A distorted picture of Thailand

[Pilotman]

3 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

With respect, many of you are totally wrong.

 

There ARE expat forums for other countries where there are very few complaints and most posts are positive.

 

If any of you have lived in other countries in the region like Japan or Taiwan or Singapore or even Malaysia and have browsed some of the similar expat forums, you would know this.

 

Not all countries are created equal, and Thailand is far and away one of the most problematic places to live with any sense of stability or connection to the outside world. And the Thailand based forums reflect the situation well with a high percentage of people complaining about this cartoon banana republic.

 

Why can't people understand that countries and cultures are different, sometimes significantly different?

I have lived in Hong, Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.  Taiwan aside, the obsession with money and status in the other two was wearing and destructive. Singapore has its own issues of too rapid expansion and a 'controlling State'. In both HK and SIN, money rules and if you haven't got it, a lot of it, then life can be hard for anyone , expats included. Thailand is an easier place to live for those of more modest means and is far from the Police State that is sometimes depicted on forums. I don't check on the local forums at those other locations, they didn't exist when I lived there, so I can't comment about their tone or content, but I would be surprised if some discontent doesn't surface quite regularly on every social media outlet, in every country. It's what social media seems to be for, apart from posting stupid selfies every five minutes. .

[geronimo]

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I have lived in Hong, Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.  Taiwan aside, the obsession with money and status in the other two was wearing and destructive. Singapore has its own issues of too rapid expansion and a 'controlling State'. In both HK and SIN, money rules and if you haven't got it, a lot of it, then life can be hard for anyone , expats included. Thailand is an easier place to live for those of more modest means and is far from the Police State that is sometimes depicted on forums. I don't check on the local forums at those other locations, they didn't exist when I lived there, so I can't comment about their tone or content, but I would be surprised if some discontent doesn't surface quite regularly on every social media outlet, in every country. It's what social media seems to be for, apart from posting stupid selfies every five minutes. .

TVF serves as a multiple platform,

 

For those who have a genuine question, those who like a bit of good-hearted banter, and those who are looking for something to moan about!

[HLover]

4 minutes ago, geronimo said:

TVF serves as a multiple platform,

 

For those who have a genuine question, those who like a bit of good-hearted banter, and those who are looking for something to moan about!

Well said.????

[geronimo]

2 minutes ago, HLover said:

Well said.????

Oh yes, and those who like to compare the price of baked beans .....

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, geronimo said:

Oh yes, and those who like to compare the price of baked beans .....

or the relative merits of Vegemite and Marmite. 

[geronimo]

1 minute ago, Pilotman said:

or the relative merits of Vegemite and Marmite. 

But of course, the most popular threads are the ones that point out the pound's dismal fall into the abyss!!

That's what you get for allowing children to meddle in politics!!!!

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, sniggie said:

Sorry about this, mate!  How would you feel if you were watching your country self-destruct on a daily basis? It's hard to keep one's pecker up in the face of such adversity. And it isn't so much the French being World Champions that got to us but the fact that our team was dumped out of the competition by a team from a pretend country with the population of a small market town.

 

 

The Brits can comfort themselves knowing that they are world champion in... cricket! 

 

Great Britain is a former empire who enjoyed a last hurrah during a transition period, partly thanks to its "special relationship" with its big US brother. 

 

Now that the latter is itself declining, fast, the UK has no support and will, at some point, join other former empires such as Egypt or Greece. 

 

The UK is not alone in its predicament, France, Spain and others are following the exact same path... just a bit slower because they still have their own big brother, Germany, but not for long... 

[geronimo]

2 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

The Brits can comfort themselves knowing that they are world champion in... cricket! 

 

Great Britain is a former empire who enjoyed a last hurrah during a transition period, partly thanks to its "special relationship" with its big US brother. 

 

Now that the latter is itself declining, fast, the UK has no support and will, at some point, join other former empires such as Egypt or Greece. 

 

The UK is not alone in its predicament, France, Spain and others are following the exact same path... just a bit slower because they still have their own big brother, Germany, but not for long... 

The UK and the US are in a desperate race to see who can xxxx up first.

 

Sadly, the Americans have a trump card up their sleeve ????????????

