More Bad News

[JR Texas]

Iraq,Afganistan,Zimbabwe,Colombia and maybe long weekend in Somailand could be nice for an alternative holday rather that LOS ................................er No dont think so....

Thailand ranks 14th in the world in terms of violent crime.......right by Zimbabwe. Columbia is #1 last time I looked. So Thailand is 13 steps away from being #1 in the entire world.

[zzaa09]

How about some unfortunate white tourist winding up in the wrong part of Los Angeles or Detroit? That wouldn't even be mentioned in a study.

Studies usually have a subjective and bias agenda.

[Scott]

And that bias is set up to hurt Thailand? A bit of a persecution complex I think.

[zzaa09]

Many people try to compare the crime in Thailand to that of other lands but it doesn't work. If you were to carve out a part of Miami's tourist area's and match them to Pattaya's tourist areas you would find that crime on tourist is far greater in Pattaya than in Miami.

I know.. I know.... Your going to call me a troll for posting the truth. Go on, I don't care.

have you actually done this then? Do you have any real credible facts to back up your claim of telling the truth?

Yep, I even did a google search on "Miami Tourist Scam" and I got hits for Thailand! LOL

I also did a search on Miami Tourist Crime, Miami Tourist Murder and did the same searches for Pattaya and Pattaya wins hands down for reported web incidents.

So much for scientific studies......google

[IanForbes]

How about some unfortunate white tourist winding up in the wrong part of Los Angeles or Detroit? That wouldn't even be mentioned in a study.

That could happen in any country. The difference in the US is that you can usually count on the police and courts to treat you fairly even if you're a foreigner.

That is good news I guess... for the survivors of the victim. There are more privately owned hand guns in the USA than owned by the military and police combined in Thailand. Some low life in Los Angeles or Philidelphia doesn't need a motive to pump a few rounds into you. It is much harder for a citizen of Thailand to obtain a gun of any kind. I'd rather take my chances in Thailand, despite the so called poor policing.

Canada has had laws against the private use of hand guns for 70 years or more and yet there are hand gun related crimes committed on a regular basis. I grew up in Vancouver BC that is supposed to be a safe, multi-cultured city. I believe there were over 40 murders in the Lower Mainland in the first 3 or 4 months of this year alone, and most were hand gun related.

Statistics are for losers, and those with an agenda they are pushing. You can pull statistics out of some specific agenda and prove just about anything.

[zzaa09]

And that bias is set up to hurt Thailand? A bit of a persecution complex I think.

Didn't read between and beyond the lines.....

[Bluelotus]

Simple rules, be aware of your surroundings , don't flash wealth, don't trust in room safes , trust your instincts they are your innate warning system, don't turn a robbery into a violent crime by resisting.

That said crime ,occurs everywhere, deal with it for what it is , don't let it hurt who you are.

Arguing over whether Pattaya or Miami is more dangerous seems ludicrous , neither is particularly dangerous when you look at other places ,like Mexico City , Manila , Sao Paolo , Johannesburg , all these places have some extremely dangerous areas.

[njpski]

How about some unfortunate white tourist winding up in the wrong part of Los Angeles or Detroit? That wouldn't even be mentioned in a study.

That could happen in any country. The difference in the US is that you can usually count on the police and courts to treat you fairly even if you're a foreigner.

That is good news I guess... for the survivors of the victim. There are more privately owned hand guns in the USA than owned by the military and police combined in Thailand. Some low life in Los Angeles or Philidelphia doesn't need a motive to pump a few rounds into you. It is much harder for a citizen of Thailand to obtain a gun of any kind. I'd rather take my chances in Thailand, despite the so called poor policing.

Canada has had laws against the private use of hand guns for 70 years or more and yet there are hand gun related crimes committed on a regular basis. I grew up in Vancouver BC that is supposed to be a safe, multi-cultured city. I believe there were over 40 murders in the Lower Mainland in the first 3 or 4 months of this year alone, and most were hand gun related.

Statistics are for losers, and those with an agenda they are pushing. You can pull statistics out of some specific agenda and prove just about anything.

As to the last point, there are lies, damned lies and then there are statistics.

9 out of 10 dentists recommend brand X toothpaste is true if you ask the right questions

[njpski]

Or I could go to Miami and hope the police don't shoot me.

Yeah, stay in Thailand where the police never kill tourist LOLOL

Come to Victoria, Australia - our police are very accurate with their shooting, many victims!

[bobright]

Does that mean I am safe as I am not British??? lol .....

can anyone lip-read this gal?

[bobright]

Many people try to compare the crime in Thailand to that of other lands but it doesn't work. If you were to carve out a part of Miami's tourist area's and match them to Pattaya's tourist areas you would find that crime on tourist is far greater in Pattaya than in Miami.

I know.. I know.... Your going to call me a troll for posting the truth. Go on, I don't care.

have you actually done this then? Do you have any real credible facts to back up your claim of telling the truth?

the truth here is there is no truth here......what a troll, for sure....

[catmac]

Wonderful to see the rose-tinted specs brigade in full fury, along with the spokesperson for King Power.

