"Complaining" about Thai immigration issues while still loving Thailand

[PatOngo]

On 1/14/2020 at 2:22 PM, Matzzon said:

It was probably so boring where they went too, that they have to spend all their time complaining about the things no longer existing in their life. It can also be a call for help, because they´ve realized their mistake.

Some just spend their time complaining about the complainers!

[ThomasThBKK]

You guys are acting as if only expats complain, the whole country is complaining about the <deleted> going on here, politically, corruption, air quality, no changes, bad education - the whole package.

Some stuff is certainly our own fault, like not meeting certain visa requirements but some other stuff totally deserved to be complained about, and that daily.

If you don't like it, easy, leave the forum - way easier than leaving a country where people have family. Just press the little x button in your browser.

Follow your own advice, it's so easy.

 

 

 

 

[473geo]

I am surprised how many cannot understand the difference between complaining about a birth country you live in

and

Moaning about a country you choose to make your home

[amykat]

11 hours ago, gamini said:

I think most of the moaning here is about immigration. They don't have the financial requirements to stay here. They are not genuine tourists and they have been using all sorts of loopholes in the past to continue staying here. They now complain  all the time because immigration is closing the loopholes and enforcing the law. Many of them don't want to go back to their own country because they're so ugly and unattractive that they could never find a decent looking girl where they come from. And most of them have no idea about the situation in other countries because they never been anywhere else except Thailand.

 

And you are here because you are a wealthy, young, sexy, Cary Grant type right??

[amykat]

6 hours ago, Traubert said:

Complaints about immigration is just tilting at windmills. Ten complaints a day is just competitive tilting at windmills.

 

Complaints about TAT and their figures is nobodies affair but TATs. It affects expats not one jot.

 

Complaints about Chinese and Indian tourists are largely fiction. They are people too. Some of the things said on here would result in arrest in your own countries.

 

Complaints about Thai drivers are fruitless. The rural community is too big to control.

 

Complaints about RTP are contradictory and border on slander in some cases. Just pray they don't become efficient overnight.

 

Complaints about air quality, welcome to Asia.

 

I think I've covered 90% of the daily input on TV and that's the whole point. In the Thailand section day after day after day it's the same stuff from the same posters. If you try to explain, give them a nudge. ease their way along the path, you're an 'apologist.'

 

Now Mr Puchiyank says that nobody had better tell him to go home (although he has) or they get a stern telling off. So do us apologists get the same freedom? Is it any less rude or confrontational to be branded an 'apologist?' What are we apologising for? Well, see, it's Thai apologist, we're apologising for Thailand.

 

Because Thailand is always wrong.

I’m sorry ...do you need a tissue???

[mike787]

8 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Paying more for poorer quality doesn't always sit well.

YEP!!!!  You are RIGHT!  Price is what you pay, value is what you get and it does not add up anymore in thailand.  Love the country, but there are ONLY 2 things i hate:  Immigration is worse than waterboarding and the drivers = death.  Otherwise, i love it here.  Many have noticed what you describe.  SO SAD.  I and many agree...

[1FinickyOne]

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

who actively oppose dissent with the "like it or get out" trope

First, my question would be, how many of the people upset about Thailand and visas are people who never legitimately qualified for the visa in the first place... but were here exploiting loopholes in the law and lying about their income. The people I know never really talk much about visas because they probably easily qualify and it is not an issue for them... for me, nothing much has changed in 20 years, same thing year after year...

 

I have never said 'if you don't like it get out' but I have sure thought it when reading some TVF posts... it is not so much about the right to complain but that it gets boring and pointless... negativity is never much fun to be around. 

 

If you went to the same restaurant for breakfast every day and there was a guy in there who complained about the food, the ambiance, the prices, who insulted the staff, called everyone stupid and then complained about the staff not smiling and being friendly, while most others there have no problems - - well, you might wonder, why don't you find someplace else... and you might also wonder if this person is in a 150 baht per meal restaurant on a 50 baht budget and that is the root of his complaints... if for whatever reason you are in the wrong place, and the shoe does not fit comfortably, you get a better fitting shoe, you don't blame the shoe for not fitting. 

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, gearbox said:

If I follow your logic there would be heaps of retirees applying now for UK retirement visas. How many foreigners have retired there?

 

Does the UK have retirement visas?

[Matzzon]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Some just spend their time complaining about the complainers!

Yeah, right! Others spend their time trying to come up with quick one liners with no meaning.

