Arrested At Suvarnabhumi Airport

[the gent]

I ignored Richard Barrow's mindless notations on not commiting a crime in the airport but this 'Kipper" is not about people falling foul of the Thai Justice System it's about those who choose to exist in a secure society but who will ignore the common laws of decency and decorum to commit crimes against that same socciety they choose to nurture from and then and should they be caught expect their transgression to be rated according to how they see fit and thus to be treated favourably. I dont steal, I dont carry a fake passport with fake visa's, lend my passport to a friend attack another man with a knife because I have had a falling out with my girl friend. I am not special Kipper. I am normal. Just like all those who you consider are guilty of "cheap jibes and adolescent derision" This sir is what it means to be adult not adolescent...

Well put

For a fleeting moment I rather thought Vic was being sarcastic but in view of the emoticon I must assume he actually appreciates Nip's post. Oh well, each to their own I suppose.

As I understood it the essence of the OP was that, regardless of what one might think of the crime, the penal system currently operating in Thailand invites sympathy for anyone ensnared by it.

Quite simple really. You either agree that medieval barbarity is appropriate within an alleged civilized state or you don't. I happen to take the latter view.

The majority opinion expressed so far, that those convicted of an offence in Thailand should accept their miserable fate without demur because they brought it upon themselves and therefore must forego any rights to decent treatment, is not necessarily the correct one. That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

[jdinasia]

I ignored Richard Barrow's mindless notations on not commiting a crime in the airport but this 'Kipper" is not about people falling foul of the Thai Justice System it's about those who choose to exist in a secure society but who will ignore the common laws of decency and decorum to commit crimes against that same socciety they choose to nurture from and then and should they be caught expect their transgression to be rated according to how they see fit and thus to be treated favourably. I dont steal, I dont carry a fake passport with fake visa's, lend my passport to a friend attack another man with a knife because I have had a falling out with my girl friend. I am not special Kipper. I am normal. Just like all those who you consider are guilty of "cheap jibes and adolescent derision" This sir is what it means to be adult not adolescent...

Well put

For a fleeting moment I rather thought Vic was being sarcastic but in view of the emoticon I must assume he actually appreciates Nip's post. Oh well, each to their own I suppose.

As I understood it the essence of the OP was that, regardless of what one might think of the crime, the penal system currently operating in Thailand invites sympathy for anyone ensnared by it.

Quite simple really. You either agree that medieval barbarity is appropriate within an alleged civilized state or you don't. I happen to take the latter view.

The majority opinion expressed so far, that those convicted of an offence in Thailand should accept their miserable fate without demur because they brought it upon themselves and therefore must forego any rights to decent treatment, is not necessarily the correct one. That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

If we were discussing jails ... and not the crimes that led one to be placed in them I MIGHT feel more sympathy. Then again I would think I would feel more sympathy for Thai folks in those same jails that do not have the income for international travel etc, since having some $$ ameliorates some of the worst of the conditions in a Thai jail.

edit ... BTW I went through 2 malls and to many places today .. and not once did I steal ... or stab anyone ... didn't even get snippy with the folks at Motor Vehicles in Phuket! (then again they were all 'oohing and aaahhhhing over my puppy! so were very nice !!)

Edited June 20, 2007 by jdinasia

[cdnvic]

That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

Always entertaining to see a wannabe writer hitting the thesaurus hard in an effort to prove his worth. Unfortunately it falls flat as half his audience can't understand what he's saying and the other half are intelligent enough to see someone who is trying just a little too hard to impress people.

[megashox]

drunk Brit

[the gent]

That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

Always entertaining to see a wannabe writer hitting the thesaurus hard in an effort to prove his worth. Unfortunately it falls flat as half his audience can't understand what he's saying and the other half are intelligent enough to see someone who is trying just a little too hard to impress people.

Your speculative 50/50 split in the fora readership comprehension strikes me as somewhat charitable. I have no doubt in which category you would choose to place yourself but one wonders if others might agree?

Toodle pip.

[Jimjim]

That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

Always entertaining to see a wannabe writer hitting the thesaurus hard in an effort to prove his worth. Unfortunately it falls flat as half his audience can't understand what he's saying and the other half are intelligent enough to see someone who is trying just a little too hard to impress people.

I don't see how it matters what words he chooses to use.

Edit to note that his words flowed quite well and were much more enjoyable to read than a lot of the tripe and horrible grammar/syntax found on this forum.

