Would YOU watch HIS bag on the beach?

[henrik2000]

Today on Jomtien beach I was sitting in the sand, with noise canceling earphones and deep sunk in (earphone-compatible) work. The headphones are easily visible for anybody walking past, by their cables and black color.    

 

A middle-aged westerner and a younger Thai lady walked past me towards the water, held a yellow plastic bag my way and asked something. I didn't hear one word, because of the noise-canceling headphones, but assumed they asked if that bag was mine, what else could they mean? So I made a no-no gesture with my hands.  

 

They left the bag at the water's edge, splashed 10 minutes in the water and walked back past me, shouting something again my way.    

 

This time I took the earphones off, and we had this dialogue:    

 

I: “Sorry?”    

Man: “Thanks!”    

I: “Thanks for what?”    

Man: “Thanks for NOTHING!”    

I: “What do you mean?”    

Man: “Thanks for NOT watching our bag.”    

I: “0h sorry, you see I had the headphones in and was just assuming that you - "    

Man, interrupting: “Okay okay, have a WONDERFUL day!”    

 

He walked off with a superior air, no longer listening to my reply, and the lady laughed happily. He had shown her who the master is, especially as they towered upright over me, sitting below in the sand.    

 

—    

 

No need to comment on their behavior, but would YOU watch a stranger's bag on the beach? Especially when you're occupied with headphone and complicated thoughts and sometimes trek to bathroom or snack stalls?    

 

I rather wouldn't watch a stranger’s bag on a Thai beach:    

 

- Someone might run off with HIS bag in MY care (either planned by him or not) 

- The bag might contain illegal stuff and be part of a setup    

 

Or would you?

[petermik]

goodness me....I,ve just been to the toilet maybe I should post it on here as a hot topic....sorry but have you nothing else better to do?

[Liverpool Lou]

10 minutes ago, petermik said:

goodness me....I,ve just been to the toilet maybe I should post it on here as a hot topic....sorry but have you nothing else better to do?

Sorry, but have you nothing else better to do (to use your words)?  Where was his OP shown as a "hot topic"?

[ChaiyaTH]

It's normal to watch each others bags when on a beach. I guess you both are not the nicest people, that is likely also why you guys met each other lol. Well, and it is of course the beautiful Pattaya we talk about.

[topt]

8 minutes ago, petermik said:

goodness me....I,ve just been to the toilet maybe I should post it on here as a hot topic....sorry but have you nothing else better to do?

Actually you could argue it is an interesting moral dilemma......

 

If I had been the OP I think I may have taken the ear phone out initially to hear what was said so there would have been no confusion........not to say I would not have then refused under similar circumstances however 

[Liverpool Lou]

21 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

It's normal to watch each others bags when on a beach. I guess you both are not the nicest people, that is likely also why you guys met each other lol. Well, and it is of course the beautiful Pattaya we talk about.

It certainly is not normal to be expected to watch  complete strangers' bags.

[topt]

1 minute ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Well, and it is of course the beautiful Pattaya we talk about.

No, No, he said Jomtien beach.......

[ChaiyaTH]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

It certainly is not normal to be expected to watch  complete strangers bags.

It is easy to change words, i did not say expected, i said it is normal to do so. But some people suck indeed, so it can not be expected.

[Liverpool Lou]

17 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

20 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

It certainly is not normal to be expected to watch  complete strangers bags.

It is easy to change words, i did not say expected, i said it is normal to do so. But some people suck indeed, so it can not be expected.

"Normal" behaviour is "expected" behaviour. 

[Celsius]

I would take the bag

[Gottfrid]

44 minutes ago, petermik said:

goodness me....I,ve just been to the toilet maybe I should post it on here as a hot topic....sorry but have you nothing else better to do?

Good on you P.Mic. Now you really told him that you are the one deciding what topic other members post here. You are clearly on a roll. Note to me and all other posters: Do not forget to consult P.Mic before posting.

By the way, feel free to post your story about your toilet adventure. ;-) 

[PJ71]

7 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I would take the bag

Take it where?

[Celsius]

11 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Take it where?

 

With me. It was a gift

[KhunLA]

54 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

It's normal to watch each others bags when on a beach. I guess you both are not the nicest people, that is likely also why you guys met each other lol. Well, and it is of course the beautiful Pattaya we talk about.

Not in TH, for the 2 reasons below

 

And not back in the USA, unless they opened that bag and let me see 'everything' that was in it.  Error on the side of caution, as any 'unattended bag is suspect' in the 21st Century.  SAFETY (mine) FIRST

 

Live longer and happier with better choices, as I'm not in this world to make friends with strangers.

1 hour ago, henrik2000 said:

I rather wouldn't watch a stranger’s bag on a Thai beach:    

 

- Someone might run off with HIS bag in MY care (either planned by him or not) 

- The bag might contain illegal stuff and be part of a setup    

 

Or would you?

 

[kwak250]

I once helped a thai man up that fell off his motorbike.

