I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah. Doesn’t matter what the subject is. Pattaya immigration office woes, Thai bank account headaches, damaged motorbikes, damaged egos, happy ending massages, rent, aircon settings, beer brands. There’s always a certain type lurking about, just hovering like a mosquito near a bare ankle, waiting for the chance to have a little nibble.

 

Someone posts something harmless. Sometimes it’s a bit daft, sometimes it’s perfectly normal. Doesn’t matter. Within minutes, here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.
 

Not because he actually could care less about the topic. He couldn’t give a toss about the latest find in domestic travel, the newest Matcha shops, politics, crime, air pollution, floods, road deaths, graft or whatever’s being discussed. What he cares about is the opening. The little crack in the door where he can stick his boot in and have a go at someone.

 

That’s why I call it sniping. It’s not a disagreement. It’s not a debate. It’s someone who’s had a sh*te day, a proper miserable life, or just has a git personality, and they need somewhere to dump it. Forums are perfect for that. No consequences, no eye contact yeah, no chance of getting a foot right up your arse. Just pure, consequence-free trolling and pettiness.

 

They’ll act offended like as if you’ve personally insulted their nan with your original post. They’ll pretend they’re deeply invested in the subject. But you can tell straight away they’re not. It’s all performance like. They’re just bored, annoyed, and itching for a cyber-scrap that doesn’t involve putting their knickers on and leaving their squeaky old lounge chair.

 

Then comes the best part. The original poster bites back. Maybe polite at first. Then a bit sharper. Before you know it, the whole thing has spiraled into two old geezers typing essays at each other over something neither of them can even remember about. Reads like two old mingers arguing over who nicked whose milk money back in grade school. 

 

And the rest of the forum just sits there watching, munching popcorn, thinking thank me ball-locks it’s not me on the hit list today.

 

That’s forum life in a nutshell. Sometimes it's about sharing information. But often it's not about helping each other out. It's just a digital town square full of people who’d never say a word in real life, suddenly finding their voice once there’s a keyboard and no risk involved.

 

Merry Xmas Eve, Mates...

There are also people on here who seem to fancy themselves as professional trolls that apparently have nothing better to do—posting inflammatory stuff daily.  This happens mostly in the political soapbox section, but they seem to get away with it in other sections as well—take the constant anti-vax disinformation, for example.

21 minutes ago, Lewie London said:

I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah. Doesn’t matter what the subject is. Pattaya immigration office woes, Thai bank account headaches, damaged motorbikes, damaged egos, happy ending massages, rent, aircon settings, beer brands. There’s always a certain type lurking about, just hovering like a mosquito near a bare ankle, waiting for the chance to have a little nibble.

 

Someone posts something harmless. Sometimes it’s a bit daft, sometimes it’s perfectly normal. Doesn’t matter. Within minutes, here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.
 

Not because he actually could care less about the topic. He couldn’t give a toss about the latest find in domestic travel, the newest Matcha shops, politics, crime, air pollution, floods, road deaths, graft or whatever’s being discussed. What he cares about is the opening. The little crack in the door where he can stick his boot in and have a go at someone.

 

That’s why I call it sniping. It’s not a disagreement. It’s not a debate. It’s someone who’s had a sh*te day, a proper miserable life, or just has a git personality, and they need somewhere to dump it. Forums are perfect for that. No consequences, no eye contact yeah, no chance of getting a foot right up your arse. Just pure, consequence-free trolling and pettiness.

 

They’ll act offended like as if you’ve personally insulted their nan with your original post. They’ll pretend they’re deeply invested in the subject. But you can tell straight away they’re not. It’s all performance like. They’re just bored, annoyed, and itching for a cyber-scrap that doesn’t involve putting their knickers on and leaving their squeaky old lounge chair.

 

Then comes the best part. The original poster bites back. Maybe polite at first. Then a bit sharper. Before you know it, the whole thing has spiraled into two old geezers typing essays at each other over something neither of them can even remember about. Reads like two old mingers arguing over who nicked whose milk money back in grade school. 

 

And the rest of the forum just sits there watching, munching popcorn, thinking thank me ball-locks it’s not me on the hit list today.