[Matzzon]

8 hours ago, Straight8 said:

Love is almost all gone.. slipping day by day

What? Is you GF cheating on you, and you´re finally fed up with it?

[PatOngo]

14 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Yeah, right! Others spend their time trying to come up with quick one liners with no meaning.

People seem to grasp what's being said....by the numbers! 

[Matzzon]

Just now, PatOngo said:

People seem to grasp what's being said....by the numbers! 

Another one. Great, keep em coming. 

[PatOngo]

35 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Another one. Great, keep em coming. 

Great one liner, no need to waste words!

[MadMuhammad]

On 1/14/2020 at 11:25 AM, BritManToo said:

It's a form of denial, "If I love Thailand, Thailand will love me and treat me well."

You get similar denial from the posters who post, "I'm fat and old, but have found a much younger attractive woman who loves me for myself."

 

Entirely understandable, they don't like the world they live in, so create a fantasy life where everything is perfect. Challenging their fantasy will get you an immediate aggressive rebuttal, probably including personal insults.

I don’t defend Thailand and it’s visa requirements but I also refuse to play the victim and complain about them when they are actually quite easy to comply or bypass. 
The 50+ year old retired guys have far easier options than I do as a long term 42 year old but yet if my visa compliance takes a day total out of my life each year I’d be exaggerating. 
 

I’ve had enough hardship in my life to last many life times. I chose to relocate to Thailand after careful consideration and making myself aware of all the rules and regulations. Playing the victim and/or complaining about an extremely simple  thing like complying to some of the most lax visa requirements in the world seems vacuous and pointless to me.
Others are more than welcome to do it but as we have absolutely zero power to have affect on it changing it’s a wasted effort.
 

Far too many people can’t politely handle their opinion being challenged, this forum is the biggest glaring example of that, and react with pure venom if anyone does. It’s a sad blight in society that people can’t interact with Emotional control and respect for others opinions 

[Tracyb]

I understand that many folks have their reasons for criticizing the efficiency of various Immigration officers.  However, I just have to say that during my recent trips to CM immigration I have seen more than a few “customers” act out in ways that seemed imperious, confrontational, unreasonable, and just plain ugly, not to mention their mode of dress.  No wonder the officers who have to put up with this type of behavior on a daily basis strike back from time to time.  Just sayin’.

[BritManToo]

44 minutes ago, MadMuhammad said:

I’ve had enough hardship in my life to last many life times. I chose to relocate to Thailand after careful consideration and making myself aware of all the rules and regulations. Playing the victim and/or complaining about an extremely simple  thing like complying to some of the most lax visa requirements in the world seems vacuous and pointless to me.
Others are more than welcome to do it but as we have absolutely zero power to have affect on it changing it’s a wasted effort.

The rules changed after I came here, I could buy a 1 year VISA for being over 50 for 120 pounds from the consulate in the UK.

Hardly the most lax in the world, I can stay in Cambodia for $300/year, no 90 day reporting, no income, no TM30, no home visits. Philippines even easier.

You're just being an apologist. 

 

Salerno now on ignore.

Edited January 18, 2020 by BritManToo

[MadMuhammad]

22 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The rules changed after I came here, I could buy a 1 year VISA for being over 50 for 120 pounds from the consulate in the UK.

Hardly the most lax in the world, I can stay in Cambodia for $300/year, no 90 day reporting, no income, no TM30, no home visits. Philippines even easier.

You're just being an apologist. 

 

Salerno now on ignore.

I have a differing opinion so I’m an apologist. Ok....

[bkk6060]

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

What wrong with that advice?... Answer: The lack of imagination involved with suggesting such advice... 

Just as the lack of imagination and simple common sense keep those complaining.

Edited January 18, 2020 by bkk6060

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Does the UK have retirement visas?

It has, or it used to have...had something in the name like "independent means"

[ThomasThBKK]

2 hours ago, gearbox said:

It has, or it used to have...had something in the name like "independent means"

That's not really a retirement visa, they basically force you to live there and you must already have vast amounts of connections to the country according to the UK govs website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extend-your-stay-as-a-retired-person-of-independent-means/extend-your-stay-as-a-retired-person-of-independent-means

 

This is also NO LONGER available, the UK doesn't like to give, they only take:

 

Quote

For those scanning the globe for an overseas retirement destination, the UK might seem like a perfect landing spot. However, at present, there is no retirement visa for non-EU citizens to move to the UK.

