15 hours ago, atpeace said:

No, I think Richard stumbled into a relationship where his money was of no concern. It happens at all levels in Foreigner/Thai relationships but has more to do with luck than anything else. I stumbled in such a relationship. Not because I cared or was looking for a lady that didn't need my money. In very rare situations foreigners by pure luck meet one of these unicorns :) Acting as if it is normal is bizarre and don't get where the other poster you replied to is coming from.

I prefer the term "forced" rather than "stumbled", because I had very little power over it.

And unicorns are by no means rare. Only on these hallowed pages are such experiences considered exceptional. In the real world, I see real people in real relationships built on mutual respect, affection and financial independence - Thai-Thai or Thai-Foreinger mixed. That's not an ideology, it's simply reality. It just seems to be a reality that lies beyond the scope of some people's experience.

These relationships are no different from those found in the West.

As for Brit's cynicism, we can probably set that aside. By his own admission, he was thoroughly steamrolled by a woman and appears to have become so bitter as a result that "normal" can never again be normal in his eyes.

Perhaps that's why his first wife eventually flew the cuckoo's nest in the first place - for he's hardly a shining example of consideration, generosity or balance. Misogynistic, bordering on bigoted, would be closer to the mark.

His relationship advice, observations and interpretations are so heavily coloured by his own experiences that he can no longer distinguish between personal disappointment and objective reality.

16 hours ago, AngryMan said:

The only advice I can offer from many years and vast experience is:

Try and chose a lady that has no immediate family, as it should make life a lot simpler in the long run with no one asking for money for family etc, etc. This quest, can be challenging but it is a quest that will keep you busy for many days and many nights!

But whoever you chose, remember always act with understanding and respect to her religious beliefs.

Take care of her, and treat her like a lady, just as you would want your own sister to be treated, with dignity and respect!

Some of them are Angels and some of them are even, dare I say it, Devils! Have fun finding out and enjoy the ride!

You are here just once, on this pale blue dot we call planet earth only once, so live life to the full and die happy!👻

Based on the advice above, your first date questionnaire should probably look something like this:

1) Are both parents deceased? (Y / N)

2) If not, how old are they and what are their monthly expenses ??

3) Number of siblings? (Please attach balance sheets.)

4) Number of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and other potential recipients of "small emergencies" ??

5) Any family members with medical conditions, gambling habits, business ventures, water buffaloes or unfinished houses?

6) Religious beliefs? (Must be respected, regardless of cost.)

7) Angel or Devil? Please circle one.

8) If Devil, on a scale of 1-10, how entertaining?

9) Have you ever uttered the phrase "my family needs a little help" ???

10) Can you provide three independent references confirming this is unlikely to occur in the future ????

11) Do you agree that life is short and should be lived to the full, preferably without requests for school fees, hospital bills or a brother's new motorcycle?

Congratulations - on attempting the screening process, you have now found true love.

I have successfully completed 'Phase One' of the due diligence and can now give you a bit of a see'in to !!!

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

I only read your cr*p as it was a direct reply to me. I read nothing else from you in this thread, and I've only read a small number of posts here. You might live here, but I have other things to do.

I'm well aware of population demographics and the below-replacement fertility rate in Thailand and many other countries, and I'm not interested in what you have to say on the topic. There is more than enough good information on the topic available online. Had you not replied to my post, you would never have heard from me.

I'd suggest you find someone else to annoy.

So you're annoyed? Only 107 words? Doesn't show much.

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I prefer the term "forced" rather than "stumbled", because I had very little power over it.

And unicorns are by no means rare. Only on these hallowed pages are such experiences considered exceptional. In the real world, I see real people in real relationships built on mutual respect, affection and financial independence - Thai-Thai or Thai-Foreinger mixed. That's not an ideology, it's simply reality. It just seems to be a reality that lies beyond the scope of some people's experience.

These relationships are no different from those found in the West.

As for Brit's cynicism, we can probably set that aside. By his own admission, he was thoroughly steamrolled by a woman and appears to have become so bitter as a result that "normal" can never again be normal in his eyes.

Perhaps that's why his first wife eventually flew the cuckoo's nest in the first place - for he's hardly a shining example of consideration, generosity or balance. Misogynistic, bordering on bigoted, would be closer to the mark.

His relationship advice, observations and interpretations are so heavily coloured by his own experiences that he can no longer distinguish between personal disappointment and objective reality.

Congrats and I'm not being condescending. Being in a relationship that doesn't revolve around money or at a minimum heavily dependent on it, is nice if that is what your looking for in a relationship.

I understand Britmantoo and Scuba also. Some people don't need a partnership where both parties are equals. They live life by their rules and the women they're with aren't being deceived.

