THE WEEK THAT WAS The week that was in Thailand news: Sugar and mental health are no laughing matter - unlike April 1st!

[rooster59]

 

When the time came to pull the curtain down on a twenty year career at two major international schools in Bangkok in 2013, Rooster received plenty of well-intentioned plaudits.

 

People made nice speeches about the positive effect I’d had on thousands of Thai and foreign children promoting Thailand and Thai culture. How I’d been successful in raising safety standards on school trips. An altogether good - if slightly unusual - egg.

 

I was clutching a Parker pen in gratitude from the headmaster for 15 years service when I walked out of the school gates for the last time. 

 

I had a healthy bank balance and at 52 there was no need to ever work again. I had memories of parental consultations with movie heartthrobs who wai-ed ME. A former Miss Universe thanked me for re-introducing her errant teenager to his Thai heritage. A female prime minister had even given me an envelope with cash in and the honor of a selfie, now framed and hung proudly next to my bathroom.

 

There were letters from kids, honorable mentions everywhere as I crossed the road and came within inches of being run over ten seconds into retirement. It felt good to be alive if only just.

 

So why was it in the restaurant over the road that acted as the teachers’ Friday afternoon drinks venue, musing before my friends arrived for a final round, I felt that two decades of my life had been mostly wasted.

 

Why didn’t I speak up more when proselytizing headmasters spouted their nonsense about God and religion? Why didn’t I go out on a limb to promote the benefits of atheism and science? Why did I remain so silent about the nonsensical facts based approach to learning that even top dollar international schools get so wrong? Why didn’t I beg the school to look at Finland and stop claiming that the British know best and homework is more important than family time!?

 

Why did I feel that even in my specialist area I had perpetuated the idea of a Thai stereotype. In my heart I was critical but for the sake of my salary, for the good of the team, to avoid waves, I had toed the line. 

 

Yes, just like in my own schoolboy school days I’d been a lackey. An anarchist at heart but a pathetic lackey all the same who made no difference to anything except my bank balance.  

 

One of the pupils I really let down was a boy who, as you are about to discover very relevantly, was nicknamed Big. 

 

Big seemed a friendly enough 12 year old who had just arrived from Thai school and was bewildered by English. The school needed his parents’ money.

 

Every day I would see him when I knocked off between 5 and 6 pm still sitting alone on some steps looking forlorn. Usually eating an ice-cream or yet another packet of snacks.

 

His folks wouldn’t be along till 6pm. Then the driver would load him into the back and take him off to the maid to supervise extra homework.

 

Big was huge. Already morbidly obese. Left to his own devices by parents who thought they were doing him a favor by spending a million baht a year on his education and hundreds of baht a day on his sugary snacks that were killing him as sure as if I went up to him and blew his brains out on the tuck-shop steps.

 

I often wonder if at 30 plus he is alive today.

 

I could speak to Big in words he could understand and following our conversations I took my concerns up with those in charge of his pastoral care. 

 

I said that this was nothing short of child abuse. Being left till late in the day was one thing. But left to his own devices and even in the company of those who should have been looking after him, he was being fed poison by ignorant hi-so parents who thought they were doing the right thing.

 

That old fat=rich and spending money is doing good nonsense.

 

Not surprisingly my exaltations to bring the parents in and tell them this was child abuse fell on deaf ears. Money was the bottom line. Bums on seats and poor Big’s ample posterior was just another one that paid our wages.

 

It was not just Big I thought about when I retired. There was also the occasion when a very interesting policeman arrived from the UK on an “INSET” day - staff training. 

 

He told the gathered Thai and British faculties that child abuse crossed cultures, crossed the divides of language and countries, was just as prevalent among the rich as the poor.

 

Just as likely to occur in Thailand as the UK. 

 

You could see the eyes roll of Thai and expatriate alike - who was this copper coming to tell us how to do things when everyone knows that Thailand doesn’t have those problems.

 

Yeh, right. For me it was possibly the only INSET that ever engaged my attention. It made me think how the school and MYSELF were in utter denial.

 

Many people think that by shelling out the millions for international school education you get a paragon or educational virtue. Yes, the Astroturf pitches, beautiful auditoriums and science labs with every chemical under the sun look great. You get to hobnob with the stars, increase your child’s social spectrum etc etc….