He was shouting at me and was drunk

My wife said he is saying I knocked him off so now I don't help strangers 

 

Obviously if someone is on fire running towards me I might throw a bit of water their way.

[Guderian]

It's a fair enough question. If I go to the beach I drive the car. So I've got the car keys, my phone, plus I always carry quite a bit of cash, and I prefer to pay for a deck chair and a drink and then ask the vendor to keep an eye on my stuff while I'm swimming. At least he or she has got a vested interest in keeping your bag safe, and they can't do a runner. Personally, I'd never ask a stranger.

[steven100]

if I were the OP ... i would have ignored them at the start,  don't converse with strange idiots.  Their bag is their problem not yours.  Could be a set up,  that's common in Thailand. 

[Chris Daley]

Man:  Excuse me sir there has been a tsunami warning issued in this area just wanted to let you know.

 

I:  *make a no no sign*

 

Man:  Seriously the water is moving away from the shore really fast now.

 

I:  *make a no no sign* these headphones are really good and I can not hear anyone and hopefully no one will steal them because the cables are unique and can be seen easily.

 

Man:  So glad I am alive and dry.

[henrik2000]

Hi all, thanks for more interesting comments!

[henrik2000]

2 hours ago, petermik said:

goodness me....I,ve just been to the toilet

It smells from your reply.

 

2 hours ago, petermik said:

have you nothing else better to do?

Just like you.

[BritManToo]

No, I wouldn't watch his bag.

But I might watch his girlfriend.

[richard_smith237]

Just a miscommunication...  Its easy to see how that happened with your explanatoin.

Others might 'pull off their headphones and ask them to repeat'....  

 

The other guy was obviously pished off at your seeming lack of preparedness to do the human thing...   his misunderstanding thats all. 

I'm sure if you'd have had the chance to explain, then he'd have been quite different. 

 

-------

 

So, would I watch someone else's bag... Sure, why not ?... its the human thing to do. 

Just put it next to me - its not a big deal at all...

 

That said, I suspect now we are going to go down the road of 'Asean-now whatifery'... with imaginative reasons why not to help someone... (drugs in bag, what if someone steels it anyway, what if they don't return etc etc etc.... )... 

 

[still kicking]

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No, I wouldn't watch his bag.

But I might watch his girlfriend.

Dirty old man.

[bbko]

IMO the polite thing to do would have taken the 1-2 seconds to remove an earphone to hear what was being said.  If I was asked to watch someone else's bag or belongings, I'll say "I'll try, but it's not a guarantee". 

As for the OP saying the stranger was standing over him, it brought back memories of those comic book ads I used to see as a child.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

I think you were fine. Most beaches in that area tend to be quiet and they can look around from time to time to see it's safe. I wouldn't think of asking someone to watch my bag. Happy to help people in many circumstances but watch your own bag. 

[richard_smith237]

21 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I think you were fine. Most beaches in that area tend to be quiet and they can look around from time to time to see it's safe. I wouldn't think of asking someone to watch my bag. Happy to help people in many circumstances but watch your own bag. 

 

Neither would I.... but thats not the question. 

 

I've been asked to keep an eye on peoples bags (on the train / airport lounge etc when someone pops to the toilet etc).... no issues whatsoever....   The same on the beach, its really not a hardship to look out for others. 

[KhunLA]

19 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Neither would I.... but thats not the question. 

 

I've been asked to keep an eye on peoples bags (on the train / airport lounge etc when someone pops to the toilet etc).... no issues whatsoever....   The same on the beach, its really not a hardship to look out for others. 

About the 2 worst place to watch a stranger bag.  The constant warnings of notifying authorities if you see an unattended bag didn't seem to sink in then 😮

[Fat is a type of crazy]

52 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Neither would I.... but thats not the question. 

 

I've been asked to keep an eye on peoples bags (on the train / airport lounge etc when someone pops to the toilet etc).... no issues whatsoever....   The same on the beach, its really not a hardship to look out for others. 

Bit different for a few moments while someone goes to the toilet at the airport. I would do that as it makes sense. As long as the bag is at a distance and can't be deemed my possession. . Asking someone to watch your bag while they frolic in the water is a bit indulgent. No I would not like to do that. 

[bignok]

5 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

A middle-aged westerner and a younger Thai lady walked past me towards the water, held a yellow plastic bag my way and asked something. I didn't hear one word, because of the noise-canceling headphones, but assumed they asked if that bag was mine, what else could they mean? So I made a no-no gesture with my hands.  

Basic manners to take headphones off to talk.

 

So you were rude to them first

They were rude second

[bignok]

52 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Bit different for a few moments while someone goes to the toilet at the airport. I would do that as it makes sense. As long as the bag is at a distance and can't be deemed my possession. . Asking someone to watch your bag while they frolic in the water is a bit indulgent. No I would not like to do that. 

Not really if you are sitting 5m away and not moving.

 

The OP was totally rude in the first place by not removing ear phones.

 

It's pretty sad how selfish and self absorbed people are these days.

 

The world is full of tossers.