In the past, there was a program called the visa for “Retired Persons of Independent Means,” which granted expats residency in the country if they could prove a minimum disposable income of at least £25,000 without working in Britain. This program was scrapped a few years back, and no new option has been offered in its place.

Therefore, for people from outside of the EU (and maybe not even EU citizens, post-Brexit) to retire in the UK, they will have to qualify for one of the investment visa programs – which come with a significantly higher price tag.

Note: Those who qualified and obtained the UK retirement visa before it became discontinued, are still able to renew it and remain in the country for the time being

https://www.escapeartist.com/greatbritain/2017/10/26/visa-options-uk/

 

[Matzzon]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

People seem to grasp what's being said....by the numbers! 

Yeah that´s what happens when you always try to fit in and please everyone with a one liner to catch likes, instead of using the forum as a discussion board for different opinions.

[1FinickyOne]

5 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Yeah, right! Others spend their time trying to come up with quick one liners with no meaning.

Yo Rasta Mon - you won on that. 

[1FinickyOne]

3 hours ago, MadMuhammad said:

I have a differing opinion so I’m an apologist. Ok....

Sorry. I guess I am an apologist too... Sorry sorry sorry... 

[URMySunshine]

12 hours ago, 473geo said:

I am surprised how many cannot understand the difference between complaining about a birth country you live in

and

Moaning about a country you choose to make your home

This is the second thread you are moaning about moaning. I'm just saying - not moaning though. And if the moaners were taken away from here TVF advertising would collapse and there would be no forum to moan about moaning at last. Be careful of what you wish for ....????

 

Virtual moan over. 

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, Matzzon said:

Yeah that´s what happens when you always try to fit in and please everyone with a one liner to catch likes, instead of using the forum as a discussion board for different opinions.

Some can convey a point in a few words where others struggle to do it in a paragraph! And believe me, I try to please NO ONE! Hang in there, eventually people may listen to you!

[473geo]

57 minutes ago, URMySunshine said:

This is the second thread you are moaning about moaning. I'm just saying - not moaning though. And if the moaners were taken away from here TVF advertising would collapse and there would be no forum to moan about moaning at last. Be careful of what you wish for ....????

 

Virtual moan over. 

i understand people moan, I don't envisage habits of lifetimes will change anytime soon, so on that point Tvisa will be safe for many years to come ????

 

I am contradicting what I feel is the faux justification, as I reflect on people complaining far too readily about a country they must have understood prior to making a move here

 

I have said previously, pretty sure not many arrived in Thailand to 'fix' the country but rather to enjoy the relaxed style of life without getting too uptight about the non western approach to 'progress'

 

So what happened, party over? Boredom? Isolation? Need to be involved in group activity?

 

I noted a post that suggested rather than have to suffer the moaners why not leave Tvisa?

 

When I am in Thailand I find little inclination to spend any great length of time on Tvisa unless looking for specific information, just as I do not use up much of my time complaining. Just a differing approach to life I guess

 

Thank you for taking the time to follow my posts, perhaps you could aspire to reflect on the content of my comments in your next response

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2020 by 473geo

[Matzzon]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Some can convey a point in a few words where others struggle to do it in a paragraph! And believe me, I try to please NO ONE! Hang in there, eventually people may listen to you!

Yes, you are so good at it, so you made yourself believe in your own illusion. Nevermind, just carry on. Don´t let me disturb.

[BigStar]

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

Every day, numerous folks visit these forums and express frustration with the TM-30, embassy/consulate visa experiences, experiences with IOs at the border or immigration offices, work permit issues, and a variety of other bureaucratic encounters in Thailand.

The confusion throughout this thread stems from conflating mere “whinging” with rational “frustration/opinions” and the understandably different respective responses they invoke. Let’s clarify.

 

Quote

Complaining and whining can be distinguished by the nature of the dissatisfaction and by our motivation for expressing it. Complaining involves voicing fair and legitimate dissatisfactions with the goal of attaining a resolution or remedy. When we voice legitimate dissatisfactions but do so without the goal of attaining a resolution we are merely venting. And when the dissatisfactions we voice are trivial or inconsequential and not worthy of special attention, we are whining.

     --https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201210/the-difference-between-complaining-and-whining

What the “frustration” here is usually missing is any goal of attaining a resolution or remedy for the poster himself. And it's usually over something trivial of the sort we all have to deal with from time to time.

