Does this online community make you feel very happy and fulfilled?

[FriscoKid]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Ha ... the more educated less evil doppelganger twin of Harrisfan?

Anything is possible. Maybe he's so skint now that he's had to resort to teaching trolling classes just to earn enough to pay for another plate of pork fried rice. 

[bendejo]

12 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Sometimes that is the polite thing to do. I'm thinking of when they used to throw a baseball back to the field after a player reached a milestone, so the player had the keepsake. It isn't done now, which speaks to the loss of decency in people.

 

Check out a movie called "Eight Men Out" and notice the difference in the attitude/manner of the players and the way they are toward the fans.

 

[JimHuaHin]

In a word "no".  The explicit great ignorance of some and the desire by others to deliberately spread disinformation is disturbing; but a reflection of the world we live in; a world that will be soon gone.

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, Don Giovanni said:

Am I on your ignore list yet?

 

The Don.

Ignoring would not help because it's one sided only. 

[Rumpelstilskin]

18 hours ago, jas007 said:

Online communities?  it's more or less just something to do.  I feel like I'm talking to myself, mostly but I post anyway.  But if it all disappeared tomorrow, I'd surely find something else to do. There was a time when the Internet didn't exist, and everyone survived. 

 

I read a lot.  On X, I never post anything because my account is private or whatever, so anything I post would be read by about no one.  

I also read a lot, fuelled by Dasa books and Canterbury Tales in Pattaya. I get The New Yorker and read it and work on the crosswords.  This forum is helpful, particularly Sheryl on healthcare; she must be very kind. The expat credo: no generousity/no reciprocity is pretty evident here. I taught school in Mandalay, almost 3 years away from family. Those are very caring and giving people. It is gutwrenching to see that destruction. Looks a lot like natural forces are pushing back pretty hard on human development. Sorry to go on with a parade of thoughts. Hope we've learned we will need to help others....

[Don Giovanni]

26 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Ignoring would not help because it's one sided only. 

why do people do it then?

 

The Don.

[jippytum]

No. But it make me realise how many expats leave their brains and commonsense at departures. 

[WDSmart]

No, these forums don't make me "happy and fulfilled." And yes, I am on them mainly out of boredom. 

[StandardIssue]

Better to ask Bob.

[Jim Blue]

15 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Buy a paper.

Some would buy comics !

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, JK-Trilly said:

My post here is meant to be a bit of a confession and, for me, I can honestly say it doesn’t give me much fulfillment, yet I still keep coming back to read things daily. I’m not even sure why. I likely fall into one of the categories I just mentioned above. Honestly, it feels like a bad habit I wish I could break, but so far, I haven’t been able to, although some days I am able to really pull away from it all. So it's still a work in progress.

Ditto.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Don Giovanni said:

why do people do it then?

 

The Don.

It's like a bad habit that we just can't break. I've tried to get out so many times, but I keep getting sucked back in.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

a reflection of the world we live in; a world that will be soon gone.

So true. The sheeple keep running around oblivious to the doom that is surely coming.

[PomPolo]

22 hours ago, JK-Trilly said:

Does this online community make you feel very happy and fulfilled, or are you here mainly out of boredom, loneliness, anger, frustration, depression, or something else?

 

My post here is meant to be a bit of a confession and, for me, I can honestly say it doesn’t give me much fulfillment, yet I still keep coming back to read things daily. I’m not even sure why. I likely fall into one of the categories I just mentioned above. Honestly, it feels like a bad habit I wish I could break, but so far, I haven’t been able to, although some days I am able to really pull away from it all. So it's still a work in progress.

 

That’s not to say I’m here to bash the forum or blame anyone. It’s certainly not anyone’s fault. In fact, it’s probably my own fault for looking for fulfillment within something that likely isn’t capable of providing it. There are a few posters here who seem quite obsessed and very toxic, and I really don’t like reading what they have to say, so I just look past their posts and don’t fall victim to their negativity. So that isn’t really the big problem. Also, it is what it is, so everyone has the right to express their thoughts.

 

I think the main issue for me is that most of what I see and read on the site just doesn’t really resonate with me. There are very few people whose opinions I feel I can relate to. That said, I do enjoy reading posts from a handful of members, particularly those who take a more thoughtful, intellectual, and philosophical approach rather than filling their posts with repetitive bias and anger.