Edited June 23, 2007 by Jimjim

[RalphUK]

Your speculative 50/50 split in the fora readership comprehension strikes me as somewhat charitable. I have no doubt in which category you would choose to place yourself but one wonders if others might agree?

Toodle pip.

Fora is latin and is a plural noun. English is the accepted medium here. The singular forum would be appropriate. Forums would be correct if you are also intending to insult more than 50% of contibutors in other forums on this website.

Foreign and dead languages are apparently not your forte (now there I go!) as I see you were corrected on your French grammar a few days ago.

Do try to be a tad less condescending old man -it militates against reasoned debate.

You used that word twice. I confess to having to look it up.

Tiddly poop-a-scoop.

[the gent]

Whatever soubriquet you choose my dear Topfield/Kit Kat/Ralph your inestimable posting style will always mark you down for the eccentric that you truly are.

My usage of ' fora ' may well be a little pretentious to some but nevertheless it was correct although I do concede that the ablative of the 2nd declension neuter plural, foris, would have been more accurate in the context of sentence construction but that definitely would have been stretching things.

Now, perhaps someone could lead us back on topic?

Incidentally, Topfield, taking a trip down memory lane your style is reminiscent of my old Latin teacher to whom we were from time to time enjoined to conjugate in unison whichever verb took his fancy. For some reason ' to lead ' in the present active tense springs to mind: duco, ducis, ducit,ducimis,ducitis,duCUNT!

Toddlepipus

[stevemiddie]

I do concede that the ablative of the 2nd declension neuter plural, foris, would have been more accurate in the context of sentence construction

Now, perhaps someone could lead us back on topic?

ducit,ducimis,ducitis,duCUNT!

You,re a bit of an idiot really.

[the gent]

You,re a bit of an idiot really.

Praise indeed and from a teacher, too!

[xyborg]

<br />genuinely forget to pay? <img src="style_emoticons/default/crazy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="crazy.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

Some older people often forget, dont know how old you are Brit Maveric but my parents now both 80 have done this on a few occasions and they also tend to leave their phone off the hook after a phone call to me so i have a neighbour of there's number to call to go and tell them to stick it back on. On an odd occasion I have picked up a magazine read a bit, something distracted me and I walked out of the shop before realising I had done it. Yes I walked back in again but what if seconds after I had left security had stopped me????

[xyborg]

<br />

Before I came to Thailand, I was a shoplifter. I stole little things everyday (ballpoint pens, etc). I make no excuses, and admit I had an ugly habit - even with cash and plastic in my wallet.

<br /><br /><br />Another quality tourist. <img src="style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />And there I was, about to invite brahmburgler to dinner WITHOUT locking the valuables in my safe. ######, I better revise that plan.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Just lock your pens away but leave the gold medallion hanging it'll be fine guffffffaw

[YangYaiEric]

That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

Always entertaining to see a wannabe writer hitting the thesaurus hard in an effort to prove his worth. Unfortunately it falls flat as half his audience can't understand what he's saying and the other half are intelligent enough to see someone who is trying just a little too hard to impress people.

Hear, hear ! Absolutely agree with you cdnvic; the chap it trying too hard to impress us esteemed Forum members . BTW, what does 'militate' mean? Any ideas?

[jackspratt]

That it resonates with so many posters is hardly surprising since the fora demographic seems to militate against sweet reason and enlightenment.

Always entertaining to see a wannabe writer hitting the thesaurus hard in an effort to prove his worth. Unfortunately it falls flat as half his audience can't understand what he's saying and the other half are intelligent enough to see someone who is trying just a little too hard to impress people.

BTW, what does 'militate' mean? Any ideas?

Post deleted

Edited November 3, 2007 by jackspratt

[Kerryd]

2007-06-08[/b] 20:07:47' post='1349948']

Any help or support you can give these people (there are presently about 500 foreigners in the prison) will be greatly appreciated by all.

2007-11-02[/b] 12:02:52' post='1628978']

There are currently nearly 800 foreigners at Samut Prakan Prison.

Wow, an increase of nearly (or "about") 300 foreign prisoners in less than 5 months ?

I was curious, so I checked out the Foreign Prisoner Support Service, which has a pretty good site detailing Thailand's prisons (especially the ones with foreigners in them), yet this prison, despite it's rather large collection of foreigners, doesn't show up on their site at all.

Doesn't appear on the Thai Department of Corrections (Ministry of Justice) website either, but that site is a little lacking in details.

Lots of sites belonging to Mr Burrows though, and his partner "Gor" (who just happens to be an inmate at Samut Prakarn Central Prison and a business partner of Mr Burrows).

