For some, probably not much would change. You would drift over to a few other sites, spend a bit more time reading the news, maybe dip into whatever else happens to catch your eye. Life goes on right, just with one less tab open.

But what about those chaps who seem to log ten hour days or more on here, in shifts, like it is some sort of unpaid occupation? That is where it gets curious. There are not many proper forums left anymore. Most of that world has been swallowed up by social media, where everything is tied to your name, your face, and when you last dropped a deuce.

What AN still offers, for better or worse, is the ability to talk absolute nonsense, military grade rubbish, or occasional brilliance with strangers, anonymously, on a shared topic, without having to reveal anything about your other obsessions. That alone makes it a bit of an anomaly, and somewhat of an endangered species.

So what happens if it just disappears tomorrow? Do you suddenly discover fresh air and sunlight? Do you become wildly productive overnight? Do you finally seek out mental health services? Do you go on the piss 24/7 for the rest of your life? Or do you just end up pacing around, still opening the browser up to AN anyway, wondering where everyone went?

Or, more realistically, do you find yourself down on Soi 6 with Bob, getting chased around by ladyboys and filling the hole the old fashioned way, while insisting you are “just out for one with the boys”?

I have taken holidays from AN before. Some voluntary, others compelled.

For me, it is one way of staying mentally active.

Having said that, if it disappeared tomorrow, I doubt I would miss it. I would just find other activities.

Spend more time on Ai.

Since only been a member for few years, out of 25 in TH, guess it's pretty irrelevant to me. No loss, and might even be welcomed 🙄

As stated, does keep one's brain active. Along with one stop for all the news I don't care about. Good for a chuckle.

Unchanged

I would miss it for Thai news and thai immigration matters.

You can go looking for that information in other places,

but it is easier here.

I like that it is for us locals/expats in SEA , I don't like people

here that are not in SEA and have no connection to this place.

Anonymity is key , which you don't have on social media.

If you want to comment , youtube seems a good place

but not anonymous. Youtube is not really social media

like the others , I think. I don't do social media.

Yes without AN , I would win some time but would

have to make mobile linked (so non anonymous) accounts

for like youtube.

If I'm honest, it wouldn't change a thing for me. I already spend most of my days and nights on Soi 6 with bob. He send his regards.

Just now, pgrahmm said:

Unchanged

Unhinged?

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Spend more time on Ai.

I support your decision. You can start that now.

There's also the many facebook groups and another Pattaya forum

Just now, 123Stodg said:

For some, probably not much would change. You would drift over to a few other sites, spend a bit more time reading the news, maybe dip into whatever else happens to catch your eye. Life goes on right, just with one less tab open.

But what about those chaps who seem to log ten hour days or more on here, in shifts, like it is some sort of unpaid occupation? That is where it gets curious. There are not many proper forums left anymore. Most of that world has been swallowed up by social media, where everything is tied to your name, your face, and when you last dropped a deuce.

What AN still offers, for better or worse, is the ability to talk absolute nonsense, military grade rubbish, or occasional brilliance with strangers, anonymously, on a shared topic, without having to reveal anything about your other obsessions. That alone makes it a bit of an anomaly, and somewhat of an endangered species.

So what happens if it just disappears tomorrow? Do you suddenly discover fresh air and sunlight? Do you become wildly productive overnight? Do you finally seek out mental health services? Do you go on the piss 24/7 for the rest of your life? Or do you just end up pacing around, still opening the browser up to AN anyway, wondering where everyone went?

Or, more realistically, do you find yourself down on Soi 6 with Bob, getting chased around by ladyboys and filling the hole the old fashioned way, while insisting you are “just out for one with the boys”?

Are there other sites? And don’t you get paid?

Honestly, if AN disappeared tomorrow, one habit would probably just replace another. There is still time that needs to be filled. I cannot work 10 hours outside every day, and I cannot stay in the gym for more than two hours a day, even split between two sessions.

Lately I have started listening to podcasts, and I also have free books to listen to, so maybe that becomes the next habit. Right now I already spend a few hours every day digging into political history, so as I said, one habit often replaces another.

The tool against boredom may change, but curiosity, and time-wasting, do not disappear

Edited May 2May 2 by Hummin

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

There's also the many facebook groups and another Pattaya forum

Facebook groups ? Even worse, thats the last thing I would latch on to! Lowest form of all,

Just now, Hummin said:

Facebook groups ? Even worse, thats the last thing I would latch on to! Lowest form of all,

Depends what groups you've been looking at

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Spend more time on Ai.

Is that the Ai which is same as AI in the rest of the World?

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Depends what groups you've been looking at

I have to admit there are some few resourceful groups on FB. Motorbike and DYI groups is a few among them.

Just now, Hummin said:

Facebook groups ? Even worse, thats the last thing I would latch on to! Lowest form of all,

Facebook, and most of the others, only knows whatever YOU tell it about yourself. And you only need be in contact with the Groups which you want to.

Edited May 2May 2 by wil iam not

I would go back to Soc.Culture.Thai and try to resurrect the bunfight between Lawrence Godfrey and the Thai bloke ? who wound him up so much that he took Demon internet to court and won !!! 😋

Just now, Hummin said:

I have to admit there are some few resourceful groups on FB. Motorbike and DYI groups is a few among them.