 

We're talking effective remedy. The remedy of changing Thailand isn’t a remedy but a fantasy. No, Thai authorities pay no attention whatsoever to complaints and brilliant solutions given on the forum no matter how many there are. Never have. Ain’t gon’ be no free beer & pussy, no waivers of passport checks, no permanent visa on arrival, no price ceiling of 100 baht on everything. Change will always be a constant. 

Hence to try to justify a whinge by pretending it may make some difference to anything is self-serving nonsense.

 

Whinging over Immigration issues usually arises from the numerous folks’ own failures to

 

• Manage unrealistic expectations: it’s going to be whatever it’s going to be, not what you think it should be;
• Find out in advance all the requirements needed at a particular outpost of bureaucracy;
• Not dwell on irrelevances such as whether they like the requirements and what the requirements should be, if any (ideal would be none, with free beer);
• Meet all the requirements without offering up unnecessary complications;
• Create circumstances for yourself in which meeting the requirements won’t cause undue stress;
• Present respectful appearance and pleasant manners at all times;
• Have a patient, non-judgmental, friendly attitude, and be prepared to occupy themselves contentedly during waiting time;
• Not complain to the IOs about anything unless you have the regulations in hand to make a case. Realize your brilliant “helpful suggestions” aren't in the least useful.

Yet for anyone to (1) point out the means for success, shifting the responsibility for the frustrated folks own happiness to themselves and (2) suggest a known-good course of action proven likely to achieve the elusive happiness is often rewarded with an ungracious, ungrateful response including name calling from you (“sheep,” “useless,” “lazy”) and others (“clowns, “dumb”). 

Hypocritical, innit?

The non-frustrated and more manly members also have the right to express their opinions and frustrations about the whingers as well. We're not allowed to joke much about this protected class, however, despite the amusement at the specter of supposedly grown men reverting to childhood (age related?) and acting like babies. So there's that.
 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

At minimum, they've chosen to come to Thailand out of many possible destinations. In short, they want to be here, so their criticism should be viewed in context. To them, Thailand isn't the revenue service or the Department of Motor Vehicles. Thailand represents a choice.

Part of that viewed context must be where most of these “frustrated” have come to Thailand from, namely from a particular gloomy climate:

 

BRITAIN is a nation of moaners who complain more than 70 times a week each.
 

Researchers found our love of complaining, like Disney dwarf Grumpy and TV’s Victor Meldrew, means we grumble at least 11 times every weekday and 16 times over the weekend.

It also emerged we will already have had three grumbles before we even leave the house in the morning.

 

In fact, Brits complain so much that more than three quarters admit to having a moan about other people moaning or complaining.

     --Grump Britain: This is why we are a nation of moaners
 

And so they still have other choices to handle their problems gracefully and manfully or, if unable to do so, to leave and try to be happy elsewhere. 
 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

At the same time, there are forum regulars who seem to defend everything Thai authorities do and/or criticize every critic (either by pointing out what they've done wrong or questioning their honesty).

The few observers here, mostly non-Brits, blessed with objectivity, rational perspective, and fortitude, are often bashed as defenders of this and that by those who don’t like hearing how they might also bear their burdens with equanimity. A far more accurate and descriptive term than “defenders” for these stalwarts would be rubbish sweepers.

 
Realism spoils the whinge and causes disappointment subsequently vocalized through various emotionally freighted phrases and names. 
 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

One offshoot of this counter-critique is the toxic "if you don't like it, get out" mentality. This is one of the most despicable tropes in contemporary life. Sadly, it crosses continents and cultures.

No, this usually by far the best and only solution for the whinger to abandon his toxic whinging about Thailand and stop spreading around its toxicity. Whinging just begets more whinging and bashing until soon we're left with a Neighborhood Overrun by Puking, Pooping Vultures.  

       
That’s because objectivity, rational argument, and reasonable perspective are totally ineffective against the usual forum whinge. A whinge, however colorfully embroidered with horrific details of the suffering (“had to sign a new paper”), boils down to merely an emotional “me no like” moan. You can’t reason a man out of an opinion he didn’t reason himself into. 

Hence “don’t like it, get out” should probably be the first and perhaps the only reply made to what is obviously just a whinge. Anything more will be a waste of time. 

You see, many of our rational posters sincerely, benevolently would just like to alleviate some of the horrendous suffering continually expressed here on the same old topics. Call it tough love. Being in a constant state of negativity just isn’t good for our members’ health, except for bonding them to other whingers.