 

That’s forum life in a nutshell. Sometimes it's about sharing information. But often it's not about helping each other out. It's just a digital town square full of people who’d never say a word in real life, suddenly finding their voice once there’s a keyboard and no risk involved.

 

Merry Xmas Eve, Mates...

True. Every forum is like that. World is full of flogs.

23 minutes ago, Lewie London said:

I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah.

 

So you're not a squealer, Lewie?

 

"grade school" where are you from Lewie.?

 

Your mention of matcha reminds me I've never tried one yet.

 

And it begins!

2 hours ago, shdmn said:

There are also people on here who seem to fancy themselves as professional trolls that apparently have nothing better to do—posting inflammatory stuff daily.  This happens mostly in the political soapbox section, but they seem to get away with it in other sections as well—take the constant anti-vax disinformation, for example.

This is a classic case of "the pot calling the kettle black."

3 hours ago, Lewie London said:

here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.

Nailed it. 

 

Some here just can't keep scrolling 

 

These nuisance types remind me of the snotty nosed kid at school, always making the girls cry with stupid insults. 

 

Sadly, you can't give these guys a slap, teach them a lesson, right from wrong because they attack from their warrior keyboards. 

 

 

Great posting Lewie 👍

2 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

And it begins!

Please provide a link. Thank you. 

4 hours ago, Lewie London said:

I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah. Doesn’t matter what the subject is. Pattaya immigration office woes, Thai bank account headaches, damaged motorbikes, damaged egos, happy ending massages, rent, aircon settings, beer brands. There’s always a certain type lurking about, just hovering like a mosquito near a bare ankle, waiting for the chance to have a little nibble.

 

Someone posts something harmless. Sometimes it’s a bit daft, sometimes it’s perfectly normal. Doesn’t matter. Within minutes, here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.
 

Not because he actually could care less about the topic. He couldn’t give a toss about the latest find in domestic travel, the newest Matcha shops, politics, crime, air pollution, floods, road deaths, graft or whatever’s being discussed. What he cares about is the opening. The little crack in the door where he can stick his boot in and have a go at someone.

 

That’s why I call it sniping. It’s not a disagreement. It’s not a debate. It’s someone who’s had a sh*te day, a proper miserable life, or just has a git personality, and they need somewhere to dump it. Forums are perfect for that. No consequences, no eye contact yeah, no chance of getting a foot right up your arse. Just pure, consequence-free trolling and pettiness.

 

They’ll act offended like as if you’ve personally insulted their nan with your original post. They’ll pretend they’re deeply invested in the subject. But you can tell straight away they’re not. It’s all performance like. They’re just bored, annoyed, and itching for a cyber-scrap that doesn’t involve putting their knickers on and leaving their squeaky old lounge chair.

 

Then comes the best part. The original poster bites back. Maybe polite at first. Then a bit sharper. Before you know it, the whole thing has spiraled into two old geezers typing essays at each other over something neither of them can even remember about. Reads like two old mingers arguing over who nicked whose milk money back in grade school. 

 

And the rest of the forum just sits there watching, munching popcorn, thinking thank me ball-locks it’s not me on the hit list today.

 

That’s forum life in a nutshell. Sometimes it's about sharing information. But often it's not about helping each other out. It's just a digital town square full of people who’d never say a word in real life, suddenly finding their voice once there’s a keyboard and no risk involved.

 

Merry Xmas Eve, Mates...

You're absolutely right. Thank you for this truth.

For complaints the best to use:

https://aseannow.com/contact/

Mention a relatively obscure subject and soon enough someone who is an expert on it, degree from Oxford etc. will appear.  Uncanny!  Like rubbing the magic lamp and the genie appears.

That's the magic of this forum.  Be advised the term artificial intelligence takes on a different meaning sometimes.

 

 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Nailed it. 

 

Some here just can't keep scrolling 

 

These nuisance types remind me of the snotty nosed kid at school, always making the girls cry with stupid insults. 

 

Sadly, you can't give these guys a slap, teach them a lesson, right from wrong because they attack from their warrior keyboards. 

 

 

Great posting Lewie 👍

I think Lewie was referring to folk like you........................

5 minutes ago, transam said:

I think Lewie was referring to folk like you........................

Same to you, but more of it........................

And just when I thought Bob had gone to jail or the after-life here he is again ! Welcome back.

