The week that was in Thailand news: Forget Pornhub! Let’s make Thailand the Hub of Pawns

[rooster59]

The week that was in Thailand news: Forget Pornhub! Let’s make Thailand the Hub of Pawns

 

 

It was a week in which many news watchers had their attention inextricably pulled towards the United States. More on that later as there was still plenty of interest in Thailand’s “news porn”.
 
With porn being the operative word. The week began with news that Pornhub, one of the world’s biggest adult sites that operates out of Cyprus, had been blocked in Thailand along with nearly 200 other URLs.
 
Many posters completely missed the point behind the action of the Digital Economy and Society minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta. Believe me, he’d love to say with a straight face that banning sites is all about protecting Thailand’s morals.
 
Seeing so many posters on Facebook in particular juxtaposing ping pong shows in Patpong and Thai moral two faced-ness showed how little they understand Thailand. There are some things you need to figure out for yourself using experience and reading between the lines.
 
#SavePornhub trended as many other mischievous hashtags have in recent weeks.  
 
Anyway, like the famously banned “One Night in Bangkok” track about chess, the authorities could discover a much-needed angle to boost tourism.
 
Forget Pornhub. In advocating a more clean-cut image by promoting international chess tournaments, Thailand could yet become the Hub of Pawns.
 
Watching forbidden porn was an 87-year-old Norwegian in Pattaya. Investigators who had been keeping an eye on him for a long time found he had been using BitTorrent to download and effectively profit from child pornography.
 
Seeing some disgraceful posters defending this vile activity as “not as bad as those who produce porn” made one think they haven’t a clue about supply and demand. The Norwegian needs jail time of an appropriate length.
 
Jailed for putting a black bin bag on a little kindergarten child was “Khru Praew” one of the abusers of Sarasas, Nonthaburi. She was given 45 days. Another was handed three months. Some will be upset the sentences weren’t longer but the real point is that custodial sentences WERE given. It sends the right message to those that would abuse our little ones. Far better than letting them off with an apologetic ‘wai’, a pathetic transfer and teacher license renewal.
 
Not that the country’s “khru’s” appeared to have got the message. One in Phuket thought it was a jolly jape to kick a kindergartener in the face then encourage classmates to join in the fun classroom activity.
 
Then video showed a Hualampong secondary school piece of filth assaulting a boy and belittling him with the kind of language that would make a Klong Toei market trader wince. “Meung hen goo pen aria?” (Who do you $#@& think I am?) he demanded.
 
Long prison sentences and lifetime bans from all forms of teaching for abusive teachers everywhere, please. No exceptions whether it’s Sarasas or the local village school. This has to stop now.
 
Coming in for a great deal of well-deserved criticism this week were the monks of the kingdom and those who use the Buddhist religion to further their businesses or stardom.
 
It’s unfair to tar all those in saffron with the same brush, and obviously the Thai media seizes on every opportunity to attack them when they step out of line. But several let the side down this week ignoring the 227 precepts and adding a couple more like “Thou shalt enrich thyself eternally” and “Thou must behave like a complete todger”.
 
An abbot was furious after one of his “phra” won the lottery scooping 18 million then had every relative and freeloading local descending on the wat wanting a piece of the earthly action. Not surprisingly his “luuk wat” went into hiding, probably near Soi Cowboy after a quick costume change.
 
In the south a monk incurred the righteous wrath of netizens and a Nonthaburi abbot by doing his rounds on an electronic “hoverboard”.
 
While in Yala an online gold trader called Theerachai organized an ostentatious 100 million baht ordination ceremony for himself complete with dozens of celebrity buddies.
 
Rooster is a proud and devout atheist, distrusting of organized religion. One of the most contributed to threads on Thaivisa is entitled “Do you believe in God and why?” I’ve never looked at it, but if I did the only thing I could possibly say would be “No, why should I?”
 