 

The headmasters’ promises of children who will be the leaders of tomorrow sound wonderful. The roll calls of kids in mortar boards and gowns going to Yale and Oxford, MIT and Cambridge look great. 

 

But the devil is often in the details. I felt we had merely perpetuated the idea of pounding facts into the children. It was where to look and how to interpret information they needed in the IT world of the last two decades. Lip service was paid to this because the bottom line was money and results - feeling wealthy and looking good rather than having true substance. 

 

I’m not saying that Thai schools - even good ones - get it right. Most of them are worse. But just because an international school talks a good game and charges a lot doesn’t make it good. The best may be reasonable, but the second division are often rubbish. 

 

Shop around and be skeptical of the hype - and never forget that you as a parent are the key to your own child’s upbringing. Not some school with a fancy name and Latin on the blazer’s crest.

 

So it was that I was thinking about Big this week when a story about the Thais’ appalling and excessive consumption of sugar was featured by the Thai press. 

 

In their noodles and curries they are dumping totally unnecessary sugar. Children who deserve protection not abuse are being treated to sugary snacks and soda. On average Thais are consuming five times the WHO recommended daily dose.

 

And I say “dose” advisedly. Sugar is a dangerous drug in my view that needs to be regulated far more than at present. 

 

Go to any Thai hospital, as I often do, and you’ll see the diabetes patients lined up. It’s an epidemic that makes Covid look like a walk in the park. 

 

Much of it is brought on by sugar. In addition Thais are getting fatter and fatter from poor diets especially in the more affluent cities. Fast food temptation and pressure is everywhere. Obesity is rampant and hard won lessons from the West are falling on deaf ears in Asia. 

 

Yes, one of my schools had a display about the number of spoonfuls of sugar in a bottle of Coke. Then they let the kids sell it on “Fun Days” to raise money for charity (yet more lip service). 

 

I tried to be more pro-active as a parent. Once on finding that my first wife had stocked the fridge full of Sprite and chocolate I banned those items forever.

 

There was a massive row in which she accused me of heartlessness towards the children. My will prevailed - and a decade later my son thanked me for what I did. 

 

He said it was the only good thing I did……

 

Another story that caught Rooster’s beady eye this week was the fact that 10 million Thais are suffering (mostly in silence) from mental health conditions and one million of these have Bipolar Disorder. 

 

DPM and Health Minister Anutin was togged up in yellow silk giving it the big one on World Bipolar Day. Lots of those empty epithets I’d experienced in my school days were trotted out.

 

Mental health has been a big issue in my family. My own behaviour as someone with a highly addictive personality and well on the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder  ladder was a fair starting point for trouble.

 

In addition I married a Thai woman who I later discovered was an untreated schizophrenic. No wonder the sparks flew and the children fled for cover.

 

My son, a brilliant guy with an amazingly broad knowledge, was also diagnosed in his teenage years.

 

This meant coming out of denial and facing facts. I’d begun my years in Thailand making jokes telling people flippantly that they should “Nang taxi pai Sri Thanya” - take a cab to Thailand’s most well known mental hospital - if they suggested something daft.

 

Just over a decade ago I found myself with my son listening to home truths with a true professional at that very hospital as they tried to help me and my offspring. (My wife had fled in terror on a previous occasion when the doctor said she needed medication. She waited in the car brooding about “them” trying to get their claws in!).  

 

But just like I had failed Big, it was time not to fail my own son. Time to face up to mental health and do something positive. The help was there in Thailand, you just needed to ask. 

 

Fortunately my son, through medication and counselling continued in the UK, is managing to make the best of his life. 

 

And you’ll never find his dad making a joke of mental health again.

 

A joke is what April Fool’s day was in Thailand this year. Thaivisa got the ball rolling on March 31st with a genuine story (I think!) about the Crime Suppression Division banning news organizations from ribaldry under the threat of five years in jail for spreading fake news. 

 

It was a pity because both my editor and I had some great wind-up ideas as good as those in the past about visa extensions at 7-Eleven and jail terms for playing Connect Four on Pattaya bar tops. 

