When people get soaked in water, they don't go into restaurants, bars or clubs. And many avoid going out altogether! Either way, businesses lose a lot of money.

 

How is it possible to be so stupid and not understand this?

Who are "they"?   I'm sure most businesses would love curbs on water throwing, but "they" don't make the laws!

10 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Who are "they"?   I'm sure most businesses would love curbs on water throwing, but "they" don't make the laws!

 

Bars for example. Nobody forces them to engage in this madness and put barrels with water at their bars. But they seem to like to lose a week's profit.

The holiday is theirs only, they deserve to be proud of it

Their country, their holiday, if you dont want to be drenched, stay away from the street parties

13 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

When people get soaked in water, they don't go into restaurants, bars or clubs. And many avoid going out altogether! Either way, businesses lose a lot of money.

 

How is it possible to be so stupid and not understand this?

 

5 minutes ago, hotsun said:

The holiday is theirs only, they deserve to be proud of it

Well there have been several news clips of the govt indicating how much money will be spent/garnered during this "celebration" so wonder who that will be.  Airports are reported preparing for the influx of all the tourists for this splashing activity.  At least the average Thais really seem to enjoy this activity when they can squirt ice water at the farangs with no backlash!

9 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Bars for example. Nobody forces them to engage in this madness and put barrels with water at their bars. But they seem to like to lose a week's profit.

You must be a newbie. You certainly know nothing about the Thais to speak of, if you don't understand why Pattaya is the way it is.

If you had been elsewhere in LOS during Songkran you'd know that it's like that all over, just not as long as in Pattaya.

 

There is more to life for Thais than profit, which is a hard concept for capitalists, I know.

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

There is more to life for Thais than profit, which is a hard concept for capitalists, I know.

 

LMFAO

14 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Bars for example. Nobody forces them to engage in this madness and put barrels with water at their bars. But they seem to like to lose a week's profit.

Madness only for you.

 

Do you understand what Jai yen means? If not, find out and then you start on a journey that ends when you understand why they throw a lot of water in Pattaya.

Yes it is stupid, massage shops for example are dead quiet for Songkran, who wants to get a massage wet. If they were smart they'd make it one day only 

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

If they were smart they'd make it one day only 

 

As they do everywhere in the country!

 

But Pattaya is a sin city and they have a lot of sins to wash off... One day is not enough, they need one week!

11 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If they were smart they'd make it one day only 

or only in certain designated areas where people can choose to participate or not

Here in Koh Phangan it is restricted to 1 day, the 13th and I will stay at home and enjoy the water in my pool

33 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Their country, their holiday, if you dont want to be drenched, stay away from the street parties

Unfortunately, in Pattaya, it's not just a matter of avoiding street parties as the madness goes on everywhere.  What i really object to is throwing water/ice at motorcycles - this is extremely dangerous.  You have to be some sort of special idiot to think that this is acceptable behaviour.

How many remember, the bars, restaurants etc. who set up barrels of water outside their businesses, after Songkran is over?

Thais are waiting the whole year for these few days when they can behave like 5 year old children.

 

Suggestion to make it only one day for the sake of not losing business is like saying scrap the Christmas and New Year holidays as they are bad for business. Imagine how much money bars and alcohol shops could make during that days of closures... And how much money is lost when people travel other places to spend money... Maybe should ban travel altogether so people spend money at home?

 

Net effect of Songkran is positive and there are loads of childish foreigners flying into Thailand to join the fighting... in fact I think foreigners are behaving far worse than Thais when it comes to water games.

 

But listen, this is Thailand and is ran by Thai people. They decide what they want to do and Songkran, a Thai New Year, is deeply engraved into their culture. I admit that I hate this week enough that I get to airport and get the hell out of here just before splashing starts... but that's not because of Songkran itself - which is a very gentle affair of washing away the bad of the past year, but because of what it turned to. There's a massive difference between traditional songkran, celebrated at home, or pouring fragnant water over someone's hands, wishing them good luck, and having a bucket of water emptied on you from a passing pickup.

 

So maybe it's not Songkran that should be shortened or removed, but the water wars limited to areas where those "young at heart" can go and play Russians and Ukrainians.

I think most of Phuket it is only 1 day, it certainly is where I live in Rawai, 

2 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I think most of Phuket it is only 1 day, it certainly is where I live in Rawai, 

 

But this is a Pattaya thread.

 

Everywhere they have it only one day. But in Pattaya, one week!

14 minutes ago, doctormann said:

Unfortunately, in Pattaya, it's not just a matter of avoiding street parties as the madness goes on everywhere.  What i really object to is throwing water/ice at motorcycles - this is extremely dangerous.  You have to be some sort of special idiot to think that this is acceptable behaviour.

You have to be a special idiot to be anywhere near Pattaya during Songkran, and even more special to ride an MC though the crowds.

 

Anybody that goes to Pattaya during Songkran wants to be there. Let me make a prediction, however, that we are going to see numerous reports of alleged sexual abuse by Indian tourists. Tatas in wet tshirts, you know.

 

The Thais should make the celebration there nicer by having free deodorant stands with obligatory use.

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

You have to be a special idiot to be anywhere near Pattaya during Songkran, and even more special to ride an MC though the crowds.

 

 

You have to be a special idiot to force people leave the city or stay at home for the entire week if they don't want to participate in this madness or simply wanna stay safe!

1 minute ago, JoseThailand said:

 

You have to be a special idiot to force people leave the city or stay at home for the entire week if they don't want to participate in this madness or simply wanna stay safe!

Live somewhere else then. Why should they accommodate your needs? Who are you to ask them to change, or even criticize them?

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Bars for example. Nobody forces them to engage in this madness and put barrels with water at their bars. But they seem to like to lose a week's profit.

Most staff  take the holiday off. It is no different when businesses  go short staff from Christmas to  new Years in Europe and elsewhere.   Many bars in the  tourist towns count on the holiday to boost business. 

The water throwing typically stops by nightfall anyway. Songkran in many places is 3 days only  anyway.

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Live somewhere else then. Why should they accommodate your needs? Who are you to ask them to change, or even criticize them?

 

Well, I can have my opinion and criticize whoever I want. It's a free country. Or is it?

2 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Well, I can have my opinion and criticize whoever I want. It's a free country. Or is it?

If thais read your posts they would throw you in jail for defamation

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

When people get soaked in water, they don't go into restaurants, bars or clubs. And many avoid going out altogether! Either way, businesses lose a lot of money.

 

 

Bars and clubs I do.. They are part of the party when the sun goes down.

 

Restaurants.... Meh, too pissed up to worry about food.

2 minutes ago, hotsun said:

If thais read your posts they would throw you in jail for defamation

 

Oh yeah. The collective "thais". Or especially Pattaya girls

In the old mayoral family days around 7pm police cars would cruise around telling everyone to stop  and start spending .Now since the coupe , its  dodge water time until late .

Maybe he made  an "error" re the building on the waterfront but he had Songkran sorted 

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

or only in certain designated areas where people can choose to participate or not

Probably down to the mayor of Pattaya to do something useful

 

For a couple of years when I started coming to Thailand I participated - now if I am here I stock up and stay in. BUT it is their new year and their tradition so let those who want to enjoy the "fun" do so.

12 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Bars and clubs I do.. They are part of the party when the sun goes down.

 

Restaurants.... Meh, too pissed up to worry about food.

It isnt like there is a shortage of wet bargirls to feed you Srai Grok as you lay in the reclining position in front of a bar, soaked and doing a mouth open seal imitation