The Red Cross

[Morch]

The small housing project across the street is almost done, and new people started moving in. The nearest house held a few days long event which turned out to be a housewarming and wedding thing. The usual Thai style noisy affair, complete with bad karaoke and idiot drivers. That's ok, it's a village, and it's part of the scene.

 

However...

 

A couple of hours before the festivities began, a largish (1-1.5 m) cross was attached to the roof. At nighttime it turned out to be decked with red lighting, and there it stays. As said, it's a village, so even with the street lighting, still catches the eye at night, and unavoidable from our front porch, parking, or bedroom toilet window (if doing a #1).

 

I like to think of myself as an open minded person, live and let live and all that. But somehow found this to be a bit annoying, disturbing maybe. Tried to figure out why. and came up with several points (I spend an hour or more with the dog at night, so plenty of time to contemplate and gaze at it).

 

Aesthetically, it's an eyesore. Never mind the religious aspect, a large red light sign on a background of dark village skies is out of place. No matter however one tries, the eyes turn to it. Sure, people hang them colored neon sticks whenever there's an event on, but these are gone in a couple of days whereas this one lingers. This goes hand in hand with the, I'll-do-what-I-want-frack-anyone-else attitude prevalent in this country. The happy couple sees their cross (if they bother to look), when arriving home. The neighbors see it at all times.

 

Then there's the copycat aspect - if I've noticed anything moving here it's that people tend to look at their neighbors and emulate whatever seems cool, funky, in, trendy, whatever. The Baan Farang itself is responsible for many of the new houses being white/gray, traditional barbwire fences traded for squares cattle ones, and there are now at least three other night dog walkers. So just a question of time before someone puts it into his head to erect another sign.

 

And then, surprisingly was the religious aspect. More correctly, the zealousness part. I'm alright with people believing in whatever. Their choice. But regardless of which religion is followed, what does putting such a big symbol of it on your house implies? That you're righteous? That you're out to spread the word? That you're not really all that confident about your faith so need reassurances? To put it in perspective, since it's here, we looked about, and couldn't find any similar sized religious sign on private houses. Places of worship, organizations affiliated with religious organizations, yes.

 

Mrs, Morch suspects they're part of a cult, and that one morning we'll wake up to news teams interviewing us about the police forces digging up bodies from the garden and abused children evacuated to safety. Me, as long it's not a burning cross planted in front of my gate - no such worries.

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

Look on the 'bright' side (sorry, couldn't help it) ...

,,, where was I ... oh yea, could be worse ... 

 

 

[chickenslegs]

49 minutes ago, Morch said:

A couple of hours before the festivities began, a largish (1-1.5 m) cross was attached to the roof. At nighttime it turned out to be decked with red lighting, and there it stays.

Post a photo please.

 

If things proceed normally, the cross will fizzle out during the first rain shower and never be repaired. Or, if you are lucky, it will be struck by lightening.

[gargamon]

Complain to your homeowners association and see what they say.  Oh, sorry. I forgot. This is Thailand. 

[Morch]

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

Post a photo please.

 

If things proceed normally, the cross will fizzle out during the first rain shower and never be repaired. Or, if you are lucky, it will be struck by lightening.

 

It's rainy season, and it's still on. Lightning is an option, and a nice touch from the Almighty, but guess this close up it might fry my electrics as well.

[Morch]

50 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Complain to your homeowners association and see what they say.  Oh, sorry. I forgot. This is Thailand. 

Yeah....

 

I was actually wondering though. There are a lot of regulations, laws and whatnot regarding signs in Thailand. Like, you can't use foreign letters/words for some things, sizes, and how you situate them. Guess there might be some clause somewhere about private houses and such signs. Won't follow it, though - too risky messing with cultists.

 

[MrJ2U]

On 10/7/2023 at 7:51 PM, Morch said:

The small housing project across the street is almost done, and new people started moving in. The nearest house held a few days long event which turned out to be a housewarming and wedding thing. The usual Thai style noisy affair, complete with bad karaoke and idiot drivers. That's ok, it's a village, and it's part of the scene.

 

However...

 

A couple of hours before the festivities began, a largish (1-1.5 m) cross was attached to the roof. At nighttime it turned out to be decked with red lighting, and there it stays. As said, it's a village, so even with the street lighting, still catches the eye at night, and unavoidable from our front porch, parking, or bedroom toilet window (if doing a #1).

 

I like to think of myself as an open minded person, live and let live and all that. But somehow found this to be a bit annoying, disturbing maybe. Tried to figure out why. and came up with several points (I spend an hour or more with the dog at night, so plenty of time to contemplate and gaze at it).

 

Aesthetically, it's an eyesore. Never mind the religious aspect, a large red light sign on a background of dark village skies is out of place. No matter however one tries, the eyes turn to it. Sure, people hang them colored neon sticks whenever there's an event on, but these are gone in a couple of days whereas this one lingers. This goes hand in hand with the, I'll-do-what-I-want-frack-anyone-else attitude prevalent in this country. The happy couple sees their cross (if they bother to look), when arriving home. The neighbors see it at all times.

 

Then there's the copycat aspect - if I've noticed anything moving here it's that people tend to look at their neighbors and emulate whatever seems cool, funky, in, trendy, whatever. The Baan Farang itself is responsible for many of the new houses being white/gray, traditional barbwire fences traded for squares cattle ones, and there are now at least three other night dog walkers. So just a question of time before someone puts it into his head to erect another sign.

 

And then, surprisingly was the religious aspect. More correctly, the zealousness part. I'm alright with people believing in whatever. Their choice. But regardless of which religion is followed, what does putting such a big symbol of it on your house implies? That you're righteous? That you're out to spread the word? That you're not really all that confident about your faith so need reassurances? To put it in perspective, since it's here, we looked about, and couldn't find any similar sized religious sign on private houses. Places of worship, organizations affiliated with religious organizations, yes.

 

Mrs, Morch suspects they're part of a cult, and that one morning we'll wake up to news teams interviewing us about the police forces digging up bodies from the garden and abused children evacuated to safety. Me, as long it's not a burning cross planted in front of my gate - no such worries.

 

 

 

Once they get there first electricity bill they'll probably dismantle it and just resort back to Bhuddism. 

[nobodysfriend]

7t6y

 

[AgMech Cowboy]

Gee, golly, gosh... Someone wet all over my leg.

[Adumbration]

Set up a series of spotlights that beam directly into all of their windows that face your house.

 

Then connect them to a strobe output and a photo voltaic switch.

 

As sunsets each day they will be greeted by your strobes.

 

I did this once back in Oz because neighbor set up one of nonce dream catchers that had a mirror on it.  The sun would catch it every morning and hit me right in me eyes in bed.  

[Morch]

13 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

7t6y

 

Aye. The Mrs. forbade it, and anyway I'd miss it.

[Morch]

54 minutes ago, Adumbration said:

Set up a series of spotlights that beam directly into all of their windows that face your house.

 

Then connect them to a strobe output and a photo voltaic switch.

 

As sunsets each day they will be greeted by your strobes.

 

I did this once back in Oz because neighbor set up one of nonce dream catchers that had a mirror on it.  The sun would catch it every morning and hit me right in me eyes in bed.  

I'll pretend to I understood what you posted, but to make things simple, they aren't about at sunset. Come in at night (well they are suspected cultists, after all...).

[nobodysfriend]

9 hours ago, Morch said:

Aye. The Mrs. forbade it, and anyway I'd miss it.

Welcome back .