 

Unfortunately, the loudest voices on the forum are often the ones who post incessantly without adding much and often seem to be the most aggressive and condescending. Some discussions are dominated by people who don’t appear interested in real conversation but rather just want to be heard or to criticize others. That makes a lot of topics feel repetitive and unproductive. Maybe that’s a big part of the problem for me and that they create an atmosphere that I often don’t want to be a part of.

 

I tend to browse The Pub and The Political Soapbox the most, and sometimes I check out the (mostly shocking and disturbing) news section. However, I often find that discussions quickly stray so far from the original topic, often turning into bickering matches, that I simply lose interest. I wish I had ideas to offer on how to improve the discourse here, but honestly, I’m not sure if there’s a real solution. Maybe it’s just the nature of online communities. There are only so many topics to discuss, and eventually, things start to feel stale.

 

If I had one suggestion to make, it would be to limit people to a maximum number of posts per 24-hour period. Say, no more than 35-40. I still think that’s a generous number, but it would certainly help reduce the level of toxicity from those who seem to go to great lengths to regularly sour the mood with their daily post counts, often up in the hundreds.

 

That said, I’m curious if there are other areas of the forum that people find more engaging or rewarding, perhaps sections I’ve totally overlooked? I know there are plenty of areas where people ask and share information on topics related to life in Thailand, visas, and similar topics, and those can be really helpful for those in need of specific details. But for me, I rarely need that kind of information, so those sections don’t hold much interest. I do like the section about banking and the economy, but again, there isn’t much new and interesting content being discussed there. It’s often just people having difficulty transferring funds, tax questions, how to open financial accounts, and similar issues.

 

Anyway, I’m just throwing this out there to see what others think. Maybe some of you feel the same way, or maybe you see things totally differently. Any feedback, either positive, constructive or negative about what I said is more than welcome. 

You've only made 58 posts you can't be getting dragged back to it that much 

[Sierra Tango]

23 hours ago, JK-Trilly said:

Does this online community make you feel very happy and fulfilled, or are you here mainly out of boredom, loneliness, anger, frustration, depression, or something else?

 

My post here is meant to be a bit of a confession and, for me, I can honestly say it doesn’t give me much fulfillment, yet I still keep coming back to read things daily. I’m not even sure why. I likely fall into one of the categories I just mentioned above. Honestly, it feels like a bad habit I wish I could break, but so far, I haven’t been able to, although some days I am able to really pull away from it all. So it's still a work in progress.

 

That’s not to say I’m here to bash the forum or blame anyone. It’s certainly not anyone’s fault. In fact, it’s probably my own fault for looking for fulfillment within something that likely isn’t capable of providing it. There are a few posters here who seem quite obsessed and very toxic, and I really don’t like reading what they have to say, so I just look past their posts and don’t fall victim to their negativity. So that isn’t really the big problem. Also, it is what it is, so everyone has the right to express their thoughts.

 

I think the main issue for me is that most of what I see and read on the site just doesn’t really resonate with me. There are very few people whose opinions I feel I can relate to. That said, I do enjoy reading posts from a handful of members, particularly those who take a more thoughtful, intellectual, and philosophical approach rather than filling their posts with repetitive bias and anger.

 

Unfortunately, the loudest voices on the forum are often the ones who post incessantly without adding much and often seem to be the most aggressive and condescending. Some discussions are dominated by people who don’t appear interested in real conversation but rather just want to be heard or to criticize others. That makes a lot of topics feel repetitive and unproductive. Maybe that’s a big part of the problem for me and that they create an atmosphere that I often don’t want to be a part of.

 

I tend to browse The Pub and The Political Soapbox the most, and sometimes I check out the (mostly shocking and disturbing) news section. However, I often find that discussions quickly stray so far from the original topic, often turning into bickering matches, that I simply lose interest. I wish I had ideas to offer on how to improve the discourse here, but honestly, I’m not sure if there’s a real solution. Maybe it’s just the nature of online communities. There are only so many topics to discuss, and eventually, things start to feel stale.