Edited August 11, 2019 by geronimo

[geronimo]

I recall when I first left Great Britain, we were on a ferry and I pointed out the mist hanging over the white cliffs, and asked one of the crew if it was due to the cold air rising, he shook his head and said it's a cloud of negativity and its been there for decades!

[Denim]

15 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

but don't worry someone will be along to tell me I got AIDS

 

Nah.....that's Herpes you're looking at.

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, Victornoir said:

..first minister who makes the entire world laugh..

 

And yet he is very good at playing Scrabble... 

 

 

[RoadWarrior371]

1 hour ago, geronimo said:

The UK and the US are in a desperate race to see who can xxxx up first.

 

Sadly, the Americans have a trump card up their sleeve ????????????

Better check your facts, Tonto.   US Economy is booming, everyone including me is collecting barrels of money.  Big risk on the horizon is helping the ailing 2nd tier countries with their negative interest rate environments, and trying to reign in China from swooping in and picking up all the pieces.  ????

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

Better check your facts, Tonto.   US Economy is booming, everyone including me is collecting barrels of money.  Big risk on the horizon is helping the ailing 2nd tier countries with their negative interest rate environments, and trying to reign in China from swooping in and picking up all the pieces.  ????

Maybe you could help your fellow Americans pay off their trillions of dollars of debt with your barrels of money. 

 

You know the saying about an economic boom brought about by easy credit... it doesn't end well... 

 

[sniggie]

4 hours ago, Victornoir said:

..first minister who makes the entire world laugh..

But do not take my message too seriously, I was trying to laugh a little.

Your country is having a bad time now, but it will bounce back, as always, and maybe sooner than one think.

 

Got it now! You are so right.

[473geo]

Turning a thread into a pointless political discussion where the individual has no means to implement change is the height of the moaning class on Tvisa.....

 

I still work in the UK life is good, I will accept and adopt to change as it comes, same as I do in Thailand, where when I am there life is a little better, with my family around me.

 

[Tagged]

7 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I went to Terminal 21 in Pattaya yesterday for the first time. Not knowing Pattaya real well I wished all maps used the same names for streets. South Pattaya Rd = Pattaya tai, Central Pattaya Rd = Pattaya Klang and North Pattaya Rd = Pattaya Nua…. WHY?? Ate at the Shabu place, walked around, it's neat there for the restaurants. Walked thru the food court.....Amazing....

 

Today we're going to the waterslide in Pattaya...the old one cause it's pretty neat and it's cheap. The other waterslides run 800bht each, extra for chairs in shade, can't bring outside food and drinks in.....Yikes. I can afford it but it's hard to justify spending that kind of money.

 

Let's see....Well hope it doesn't rain and traffic is light driving to waterslides....see you guys

I almost jumped outside the old one at Pattaya Tower. Dangerous speed and dropp on that one. 

[WalkingOrders]

I will sum it up. I'm chilling in my awesome pad with my lovely wife half my age whom I love, and she treats me like a king. I keep her wallet full, and treat her like a queen. Immigration is zero hastle for me, and honestly I hardly notice the few thousand baht I am down a month from the exchange rate...life is frikking awesome... Thais treat me great, only a few foreigners out here....last stop on the train...greater Bangkok. Sorry to dissapoint....

[madmen]

After spending a few hour's on TV l often look out the window to see if the sky is falling. Any negative news and the bashing runs for 200 Post's. Positive news is bashed even harder

A few imbecile posters are comparing the tm30 enforcemeto to Hitler's persecution of the jews. Sick!

 

[phycokiller]

it is a police state. it doesnt really effect tourists much but if you have any empathy its sickening to watch grown men stealing from old folks with no money who are just trying to make a living. its not going to stop me visiting or even living there, but it cant be denied. Im living in cambodia at the moment, not because of anything to do with the police, and it may be a police sate in its own way, but seeing police chasing old people to steal from them and strutting round with their silly hats is not something I miss

Edited August 11, 2019 by phycokiller

[phycokiller]

calling them police is a modern western convention, back in the days of feudalism when countries were ruled by (deleted) they were known by there real title which is tax collectors

[Mikisteel]

On 8/11/2019 at 7:31 AM, EVENKEEL said:

I went to Terminal 21 in Pattaya yesterday for the first time. Not knowing Pattaya real well I wished all maps used the same names for streets. South Pattaya Rd = Pattaya tai, Central Pattaya Rd = Pattaya Klang and North Pattaya Rd = Pattaya Nua…. WHY?? Ate at the Shabu place, walked around, it's neat there for the restaurants. Walked thru the food court.....Amazing....