10 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Congrats and I'm not being condescending. Being in a relationship that doesn't revolve around money or at a minimum heavily dependent on it, is nice if that is what your looking for in a relationship.

I understand Britmantoo and Scuba also. Some people don't need a partnership where both parties are equals. They live life by their rules and the women they're with aren't being deceived.

And that I don't begrudge. They're being honest with themselves and with the women they're with (possibly).

What I often find myself objecting to is the sweeping generalisation that all relationships fit neatly into a very narrow range of experiences of those who's experience is limited to 'disastrous' - while they proudly present themselves as authorities on relationships and male-female dynamics.

In trying so hard to project "alpha male" wisdom and avoid being labelled a simp, they often end up in the very category they're desperate to distance themselves from. They become so focused on that lens that they are unable to see every genuine, balanced relationship as anything other than transactional.

It's the projection and overgeneralisation that's the problem. These 'compensating' males fail to recognise that relationships exist across a broad spectrum. Their model works for some people, and that's fine. What isn't fine is pretending that everyone else's relationship must fit into the same box.

18 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

So you're annoyed? Only 107 words? Doesn't show much.

You just keep coming, don't you, trying to prove you're a superintelligent human with great genes and that you know how to use an online plagiarism checker?

I touch-type at least 70 words a minute, and don't use any AI to reply to annoying people like you... I've used the plagiarism checker numerous times, and this is proof that it's rubbish.

Now it's time for you to *off.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Absolutely. The dead giveaway isn't even the AI part anymore, it's when someone copy-pastes the output complete with browser formatting, bold headings, bullet hierarchies, and enough whitespace to qualify as a PowerPoint presentation.

Nothing says "this is my carefully considered personal opinion" quite like:

Key Takeaways

• Firstly...

• Secondly...

• Furthermore...

Conclusion

In summary, while nuanced perspectives exist...

Generated by ChatGPT at 14:32 GMT

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Absolutely. The dead giveaway isn't even the AI part anymore, it's when someone copy-pastes the output complete with browser formatting, bold headings, bullet hierarchies, and enough whitespace to qualify as a PowerPoint presentation.

Nothing says "this is my carefully considered personal opinion" quite like:

Key Takeaways

• Firstly...

• Secondly...

• Furthermore...

Conclusion

In summary, while nuanced perspectives exist...

Generated by ChatGPT at 14:32 GMT

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Absolutely. The dead giveaway isn't even the AI part anymore, it's when someone copy-pastes the output complete with browser formatting, bold headings, bullet hierarchies, and enough whitespace to qualify as a PowerPoint presentation.

Nothing says "this is my carefully considered personal opinion" quite like:

Key Takeaways

• Firstly...

• Secondly...

• Furthermore...

Conclusion

In summary, while nuanced perspectives exist...

Generated by ChatGPT at 14:32 GMT

True

This is how we get masterpiece sentences like

Pizza is Italian

If he’s just going to cut and paste, or resort to like four autistic insults, he’s just very barely here at all.

Since he’s not even really engaging, it’s just down to his bedsit loneliness.

-Which delights me

Edited June 5Jun 5 by Prubangboy

17 hours ago, AngryMan said:

The only advice I can offer from many years and vast experience is:

Try and chose a lady that has no immediate family, as it should make life a lot simpler in the long run with no one asking for money for family etc, etc. This quest, can be challenging but it is a quest that will keep you busy for many days and many nights!

But whoever you chose, remember always act with understanding and respect to her religious beliefs.

Take care of her, and treat her like a lady, just as you would want your own sister to be treated, with dignity and respect!

Some of them are Angels and some of them are even, dare I say it, Devils! Have fun finding out and enjoy the ride!

You are here just once, on this pale blue dot we call planet earth only once, so live life to the full and die happy!👻

The best way to see if you have a good girl is watching her and her father interact. That relationship is the most important one she'll ever have, until her husband.

This doesn't mean a woman with a distant relationship with her dad isn't a decent woman, as some can separate themselves from that upbringing and know what to do as adults in theirs, but it's very hard not to bring that past into her own relationships, so taking time is the only way to see .

In my case,with my ex here, her father passed away before I met her, so I didn't see this, but did hear about how her father was from her and her siblings. The mom is still here, and is much the same as I heard and seen firsthand. Abusive, controlling, demanding.

She does not like her mother, and seeing what she said about her dad, I wouldn't have gone further after we first met, but i didn't meet her mom until the third time I visited Thailand, and heard about the dad the same time. She is the same exact way her mother and father were (are). Violent when stressed, cheater, liar, manipulator, not only to me but two of her children I was (is) around.

She was this way with her ex's (her and siblings words), and is now with her new husband (has three other boyfriends in Thailand, sleeps over with at least one while he's living in Europe, and flirts with me when she's around my house, and has sent me recently messages, "I love you".

