Why Is Thaivisa So Popular?

[Bagwan]

I'm sure that Thaivisa is like a drug to some people.

Mogadon?

[Naam]

Why Is Thaivisa So Popular?

not only local but many experts from a variety of countries have answers for each question and solutions for every problem

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

I think much of it is from people not living here but pretending to live here and knowing all the answers. Asking a question on TV is much like going to a Doctors convention and randomly asking people about a heart problem. You will get heaps of answers but you will not know if the answer is from a gynecologist, a pill salesman or a janitor. Actually getting a answer from a heart specialist and recognizing him to have the best answer is very tricky.

[Bluelotus]

Vicariousness , prompt gossip , masochism.

[midasthailand]

BEENTHEREDONETHAT.....Loved your analogy, just perfect, spot on.

[bendix]

I must say I'm dubious about this 70,000 member thing. If there are 70,000 members, why are there only around 150 regular posters, with a back-up of around 200 irregular posters. Where are all the other members and why are they signing up if they don't post - it's not like you need to be a member to read the dam_n thing?

I'd love to know precisely how many different posters have contributed to the site in the last 12 months. If it's more than 1500, I'm a banana.

[PhilHarries]

I think much of it is from people not living here but pretending to live here and knowing all the answers. Asking a question on TV is much like going to a Doctors convention and randomly asking people about a heart problem. You will get heaps of answers but you will not know if the answer is from a gynecologist, a pill salesman or a janitor. Actually getting a answer from a heart specialist and recognizing him to have the best answer is very tricky.

The rest of it comes from people who live in Thailand and haven't a clue about anything but pretend they know the answers.

btw the janitor prescribes a shot of Wild Turkey every twenty minutes until the symptoms disappear.

[davejonesbkk]

thailand breeds idleness. hence here we are.

Fantastic, perfectly summed up in one sentence.

[tomuk76]

Why Is Thaivisa So Popular?

not only local but many experts from a variety of countries have answers for each question and solutions for every problem

Well i told a freind who lives in rayong about TV, I explained its great for information ie visas etc. He said "why ask a bunch of people who think they know what there talking about, When you can just call the embassy, and get it from the horses mouth"

I would say there are a few experts on here(not many), but there are hundreds more who think they are!

Still doesnt explain the answer why is thaivisa so popular and not forums for other countries in the world!

[tomuk76]

I see here are people venting off Thailand problems. Can't do it with their Thai friends.

you mean you can't do it with your Thai friends.

People have thai 'friends'? what the hel_l do you talk about? We have nothing in common at all.

Never had a thai 'friend' and never will.

No thai freinds and u have lived here for 10 years?? you most be paranoid! time to go back to the uk aint it john?

Ha ha sorry tom old son, but i aint biting.

All i will say is, please stop stalking me little grasshopper

Sorry that you think im stalking you john, but i have a thing called a memory so i can remember posts from the past on this forum, therefore i know you have been here for 10 years as stated a couple of days ago.

Anyway the reason i like winding you up is from most of your posts on here you seem very up tight. Let your hair down a bit!

[JetsetBkk]

I must say I'm dubious about this 70,000 member thing. If there are 70,000 members, why are there only around 150 regular posters, with a back-up of around 200 irregular posters. Where are all the other members and why are they signing up if they don't post - it's not like you need to be a member to read the dam_n thing?

I'd love to know precisely how many different posters have contributed to the site in the last 12 months. If it's more than 1500, I'm a banana.

69,650 have joined, asked a question, and left

200 have stayed - posting irregularly

150 post regularly, 20 are worth reading (not me )

[JOHN2]

I see here are people venting off Thailand problems. Can't do it with their Thai friends.

you mean you can't do it with your Thai friends.

People have thai 'friends'? what the hel_l do you talk about? We have nothing in common at all.

Never had a thai 'friend' and never will.

No thai freinds and u have lived here for 10 years?? you most be paranoid! time to go back to the uk aint it john?

