99 % have no clue about budgeting, saving or investing.   

1 hour ago, short-Timer said:

eBooks and audio books are the only way to go now. Save the trees!

I like finding older books on subjects I'm into. In Texas, we have a Half Price Book Stores where you can find almost anything . This year I read Banco, The Jim Corbett Omnibus, With The Old Breed, and Helmet For My Pillow I brought back from Texas last November. I agree on saving the trees though.

1 hour ago, irritated said:

 

Do you know if my Kindle counts?

No. Is it a calculator?

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

Very rarely do you see a Thai person reading a physical hardback/paperback book these days on a bus, train or BTS..... Most are glued to their phones, tik tok and social media rules their lives.

 

It's so sad to see. I always have a book with me, and when I see a fellow Thai also reading a book I immediately strike up a conversation and it usually goes well, especially with the young university gals.

 

Thailand is seriously lacking in intellectualism and people willing to learn from other cultures.

 

Eric.

Wayne Kerr you have missed the bus !

E books come with the communication device, the camera, the social media ,the way home gps , etc.

Thailand is seriously lacking interest in your false expectations of credibility  even here !

 

 

16 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

99 % have no clue about budgeting, saving or investing.   

The average Thai person lacks the income to save or invest.  

Great, haven't seen a Thai bashing topic for a while.

4 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Great, haven't seen a Thai bashing topic for a while.

That is all "bob" knows, hundreds of them. The company he must keep. 😂

43 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Great, haven't seen a Thai bashing topic for a while.

He's a sad and sorry troll. The country that provides the thankless plonker with liberty, shelter, food, clothing, sex, alcohol, medical care and everything else he needs, gets nothing but bashed by him daily, 24/7. Talk about non-gratuitously biting the hand that feeds.

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

 Helmet For My Pillow 

Tell me more.

You're right, it's not common here at all. 🫡

9 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Tell me more.

It's a book written by Robert Leckie about his time in the islands during WWII. From Parris Island to the Pacific. He was one of the characters in The Pacific series on HBO. 

11 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Tell me more.

https://www.amazon.com/Helmet-My-Pillow-Marines-Pacific/dp/B0FV3FB9S9/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NmAiM0o56Qd9Vd-593FviZPMsfMCBUI8Rl1GDf6QSWGKEA76drNyNunKBSXERexw4fhwFVymdgoHvdeiVYN1K2VCIzu5wmBMnnyTyFZhySzj7xS-VF3zEwrVLTI1foJN_VGgngjMWb1HOnZtHfmOIXmy1p12agl24AZV08vHbHeZCXZCNzL7x-rMevVl5CxKxbkORvmaR3SEBVnU4Cm-oQ.JbMm-Z0xYPyN2UUyxh_vhaJDgvwvW4FThut5x53vGDs&qid=1761261564&sr=8-1

13 hours ago, short-Timer said:

He's a sad and sorry troll. The country that provides the thankless plonker with liberty, shelter, food, clothing, sex, alcohol, medical care and everything else he needs, gets nothing but bashed by him daily, 24/7. Talk about non-gratuitously biting the hand that feeds.

Yet you are still only a tourist

15 hours ago, irritated said:

 

All is true.  How many times have you heard a Thai say, "Oh, think too much, headache!"  Case closed. Thank you all for coming.

You get that a lot right.

 

It is your personality that irritates them.

16 hours ago, Stressed Eric said:

Very rarely do you see a Thai person reading a physical hardback/paperback book these days on a bus, train or BTS..... Most are glued to their phones, tik tok and social media rules their lives.

 

It's so sad to see. I always have a book with me, and when I see a fellow Thai also reading a book I immediately strike up a conversation and it usually goes well, especially with the young university gals.

 

Thailand is seriously lacking in intellectualism and people willing to learn from other cultures.

 

Eric.

All books can be read on internet. Your statement lacks intellect.

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

All books can be read on internet. Your statement lacks intellect.

All they do is scroll tik tok.