Life is stressful, and complaining may be considered by many as an extension of being absolutely normal. However, complaining affects our brains and our physical health negatively. A sense of sadness or melancholy is increased, along with real dissatisfaction with our daily lives.
     --Effectively Stop Complaining in 7 Easy Steps

It’s long been said that complaining is bad for you, and new research from Stanford University has found that it really does shrink your brain.

Researchers concluded that complaining shrinks the hippocampus, which is a part of your brain that is critical to problem solving and intelligent thought. Any damage to the hippocampus is terrifying, especially when you remember that this is the main part of the brain that is affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Complaining also causes your body to release the stress hormone cortisol, which puts you into a fight-or-flight mode. This causes oxygen, blood, and energy to be directed away from everything in your body except for the parts that are immediately essential to survival. Frequent complaining can cause longterm damage to your immune system and leave you susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even strokes.

     --Here’s How Complaining Literally Shrinks Your Brain

 

You see, we obviously got so many of members already running around with their shrunk hippocampi. We got ‘em running to the Health forum constantly with all their ailments mentioned above. Have some mercy on these people, man. Have a heart!

Hence the internet is full of prescriptions about how to stop complaining. Some of us sons of The Greatest Generation don’t find it difficult. But others do, hence our helpful prescriptions for helping them out. 

 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

 

Here is an example from a recent thread on digital nomads:

Quote

16 hours ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

Seems like it went right over your head as well calling them corrupt bastards complaining and whininig , if your not happy with the way things work in the country your let in to , just leave to wherever you came from as it seems that everything is better there . Some people sound like refugees that flee to a country ,get free money, aducation and wellfare and a roof over their heads and then complain about the way they are treated . If your not happy just leave !!! 

Aye, mate, now that’s tellin’ it like it is.???? The thing is, leaving is such an excellent solution to recommend because it’s been proven to work so very well. Our whingers who’ve left have in fact stopped their whinging about Thailand. Now they crow that they’re happy as fleas in a doghouse. They wish they’d left earlier, just as they were probably advised.

 

Well, they didn’t belong in Thailand in the first place. Why? Who knows? Too rigid in their thinking, too culturally bound, too bigoted, too negative, too weak, too skint. They still love to hang out in the forums, however, to gloat, stir the pot, and continue bashing Thailand. Partly it’s just all owing to sour grapes.????

But, point is, it WORKED: they’ve stopped complaining and whinging about Thailand.

 

Presumably they’re now happily posting stuff like Some f**ker's nicked my bins and After 5 years of complaining about the potholes on our road, the council are resurfacing it all. Now everyone is complaining about where they are meant to park for 3 days
And Some <deleted> on the bus is playing their music on loud speaker for us all to enjoy. Over on https://reddit.com/r/britishproblems/. Just as on this forum when living in Thailand!

 

So, to recommend a tried and tested known-good solution is a public service and the only moral thing to do. Our pro-whinge activists should really start suggesting it, too, as it’s in everyone’s interest. Point people more towards those Vietnam-Cambodia-Philippines-UK-USA-Spain-is-wonderful threads. 
 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

How about this, friends: we all have the right to not be happy with aspects of our lives. Being content with life--or content enough not to want to make a change--does not require one to be happy with 100% of that life. Furthermore, we have the right to express those feelings, even if you consider it "complaining and whininig" [sic]. This false dichotomy that you must either accept everything about your life circumstances or "get out" (of a country, a job, a relationship, etc.) is complete and utter garbage.

“Have the right” to do something begs the questions of 

 

• whether you should do it, 
• why you think you need to do it
• whether that need might be better met in some more productive way
• how useful it will be to anyone if you do it, 
• why nobody cares how you feel about anything,
• why nobody cares or should care about your brilliant “solutions” Thai authorities should adopt
• why others shouldn’t have the right to point out your illogic, bigotry, and silliness, besides telling you to man up--or leave if that’s all you can do. 

Not accepting but, at the same time, not whinging means doing something—not necessarily leaving but altering circumstances, external or internal. Then the reason for your complaint no longer has a significant impact. Weather’s too hot, go inside and sit in front of the aircon or decide that, though you know it’s hot, you really don’t mind hot weather. No need to post about it then.????

 

 

But a whinger intends to do nothing, including changing his attitude. We're certainly not going to change it here.

 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

I'll take it a step further. The sheep who lack the critical thinking skills and/or initiative to voice their objections are a big part of the problem. If there's something wrong with your country (or whatever) and you're drinking too much of the Kool Aid to notice it, or too lazy to speak up, or think being a good citizen means never expressing any dissent, you're useless. 