Apropos, while I was a Thai studies teacher at Harrow International the Saudi Arabian ambassador accused me of proselytizing by asking that his son ‘wai’ a Thai teacher when entering the class like the other Year 2 kids. My headmaster backed me up and the diplomat removed both his children forthwith.
 
Should the ambassador have cared to look a little deeper, he would have discovered that my policy was to avoid religion when talking about Thai culture. I even banned Buddhist images and pictures from our classrooms.
 
Believe in religion if you want. Just don’t bother me with it or force it on vulnerable children.
 
Rather like the nation’s monks, Thailand’s criminals and overstayers had a bad week.
 
Pathompong, 34, made the small mistakes of a) robbing his local gold shop and b) leaving his “bat prachachon” (Thai ID) at the scene of the 115,000 baht heist. Bangkok plod had no problem solving that one by tea(money)time.
 
The miscreant was wearing a white grannie-style hat to obscure his idiocy that was adorned with “F’s”. FFS might have been more appropriate.
 
In Chumphon, an Indian showed similar levels of intelligence by telling immigration that he had only just arrived in the country….in fluent Thai. It transpired that “Ama” had done more in and out than all of Clockwork Orange. He’d been blacklisted twice but returned with new passports.
 
Rooster is someone who has always believed in using Thai language skills at every turn and it has frequently got me out of trouble, very rarely in it. (Those seldom occasions were usually when I chose the wrong word). 
 
I have always employed the vernacular during the huge number of times I've been stopped by plod at roadside checkpoints. It hasn’t always saved me from a fine though it sufficed when I struck up a conversation about David Beckham or explained that this was the Thai wife’s picture in my gradually opening wallet.
 
Once a member of the constabulary, aghast that I was about to hand over 100 baht in full view, asked me to go into a police booth and insert the money behind a poster. It was a naked “Mekhong” girl on the wall whose bosom was bulging with notes underneath!
 
Only once did I part with 500 baht. I made the schoolboy error of revving down an empty road ahead on my Steed instead of stopping for “garn sadej” (a royal procession). The officer who chased me was kind enough to let me proceed, however, after I convinced him my brother was at death’s door in Bumrungrad Hospital.
 
When I hear foreigners burble on about not speaking Thai with officialdom, I think it says far more about their language abilities than their guile. Many of these were out on the forum expounding their brilliant strategy after the Bangkok top brass unveiled their new DUI checkpoints on Wednesday.
 
The show of the “new, transparent” (and even polite!) checkpoints was outside Thonglor police station, the scene of many a shakedown in one of the most notorious precincts in the country. And lest we forget where Red Bull Boss got away. The irony seemed to be missed on plod and assembled press.
 
The checkpoints are the “brainchild” of new RTP chief Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk. New chiefs always announce their arrival with a fleeting fanfare of anti-corruption rhetoric before retreating to the sanctity of the trough.
 
Rooster began acquaintance with bespectacled Suwat by transliterating his nickname as “Big Pat”. On balance I think I prefer Khaosod's version.
 
Big Pud.
 
He was nowhere to be seen after he put minion “Big Mana” in charge at Thonglor to explain how 12 officers would use CCTV and flashing lights to ensure every drunk was apprehended with a smile. I was amused by Big Mana’s surname as much as the charade: Maekmork (cloud fog)
 
What a perfect name for someone explaining transparency!
 
In international news all eyes were drawn to the United States where the presidential election on Tuesday was followed by some decidedly un-presidential shenanigans prior to confirmation late Saturday night (Thai time) that Democrat Joe Biden had captured the U.S. presidency from Donald Trump in a closely fought (and fraught) election.
 
Anthony Zurcher of the BBC summed it up well midweek: “Although the final results aren't known, what is clear after election night is that the US continues to be a sharply divided nation.

"The American voters did not repudiate Trump in any meaningful way. Nor did they give him the kind of ringing endorsement that the president had hoped for”.

(The same could also be said for Biden, notes Thaivisa).

He continued: “Instead, the battle lines are drawn - and the political warfare will continue no matter who prevails in this particular election”.