 

If I had one suggestion to make, it would be to limit people to a maximum number of posts per 24-hour period. Say, no more than 35-40. I still think that’s a generous number, but it would certainly help reduce the level of toxicity from those who seem to go to great lengths to regularly sour the mood with their daily post counts, often up in the hundreds.

 

That said, I’m curious if there are other areas of the forum that people find more engaging or rewarding, perhaps sections I’ve totally overlooked? I know there are plenty of areas where people ask and share information on topics related to life in Thailand, visas, and similar topics, and those can be really helpful for those in need of specific details. But for me, I rarely need that kind of information, so those sections don’t hold much interest. I do like the section about banking and the economy, but again, there isn’t much new and interesting content being discussed there. It’s often just people having difficulty transferring funds, tax questions, how to open financial accounts, and similar issues.

 

Anyway, I’m just throwing this out there to see what others think. Maybe some of you feel the same way, or maybe you see things totally differently. Any feedback, either positive, constructive or negative about what I said is more than welcome. 

I agree with the limit on posts per day and looking at your post JK, there should be a limit on the length of the posts. 100 charaters or less maybe. 😂 Just kidding and appreciate your confession my son.

[Thingamabob]

The site provides useful information and experiences from time to time about life and living in Thailand. The occasional toxicity can be a bit of fun, although some people take it way too seriously, and get far too angry and abusive about things, especially the anti-Trumpers.

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, Don Giovanni said:

why do people do it then?

 

The Don.

Ask the "people"

[JK-Trilly]

Lots of good feedback here. It seems like many people are simply on the site because of boredom, and some are like me, hoping to break the habit completely, rather than looking for happiness or fulfillment, which is something I don't seem to get from the site as I mentioned in my OP. That got me thinking, if we’re not here to find personal happiness or emotional fulfillment, then what is it that we’re actually hoping to get out of the site when we come here? That is a good question.

 

Is it just about passing the time, learning something new, or maybe finding some interesting conversations? Or is it just about being heard, sharing your thoughts with others and offering advice? Perhaps if we shifted our focus a little and thought about ways we can still get something useful from the site, without expecting emotional satisfaction from it, then maybe that would work better. 

 

For example, do you think there are parts of the site that offer more intellectual or thought-provoking discussions, rather than pure toxicity, that might be more enriching, even if they don’t provide happiness or fulfillment? Or perhaps some people could find it useful for personal growth, even if the site isn’t a place to seek happiness. 

 

I also wonder if there’s a way to engage in a more positive way without getting drawn into reading all the heavy negativity that can sometimes take over. So I wonder how does one manage to avoid the temptation of following negative threads or posts that don’t contribute to anything productive? Is there a way to focus on just the good parts without getting caught up in the drama or angry and intense bickering matches?

[alien365]

To me, it's not about being happy or fulfilled, it's about finding out what is happening around the country. I think it is a good source of news. I get the newsletter every morning, skim through the headlines and see if there's anything worth reading about. To avoid a lot of bickering I simply don't read the comments when it's relating to things like US and Thai politics. Also, as soon as I see Thai basher or Thai apologists being mentioned, I usually stop reading as I expect the threads will go south.

[JK-Trilly]

10 minutes ago, alien365 said:

To me, it's not about being happy or fulfilled, it's about finding out what is happening around the country. I think it is a good source of news. I get the newsletter every morning, skim through the headlines and see if there's anything worth reading about. To avoid a lot of bickering I simply don't read the comments when it's relating to things like US and Thai politics. Also, as soon as I see Thai basher or Thai apologists being mentioned, I usually stop reading as I expect the threads will go south.

 

That does sound like a generally positive approach and a good way to avoid the bickering and toxicity. My only caveat is that I find many of the news headlines pretty negative and disturbing, especially the ones highlighted in the daily newsletters. Do you agree?

 

A lot of the newsletter highlights seem to focus on drug or other criminal-related arrests of foreigners, and there are often stories about foreigners causing problems and ending up in trouble in Thailand. To me, this creates a pattern of negative and toxic topics that I really don’t want to start my day reading. It seems like this type of content attracts attention, which might be why it dominates the newsletters. Honestly, if there weren't so many links to drug busts or foreigner arrests, I think I’d find the newsletters more positive. There’s nothing wrong with including those news stories on the site for those who want to read them, but I don't need them to be the primary focus in my inbox.

