8 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

More race baiting nonsense.

It's not race baiting when it's literally the same races (African and Arab "French") every time. Anyone who lives in Patong (I did before) will tell you the same thing.

6 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

It's not race baiting when it's literally the same races (African and Arab "French") every time. Anyone who lives in Patong (I did before) will tell you the same thing.

Except the statistics do not support your position.

8 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Oh, and illegalize marijuana again - it's attracting the wrong type of tourists.

I can only agree.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Except the statistics do not support your position.

Come on CJ, you've already shown there is a gatekeeper for authoritarianism deep inside you, how about letting him out once again? It would be for the good cause, this time.

August 2021:

12 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Come on CJ, you've already shown there is a gatekeeper for authoritarianism deep inside you, how about letting him out once again? It would be for the good cause, this time.

August 2021:

Hardly equivalent. Anti-vax stupidity affects everyone. Vaccinating is good for everyone, as is ending racism.

On 4/16/2026 at 5:49 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Songkran isn’t a free pass to behave like idiots.

But that's exactly what it is.

17 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Except the statistics do not support your position.

What statistics? I literally lived there and witnessed them terrorizing Patong every night. GTFO.

Is it time to maybe ask for a criminal record check for French nationals entering Thailand ? Both the EU have a very easy database to get this certificate to say you have not committed any criminal offense.

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

But that's exactly what it is.

Exactly so!

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Exactly so!

Precisely.

19 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

What statistics? I literally lived there and witnessed them terrorizing Patong every night. GTFO.

Ideologues often bring out of reality numbers to support their view.

On 4/18/2026 at 7:35 AM, save the frogs said:

On 4/16/2026 at 11:49 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Songkran isn’t a free pass to behave like idiots.

But that's exactly what it is.

It isn’t - not by a long shot.

What stands out in Thailand is how well people behave, as long as you understand the areas. Stay out of the known “play zones” and people are well controlled. I’ve managed that every year - th

We join in during the day - family-friendly, light-hearted, no excess. Even on Soi 11 with kids in the past, it’s fine early on. We just leave before dark, when the tone shifts.

Same approach elsewhere - dip into the chaos, step out when it gets too much. Simple.

I’ve even ridden through it in my localised area without getting soaked - hand up, and most people respect it.

The reality is most aren’t idiots - they’re just enjoying it. Songkran is brilliant for that, if you can walk away when you want. If you live in the thick of it, that’s harder.

There are zones where everyone seems fair game - and a few take it too far - that happens with everything, play football for fun and someone will make an overzealous tackle etc - with Songkran its the prick who spays ice water in the face at point blank, that sort of thing. But that’s just people. There’s always a minority with no filter.

But - its It’s not a free pass for outright stupidity - not for kids, not for workers, not for anyone just getting on with their day.

But in certain pockets, it is controlled chaos. And that’s exactly what Thailand sells - and why people keep coming back.