Both candidates garnered a record number of votes in several ways but it was Biden who proved victorious. I hope that once he and his running mate manage to get inside the White House they are able to work at bringing some unity and that people around the world can regain more respect for their great nation.

In England the lockdown began with early signs that infection might be slowing. I fear they are going to emerge from this second lockdown in December with the Eton Mess proclaiming victory, only for the public to swamp the shops and pubs in mask-less abandon leading up to Christmas resulting in a more devastating third wave.

Back in Thailand, the RTP were reminded to watch what they say on TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. The “good name of the Thai police” was at stake.

Perhaps if they spent a little less TIME online and a little MORE on patrolling the roads the appalling death toll might abate. It needs to. On Monday Daily News reported 70+ deaths and that is just those at the scene of accidents.

It came as safety expert Dr Thanapong Jinwong “revealed” that a ten year accident reduction plan was in tatters. Rather than halving the carnage it had increased by 50% since 2011. Thanapong said the answer was better driver training, improvements to the roads and law enforcement.

He's right – but when, oh when, are the government going to give more than “seven deadly days at Songkran and New Year” lip service to the issue?

When another million of their compatriots have died by 2050?

A roundup of virus news in the Kingdom this week: there are plans to cut state quarantine to 10 days from 14 (as if that will make any difference to tourism); the PM and Anutin tried to offer hope to Samui and Phuket as the mobile cabinet visited the south; a visiting Hungarian minister tested positive and was promptly sent back on a private jet; the first group of Chinese STV tourists were let loose on the beaches “with confidence”.

Best video was a rescue foundation that dropped a corpse out of the back of an ambulance in rush hour traffic then had to do a U-turn to pick up the twice unfortunate stiff. The locals helped out by positioning a fruit basket by the body to stop further ignominy.

Former singer “Pookie” and her husband were given 38-year sentences for drug dealing and money laundering. Who said the courts don’t have a heart!

Finally, THAI are trying to sell off their older planes by November 13th. The bankrupt national carrier is getting desperate and increasingly delusional.

They expect merit-makers to pay thousands of baht to fly OVER temples and back to where they started from. They are also trying to make a few baht flogging batter fried in hot oil.

They used to Go to Patong.

Now they make Patong - Go.

Rooster.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-11-08

 

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[rumak]

wow......just turns out that i could be the first to comment ( yes,  i did read the whoooooole thing).

 

but, honestly have nothing to say ( other than that i have nothing to say)

 

Samuii Bodoh ,    over to you .............

[BritManToo]

21 minutes ago, rumak said:

wow......just turns out that i could be the first to comment ( yes,  i did read the whoooooole thing).

but, honestly have nothing to say ( other than that i have nothing to say)

Samuii Bodoh ,    over to you .............

No I beat him.

But agree today's effort is a bit on the bland side.

Edited November 8, 2020 by BritManToo

[fangless]

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Believe in religion if you want. Just don’t bother me with it or force it on vulnerable children.

Spot on.  Could not agree with you more.

[habuspasha]

As long as I'm here early, let me say how much I enjoy reading these weekly reviews.  Only one thing bothered me a bit.  I would make a distinction between teaching religion and teaching about religion.  I would have a difficult time teaching about Thai culture if I ignored Buddhism.  I would just not do it religiously, from a Buddhist or other religious perspective.

[rumak]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

No I beat him.

But agree today's effort is a bit on the bland side.

 

guess he learned not to bash the viewership   ????   .     but heck,  took away any retort i could have.      oh well,  another sunday in paradise  

Edited November 8, 2020 by rumak

[BritManToo]

Just now, rumak said:

guess he learned not to bash the viewership   ????   .     but heck,  took away my any retort i could have.      oh well,  another sunday in paradise  

He got the usual dig at us in ........ but my take on it ..........

Young working guy with no pension or savings, tells old retired guys with pensions and spare cash they should learn to speak Thai.