Ha ha sorry tom old son, but i aint biting.

All i will say is, please stop stalking me little grasshopper

Sorry that you think im stalking you john, but i have a thing called a memory so i can remember posts from the past on this forum, therefore i know you have been here for 10 years as stated a couple of days ago.

Anyway the reason i like winding you up is from most of your posts on here you seem very up tight. Let your hair down a bit!

You really are deluded aren't you,wind me up? Yes i have been here ten years correct,so what? So where did i deny it then? What you going on about??

Back to the original topic,why do you care so much if TV is popular?? You don't have anything else to worry about? You're a strange guy little grasshopper

[awakened]

1. The forum is easy to use.

2. There are some bright posters.

3. The moderators haven't allowed it to develop into the playground of a small clique where you are either 'IN' or 'fair game'.

4. The topics are wide ranging

5. 'Falang' birds of a feather can flock together

6. Get to while away an hour or two.

and my favourite...

7. Misery loves company

Could be even better if there existed the permanent ability to edit, so we could retract all those impulsive, ignorant, insensitive, emotional, racist, homophobic posts we foolishly make, before any damage is done.

[TheDon]

I think its good comic relief, some of the BS stories people come up with makes me laugh, there are people who make up stories so we can think bad about Thai's, generally the people who have been burned in the past. Usually we call them trolls.

But thats just what I reckon

[tomuk76]

[Yes i have been here ten years correct,so what? So where did i deny it then? What you going on about??

Hey calm down mate, you seem to be getting a bit frantic with that above rant!

Anyway as you said back to the topic.....

[tomuk76]

I must say I'm dubious about this 70,000 member thing. If there are 70,000 members, why are there only around 150 regular posters, with a back-up of around 200 irregular posters. Where are all the other members and why are they signing up if they don't post - it's not like you need to be a member to read the dam_n thing?

I'd love to know precisely how many different posters have contributed to the site in the last 12 months. If it's more than 1500, I'm a banana.

69,650 have joined, asked a question, and left

200 have stayed - posting irregularly

150 post regularly, 20 are worth reading (not me )

If you put it that way then TV is not popular at all So therefore making my original question nonsense

Ok shall we have another topic about why TV is a one hit wonder? (for 69,000 odd)

[PoorSucker]

Because it's the only reliable source of news in Thailand.

[bendix]

Because it's the only reliable source of news in Thailand.

Where does that news come from, do you think?

[PoorSucker]

Because it's the only reliable source of news in Thailand.

Where does that news come from, do you think?

Someone heard that a friend overheard a conversion in 7-eleven.

[sassienie]

Just interested to know why thaivisa is so popular??

What i mean is why isnt there forums like this devoted to any of the hundreds of other countries in the world! How many members on here 70,000+!

Im curious to know why?

Approx 63000 members listed with ThaiVisa, most of whom have either been banned, long gone or no longer participate.

Although ThaiVisa has been running for quite a few years, it is not the NO 1 forum facility in Thailand.

Unlike in many countries Thailand does not have expat communities as such, and forums are for many the only way of communications with their peers and as an informative source for western non Thai speakers, which is why Thailand forums are widely used in the Kingdom.

[ozzydom]

I may be wrong but I suspect we may be answering the wrong question. Let me rephrase it:

Why does Thailand have a forum with 70,000 members when other expat-friendly countries have forums with far fewer members?

What is there about Thailand that encourages so much attention compared to other countries?

Why is there a Thaivisa but not a Philipinnesvisa? or a Mexicovisa or a CostaRicaVisa? or a Hondurasvisa?

Because George has not got around to them yet, but give it time.

[midasthailand]

Quote tomuk76 So therefore making my original question nonsense

Pretty much sums up most of your responses on TV that I've seen.