The best advice, besides this, knowing her relationship with parents, especially dad, is to take as much time as you can to get to know her in all moods.

Edited June 5Jun 5 by fredwiggy

11 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

You just keep coming, don't you, trying to prove you're a superintelligent human with great genes and that you know how to use an online plagiarism checker?

I touch-type at least 70 words a minute, and don't use any AI to reply to annoying people like you... I've used the plagiarism checker numerous times, and this is proof that it's rubbish.

Now it's time for you to *off.

70 a minute? Very impressed. I never got more than 30 in high school days, and never went further, as I didn't have a typewriter until I had my first computer, and still use a few fingers while looking.

3 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

You just keep coming, don't you, trying to prove you're a superintelligent human with great genes and that you know how to use an online plagiarism checker?

I touch-type at least 70 words a minute, and don't use any AI to reply to annoying people like you... I've used the plagiarism checker numerous times, and this is proof that it's rubbish.

Now it's time for you to *off.

In reality, if we ran one of these AI checkers against the majority of coherent, well-structured posts on this forum, a surprising number would likely come back with a high AI score - we can find any AI checker site that can return a zero or near 100% AI response from the same 'wall of text' such is the variance of models they apply to 'test / check' for AI generated verbiage.

It seems we've reached the point where writing clearly, logically and in complete sentences is now considered evidence of AI involvement. Not so long ago, the criticism was 'word salad' or 'walls of text'. Now the accusation appears to be the exact opposite: if a post is too well organised, it must have been written by a machine.

Out of curiosity, I've run some of my own comments through these detectors and received wildly differing responses.

In fact, the faster I type, the more mistakes I make, and I have to go back and correct typos and grammar after writing a post. A couple of paragraphs can be written in a minute or two without much effort. I'd imagine anyone who spends their day working from a keyboard is much the same.

As for writing on a phone, I can barely tolerate it. It's all thumbs, autocorrect and endless corrections. Unless I have my laptop with me, I'm usually in a taxi, a restaurant or a bar, and at that point I'm generally doing something far more enjoyable than sparring with strangers on the internet - though this forum serves its purpose for passing the time instead of watching insufferable news or crappy TV shows.

Three AI checkers - differing results - one comes back with 77% AI (no AI was used when writing this post).

29 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

You just keep coming, don't you, trying to prove you're a superintelligent human with great genes and that you know how to use an online plagiarism checker?

I touch-type at least 70 words a minute, and don't use any AI to reply to annoying people like you... I've used the plagiarism checker numerous times, and this is proof that it's rubbish.

Now it's time for you to *off.

I'm not trying to prove anything. You're the self-proclaimed wordsmith here.

As for your last offering, you first.

Edited June 5Jun 5 by NanLaew

21 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

As for writing on a phone, I can barely tolerate it. It's all thumbs, autocorrect and endless corrections. Unless I have my laptop with me, I'm usually in a taxi, a restaurant or a bar, and at that point I'm generally doing something far more enjoyable than sparring with strangers on the internet - though this forum serves its purpose for passing the time instead of watching insufferable news or crappy TV shows.

I gave up typing on the phone years ago and use, nearly exclusively, dictation, but many apps auto-correct, which can be frustrating.

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I'm not trying to prove anything. You're the self-proclaimed wordsmith here.

As for your last offering, you first.

Yes, it's quite obvious you'll never be first to leave a scrap. I'm out first. (written by human, no AI guaranteed)

Edited June 5Jun 5 by JensenZ

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

That you're so interested in both the quantity and formulation of my contributions might, invite a little introspection of your own.

I know it’s hard to resist flattering yourself, but all I did was look at the total number of posts you’ve made on the topic. The numbers for the top three or four posters are right there on the first page. I didn’t actually read any of your posts, though. So if I mistakenly assumed any were well formulated, I offer my sincerest apology.

Incidentally, are you still under the impression that the Cameroni topic was non fiction, or has reality finally managed to catch up with you?

5 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

Met up with her again last night on our usual Thursday evening schedule.

Work first, as always, then a quick beer after. No dinner this time. Both of us had early starts this morning.

At some point last night, I asked whether she has a boyfriend. It felt like a reasonable thing to finally put out there before suggesting a date or making any romantic advances.

She does. Since high school, apparently. Close to ten years already, I guess, and by that time I was already around 40. Makes me feel old. He’s an engineer working on a construction project somewhere outside CM. They see each other a couple of times a month.

She didn’t say much beyond that, just that things have felt different with him lately, not in a positive way, and that she’s been doing a lot of thinking. She mentioned something about trust without going into detail. I didn’t push.

I just listened. She didn’t ask for my opinion, and I didn’t offer one.

