My local bank wouldn’t serve me until I put on a mask. I thought it was voluntary - has this changed?

It seems to be a bit of a trend after the viral video of the uncle on the sky train. A bus conductor told me to wear a mask today so I said 'mai mee' so she went away, came back and gave me one, to which I replied 'mai aow'. She rolled her eyes at another passenger but then left me alone.

 

It's definitely not the law so i assume there's a little online movement to try to get these filthy farangs into line. Best just to ignore them if you can. The law is on your side.

Having said that, individual bank branches are free to serve or not serve whoever they want for whatever reason they want.

A bank is a private company and can set any policy for their premises that they want.

 

I really don't get the people who still stubbornly refuse to adhere to simple conventions.

 

@edwardandtubsYou didn't set a good example with your behaviour. The staff could have easily thrown you off the bus imho. And no, the law was not on his side. He had no right to break the banks policies.

 

Edited December 5, 20223 yr by eisfeld

4 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

 

@edwardandtubsYou didn't set a good example with your behaviour. The staff could have easily thrown you off the bus imho.

They certainly could not as the law is very clear that mask wearing on public transport is voluntary.

 

IMHO I did set a good example by politely declining to be bossed around by someone making up their own rules without any authority.

Edited December 5, 20223 yr by edwardandtubs

So where a mask while in your bank.

Is that a big problem?

 

1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said:

They certainly could not as the law is very clear that mask wearing on public transport is voluntary.

 

IMHO I did set a good sample by ignoring someone making up their own rules without any authority.

Did this change recently?

 

 

7 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Did this change recently?

 

 

There was debate on this forum on that at the time. Just because some low-level bureaucrat is reported as saying that, doesn't make it so. Look at the articles from June, it's very clear that all mask-wearing rules were abolished.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wearing-face-masks-is-now-voluntary-in-thailand/

Edited December 5, 20223 yr by edwardandtubs

7 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

There was debate on this forum on that at the time. Just because some low-level bureaucrat is reported as saying that, doesn't make it so. Look at the articles from June, it's very clear that all mask-wearing rules were abolished.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wearing-face-masks-is-now-voluntary-in-thailand/

Public places.

A bank is a PRIVATELY owned space.

They are free to make their rules.

15 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

IMHO I did set a good example by politely declining to be bossed around by someone making up their own rules without any authority.

Your opinion, but you didn't set a good example at all as you don't give a hoot about the people surrounding you. 

Go with the flow and wear the mask for the short time in your bank. It isn't a major inconvenience.  

4 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

There was debate on this forum on that at the time. Just because some low-level bureaucrat is reported as saying that, doesn't make it so. Look at the articles from June, it's very clear that all mask-wearing rules were abolished.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/wearing-face-masks-is-now-voluntary-in-thailand/

Why are you trying to attack the person who announced it as "low level bureaucrat"? He's a Deputy Director of the department of health, not exactly low level. That's probably the third highest rank in the country when it comes to health matters after the Minister of Health and Director.

 

The article you linked to speaks of "outdoor and public places", unclear if that includes the inside of buses where mask wearing obviously has a much higher effect. BTW there were plans to cancel the mandatory mask rules end of Oct but still had to go through the process, was anything published in the Royal Gazette?

9 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Your opinion, but you didn't set a good example at all as you don't give a hoot about the people surrounding you. 

I certainly do give a hoot and can see that a lot of people are suffering unnecessary anxiety while the rest of the world has moved on.

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Public places.

A bank is a PRIVATELY owned space.

They are free to make their rules.

Isn't that exactly what I said earlier?

7 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Why are you trying to attack the person who announced it as "low level bureaucrat"? He's a Deputy Director of the department of health, not exactly low level. That's probably the third highest rank in the country when it comes to health matters after the Minister of Health and Director.

 

The article you linked to speaks of "outdoor and public places", unclear if that includes the inside of buses where mask wearing obviously has a much higher effect. BTW there were plans to cancel the mandatory mask rules end of Oct but still had to go through the process, was anything published in the Royal Gazette?

I think it's a little bit oversensitive to consider the term 'low level bureaucrat' to be an attack. The point is, he isn't the final word on the subject for a start and we don't even know that 'mandatory' is the correct translation of what he said.