 

Today we're going to the waterslide in Pattaya...the old one cause it's pretty neat and it's cheap. The other waterslides run 800bht each, extra for chairs in shade, can't bring outside food and drinks in.....Yikes. I can afford it but it's hard to justify spending that kind of money.

 

Let's see....Well hope it doesn't rain and traffic is light driving to waterslides....see you guys

Tai = south, maybe try switching between languages verbally or digitally. How one can let this affect them is beyond me.

 

 

[geronimo]

21 hours ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

Better check your facts, Tonto.   US Economy is booming, everyone including me is collecting barrels of money.  Big risk on the horizon is helping the ailing 2nd tier countries with their negative interest rate environments, and trying to reign in China from swooping in and picking up all the pieces.  ????

well. Trumpie is doing his best to derail ya!!!!!

[dotpoom]

On 8/10/2019 at 6:12 PM, Brunolem said:

Having said that, for a new TV reader, it may seem that Thailand is some kind of hellish country for foreigners, so much so that the latter are leaving it in droves, to return where they came from, or to go search for greener (red-er?) pastures in communist Vietnam or Laos, or anywhere else. 

  To say the latter are "leaving it in droves"...sugests you are referring to Farangs who have already been resident here for some while....I agree in principle with your theory but those, who like myself, have been living here for many years know the true situation and can easily spot the "drama queens" on here...who are never happy unless they have something to moan about.

[Colabamumbai]

10 years ago there were a lot less whiners trying to comment. 

Edited August 12, 2019 by Colabamumbai
Spelling

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

10 years ago there were a lot less whiners trying to comment. 

I seem to recall you whining a fair bit when you accidentally married (got engaged?) that ladyboy while thinking it was a real woman.

Or has my advancing years got that wrong?

Edited August 12, 2019 by BritManToo

[Bundooman]

On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 6:28 PM, NCC1701A said:

this is true on all forums. people don't start topics like "my day was perfect" or "i had a great time today." 

when people have a bad experience they want to share it with others, to vent or just talk to others with the same experience.

i just got back from Pattaya. i had a great time. like a unbelievably good time.

 

but don't worry someone will be along to tell me I got AIDS. 

 

Hopefully, not the woman you were with.

[bkk6060]

On 8/10/2019 at 6:28 PM, NCC1701A said:

 

i just got back from Pattaya. i had a great time. like a unbelievably good time.

 

but don't worry someone will be along to tell me I got AIDS. 

 

Super.  

I really enjoy hearing that someone had a good time in fact wish you would post about it.

But, I get it.

I live here and truly cannot think of many days that have been horrible.

Crashing my motorbike several months ago was a horrible day.

But, It was definitely not this morning when one of my 20 year old regulars left my room.

So, taking the good with the bad is just dealing with life where ever one may be.

No place is perfect but being here suits me just fine could truly careless about any of the immigration stuff it is just a necessity like paying a utility bill in my book.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2019 by bkk6060

[TKDfella]

Well Brunolem, by your post then, it's gonna be a great day when I visit the forum and TV says 'To all members, we are sorry to announce that not enough expats have posted problems so we are shutting down.'

But I will ponder and ask, is that is due to; a) 99% of expats are now very happy and have no complaints; b) 99% of expats have left and gone to live elsewhere; c) 99% are now in prison because they complained to much. ????????

[Tagged]

2 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

Well Brunolem, by your post then, it's gonna be a great day when I visit the forum and TV says 'To all members, we are sorry to announce that not enough expats have posted problems so we are shutting down.'

But I will ponder and ask, is that is due to; a) 99% of expats are now very happy and have no complaints; b) 99% of expats have left and gone to live elsewhere; c) 99% are now in prison because they complained to much. ????????

99% just realized life is better without TV 

 

 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Tagged said:

99% just realized life is better without TV 

Forgot the other option,

99% of TV members were banned several times then reincarnated (sort of like cats).

But TV counts banned members as members to boost their membership stats.