 

I guess my story about Thailand being the hub of hubcap production - yes, a Liverpool firm wanted to move their entire production facility to a Samut Prakan Industrial estate - will have to wait for another year.

 

The ban did not stop us from having some jibes against the authorities , however, though we valued our personal liberty. Amusingly a Thai got in on the act by claiming that police engineers would repair your broken down car for free nationwide  - just call such-and-such a number.

 

Plod predictable, and following their warning, took a dim view especially as they had said that April Fool’s was not Thai culture.

 

Damn those Western influences!

 

In Myanmar the situation has become increasingly dire. A reported 500 people - many of them young children - have been shot and bombed to death by the junta. Meanwhile the Thai military  scandalously sent reps to an armed forces party while Prayut showed his true colors - khaki. Under the guise of keeping a diplomatic watch out on the neighbors he defended the attendance at the junket. Utterly shameless.

 

Now Thailand is facing the consequences with incursions of thousands fleeing bombardments in Karen state areas. Prayut spoke of humanitarianism but Sky and others (including my own sources on the ground) said the refugees were being forced back. 

 

With Covid throwing a further spanner into the works, this “international” story is going to have major implications for Thailand. 

 

In New York the authorities reached the final steps in the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Some changes will take the best part of two years to implement but it is a major step in emptying the jails of (usually black) people who like herbs. 

 

Thailand please  take notice, as your “legalization” promises are looking like hollow ones that will continue to necessitate the absurd and wasteful “War On Drugs” that is an almighty waste of money, resources and lives. 

 

Back in Thailand the approved Covid jabs tourists will need to avoid 10 day quarantine (and ONLY do 7) were announced. Interestingly Sinovac was there of course but nothing from Russia, a country the Thai tourism minister has been bigging up for the much hyped April 1st, July 1st, October 1st and January 1st staged return to mass tourism. 

 

Staged being the operative word as their pronouncements should be taken as much with a pinch of salt as a whole pack of Saxa. 

 

Transport minister Saksayam Chidchob appeared at an event in Bang Pa-In celebrating his dream - the 120 kmph speed limit on certain roads. Lord knows what the safety activists thought of that as the appalling carnage continued on the roads ahead of the lip-service-fest that is the Songkran crackdown.

 

Apropos, Plod is now able to implement RTP chief Gen Suwat “Big Pat” Chaengyodsuk’s much heralded “transparent” alcohol and speeding checkpoints. Mobile CCTV was promised to keep an eye on plod as well as the motorists. 

 

Suwat was also in the news as underling (though much more charismatic and handsome) Lt-Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn took up his advisory role at RTP HQ.

 

The Thai media said it was all smiles but their picture showed what looked like trepidation on the face of BJ; no wonder when police reform is his bag and those around him will be hoping that he falls flat on his face. 

 

The Thai tourism minister Pipat indicated that his policies included land based safety and ensuring that tourists would no longer be ripped off. All previous tourism ministers tried that and all failed. Pipat will too but such is the dearth of political talent available to his boss that he’ll probably keep his job longer than them. It was also reported that 1.45 million jobs in tourism had been lost due to the pandemic.

 

In crime news in the north east of Thailand a tanker driver stabbed his wife at a gas station then led plod and 50 rescue foundation vehicles on a chase encompassing Khon Kaen and Udon Thani before his tires were shot out. 

 

In Chiang Mai a man and his wife were found in a car after he apparently stabbed her to death then committed suicide by lighting a fire in the sealed up vehicle. 

 

In eastern Bangkok the netizens were enraged when a flimsy paper sign advised pedestrians they would be electrocuted if they touched the handrail on a road bridge. “Use the other rail” seemed to be the advice before the local authority “swooped” into action. 

 

In Pattaya the irate ones came out after a post about red worms coming out of the taps. The authorities declared the water supply safe.

 

Finally, tragedy struck in Surat Thani after a 12 year old boy was killed and five friends injured when lightning struck during heavy rain while they were having a happy game of after school football. 

 

At my school they brought in lightning meters for all outdoor activities both on and off campus. 

 

What should have been a positive step turned into a farce as activities and sports were ruined by teachers telling kids to stop then start again according to the meter’s readings.