22 minutes ago, transam said:

I think Lewie was referring to folk like you........................

Ha ha, Yeh, I'm the exact opposite. 

 

We have many strange members here who often post stuff I think is really weird but I just laugh and keep scrolling. 

Only commenting on an article or OP. 

 

 

 

It is very common all over social media now, they call them keyboard warriors, they call them netizens, I call them impotent creeps.

 

It's one thing to harp about a politician and the policies that you consider to be regressive and harmful to the nation, it's another thing to make it personal and start insulting other forum members. I just don't think that kind of thing is necessary. 

8 hours ago, Lewie London said:

Not because he actually could care less about the topic.

 

Correction: I couldn't care less about this topic.

On 12/24/2025 at 9:16 AM, saintdomingo said:

"grade school" where are you from Lewie.?

 

Your mention of matcha reminds me I've never tried one yet.

 

From AI world.

On 12/24/2025 at 5:45 AM, Lewie London said:

I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah. Doesn’t matter what the subject is. Pattaya immigration office woes, Thai bank account headaches, damaged motorbikes, damaged egos, happy ending massages, rent, aircon settings, beer brands. There’s always a certain type lurking about, just hovering like a mosquito near a bare ankle, waiting for the chance to have a little nibble.

 

Someone posts something harmless. Sometimes it’s a bit daft, sometimes it’s perfectly normal. Doesn’t matter. Within minutes, here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.
 

Not because he actually could care less about the topic. He couldn’t give a toss about the latest find in domestic travel, the newest Matcha shops, politics, crime, air pollution, floods, road deaths, graft or whatever’s being discussed. What he cares about is the opening. The little crack in the door where he can stick his boot in and have a go at someone.

 

That’s why I call it sniping. It’s not a disagreement. It’s not a debate. It’s someone who’s had a sh*te day, a proper miserable life, or just has a git personality, and they need somewhere to dump it. Forums are perfect for that. No consequences, no eye contact yeah, no chance of getting a foot right up your arse. Just pure, consequence-free trolling and pettiness.

 

They’ll act offended like as if you’ve personally insulted their nan with your original post. They’ll pretend they’re deeply invested in the subject. But you can tell straight away they’re not. It’s all performance like. They’re just bored, annoyed, and itching for a cyber-scrap that doesn’t involve putting their knickers on and leaving their squeaky old lounge chair.

 

Then comes the best part. The original poster bites back. Maybe polite at first. Then a bit sharper. Before you know it, the whole thing has spiraled into two old geezers typing essays at each other over something neither of them can even remember about. Reads like two old mingers arguing over who nicked whose milk money back in grade school. 

 

And the rest of the forum just sits there watching, munching popcorn, thinking thank me ball-locks it’s not me on the hit list today.

 

That’s forum life in a nutshell. Sometimes it's about sharing information. But often it's not about helping each other out. It's just a digital town square full of people who’d never say a word in real life, suddenly finding their voice once there’s a keyboard and no risk involved.

 

Merry Xmas Eve, Mates...

Thought you were [one of] the expert[s].

Many, many months ago a forum contributor called Rooster, who was a noted personality in the world of International Scrabble, and also a moderator if I remember correctly, had a weekly column where he referred to, I guess the late great Dan around Pattaya, as his 'editor' seemingly got the boot from the organisation and disappeared.

However a few months (quite a few from memory) he reappeared briefly under his ( possibly) real name and announced his return. No further contribution to the forum in that name was forthcoming.

Then Lewie London appeared.

Make of that what you will.

 

Lewie ain't Bob Smith.

 

On 12/23/2025 at 11:45 PM, Lewie London said:

I’ve noticed this thing on forums, yeah. Doesn’t matter what the subject is. Pattaya immigration office woes, Thai bank account headaches, damaged motorbikes, damaged egos, happy ending massages, rent, aircon settings, beer brands. There’s always a certain type lurking about, just hovering like a mosquito near a bare ankle, waiting for the chance to have a little nibble.

 

Someone posts something harmless. Sometimes it’s a bit daft, sometimes it’s perfectly normal. Doesn’t matter. Within minutes, here comes Captain Bell-End, cracking his knuckles and lining up a reply like he’s been training for this moment his whole feckin life.
 