[rumak]

Just now, BritManToo said:

He got the usual dig at us in ........ but my take on it ..........

Young working guy with no pension or savings, tells old retired guys with pensions and spare cash they should learn to speak Thai.

well,  seems like he has lived in bangkok basically all his life.      i don't pay too much attention to city boys telling me what we should do in life .   

i was out enjoying the really nice weather this morning,   as i am pretty sure you were .

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, rumak said:

i was out enjoying the really nice weather this morning,   as i am pretty sure you were .

I put my new Decathlon XT7 trainers on and walked around for 3Km, it was a sunny morning with fresh air, and pretty clouds.

How could anyone not enjoy life in Thailand?

Edited November 8, 2020 by BritManToo

[rumak]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Decathlon XT7 trainers on

where do you get something like that ?     i have some extra money    lol

 

yes,  very nice clouds early this morning !!    must be a name for that type...   i know,  google it 

 

i do miss my fifties,  but life is pretty good  ( if the back don't hurt)   . 

 

ok, moderators.......  sorry for the off topic banter      HOW ABOUT THAT PORN !

shocking !  

Edited November 8, 2020 by rumak

[Lacessit]

I'm always bemused by the claims Greta Thunberg of climate change fame has been brainwashed. If she has, it's been with facts and evidence, not something that cannot be seen, heard or felt. Yet it is routinely accepted in many nations children can be brainwashed into believing thus, and governments even go so far as to subsidise religious teaching.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I put my new Decathlon XT7 trainers on and walked around for 3Km, it was a sunny morning with fresh air, and pretty clouds.

How could anyone not enjoy life in Thailand?

The cats were mating and the roosters crowing in the village at 5 am. Neither I nor my GF could sleep, so we enjoyed a wrestle for about 20 minutes, after which she got up to cook breakfast for Papa. Drove back to the condo loaded up with bananas, avocado, limes and a mussuman curry, plus a weeks' worth of laundry. I like splitting my time between the city and the village. A swim in the condo pool later, although the water is getting cold.

[dyertribe]

And I thought it was just me who thought the author takes great delight in denigrating and alienating the TV audience ... I see like minded people commenting ...

[sambum]

 “Do you believe in God and why?” I’ve never looked at it, but if I did the only thing I could possibly say would be “No, why should I?”

 

Back in Blighty a few years ago, we were being continually pestered by Morons  Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, and one Sunday morning after a very late party at my house, I answered the door to a couple of "happy smiling faces" doing their best to convince me that their particular "best friend" was the one for me!

 

When I said I was a non-believer, they were horrified and said "But you must have believed in God sometime" My reply was "Yes, and I also used to  believe in Santa Claus, and if you don't take your foot off my doorstep, it's liable to get broken when I close the door on it" 

 

That particular "sect" never bothered me again!

[rumak]

13 minutes ago, sambum said:

 “Do you believe in God and why?” I’ve never looked at it, but if I did the only thing I could possibly say would be “No, why should I?”

 

Back in Blighty a few years ago, we were being continually pestered by Morons  Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, and one Sunday morning after a very late party at my house, I answered the door to a couple of "happy smiling faces" doing their best to convince me that their particular "best friend" was the one for me!

 

When I said I was a non-believer, they were horrified and said "But you must have believed in God sometime" My reply was "Yes, and I also used to  believe in Santa Claus, and if you don't take your foot off my doorstep, it's liable to get broken when I close the door on it" 

 

That particular "sect" never bothered me again!

 

I just shot the biggest one between the eyes .   They never bothered me again either 

[Truth Will Set You Free]

6 hours ago, fangless said:

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Believe in religion if you want. Just don’t bother me with it or force it on vulnerable children.

Spot on.  Could not agree with you more.

When judgement day comes, remember these words when you are dancing in the Lake of Fire. ????????????????????????

[Andrew Dwyer]

3 minutes ago, Truth Will Set You Free said:

When judgement day comes, remember these words when you are dancing in the Lake of Fire. ????????????????????????