 

Like in Surat Thani it would have been better just to show some common sense during storms and when lightning is in the area. 

 

At my school we made a rod for our own backs under the guise of improvement.

 

Yet another failure to look back on. 

 

Rooster

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-04-03

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Samui Bodoh]

This week saw the end of the TVF World News Sub-Forum and, I fear, is a harbinger of things to come. At 1.2 million posts, it was (I think) the third most active Sub-Forum after 'Thai News' and 'General' and its passing bodes badly for the future of TVF. 

 

I officially joined TVF in early 2016 but, like many others on here, I was a 'Lurker' for quite a while before I signed in. In the early days, I needed to learn about all things 'visa' and TVF was, and still is, the best place on the planet to acquire that information (thanks @ubonjoe and all others who contribute!); pretty much everything that I know about Thai visas, I learned here. My other early reason for lurking/joining was to acquire local information; as my user name suggests, I live on Koh Samui and was curious regarding members' thoughts about the island.

 

After I learned a great deal about my immediate surroundings, I began to look at the 'Thai News' section and it was a delightful find. I was already quite familiar with the general issues faced by the Kingdom (I worked regionally for many years and am a bit of a 'news junkie'), but it was fascinating to learn of the diverse (foreign) opinion in-country. Yes, I certainly had my views, but it was a real treat to be exposed to others who saw things differently. I'll never forget the day when I saw a post by a female member whom I respected that was pro-coup; it was like getting hit in the face with a shovel. What can I say? She was wrong then and she is still wrong today, but having my own thoughts so directly challenged was a wonderful thing; if you stop re-considering and re-evaluating your thoughts on a regular basis, you already have a foot in the grave. Sadly, in the post-coup era, Thai News simply became too depressing and blah to follow; the term 'wet blanket smothering and stultifying functional brain activity' is how I would describe it.

 

I shifted over to World News for a time and was enthralled by the debate over 'Brexit' (I still do not understand how/why a country would voluntarily decide to diminish itself, but that is for another day) and appalled by the words used (sorry, can't call it a debate or argument) in discussing Trump. My time on the World News Sub-Forum came to an end through outside... er... interactions, and if I say more, I get my post deleted.

 

The last year on TVF has been one of slow decline; many good posters have moved on and the quality/variety of articles have followed a similar journey (how is an NNT or NAEW NA word salad considered journalism/news?). I really enjoyed TWTW for a while, but even that lost some of its sheen. Hmm... that said, kudos to Rooster for this week's column; there is still a great deal of stigma attached to mental health issues and it is a brave person who will discuss it publicly. Well done, Sir.

 

What does the future hold for TVF? I used to look at it several times a day, but that has been reduced to a couple of times a week, if that. Now, when I visit, I get a mental image of being in the back seat of an old, two-seat Bi-Plane and the pilot is slumped over the steering thingy; mentally, I keep shouting "Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!" but I am losing hope that he will hear me in time.

 

What more to say? I always hope that the best is yet to come, but... 

 

Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!

 

 

 

[PatOngo]

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A female prime minister had even given me an envelope with cash in and the honor of a selfie

So, Yingluk's rice pledging scam was'nt a total waste after all!

[PatOngo]

11 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The last year on TVF has been one of slow decline

Here, here!

[Tropicalevo]

Very brave and important opener.

Easy for people to laugh and post the haha emoji but both items are very relevant.

Well done.

[inThailand]

Blah blah fiction! 

[Fairynuff]

I’ve noticed some very vocal regulars have disappeared or have become a lot less regular, and there are still some who I wish would become a lot less regular.

i don’t think my checking in habits have changed much unless perhaps I check more frequently because I spend so much more time at home. Normally my out of country time would be between 30% and 50% of the year.

For certain things TVF is an amazing resource, visas being the most obvious but on other topics 100 replies will get you 100 opinions most of which are instantly dismissible. It would nevertheless be a sad day that we witness the demise of TVF.