But I’ve been thinking about it a lot since.

So what's your next move? Wait for her to throw her philandering bo to the wayside and then literally "slot" yourself in? 😁

28 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

I know it’s hard to resist flattering yourself, but all I did was look at the total number of posts you’ve made on the topic. The numbers for the top three or four posters are right there on the first page. I didn’t actually read any of your posts, though. So if I mistakenly assumed any were well formulated, I offer my sincerest apology.

Somewhat amusing that you insist my comments remain unread while somehow keeping meticulous track of how many I've made.

You're not showing indifference - you're showing fandom !!! Seems I'm now living rent-free in your head.

28 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Incidentally, are you still under the impression that the Cameroni topic was non fiction, or has reality finally managed to catch up with you?

He's real - Fiction has one major limitation: the characters are usually capable of learning from events as they unfold.

On 6/3/2026 at 9:58 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yippy another Dear Abby posting, I love this column.

I hope it last the 274 pages like the previous Dear Abby thread.

Amazing, posted 2 days ago, already, page 7.

These Dear Abby threads, grow and grow, they're like a cancer.

Good to see we have the regulars commenting here.

Keep up the good work boys, I reckon we can beat 274 pages.

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Amazing, posted 2 days ago, already, page 7.

These Dear Abby threads, grow and grow, they're like a cancer.

Good to see we have the regulars commenting here.

Keep up the good work boys, I reckon we can beat 274 pages.

We just need Cam to chip in....

... But feel free to post the photo of your squeeze running around in the noddy again !!

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Somewhat amusing that you insist my comments remain unread while somehow keeping meticulous track of how many I've made.

You're not showing indifference - you're showing fandom !!! Seems I'm now living rent-free in your head.

I see you’re still mistaking your own self importance for everyone else’s interest. I’ll leave you to it.

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

He's real - Fiction has one major limitation: the characters are usually capable of learning from events as they unfold.

I agree, there was a real person behind those millions of keyboard clicks. Beyond that, reality had very little to no involvement with what followed.

10 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

These Dear Abby threads, grow and grow, they're like a cancer.

As you appeared to be one of the first to immediately throw down on that malignant topic, does that mean you hold a special fondness for Dear Abby cancers?

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

I gave up typing on the phone years ago and use, nearly exclusively, dictation, but many apps auto-correct, which can be frustrating.

I gave up taping on the phone yeasts ago and use dictation nearly exorcistically. The auto-carrot is absolutely ducking terrible. Half the thyme it changes words into complete nonesense and I don't even notice untell I've already sand it.

The presentation went well..... turned into.... "The prostitution went well"

Sorry, wrong chat..... turned into.... "Sorry, wrong t.wat"

Edited June 5Jun 5 by richard_smith237

5 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

As you appeared to be one of the first to immediately throw down on that malignant topic, does that mean you hold a special fondness for Dear Abby cancers?

They're my favourite, the Dear Abby colounm and the Pub forum, nothing better on this planet.

BTW, all Thailand AN intellectual members post on the Pub forum, Georgie boy is a genius, what he sends, his postings are the best. 😂

Edited June 5Jun 5 by SAFETY FIRST

11 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

I’ll leave you to it.

Thank you - please feel free to do us both a favour and put me on ignore..

17 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

We just need Cam to chip in....

... But feel free to post the photo of your squeeze running around in the noddy again !!

Yeah where is Cam, I hope he's doing well.

The girlfriend is a bit shy these days, I'll try persuade her to conform, more nuddies 🙏

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thank you - please feel free to do us both a favour and put me on ignore..

Can do, but note that I do charge a bit more than the standard rate for said services.

8 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yeah where is Cam, I hope he's doing well.

Possibly succumbed to one of those balcony incidents.

6 minutes ago, novacova said:

Possibly succumbed to one of those balcony incidents.

Ouch

8 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

They're my favourite, the Dear Abby colounm and the Pub forum, nothing better on this planet.

BTW, all Thailand AN intellectual members post on the Pub forum, Georgie boy is a genius, what he sends, his postings are the best

"Thailand AN intellectual members" 😂

Boy George is my idol. The most fearful AN entity to have ever lived. I just responded to his latest island life dilemma offering. 👍🏼

16 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

"Thailand AN intellectual members" 😂

Boy George is my idol. The most fearful AN entity to have ever lived. I just responded to his latest island life dilemma offering. 👍🏼

OUTSTANDING, Boy George, that's a great name for Georgie boy 👍

28 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

OUTSTANDING, Boy George, that's a great name for Georgie boy 👍

I know you'll miss me
I know you'll miss me
I know you'll miss me blind
I know you'll miss me
I know you'll miss me
I know you'll miss me blind