Edited July 18, 2008 by midasthailand

[chiangmaibruce]

Why is TV so popular? Some possible reasons might include:

1. Most of the Thais can't really speak English, and most farang can't really speak Thai … so many farang can't chat with the locals/visitors or watch local TV. Those that are fluent report that most Thais have no intellectual curiosity (and hence little general knowledge), so there is not a lot of common ground – and that most of the TV shows are ridiculous. Thus the internet is a welcome time-filler.

2. Lots of farang here don't really want to mix with other farang – they are here for a Thai experience (or just want to be left alone). This could be due in part to many farang here being drunks and/or grubs, neo-sahibs and just plain-strange (present company excluded!). But at the same time many farang really value the info that other farang here have - and are more than happy to share information in return.

3. It is just so dam_n hard to find out information here – not even a yellow pages telephone directory! People don't reply to emails. It takes the first 15 minutes of any phone call just to spell out you name! Thaivisa is a quick way-around. Thaivisa is an excellent source of information once you have been around long enough to be able to differentiate the very knowledgeable posters from the ones with room-temperature IQ's.

4. For farang having difficulties, in need of moral support, guidance, a sounding board, etc, I am sure Thaivisa would play a quite important role especially as:

- those is Thailand are often a long way from home networks/family

- even if you had well-meaning Thais friends they would unlikely to be unable to empathise (see above)

- we are all in a very different culture to what most of us are familiar with

5. And last but not least, it's free (almost)

[seancbk]

I see here are people venting off Thailand problems. Can't do it with their Thai friends.

you mean you can't do it with your Thai friends.

People have thai 'friends'? what the hel_l do you talk about? We have nothing in common at all.

Never had a thai 'friend' and never will.

Why wouldn't you have a Thai friend ? (or more to the point why don't you ?)

This is a serious question as I am about to move to Thailand after living in Hong Kong (for 35 years), I have many many very good Chinese friends here and fully expect to meet and become friends with hopefully many Thais when I'm living there.

So I'd be interested to know why you seem to be against having Thai friends

[chiangmaibruce]

Sean

The folks you have quoted will no doubt come back with their particular views on the matter. In the meantime you might be interested in reading the following:

While I would hardly put it forward as the last word on Thai/farang differences, the author does have some interesting things to say that could be relevant to your query - and perhaps an interesting primer for you on the eve of the big move.

Cheers

CB

Edited July 18, 2008 by Buckwheat
URL removed Please see forum rules

[pampal]

pure boredom bring me here

[JOHN2]

I see here are people venting off Thailand problems. Can't do it with their Thai friends.

you mean you can't do it with your Thai friends.

People have thai 'friends'? what the hel_l do you talk about? We have nothing in common at all.

Never had a thai 'friend' and never will.

Why wouldn't you have a Thai friend ? (or more to the point why don't you ?)

This is a serious question as I am about to move to Thailand after living in Hong Kong (for 35 years), I have many many very good Chinese friends here and fully expect to meet and become friends with hopefully many Thais when I'm living there.

So I'd be interested to know why you seem to be against having Thai friends

The answer is in my post.

[Pierrot]

Although ThaiVisa has been running for quite a few years, it is not the NO 1 forum facility in Thailand.

Which website is No 1 in Thailand ?

[Ulysses G.]

Although ThaiVisa has been running for quite a few years, it is not the NO 1 forum facility in Thailand.

I can't think of another one that would even come close.

[Pierrot]

I may be wrong but I suspect we may be answering the wrong question. Let me rephrase it:

Why does Thailand have a forum with 70,000 members when other expat-friendly countries have forums with far fewer members?

What is there about Thailand that encourages so much attention compared to other countries?

Why is there a Thaivisa but not a Philipinnesvisa? or a Mexicovisa or a CostaRicaVisa? or a Hondurasvisa?

I believe TV is using some forum management techniques that other don't use.

I use to work in this field very long time ago, actually before the internet exists (I'm no Al Gore, just French), and we were using some techniques to boost the number of people connected and sometime I've the feeling TV is using similar ones