Odd behavior at a theater.

[Felton Jarvis]

I recently attended a movie at a local theater, here in Pattaya and noticed that during the King’s Anthem, many remained seated.  I was under the impression that this was legally actionable. From what I could tell, those who remained seated were both young and Thai. One guy actually smirked at me as I stood. I have never seen this before. If I am going to have to go to jail, it will damn sure be over something other than failing to stand for the anthem. I try to obey local laws wherever I am.  Any input on this would be welcome.

[Purdey]

Also noticed the same thing some time ago and desperately looked around to see whether anybody stood. Was dragged back down by a friend who whispered, "No one stands these days."

When in Rome etc....

[clokwise]

This is a touchy subject to address publicly, I hope you catch my drift. Let's just say for the last four years many Thais have chosen to no longer honor the tradition of standing when they hear a certain song. Don't worry, no one is gonna haul you out of the cinema and off to jail.

Edited October 16, 2023 by clokwise

[Yellowtail]

Protesting for chickensh*ts.

 

It's like taking a knee at a ballgame.  

[Will B Good]

Wow.....long time since I sat in a theatre.......10 years?.....but everyone almost jumped to attention at that time.

[Felton Jarvis]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

Wow.....long time since I sat in a theatre.......10 years?.....but everyone almost jumped to attention at that time.

I take no chances in Thailand. The risks are too high.

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, Felton Jarvis said:

I take no chances in Thailand. The risks are too high.

I always do what the wife tells me to do.......risks associated with doing otherwise are too high.

[Jingthing]

16 minutes ago, clokwise said:

This is a touchy subject to address publicly, I hope you catch my drift. Let's just say for the last four years many Thais have chosen to no longer honor the tradition of standing when they hear a certain song. Don't worry, no one is gonna haul you out of the cinema and off to jail.

The jails aren't big enough.

As said, when in Rome. 

[cdemundo]

34 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

I recently attended a movie at a local theater, here in Pattaya and noticed that during the King’s Anthem, many remained seated.  I was under the impression that this was legally actionable. From what I could tell, those who remained seated were both young and Thai. One guy actually smirked at me as I stood. I have never seen this before. If I am going to have to go to jail, it will damn sure be over something other than failing to stand for the anthem. I try to obey local laws wherever I am.  Any input on this would be welcome.

The times they are a changin'

[Jingthing]

This shouldn't be any surprise to anyone at all that has spoken to a few Thai people that are willing to talk in the last decade. Of course understandably Thai people don't usually want to talk about such things with f-rangs.

[bamnutsak]

I haven't seen a single person standing (in Bangkok) even before COVID.

 

And I've been to ~ 30 movies, some quite packed.

 

AFAIK it is not required by law. The text on the screen says something like "kindly request you stand".

 

Yes, way back in the day some ultra-Nationalist may have filed a  charge against someone who didn't stand.

 

I'm surprised there hasn't been a crack-down on this. Round up a few people, charge them and scare the rest on the people into compliance.

 

Thai people have very outlets to express their feelings and opinions - without being jailed of course - so they take them where they can.

 

 

 

 

[rattlesnake]

The standing tradition was a sign of respect. His Majesty Bhumibol was deeply respected by Thais.

[BE88]

We are all neutral on the king issue.

[nikmar]

My family have stopped going together to the cinema for a while now, ever since my son started gaining his own opinions on a subject. Last movie we saw as a family was “Creed 2” I think. During the “anthem” my son, along with about 80% of the cinema didn’t stand but my wife, a staunch royalist, did. It wasn’t pretty. All through the movie my wife snapped at our son who, unwisely, argued back to his Mum. We had to leave in the end.

Now, I watch a movie with my son, we both don’t stand. I go with my wife, we watched “Oppenhiemer” recently, I stand with her. Just to keep her company ????.

 

Its not illegal. Some time ago, Prayut advised young Thais to be brave against their peers and stand in support of the institution, even if they are bullied for it.

 

[champers]

Interesting to see in smaller businesses whose picture adorns the wall  ...  and whose doesn't.

[Felton Jarvis]

2 minutes ago, champers said:

Interesting to see in smaller businesses whose picture adorns the wall  ...  and whose doesn't.

When I worked at a university in Alabama, I kept a portrait of Chulalongkorn on my office wall. People kept asking me if it was Chairman Mao. I soon had to take it down and put up a picture of Jesus. So much for academic freedom.

[marin]

6 minutes ago, champers said:

Interesting to see in smaller businesses whose picture adorns the wall  ...  and whose doesn't.

Portraits use to be hung in almost all Thai houses. Now very few. Following the trend of the movie goers. 

[scubascuba3]

I usually enter to go to my seat once i hear the anthem finish

[marin]

2 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

When I worked at a university in Alabama, I kept a portrait of Chulalongkorn on my office wall. People kept asking me if it was Chairman Mao.

Shows the state of Alabama. No resemblance at all. 

 

 

[Jingthing]

I have a funny story.

Before you know what, once I was the only person in a massive movie theater.

I stood. 

I'm curious if Thais would have.

[Felton Jarvis]

Bashing Alabama will not inflame me. I have lived in Thailand happily for eight years. I didn’t leave because I liked it, I left because I retired. To most Americans, not just Alabamians, The Chairman and Chula look fairly similar. Alabama is not known for its consumption of Asian culture.

[proton]

I think it's a myth that it's illegal not to stand, i used to wait outside until the song finished. Now there is no need as hardly anyone stands these days, older people and the odd falang.

[Jingthing]

6 minutes ago, proton said:

I think it's a myth that it's illegal not to stand, i used to wait outside until the song finished. Now there is no need as hardly anyone stands these days, older people and the odd falang.

Illegal or not, back in the times when everyone stood, if you didn't the crowd would generally express their displeasure. I've seen them literally poke f-rang tourists if they were too slow.

[Jingthing]

15 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Bashing Alabama will not inflame me. I have lived in Thailand happily for eight years. I didn’t leave because I liked it, I left because I retired. To most Americans, not just Alabamians, The Chairman and Chula look fairly similar. Alabama is not known for its consumption of Asian culture.

If I had a dollar for every American that heard Taiwan when I said Thailand, well I'd have some more money anyway.

[proton]

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Illegal or not, back in the times when everyone stood, if you didn't the crowd would generally express their displeasure. I've seen them literally poke f-rang tourists if they were too slow.

Times have changed, and we all know why.

[Mike Lister]

I stand, just to annoy people, I'm like that sometimes.

[Jingthing]

Just now, Mike Lister said:

I stand, just to annoy people, I'm like that sometimes.

Perhaps you should sing loudly as well. That'll show 'em!

[EVENKEEL]

Once my kid and I followed the crowd by not standing. I don't follow the crowds now, we simply stand, regardless what the others do.

[Jingthing]

I haven't been to a movie since Covid. If I ever go back, I'll just follow the crowd.

[stoner]

this as an open thread is kind of odd.