Not Relevant To The Topic

[Jonathanpattaya]

Isn't it time to change the record? It seems to be stuck.

Today there was a report by The Nation published on this website about a British citizen being extradited from Thailand to Australia on drug and money laundering charges.

This topic was immediately hijacked as another opportunity to take a swipe at Thaksin Shinawatra.

It is curious that this happens with monotonous regularity and it is always by expatriates.

Regardless of his criminal guilt in my argument here, what impact does this have on the lives of those farang who love to "have a go" every chance they get?

Besides, the majority of the Thais love him and would welcome him back gladly. If you spoke ill of him in front of them you would be very unpopular.

[Mario2008]

Off topic comments can be reported and if necesarry we will delete them.

[garyh]

There certainly is an element here that has nothing better to do than bash Taksin, I am not a supporter but isn't time to get over it?

[Maestro]

You are so right, Jonathanpattaya. If you or another member had clicked on the REPORT button below the first off-topic post, the one about “mr. T.”, that post would have been deleted immediately by a moderator and I would not now have had to delete a total of 29 posts. That’s how far the off-topic discussion went. A stitch in time...

Every member can help to keep this forum clean and enjoyable by using the REPORT button where necessary. Thank you all for your help.

--

Maestro

[dr_Pat_Pong]

There certainly is an element here that has nothing better to do than bash Taksin, I am not a supporter but isn't time to get over it?

There's not a chance while Thaksin continues to push his own political barrow, oversee the reds, and continue to do provocative things like his Cambodia involvement.

[rixalex]

There certainly is an element here that has nothing better to do than bash Taksin, I am not a supporter but isn't time to get over it?

There's not a chance while Thaksin continues to push his own political barrow, oversee the reds, and continue to do provocative things like his Cambodia involvement.

Thaksin is making headline news virtually daily. Anybody who was doing that would be a big topic of conversation. The only people who really seem bothered by that are those who have taken it upon themselves to defend the man - or at least try.

[Meridian007]

As Rixalex said, he is in the media all the time, and is thus in the minds of most people. It can be a part of human nature to want a focus for negativity, and honestly, I think Thaksin had it coming.

the majority of the Thais love him and would welcome him back gladly. If you spoke ill of him in front of them you would be very unpopular.

If you just hang out with taxi drivers and service staff that come from Issan, then yes, sadly they are all still blinded by the lies they are fed.

Most educated Thais that I know consider him a traitor and the worst kind of demagogue. They can see his self-serving goals through the propaganda that he serves to those who follow him. This is the main reason that I am against him.

I think his actions steal the opportunity for equality and poverty reduction away from his followers in Issan. I support the red shirt cause, but I think they have chosen one of the worst possible leaders, and the abilities and legitimacy of their movement has payed for this.

[sabang]

There are strong pro and anti Thaksin elements in Thailand. The common sense viewpoint that he did some good things but was also a bit of a ratbag you rarely hear- just the partisan rhetoric.

Probably the most dedicated opposition to Thaksin in sheer numbers terms is from the Chinese business community of Bangkok- a bit ironic, because Thaksin is Chinese too. I guess his nepotism pissed them off. They however control the mainstream media, and most of the business community. So what you read in the papers reflects that.

[Ulysses G.]

Most educated Thais that I know consider him a traitor...

A traitor to the wealthy upper classes who have exploited the less lucky for centuries.

[rixalex]

Most educated Thais that I know consider him a traitor...

A traitor to the wealthy upper classes who have exploited the less lucky for centuries.

Were that the case Thaksin would be a hero not a traitor amongst the wealthy upper classes as it is him who has taught them the art of appearing to care for those you ruthlessly exploit.

[garyh]

Ground hog day all over again, the original topic has turned into a political debate.

[Ulysses G.]

Most educated Thais that I know consider him a traitor...

A traitor to the wealthy upper classes who have exploited the less lucky for centuries.

Were that the case Thaksin would be a hero not a traitor amongst the wealthy upper classes as it is him who has taught them the art of appearing to care for those you ruthlessly exploit.

Huh? Maybe he needs to give them more lessons. They do not seem to have caught on yet!

[Lite Beer]

Off topic posts and the replies to them deleted.

[geriatrickid]

There certainly is an element here that has nothing better to do than bash Taksin, I am not a supporter but isn't time to get over it?

There's not a chance while Thaksin continues to push his own political barrow, oversee the reds, and continue to do provocative things like his Cambodia involvement.

True, but is it so hard to have a Thaksin free day? The whole Thaksin issue has been done to death. Some people hate him and some people love him. I get it. I don't need to read a rehash of every real and imagined evil act of his. I can understand if the subject is something new, but for the most part, it isn't and we are instead obliged to read about weird conspiracy theories repeated over and over.

Aint gonna happen I know, but I feel better now

[LawnGnome]

Most educated Thais that I know consider him a traitor...

A traitor to the wealthy upper classes who have exploited the less lucky for centuries.

Thanks for the jaded CM perspective. Don't you have some ping pong ball explosives to make?

[bonobo]

The OP has a valid point.  Comments about Thaksin are certainly appropriate in threads about him specifically or in political threads, but not in threads about other, non-related subjects.  So I will chime in the the other moderators who have asked members to report when things veer off-topic like that.

Thanks.

[MiG16]

given that this topic was about various threads that somehow get turned into Thaksin discussions, and a few MODs have mentioned dealing with such posts on various threads, I dont see a need to have yet one more thread dedicated to discussing Thaksin and his media tactics.

this thread is now closed. if members see offensive or off topic remarks on any threads, please click the report button

cheers and have a good weekend everyone (sorry to those at end of the thread who I can see were in the midst of typing )