 

Eric.

2 hours ago, Stressed Eric said:

All they do is scroll tik tok.

 

Eric.

So, you are checking everybody's phone?

I have definately lost a few brain cells living here. One thing that strikes me on visiting the Usa every now and again is the wide range of opinions and topics discussed. It's refreshing to speak freely among those with thick skins over just about anything.

On 10/23/2025 at 6:45 AM, bkk6060 said:

99 % have no clue about budgeting, saving or investing.   

Do you have any statistics for that?

On 10/23/2025 at 5:45 PM, bkk6060 said:

99 % have no clue about budgeting, saving or investing.   

 

20 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

Do you have any statistics for that?

Ask people and see what they say. 🤔

On 10/23/2025 at 4:45 PM, short-Timer said:

Oh, the beloved GG twins. Wonder what would happen if you locked the two of them naked in a room with nothing but the room key glued to a dildo?

Your imagination is somewhat disturbing. Is this what you do at Euston Road?🙃🙃

On 10/23/2025 at 5:45 PM, Sir Dude said:

So called and self-styled "intellectuals" are often over-rated... as they are like academics in their ivory towers. I would say that more respect should be given to soft skill masters and those that can critically think correctly, as some academic are the worse communicators or teachers.

Critical thinking is a problem-solving skill and also one that helps shapes your personality and opinions, thus helping you become an individual and forward your personal development, along with a character arch over a long period of time. Unless you can master your soft skills, then you will be forever trapped in a doom-loop cycle of mediocrity and frustration. 

Free your mind and your backside will follow.

I rather fancy myself as a bit of an intellect - I use long words like wheelbarrow and marmalade, am a great protaganist of the more obscure and lesser used forms of English punctuation such as the colon and semi-colon; and try to read at least one book a week, many without pictures!

 

I am sorry but your post has rather left me behind.

27 minutes ago, JAG said:

I rather fancy myself as a bit of an intellect - I use long words like wheelbarrow and marmalade, am a great protaganist of the more obscure and lesser used forms of English punctuation such as the colon and semi-colon; and try to read at least one book a week, many without pictures!

 

I am sorry but your post has rather left me behind.

 

Left you behind in the rear, Admiral?

21 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

Do you have any statistics for that?

 

No but im sure if you asked nicely gg could probably help you out. 

On 10/23/2025 at 7:03 PM, Stressed Eric said:

Very rarely do you see a Thai person reading a physical hardback/paperback book these days on a bus, train or BTS..... Most are glued to their phones, tik tok and social media rules their lives.

 

It's so sad to see. I always have a book with me, and when I see a fellow Thai also reading a book I immediately strike up a conversation and it usually goes well, especially with the young university gals.

 

Thailand is seriously lacking in intellectualism and people willing to learn from other cultures.

 

Eric.

Comic books don't count

On 10/23/2025 at 4:26 PM, worgeordie said:

Maybe they are reading a book on their phone

 

 

I doubt Bob is aware of that,

 

 

Thais are pretty smart. You can survive here without some smarts.

 

But yeah, not much intellectualism, due to poor education.

11 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

You can survive here without some smarts.

I guess they are not very smart...

On 10/23/2025 at 4:03 PM, Stressed Eric said:

Very rarely do you see a Thai person reading a physical hardback/paperback book these days on a bus, train or BTS..... Most are glued to their phones, tik tok and social media rules their lives.

 

It's so sad to see. I always have a book with me, and when I see a fellow Thai also reading a book I immediately strike up a conversation and it usually goes well, especially with the young university gals.

 

Thailand is seriously lacking in intellectualism and people willing to learn from other cultures.

 

Eric.

Did you know that there is a Kindle app for you phone?

41 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

Thais are pretty smart. You can survive here without some smarts.

 

But yeah, not much intellectualism, due to poor education.

 

This is what I've seen. Many Thais do seem smart and would do fine in the United States. Easily middle class. But it's like they get dumbed down in some way.