[biggles45]

'encompassing Khon Kaen and Udon Thani before his tires were shot out. '

 

The thought of the BIB shooting at a tanker driver in populated areas is horrifying

[Flying Saucage]

20 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

This week saw the end of the TVF World News Sub-Forum and, I fear, is a harbinger of things to come. At 1.2 million posts, it was (I think) the third most active Sub-Forum after 'Thai News' and 'General' and its passing bodes badly for the future of TVF. 

 

I officially joined TVF in early 2016 but, like many others on here, I was a 'Lurker' for quite a while before I signed in. In the early days, I needed to learn about all things 'visa' and TVF was, and still is, the best place on the planet to acquire that information (thanks @ubonjoe and all others who contribute!); pretty much everything that I know about Thai visas, I learned here. My other early reason for lurking/joining was to acquire local information; as my user name suggests, I live on Koh Samui and was curious regarding members' thoughts about the island.

 

After I learned a great deal about my immediate surroundings, I began to look at the 'Thai News' section and it was a delightful find. I was already quite familiar with the general issues faced by the Kingdom (I worked regionally for many years and am a bit of a 'news junkie'), but it was fascinating to learn of the diverse (foreign) opinion in-country. Yes, I certainly had my views, but it was a real treat to be exposed to others who saw things differently. I'll never forget the day when I saw a post by a female member whom I respected that was pro-coup; it was like getting hit in the face with a shovel. What can I say? She was wrong then and she is still wrong today, but having my own thoughts so directly challenged was a wonderful thing; if you stop re-considering and re-evaluating your thoughts on a regular basis, you already have a foot in the grave. Sadly, in the post-coup era, Thai News simply became too depressing and blah to follow; the term 'wet blanket smothering and stultifying functional brain activity' is how I would describe it.

 

I shifted over to World News for a time and was enthralled by the debate over 'Brexit' (I still do not understand how/why a country would voluntarily decide to diminish itself, but that is for another day) and appalled by the words used (sorry, can't call it a debate or argument) in discussing Trump. My time on the World News Sub-Forum came to an end through outside... er... interactions, and if I say more, I get my post deleted.

 

The last year on TVF has been one of slow decline; many good posters have moved on and the quality/variety of articles have followed a similar journey (how is an NNT or NAEW NA word salad considered journalism/news?). I really enjoyed TWTW for a while, but even that lost some of its sheen. Hmm... that said, kudos to Rooster for this week's column; there is still a great deal of stigma attached to mental health issues and it is a brave person who will discuss it publicly. Well done, Sir.

 

What does the future hold for TVF? I used to look at it several times a day, but that has been reduced to a couple of times a week, if that. Now, when I visit, I get a mental image of being in the back seat of an old, two-seat Bi-Plane and the pilot is slumped over the steering thingy; mentally, I keep shouting "Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!" but I am losing hope that he will hear me in time.

 

What more to say? I always hope that the best is yet to come, but... 

 

Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!

 

 

 

 

Well said Samui Bodoh, couldn't agree more to every single point you stated.

 

The decline of TVF you mentioned in my opinion mainly has to do with the depressing state of the country and the related news. But also it has also to do with the fact that some of best posters became more and more silent. You are one of them. Indeed you have been my favourite poster all the time since I lurked and later joined actively TVF.

[Flying Saucage]

Good one Rooster, kudos from my side. At least as much as it totally lacks the usual fun today, it is an overall serious, impressive, brave and strong piece. Well done.

 

Edited April 4, 2021 by Flying Saucage

[Elkski]

Ditto,. Learn from your past Rooster.

Don't let us all down.   You know both side of the coin.   Fight for sanity. 

[sambum]

11 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Here, here!

 

Or even "Hear, hear!"?

[GarryP]

 

12 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Here, here!

 

57 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

Or even "Hear, hear!"?

But not hia, hia. 

[Stevemercer]

On 4/3/2021 at 7:07 PM, rooster59 said:

Another story that caught Rooster’s beady eye this week was the fact that 10 million Thais are suffering (mostly in silence) from mental health conditions and one million of these have Bipolar Disorder. 

 

A very good column this week I thought. It was great to read and understand some of the author's contemplative thoughts. Obviously there is a huge plus side to 2 decades of teaching at the top level - not only in terms of personal development and achievement, but in setting a positive role model for so many students.