[alien365]

33 minutes ago, JK-Trilly said:

 

That does sound like a generally positive approach and a good way to avoid the bickering and toxicity. My only caveat is that I find many of the news headlines pretty negative and disturbing, especially the ones highlighted in the daily newsletters. Do you agree?

 

A lot of the newsletter highlights seem to focus on drug or other criminal-related arrests of foreigners, and there are often stories about foreigners causing problems and ending up in trouble in Thailand. To me, this creates a pattern of negative and toxic topics that I really don’t want to start my day reading. It seems like this type of content attracts attention, which might be why it dominates the newsletters. Honestly, if there weren't so many links to drug busts or foreigner arrests, I think I’d find the newsletters more positive. There’s nothing wrong with including those news stories on the site for those who want to read them, but I don't need them to be the primary focus in my inbox.

Naturally news tends to focus more on the bad rather than the good. I shake my head in disbelief at what some people get up to here. I then think I'm glad that I don't live in an area with people like that. When I see the bickering start, I usually go to another topic, but sometimes it amuses me with some clever or amusing responses. One thing I'm glad about is that they have stopped with all those Vloggers. I just want to see the news, not someone making the news about them. If the forum continued in that direction, I wouldn't look at it anymore.

[RocketDog]

Sadly the beat reply I can give you is this:

 

Pretty much all forms of social media have succumbed to decay into dumpster fires washing into a swirling sewar.

 

Humans want to be heard and, against all evidence and feedback to the contrary, believe that they have something to contribute that the world must hear, comprehend, and agree with RIGHT NOW!

 

Social media is the pitiful distillation of that common misapprehension and a painful reminder of humanity's likely fatal disability: near utter failure to communicate even the simplest concepts to each other.

 

I've never indulged in any of it save this forum. I joined when I first came to the Kingdom and it was a source of cultural information that was valuable to me. It was called Thaivisa then.

 

Now, it's clear that the only cultural insights I can gain on AN  are related to some of the worst traits of human nature, particularly western cultures. I already know more than I want of those.

 

I still post occasionally but generally don't read replies because I have no reason to believe anybody cares what I think and I don't want to take the bait of some malcontent looking for a 30 reply bicker-fest.

[Caldera]

I'm here mostly for my amusement. I know that most posters cannot be taken seriously and I don't really have a problem with that, as long as they don't try to sell me anything. 

[rogerpattaya]

Does this online community make you feel very happy and fulfilled, or are you here mainly out of boredom, loneliness, anger, frustration, depression, or something else?

 

Indeed it does.

 

It reminds me that I am still smarter than most posters.

[brianburi]

I'm here for the rants and raves, though since the orange man is now in charge the topics are getting tedious.  Stick to Thailand.....

 

Especially the old favourites:

• My wife was the cashier
• How much allowance do you give your TW/GF/BF
• Should I pay Sinsot 
• My GF is a hot uni hi-so
• Is Pattaya a family resort
• Do I wai everyone
• Show us what you built here......
• Can I live on 3 million Baht a month??....
• I'm leaving Thailand (don't let the door bang your butt on the way out)
•  

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/31/2025 at 6:27 PM, Thingamabob said:

The site provides useful information and experiences from time to time about life and living in Thailand. The occasional toxicity can be a bit of fun, although some people take it way too seriously, and get far too angry and abusive about things, especially the anti-Trumpers.

Most of the forum is useful. There is one subforum that is a hotbed of anger, hatred, insults and trolling. Thank the deity for the ignore function.

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, brianburi said:

My GF is a hot uni hi-so

My GF is a hot uni hi-so Chinese Thai.

 

Fixed it for you.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/31/2025 at 7:59 PM, JK-Trilly said:

Is it just about passing the time, learning something new, or maybe finding some interesting conversations? Or is it just about being heard, sharing your thoughts with others and offering advice? Perhaps if we shifted our focus a little and thought about ways we can still get something useful from the site, without expecting emotional satisfaction from it, then maybe that would work better. 

To know the enemy one must see their words.