DYI? Do yourself In? Why mention only YOUR favourite FB groups. Isn't the motorbike section for the Taxis in Pattaya?

No mention of Vintage Fender Guitars, the music of Brian Wilson, and Indian cookery or Geitost. 555

Edited May 2May 2 by wil iam not

Just now, 123Stodg said:

What Would Your Life Be Like in Thailand Without AN?

My life Wouldn't be worth living.

Edited May 2May 2 by SAFETY FIRST

AN not so much but my life in Thailand would have been very different were it not for the NANAPLAZA.COM. forum, later THAI-360 Twenty-four years later and at least half of my friendships here date back to that forum. It was much more personal in those days with monthly meet-ups and a congenial atmosphere. Not to say there weren't occasional flame wars and bickering but it was never at the mean and toxic level with endless personal attacks that sometimes grace these pages.

AN can still be a very useful information source. Certain members emerge as people who know what they are talking about and they are frequently generous with their knowledge, Ubon Joe helped a lot of people and I have no doubt that Sheryl has saved lives.

Unfortunately, there is also a contingent who are overly generous sharing their prejudices, racism, hatreds and endless contempt for Thailand, it's people and institutions and who wallow in their notion of Western superiority

I feel no sense of community with AN though I have been a member since 2004. Posters come and go but there is rarely the humor or conviviality that was a part of such forums in the early days. I will continue to check AN out daily as long as I am able just as I continue to check my local home newspaper. It's part of the fabric of my existence in Thailand but were it to shut down, it'd be soon forgotten.

Just now, wil iam not said:

DYI? Do yourself In? Why mention only YOUR favourite FB groups. Isn't the motorbike section for the Taxis in Pattaya?

No mention of Vintage Fender Guitars, the music of Brian Wilson, and Indian cookery or Geitost. 555

I related to thai forums on FB only, and the taxi motorbike forum is very handy actually.

Just now, dddave said:

AN not so much but my life in Thailand would have been very different were it not for the NANAPLAZA.COM. forum, later THAI-360 Twenty-four years later and at least half of my friendships here date back to that forum. It was much more personal in those days with monthly meet-ups and a congenial atmosphere. Not to say there weren't occasional flame wars and bickering but it was never at the mean and toxic level with endless personal attacks that sometimes grace these pages.

AN can still be a very useful information source. Certain members emerge as people who know what they are talking about and they are frequently generous with their knowledge, Ubon Joe helped a lot of people and I have no doubt that Sheryl has saved lives.

Unfortunately, there is also a contingent who are overly generous sharing their prejudices, racism, hatreds and endless contempt for Thailand, it's people and institutions and who wallow in their notion of Western superiority

I feel no sense of community with AN though I have been a member since 2004. Posters come and go but there is rarely the humor or conviviality that was a part of such forums in the early days. I will continue to check AN out daily as long as I am able just as I continue to check my local home newspaper. It's part of the fabric of my existence in Thailand but were it to shut down, it'd be soon forgotten.

Yeah lots of anger on here. Might be a post covid thing or just less friendly people. There is only about 5 posters I would want to be in the same room with. The other forums are much more friendly but less posters. It might take a day for a response. On here you get attacked by 3 nuts in 30 minutes.

Just now, Hummin said:

I related to thai forums on FB only, and the taxi motorbike forum is very handy actually.

Facebook groups ? Even worse, that's the last thing I would latch on to! Lowest form of all, except the Pattaya Taxi Motorbike forum of course.

Edited May 2May 2 by wil iam not

Just now, 123Stodg said:

But what about those chaps who seem to log ten hour days or more on here

Do you mean us who actually work on our PCs, which are online 24/7, and it is logged onto AN, so that if a quote or comment comes in, we can see it.

Edited May 2May 2 by wil iam not

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Yeah lots of anger on here. Might be a post covid thing or just less friendly people. There is only about 5 posters I would want to be in the same room with. The other forums are much more friendly but less posters. It might take a day for a response. On here you get attacked by 3 nuts in 30 minutes.

Then perhaps this is not the forum for you. Have you noticed there is only one of you, by that I mean your style of posting. AI and google generated posts, also antagonizing and simply rude posts as well. I also think its off putting to many when you claim to be a Thai expert but dont even live here.

I like to think you reap what you sow.

Just now, wil iam not said:

Facebook groups ? Even worse, that's the last thing I would latch on to! Lowest form of all, except the Pattaya Taxi Motorbike forum of course.

You started to drink to early today 😁

Just now, Rockyroad said:

There is only about 5 posters I would want to be in the same room with.

You should name those 5 and see what they say

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

You should name those 5 and see what they say

Atpeace

Hummin

Khunla

Britman

Safety First

They all seem ok. None of them are crazy.

Edited May 2May 2 by Rockyroad

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

You should name those 5 and see what they say

Name 5 that you like. See what they say.

The old Thai Visa was a valuable as a way to exchange news and information during the various protests, shut downs, pandemics and flooding in Thailand. So I'd miss this aspect should there be another crisis.

There also used to active and informative sub forums about photography, bikes, farming etc, but these are now less active or dormant.

AN is now endless Left Vs Right political bickering plus some weird members who seem to enjoy creating online spats about nothing of importance.

So if AN disappeared it would make little difference to me. I'd miss the Thai specific news updates, but I get the same or more useful information from the English language news outlets on Facebook.