 

I reckon mental health is a huge issue in Thailand. Many of the stories one reads in TV about posters having trouble with Thai wives / girlfriends stem from mental health issues (with the wife / girlfriend).

 

Mental health still has such a big stigma in the western world. Here in Thailand it is recognised, but not really taken seriously including by those affected (e.g. it is not part of 'Thainess' just as April Fools Day is apparently not part of 'Thainess'). Maybe it is seen as just a western thing. It is also hard for Thai people to take medicines for life. Once they feel better, they will often stop and the problem will come back. 

[SiSePuede419]

On 4/3/2021 at 6:07 AM, rooster59 said:

In addition I married a Thai woman who I later discovered was an untreated schizophrenic. No wonder the sparks flew and the children fled for cover.

Schizophrenia doesn't develop overnight.  It's usually diagnosed in the 20s - 30s.

 

Either you married someone you didn't know very well or you ignored the symptoms. ????

[BritManToo]

On 4/3/2021 at 8:03 PM, Samui Bodoh said:

What does the future hold for TVF? I used to look at it several times a day, but that has been reduced to a couple of times a week, if that. Now, when I visit, I get a mental image of being in the back seat of an old, two-seat Bi-Plane and the pilot is slumped over the steering thingy; mentally, I keep shouting "Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!" but I am losing hope that he will hear me in time.

I agree and,

What's interesting is there now appears to be well under 200 regular posters, and nearly all the well known poster names have gone.

Edited April 4, 2021 by BritManToo

[Stargeezr]

Great article Rooster, and thanks for talking about the sugar problem, as well as mental

health.  I find that when I am depressed more than usual, I eat more chocolate bars,

and other candy.  I see more obese people all over the world more than there use to be

before supersizing came along.  There is also the salt problem, and processed foods

especially processed meats.  I had an old doctor tell me to eat as healthy as I could

afford, and avoid fried foods when I can.  He said to eat lots of veggies and fruit

when possible as well. Good Advice.  Have another good week and stay healthy and

cautious, the pandemic is ramping up all over the world and there are lock downs

happening all over as well.  I hope you all get your vaccines sometime this Summer.

  Geezer

[jack71]

that is one long story I tried to skim read. Maybe you can have a 3 line summary at the beginning to save me the time

[BostonRob2]

1 hour ago, jack71 said:

that is one long story I tried to skim read. Maybe you can have a 3 line summary at the beginning to save me the time

There already is an even shorter summary for people like you.

 

The week that was.

[Never Been Abroad]

With respect Rooster,

Fact: sugar is not a drug

Fact: sugar does not cause obesity

Fact: sugar does not cause diabetes.

 

When people talk about sugar making them fat, they are talking about chocolate (50% fat), ice cream (50% fat), doughnuts (50% fat).  There's a clue in the name ... fat.

7 years ago Chef Jamie Oliver blamed sugar for childhood obesity. The UK government responded with a sugar tax on fizzy drinks.  Counties who've adopted this nonsense have gotten fatter.

Why don't people get caught at customs with bags of sugar strapped to their body?  Why is there not a 12 step program for sugar? Because it's  NOT a drug.   Coffee on the other hand is a neurotoxin.  People who need coffee in the morning are often those avoiding carbs and scared of sugar. Why aren't people banging on about how bad coffee is for us?

Type 2 diabeties is cause by a high fatty diet.

 

 

[Odysseus123]

On 4/4/2021 at 12:03 AM, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Wake Up! Pull Up! Wake Up! Pull Up!

It's fairly obvious from the paucity of posts that the forum seems to be in a "crash and burn" situation reminiscent of the demise of the Amazon forums.

 

Various functions ceased and sub forums were shut down or stopped being supported leading to the members being "shed" and going elsewhere...then came the chop...

 

I have always viewed Rooster's column in reasonably neutral terms except for a period of time there when the rising Baht sent many pensioners as close to the wall as it was possible to get.After that I read them with a great deal more caution.