So while congratulating yourself on your critical thinking skills you’ve arrived at your own false dichotomy of sheep vs (cough) good citizens of a country where we're not citizens and have no voice whatsoever.???? Well done.

It’s more like a trichotomy:

1. Noisy whingers, bigots, bashers, pot stirrers, trolls, paranoids, and purveyors of misinformation wasting their and others’ time flapping their gums;

2. Rational seekers or contributors of useful, accurate information and various forms of help; 

3. Real men (or women) who without fanfare and time-wasting accept reality as it is and adapt to it. How? By making rational decisions according to the best information they have, which is probably more information than the average whinger bothers to discover for himself. Obstacles are viewed as challenges to be overcome and failures accepted as learning experiences along the way.  

Our naysayers merely refuse to believe that the latter two optimistic “reality-based” groups, overlapping in many cases, have adapted to Thailand successfully, can meet the very same obstacles they do but with an equitable temperament, and are truly happy living in this country. If ever it becomes impossible to live here, then they can also find ways to be happy elsewhere. Roll with the flow.

 
We're only seeing a tiny fraction of the total population of expats here. In fact most expats don’t bother posting about negatives they regard as mostly obvious, expected, trivial or bother even reading the forum. My own building, long sold out, is full of such expats. They are in fact pretty happy just living their lives. They may even account themselves lucky, as I do. We work around the imperfections and find the good more than makes up for any bad.

 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

Just because a problem doesn't affect you directly or make your situation intolerable doesn't mean you shouldn't be silent.

Tripping over grammatical negation has uncovered a small nugget of truth. Moreover, just because a problem does affect you directly or make your situation intolerable also doesn't mean you shouldn't be silent. It also means you probably should be silent unless you've taken, or are taking, some kind of action for remedy about which it might benefit others to know. Otherwise, better to find something useful to do with your time, something pleasant to think about, rather than sit around at a keyboard and moan uselessly on a public forum. 

 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

Nobody's perfect. Every day, Thai immigration and labor authorities deal with thousands of people--and a significant portion of them haven't checked all the boxes (or haven't done so perfectly). There's plenty of room for improvement in all our lives.

Yep. So then cut Thai IOs and authorities some slack, realize what they have to deal with, and focus on improving your own lives, relating useful information, and asking helpful questions rather than just whinging, mansplaining, and asserting superiority. Find out requirements, meet them or not, move on. Let us know when you've really got something.

 

On 1/14/2020 at 10:45 AM, scottiddled said:

But let's knock it off with the trump card of "if you don't like it, get out," as if the choices in life are perfect happiness or a life of wandering around seeking perfection.

No, let’s use that trump card a lot more often rather than wasting time trying to discuss anything and being “enablers” for these emotional grabs for attention that substitute for any real remedy.

Another false dichotomy, BTW, of perfect happiness vs. life of wandering. Not sure who has perfect happiness? Never met anyone who had it or imagined it attainable. And why would a life of wandering be the ONLY alternative????? Most expats, however, enjoy reasonable happiness without whinging perhaps in part because they no longer need to wander at the present stage of their lives.

You surely needn’t worry in the least about any threat to the time-honored tradition of expat whinging here. Whingers are a large protected class and whinging is a form of protected speech we aren’t much allowed to joke about or sneer at or call names like they get to do. Otherwise, the entire business would be at risk.

Edited January 18, 2020 by BigStar

[Isaanbiker]

Op, if you don't like it here, please hopp on the next plane!

 

    I really appreciate that you've pointed that out. It's my 18th year here and I could hardly go back to a country in Europe I'm not familiar with anymore. 

 

   Here I've got my pick up, my bigger bike, my little bike and we live in  a great house that's not overpriced. Perfect. 

 

   It's never cold and the few weeks rain isn't that bad after all. 

 

  Would I now have to leave immediately, I'd come to a country where I'm totally out. I do not exist there anymore. My address is here.

 

 It takes a while to get back into the system and they'll of course try to make it difficult for you.

 

Starting without a vehicle, apartment, (flat), house, but hopefully not at a house for homeless. 

 

And getting used to this life again is almost impossible. 

 

  Not too many great chances ahead. "No country for old men..."

 

    Enjoy life to the fullest!

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

[473geo]

BigStar - I won't quote your post to save duplication and space

 

Just to say a cohesive and enjoyable read - thank you