay in jail until someone can buy u a ticket I read.  Maybe years?  What happens if farang can not buy a ticket after years?  Anyone know?

 

 

knew a Dutch guy who spent 9 months there, when he finally got his ticket he was in an ICU in Holland, multiple rib fractures and a lung infection that had turned nasty, didn't receive medical treatment in IDC possibly because it was a guard who gave him the problems.

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, mania said:

Do you just roll verbally? Because this guy whose ignorance your applauding needs $$$

This guy is the reason many others who followed rules of Thailand for decades now have heaps more required of them

 

So........Please support with a PM to him offering your real "support" not just "zen" lip service

He believes in Jesus but he doesn't want his job, neither do I

[dotpoom]

On 5/16/2019 at 10:22 PM, darksidedog said:

 

Sorry for above, can't get rid of it.

   Just a little piece of extra advice to the OP. This is coming from my own experience from when I needed all the help in the world I could get to being blessed to be in a position where I could do for others (give back) what was done for me...."Cut the dramatics" (or the BS if you prefer)....ie..."Do you think I should choose to starve to death"?.

  If you are genuine and sinceer...there is no need for it.

  When one has been "down and out" during their lifetime....they can spot a BS ter a mile away.

I am not saying you are...just be straight when asking for help and lose the drama.

[GalaxyMan]

At least in jail you have the chance to get fed. Being dead, well, there are no more chances, are there?

[Ulic]

Go to a temple, they will feed you and give you a matt to sleep on.