After searching 5 pages of Google hits looking for information on this prison, and seeing almost every hit being about those two (or promoting Gor's book) and a couple of links to TV topics (regarding the same), I gave up.

Got to get back to writing a "note to self" for my next trip through Suvarnibhumi (no drinking, stealing or stabbing waiters while in the airport). Argh, so hard to remember all that !

[ManInSurat]

Why would it worry you unless you intend to break the law....

He took a bottle of whiskey from a hotel bar....he could have asked the receptionist to get him something to drink, He only offered to pay for it when he got caught...didnt have funds to pay for it on him...made no arrangement to pay prior to being caught....GUILTY

There is no potential for me to be a jailbird on this one...Dont take without asking...

And how would you feel if you were the victim of mistaken identity and despite your increasingly desperate protestations of innocence you were still consigned to 3 years of hel_l for nicking 70cl of distilled grain?

Draconian punishment disproportionate to the crime committed is generally the hallmark of any deficient society and in its occasionally barbaric penal system the Thai must rank as positively medieval.

To accept such injustice without demur on the grounds of general principle, guilt is all, is quite abhorrent behaviour in any civilized person's book and clearly militates against progress.

But perhaps the Antipodean experience is so ingrained in your psyche that when the subject of cruel punishment is raised you can only express your deepest gratitude?

-----------

I normally just stay very quiet and read through the posts.

This thread however and several posts therein are far too tempting to stay away.

the gent, "...Draconian punishment disproportionate to the crime committed is generally the hallmark of any deficient society..."

If you sincerely view LOS in an inferior and deficient light, if you are here, why are you here?

Remove yourself from this "Draconian" country and visit Holland for example, you can smoke drugs, have sex with prostitues and possibly stab waiters and still be on the right side of the law.

If you're not in LOS then why are you posting on a Thailand ex-pat forum?

This is Thailand, accept it or stop complaining about it.

And for the love of God man, please put the thesaurus away.

Yes I can understand what you are trying to say, but by writing it in such a ridiculous fashion you just come across as extremely idiotic, as opposed to the omniscient way you probably view yourself.

------

I appreciate the original OP's plight and intent. He did not try to force this down our throats, only make us aware of the situation. There's nothing wrong with doing this.

There's also nothing wrong helping farangs doing time, though many people would disagree with you.

One day, due to extremely unfortunate circumstances (NOT those described in the OP) it could be you (or me) staying at the King's pleasure. You'd probably want someone to visit you then.

------

I completely agree with "accidental" or "absent minded" stealing being possible.

I have to also agree that doing this in a King Power duty free shop would be a hard thing to achieve unless you were a.) drunk (careful with the waiters), b.) senile or c.) senile and drunk.

ManInSurat out.

Edited November 6, 2007 by ManInSurat

[designersing]

"I would like to give a word of caution to people passing through the new airport at Suvarnabhumi in Samut Prakan Province. Do not be tempted to steal anything"

thanks for the sound advice, your mum must be proud of you.

Edited November 6, 2007 by designersing

[Andiamo]

2007-06-08[/b] 20:07:47' post='1349948']

Any help or support you can give these people (there are presently about 500 foreigners in the prison) will be greatly appreciated by all.

2007-11-02[/b] 12:02:52' post='1628978']

There are currently nearly 800 foreigners at Samut Prakan Prison.

Wow, an increase of nearly (or "about") 300 foreign prisoners in less than 5 months ?

I was curious, so I checked out the Foreign Prisoner Support Service, which has a pretty good site detailing Thailand's prisons (especially the ones with foreigners in them), yet this prison, despite it's rather large collection of foreigners, doesn't show up on their site at all.

Doesn't appear on the Thai Department of Corrections (Ministry of Justice) website either, but that site is a little lacking in details.

Lots of sites belonging to Mr Burrows though, and his partner "Gor" (who just happens to be an inmate at Samut Prakarn Central Prison and a business partner of Mr Burrows).

After searching 5 pages of Google hits looking for information on this prison, and seeing almost every hit being about those two (or promoting Gor's book) and a couple of links to TV topics (regarding the same), I gave up.

Got to get back to writing a "note to self" for my next trip through Suvarnibhumi (no drinking, stealing or stabbing waiters while in the airport). Argh, so hard to remember all that !

Just for information, the FPSS Website, although detailed, is not comprehensive, e.g. it does not list Bangkok Remand Prison which is located next to KlongPrem Central Prison or the Prison in Phrae - to name but two...