Not because he actually could care less about the topic. He couldn’t give a toss about the latest find in domestic travel, the newest Matcha shops, politics, crime, air pollution, floods, road deaths, graft or whatever’s being discussed. What he cares about is the opening. The little crack in the door where he can stick his boot in and have a go at someone.

 

That’s why I call it sniping. It’s not a disagreement. It’s not a debate. It’s someone who’s had a sh*te day, a proper miserable life, or just has a git personality, and they need somewhere to dump it. Forums are perfect for that. No consequences, no eye contact yeah, no chance of getting a foot right up your arse. Just pure, consequence-free trolling and pettiness.

 

They’ll act offended like as if you’ve personally insulted their nan with your original post. They’ll pretend they’re deeply invested in the subject. But you can tell straight away they’re not. It’s all performance like. They’re just bored, annoyed, and itching for a cyber-scrap that doesn’t involve putting their knickers on and leaving their squeaky old lounge chair.

 

Then comes the best part. The original poster bites back. Maybe polite at first. Then a bit sharper. Before you know it, the whole thing has spiraled into two old geezers typing essays at each other over something neither of them can even remember about. Reads like two old mingers arguing over who nicked whose milk money back in grade school. 

 

And the rest of the forum just sits there watching, munching popcorn, thinking thank me ball-locks it’s not me on the hit list today.

 

That’s forum life in a nutshell. Sometimes it's about sharing information. But often it's not about helping each other out. It's just a digital town square full of people who’d never say a word in real life, suddenly finding their voice once there’s a keyboard and no risk involved.

 

Merry Xmas Eve, Mates...

There is also the "thumbs down" brigade. No matter how sensible, well researched and presented by good old common sense, there are some folks that find reason to give it a "thumbs down". (The opening post here got 10 thumbs down so far. Why, what is not described accurately in this post)?
 
Those folks will give a "thumbs down" if one would insist that 2+2 equals 4.

 

Not long ago, there was a time on AN when the originators of likes/dislikes were visible. Unfortunately not anymore.  

 

Ah the usual  bunch of pussy suspects crying. 

That bad man gave me a thumbs down,  yawn. 

Keep on scrolling. 

 

49 minutes ago, swissie said:

There is also the "thumbs down" brigade.

There is also the interrogator brigade.

 

You post a statement or a bona fide media link.

 

They follow with a question. You answer. They follow with another question.

 

This goes on until you refuse to answer more questions.

 

Then the replies come: Deflection. Hit a nerve, didn't I. You don't answer because you don't have an answer. The truth hurts.

You forgot the big one 

The OPPOSITION forums 

They send trolls over to disrupt the board 

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

You forgot the big one 

The OPPOSITION forums 

They send trolls over to disrupt the board 

Which forums are they ?

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

You forgot the big one 

The OPPOSITION forums 

They send trolls over to disrupt the board 

Why don't you go back? They are missing you.

Lewie! Glad to see you're back! I missed it when you posted, but I'm reading this over my breakfast and enjoying your comments. Please keep them coming.

 

On 12/24/2025 at 6:16 AM, saintdomingo said:

"grade school" where are you from Lewie.?

 

Your mention of matcha reminds me I've never tried one yet.

 

Had a matcha latte yesterday very good and I read that they are full of antioxidants.

 

 

 

2 × 2 = 4

15 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Lewie ain't Bob Smith.

 

But maybe from the same chair and PC terminal.

Boys and girls in the back office.

4 hours ago, swissie said:

There is also the "thumbs down" brigade. No matter how sensible, well researched and presented by good old common sense, there are some folks that find reason to give it a "thumbs down". (The opening post here got 10 thumbs down so far. Why, what is not described accurately in this post)?
 
Those folks will give a "thumbs down" if one would insist that 2+2 equals 4.

 

Not long ago, there was a time on AN when the originators of likes/dislikes were visible. Unfortunately not anymore.  

 

What do you think the chances are of those 10 thumbs coming from people who always use the 👎 and their primary preoccupation in life is that of an netizen? 

 

Unfortunately social media has enabled people to become even more nasty than they already were, and to express that nastiness publicly. 

 

It's just another detail that reinforces my notion that mankind is moving backwards at a rather rapid clip, and eventually we will be right back where we started, as Cro Magnon II.