Edited April 5, 2021 by Odysseus123

[Odysseus123]

3 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

double post

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by Odysseus123

[terryofcrete]

Good to read your account of you and your family’s  struggles with mental issues. There is no doubt that the true account of these difficulties when  expressed in writing or spoken word to a public audience helps to alleviate ongoing suffering and somehow affirms our recovery process... confession is good for the soul. As with. alcoholism, often causing or the cause of mental issues, when one is in recovery , which is a lifelong persuit the programme includes sharing to others and provides relief and affirmation of a worthy struggle. 

Thank you for the honesty. ,  

[allencraig]

4 hours ago, Never Been Abroad said:

With respect Rooster,

Fact: sugar is not a drug

Fact: sugar does not cause obesity

Fact: sugar does not cause diabetes.

 

When people talk about sugar making them fat, they are talking about chocolate (50% fat), ice cream (50% fat), doughnuts (50% fat).  There's a clue in the name ... fat.

7 years ago Chef Jamie Oliver blamed sugar for childhood obesity. The UK government responded with a sugar tax on fizzy drinks.  Counties who've adopted this nonsense have gotten fatter.

Why don't people get caught at customs with bags of sugar strapped to their body?  Why is there not a 12 step program for sugar? Because it's  NOT a drug.   Coffee on the other hand is a neurotoxin.  People who need coffee in the morning are often those avoiding carbs and scared of sugar. Why aren't people banging on about how bad coffee is for us?

Type 2 diabeties is cause by a high fatty diet.

 

 

Ha, ha, ha! You actually think dietary fats = body fat? I thought only children held that misconception.

 

Dietary fats, like all foods, are broken down into sugars, which is what the body uses for energy. When you take in more sugar than your body needs, the excess is stored as body fat. Some dietary fat contains high amounts of cholesterol, which can be converted to a type of body fat that likes to be stored in your arteries. 

 

Dietary sugar comes in a number of types and forms. Complex sugar types are a bit better for you because your body has to work to break them down into the simple form your body needs for energy. The simple kind is available for the body's use immediately, so if you don't use it right away it is a fast transition to body fat. This is why is great to take a walk after meals.

 

Excess sugar intake IS directly related to obesity.
Too much sugar in the blood steam over time affects insulin levels with CAN lead to diabetes (if your genetic makeup is prone to it.)

 

Now you know just a bit about dietary fats and sugars. Let's move on to your gross misconceptions about how much "fat" is contained in chocolate and ice cream... 
 

[rumak]

On 4/3/2021 at 8:03 PM, Samui Bodoh said:

The last year on TVF has been one of slow decline; many good posters have moved on

 

"many good posters have been persuaded to move on"      ( there, fixed that one )

 

otherwise,  you have presented a pretty accurate account of the current state of TV . Forums are meant (imo) to allow different views to be presented.  Sadly, here and in most media outlets prevailing views are applauded and alternative ones discouraged ..... by means I can not even mention !

Of course in any situation there should be some guidelines,  and finding the right balance is never easy and never without those that will disagree.     Ahhh,   humanity.   What a shame that this great experiment has turned  into such a mess.

 

Don't worry about Rumak..... I have long attempted to make the best of what I have :  physically, mentally, and always trying to maintain a sense of humor.   It still is the best medicine.

[RobMuir]

3 hours ago, rumak said:

Forums are meant (imo) to allow different views to be presented.

 

Tvf gives a very narrow view of Thailand. I assume all the staff are older males from the UK and the USA.

 

That is why Trump and Brexit topics were so popular, and much of the news that is important to Thais in Thailand isn't even reported here.

 

Biggest Thai story of today is not to be found here. 

 

This results in a mainly older UK and USA male readership. 

As far as I can see there isn't a single Thai on this forum, or Indian or Chinese person. There are not any females under 60.

 

Some of the questions people put forward would be much better answered by a Thai person rather than an old foreigner just guessing and stating as fact something he heard on the beer bar stool.

 

With the predominantly older, white male content and readership, racism and sexism seems to be accepted which would discourage younger people from different countries who are more open minded to contribute.

 

I would be much more interested to hear a view and experiences, for example, from a young Chinese woman living and working in Thailand than the endless comments from old English retirees who don't really do much here, who have married a bargirl and live in some isolated village.

 

They really should employ some young staff in the news section and also have a Thai moderator to crack down on the endless Thaibashing that is boring and useless.