All of you are just missing the point being made by the OP, this is what is actually being reported on BBC News in UK. If their report is maybe a trifle sensationalist, never the less it reflects a genuine and growing concern in the West of Thailands safety as a tourist destination. Instead of shooting the messenger, or trotting out stupid comments like the XYZ police have shot a tourist (to which I would just as pointlessly reply, remember Pai!), why not direct your energy to actually exposing and righting the mess that Thailand has made of its once thriving tourist industry?

Closing your ears to the bad news, and closing your eyes to what is going on around you does nobody any favours.

[caf]

Wonderful to see the rose-tinted specs brigade in full fury, along with the spokesperson for King Power.

All of you are just missing the point being made by the OP, this is what is actually being reported on BBC News in UK. If their report is maybe a trifle sensationalist, never the less it reflects a genuine and growing concern in the West of Thailands safety as a tourist destination. Instead of shooting the messenger, or trotting out stupid comments like the XYZ police have shot a tourist (to which I would just as pointlessly reply, remember Pai!), why not direct your energy to actually exposing and righting the mess that Thailand has made of its once thriving tourist industry?

Closing your ears to the bad news, and closing your eyes to what is going on around you does nobody any favours.

I agree. People just don't like losing face do they?

[dbrenn]

Probably safer than staying in Britain.

You have a point - you have to be far more careful walking around any British city late on a Saturday night

[zzaa09]

Many people try to compare the crime in Thailand to that of other lands but it doesn't work. If you were to carve out a part of Miami's tourist area's and match them to Pattaya's tourist areas you would find that crime on tourist is far greater in Pattaya than in Miami.

I know.. I know.... Your going to call me a troll for posting the truth. Go on, I don't care.

have you actually done this then? Do you have any real credible facts to back up your claim of telling the truth?

the truth here is there is no truth here......what a troll, for sure....

The truth is made up, individually, as we go.

[PaulUSA302]

Many people try to compare the crime in Thailand to that of other lands but it doesn't work. If you were to carve out a part of Miami's tourist area's and match them to Pattaya's tourist areas you would find that crime on tourist is far greater in Pattaya than in Miami.

I know.. I know.... Your going to call me a troll for posting the truth. Go on, I don't care.

have you actually done this then? Do you have any real credible facts to back up your claim of telling the truth?

the truth here is there is no truth here......what a troll, for sure....

The truth is made up, individually, as we go.

Only us who have been to Thailand before know the truth on the risks we take to enjoy ourself there.

Right now, as I last remember, the risks are not too great for me to avoid the place. But, and this is a big BUT. I am watching the news are reading the chatter on the boards and it seems that the warning needle is in the danger area.

[Priceless]

It is the murder rate of British citizens in Thailand that is the interesting part.

Would you care to quote the rate and give a reliable source for this?

/ Priceless

[IanForbes]

It is the murder rate of British citizens in Thailand that is the interesting part.

That is because British are more gullible... same as Canadians. We like to set ourselves up as targets and then complain.

[Harcourt]

Consider the source! I have a RSS feed - everything that is BBC I never heed - it is actually worse than The National Enquirer trash that was always at the checkouts in LA supers - with Elvis shops at Walmart kind of garbage.

A prime example was yesterday, watching Formula One on the net & working "Massa hit on chip - airlift to hospital"

Dont they wear helmets anymore?! Indeed had he not been wearing one, he might be dead now.

Bubba

Would you care to offer a better alternative to the BBC as a world news source. I like to consider all options.

regards Bojo

Al Jazeera. Quality production from a S.E Asia and Middle East perspective. With studios in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington, they give excellent coverage of topics that the Beeb doesn't go near.

[nam-thip]

I reckon some of you guys insist the world is still flat.

Wake up and remove your tinted glasses and join the real world............... In case you don’t know some reported facts and statistics are not far of the mark and ‘yes’ Thailand is one hel_l of a safe place until you find yourself on the receiving end of the high crime rate which sadly happens all to often to many unfortunate tourists and expats alike.

I’m speaking from 13 years of living in LOS so I do have a feel of the place.

I also know the world is not flat!!

[njpski]

Each country is denigrating others to minimise their own tourism losses - it is spin, spin, spin

[njpski]

Only 42 to go

[caf]

Consider the source! I have a RSS feed - everything that is BBC I never heed - it is actually worse than The National Enquirer trash that was always at the checkouts in LA supers - with Elvis shops at Walmart kind of garbage.

A prime example was yesterday, watching Formula One on the net & working "Massa hit on chip - airlift to hospital"

Dont they wear helmets anymore?! Indeed had he not been wearing one, he might be dead now.

Bubba

Would you care to offer a better alternative to the BBC as a world news source. I like to consider all options.

regards Bojo

Al Jazeera. Quality production from a S.E Asia and Middle East perspective. With studios in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington, they give excellent coverage of topics that the Beeb doesn't go near.

Good suggestion Harcourt.

Bojo has made some good posts, Publicus, Animatic too. And many others . But those come to mind on reading the posts this morning.

What they have in common is they think before they post, they respect other people's opinions, and they are not intimidated by this clique of "friends" who rubbish anyone that has a view different from their own. But more importantly, and this is where your post is helpful in my view, they want to seek out other sources of information and this avoids the tunnel vision of accepting the PC view of one source.