 

Three months back in Thailand and today was the first time anyone said anything to me about masks, even though I use public transport every day. Don't you think that indicates this bus conductor just made a mistake?

3 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

I certainly do give a hoot and can see that a lot of people are suffering unnecessary anxiety while the rest of the world has moved on.

The rest of the world has not moved on. Cases are rising in Thailand.

 

 

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

The rest of the world has not moved on. Cases are rising in Thailand.

 

 

Actually they fell last week but so what? Cases will be rising and falling for the rest of our lives as covid is now endemic. The rest of the world has moved on in that it has recognised that fact and is getting on with life.

 

Relax, go down the pub, grab a beer and watch the world cup. How many masks can you see. That's what the rest of the world are doing.

1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said:

Actually they fell last week but so what? Cases will be rising and falling for the rest of our lives as covid is now endemic. The rest of the world has moved on in that it has recognised that fact and is getting on with life.

 

Relax, go down the pub, grab a beer and watch the world cup. How many masks can you see. That's what the rest of the world are doing.

I would but your behaviour just made me feel less welcome in the country.

10 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

I think it's a little bit oversensitive to consider the term 'low level bureaucrat' to be an attack. The point is, he isn't the final word on the subject for a start and we don't even know that 'mandatory' is the correct translation of what he said.

 

Three months back in Thailand and today was the first time anyone said anything to me about masks, even though I use public transport every day. Don't you think that indicates this bus conductor just made a mistake?

And I think it's bad faith argumenting and clearly wrong too to call some high ranking official low level bureaucrat. You haven't linked to any "final word" that is free from translation misunderstandings either.

 

Don't think that no one saying anything before indicates a mistake by the conductor. The conductor didn't even tell you they are mandatory, she just rolled her eyes. She even offered you a free mask. I call that courtesy.

 

Edited December 5, 20223 yr by eisfeld

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I would but your behaviour just made me feel less welcome in the country.

I doubt the bus conductor will be in the pub and there were only a couple of other passengers on the bus (public holiday) who appeared to be more interested in their mobile phones, so I'm sure you can safely go down the pub if you really want to.

1 hour ago, happydays said:

My local bank wouldn’t serve me until I put on a mask

So put on a mask. 

2 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

And I think it's bad faith argumenting and clearly wrong too to call some high ranking official low level bureaucrat. You haven't linked to any "final word" that is free from translation misunderstandings either.

 

Don't think that no one saying anything before indicates a mistake by the conductor. The conductor didn't even tell you they are mandatory, she just rolled her eyes. She even offered you a free mask. I call that courtesy.

 

So if I tell you to wear a dunce hat and then offer you a free one if you refuse, is that courtesy?

Just now, edwardandtubs said:

So if I tell you to wear a dunce hat and then offer you a free one if you refuse, is that courtesy?

In her eyes you were already wearing one.

1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said:

So if I tell you to wear a dunce hat and then offer you a free one if you refuse, is that courtesy?

Well I think we're transitioning from bad faith to ridicolous ????

26 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Your opinion, but you didn't set a good example at all as you don't give a hoot about the people surrounding you. 

I thought the point in masks now that covid is classed as an endemic is to protect yourself. Why should I have to wear a mask for the rest of my life because others are overly paranoid? I'm with the OP on this one. 

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

In her eyes you were already wearing one.

I don't doubt it but we all have our own perceptions of who the dunces are in this situation, which is why the wearing of masks has now been made voluntary.

13 minutes ago, alien365 said:

I thought the point in masks now that covid is classed as an endemic is to protect yourself. Why should I have to wear a mask for the rest of my life because others are overly paranoid? I'm with the OP on this one. 

Because they are in their right to stipulate any requirements for their premises. You have no right to force others to adhere to your own point of view.

 

And no, main point of masks was always to protect others. That's why some people wear a mask in public when they have a cold for example. They do offer some protection for the person wearing them as well of course. No one is forcing you to wear a mask for the rest of your life, where did you get that idea from?

There is the legal view and then there is popular public convention, it is unhelpful for a farang in Thailand to challenge public convention. If you want to be a jail house lawyer and point out what the law really says, why not go do that in your own country and not here where your view is neither wanted nor respected.

The phrase that comes to mind is "Grow up".

Don't forget Anutin has ingrained in the local population foreigners are a Covid spreader event. Put your mask on briefly where required here and get on with your day...........