 

 

I just had a little dance to it, wasn’t too painful .

[fangless]

6 hours ago, habuspasha said:

let me say how much I enjoy reading these weekly reviews.

+1

 

[George Aylesham]

Just now, fangless said:

+1

 

me too!

[fangless]

16 minutes ago, Truth Will Set You Free said:

When judgement day comes, remember these words when you are dancing in the Lake of Fire. ????????????????????????

I am an atheist-thank God !

Your comment reinforces, if it was needed, my opinion of others expressing their religious beliefs on/to others .

Religion should be whatever it means to the individual and kept there!

[fangless]

17 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

 

 

I just had a little dance to it, wasn’t too painful .

Did your feet burn and do you feel uplifted?

[Janner1]

31 minutes ago, Truth Will Set You Free said:

When judgement day comes, remember these words when you are dancing in the Lake of Fire.

The moon is made of green cheese and the man in the moon is pig sick of the smell

[Mike k]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

 “Do you believe in God and why?” I’ve never looked at it, but if I did the only thing I could possibly say would be “No, why should I?”

 

Back in Blighty a few years ago, we were being continually pestered by Morons  Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, and one Sunday morning after a very late party at my house, I answered the door to a couple of "happy smiling faces" doing their best to convince me that their particular "best friend" was the one for me!

 

When I said I was a non-believer, they were horrified and said "But you must have believed in God sometime" My reply was "Yes, and I also used to  believe in Santa Claus, and if you don't take your foot off my doorstep, it's liable to get broken when I close the door on it" 

 

That particular "sect" never bothered me again!

Meeting them with a pump shotgun also works 

[fangless]

8 minutes ago, Janner1 said:

The moon is made of green cheese and the man in the moon is pig sick of the smell

And probably makes as much, if not more, sense as the  religious bigots do when they spout forth with their unwanted rants!

[chickenslegs]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Watching forbidden porn was an 87-year-old Norwegian in Pattaya. Investigators who had been keeping an eye on him for a long time found he had been using BitTorrent to download and effectively profit from child pornography ...
... The Norwegian needs jail time of an appropriate length.

I heard they are considering a 20-year sentence .......... but, if he confesses, it will be reduced to life.

[Artisi]

7 hours ago, habuspasha said:

As long as I'm here early, let me say how much I enjoy reading these weekly reviews.  Only one thing bothered me a bit.  I would make a distinction between teaching religion and teaching about religion.  I would have a difficult time teaching about Thai culture if I ignored Buddhism.  I would just not do it religiously, from a Buddhist or other religious perspective.

Maybe the move was back to Buddhism  being a philosophy and not a "religion" would be benificial to people, but then it wouldn't fit the Thai model of Buddhism of pay your way to a better after-life and the return trip. 

 

I have come to the view that Thai Buddhism as seen today is is about as close to Buddhism is as the Christian religion is to paganism. 

[RobU]

Everyone has the right to believe in a Deity or Deities and have a system of belief  it can give comfort and a sense of community. No one has a right to impose those beliefs and the, often draconian, laws and punishment's of those belief systems on others, especially those who don't believe. However I feel strongly that I should respect and honour the belief system of Buddha especially the following of Dharma. If I didn't do this I could not maintain my relationship with my gentle and devout lady. No one has the right to impose atheism on others, we believe what we believe, live and let live.

 

[fangless]

20 minutes ago, RobU said:

Everyone has the right to believe in a Deity or Deities

Sorry but I believe the above should read "Everyone has the right to believe or not in a Deity or Deities"!

[RobU]

11 minutes ago, fangless said:

Sorry but I believe the above should read "Everyone has the right to believe or not in a Deity or Deities"!

Yes I agree, my bad

[olfu]

Pornhub? Biggest? or best. 

I prefer xhamster as they have plenty of old Italian and Brazilian movies--always free.

Surprisingly only Thailand worry about my moral standing.