 

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by RobMuir

[kiwikeith]

On 4/4/2021 at 12:09 PM, PatOngo said:

Here, here!

Thai Visa, through the pandemic has kept expats informed, us trapped that went home for Xmas and those still in Thailand. 

I am making plans to return I hope b4 Xmas, with wife and family. 

The world is in a sorry state, but I take my hat off to Thai Visa for keeping us informed and humoured through tough times, and to posters like Ubon Joe who goes out of his way to help people with visa problems, so well done, Thai Visa 

[GarryP]

12 hours ago, RobMuir said:

 

Tvf gives a very narrow view of Thailand. I assume all the staff are older males from the UK and the USA.

 

That is why Trump and Brexit topics were so popular, and much of the news that is important to Thais in Thailand isn't even reported here.

 

Biggest Thai story of today is not to be found here. 

 

This results in a mainly older UK and USA male readership. 

As far as I can see there isn't a single Thai on this forum, or Indian or Chinese person. There are not any females under 60.

 

 

I'm Thai. I'm not retired. I am in full employment in Thailand. Don't post much on TVF though. 

[Never Been Abroad]

22 hours ago, allencraig said:

Ha, ha, ha! You actually think dietary fats = body fat? I thought only children held that misconception.

 

Dietary fats, like all foods, are broken down into sugars, which is what the body uses for energy. When you take in more sugar than your body needs, the excess is stored as body fat. Some dietary fat contains high amounts of cholesterol, which can be converted to a type of body fat that likes to be stored in your arteries. 

 

Dietary sugar comes in a number of types and forms. Complex sugar types are a bit better for you because your body has to work to break them down into the simple form your body needs for energy. The simple kind is available for the body's use immediately, so if you don't use it right away it is a fast transition to body fat. This is why is great to take a walk after meals.

 

Excess sugar intake IS directly related to obesity.
Too much sugar in the blood steam over time affects insulin levels with CAN lead to diabetes (if your genetic makeup is prone to it.)

 

Now you know just a bit about dietary fats and sugars. Let's move on to your gross misconceptions about how much "fat" is contained in chocolate and ice cream... 
 

Actually, yes, the fat you eat IS the fat you wear.  Put a person's body fat under a microscope and it is obvious if that fat is from pork or fish or whatever.

 

FAT

The body only needs about 5% of its food intake from fat.  Excess fat  is stored as fat (doesn't matter if it's so called good fat or bad fat, it's still stored as fat) until it's needed as a fat or converted to sugar as a last resort. (and we all know how long it takes to shift body fat)

SUGAR

Sugar on the other hand (carbs from rice, fruit, table sugar etc) is stored as glycogen in the muscles.  Excess sugar is <deleted> out. 

 

Basic human physiology every cell needs sugar.

 

Yes it is possible for the body to process sugar into fat but this is a last resort, and in actuality rarely happens.  Most of us overeat fat, as I mentioned above.

 

When sugar is slow to leave the blood, it is because of too much fat in the blood from that or previous meals.  Fat is the problem, NOT sugar.  Type 2 diabetes can be reversed (cured 100%) by cutting right back on dietary fats, but cannot be cured by cutting back on sugars, that's an absolute myth, not helped by the previous mis-labeling as 'sugar-diabetes'.

 

If sugar caused diabetes, diabetes would be rife in Thailand and China. Ask yourself why the countries with the fattest diets have more diabetes.

 

I agree my percentages of fat in chocolate, doughnuts and ice cream are slightly exaggerated for effect...but only slightly.  These are all high fat foods.  Look at the fat content of any chocolate bar label, it will be a whopping 40%, and as I previously mentioned we only need 5% maximum as fat.

 

Folks we've had a number done on us. Intelligent people in there masses are avoiding SUGAR while waistlines are increasing like never before, its not a coincidence.  If there's one food we need to severely restrict it's not sugar, it's fat. ❤????

 

 

 

 

[ParkerN]

On 4/4/2021 at 7:09 AM, PatOngo said:

Here, here!

 

And not all that slow. Something basically wrong with the business model I fear.

 

And as for the reliability of the software... the change in platform has been a disaster.