A thread in general got me thinking about the various opinions here on TV and how one group is totally unable to grasp that another group has differing opinions.

The guy is unhappy in Thailand and going home and gets the "if you don't like it go home" thing, which is, IMO fair enough, if you are miserable, make some change to become un-miserable, and then that group gets accused of being apologists by the people who can only see the negative side to Thailand and told they are blind to whats really going on.

Why are people so freaking concrete minded? Seems to me that both sides; the love it or leave it Thailand is paradise mindset is just as closed minded as the Thailand is hel_l and we should focus on everything wrong crowd.

And even more interestingly, is the "its my opinion therefor its the only valid and right opinion around and you are a fool because you don't agree with me" schoool of thought that both sides seem to employ.

Do these people really live such closed and concrete lives that its beyond their ken that others have had different experiences? differing opinions?

If you don't like them, you can always leave those threads SBK

He tells an admin.

Sure, good thinking mr boj. I'll ignore all the annoying ones

I can see what you're saying, and I agree that your observation is reality....

Isn't it just another aspect of average human nature?

Opinions, beliefs, attitudes..... everyone has them. Most people believe they're right.

Religion, for instance.

Is this (the idea behind the OP) any different to religion?

I've long had an opinion on this, it usually (but not always) involves middle aged males who find a new lease of life in Thailand.

With their confidence and respect in themselves restored and all these polite people agreeing with everything that they say on the home front, they delude themselves into thinking that what ever they are saying must be right.

Subsequently they become extremely angry with anyone who disagrees with one of their opinions.

This theory does not apply to the middle aged male posting this. He's the exception that proves the rule.

Sure, good thinking mr boj. I'll ignore all the annoying ones

At least it would lighten your workload by about 95%

Sure, good thinking mr boj. I'll ignore all the annoying ones

At least it would lighten your workload by about 95%

To paraphrase an old military saying

"ban em all, and let G sort 'em out"

CB

And even more interestingly, is the "its my opinion therefor its the only valid and right opinion around and you are a fool because you don't agree with me" school of thought that both sides seem to employ.

Sad but true....IMO ....It starts because so many do not allow another an opinion.

They immediately seek a label for an opinion that differers from their own.

Not that I have not done so in the past. In fact I remember a comment I made to you sbk (I think) long ago which assumed something. So in a sense labeled you...if I remember correctly then.....kor tort

I do not know exactly why......Perhaps it is easier for them & less to think about?

Odd that...Because when I think about it...that route of labeling which is a form of ridicule seems much harder than just accepting the others opinion for what it is...an opinion.

Not unlike most political type discussions where many need to immediately label others left or right if the opinion is outside the limits of the labelers parameters.

But the fact that we can discuss it here at least ...again IMHO....says we are aware & hopefully working on fixing that fault at least within ourselves

I look at it a different way. If I worked at a business and someone complained incessantly, I would listen to him once or twice, but after that, I might tell him to shut up or quit- even if I agreed with him. It drags everyone else down to just keep whining about things that are very unlikely to change.

I look at it a different way. If I worked at a business and someone complained incessantly, I would listen to him once or twice, but after that, I might tell him to shut up or quit- even if I agreed with him. It drags everyone else down to just keep whining about things that are very unlikely to change.

Yeppers. I work with one such guy. At first I listened but now his whinging is falling on deaf ears.

Not that I have not done so in the past. In fact I remember a comment I made to you sbk (I think) long ago which assumed something. So in a sense labeled you...if I remember correctly then.....kor tort

No worries, I am constantly labelled on this forum but if you were to meet me in person you would probably be very surprised as I do not conform to anyone's notion of who or what I am. I know who I am and have no concerns over others who think they do but don't have a clue. That said, labelling is human nature.

I look at it a different way. If I worked at a business and someone complained incessantly, I would listen to him once or twice, but after that, I might tell him to shut up or quit- even if I agreed with him. It drags everyone else down to just keep whining about things that are very unlikely to change.

And look, I agree with UG yet again! He is absolutely right. Constantly focusing on the negative not only drags you down but everyone around you. In some ways, the Thais have it right, if there is nothing you can do about it, why beat your head bloody against a brick wall? It certainly doesn't do much to the brick wall.

I've tried to live my life as Rudyard Kipling wrote so many years ago. There are many pearls of wisdom in every line.

Rudyard Kipling…

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;

If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!

I've tried to live my life as Rudyard Kipling wrote so many years ago. There are many pearls of wisdom in every line.

Rudyard Kipling…

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;

If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!

Thanks Ian. Kipling was a master of the word.

I ponder one line though....., "If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;".

I'm not sure of that line. Philosophers have their place in society.

This poem of his should be learned by heart before anyone is allowed to settle in the East.

It does not pay for the Christian

to hustle the Aryan Brown

for the Christian riles

and the Aryan smiles

and he weareth the Christian down

and the end of the fight is a tombstone white

and the name of the late deceased

and an epithet drear

a fool lies here who tried to hustle the East.

Not that I have not done so in the past. In fact I remember a comment I made to you sbk (I think) long ago which assumed something. So in a sense labeled you...if I remember correctly then.....kor tort

No worries, I am constantly labelled on this forum but if you were to meet me in person you would probably be very surprised as I do not conform to anyone's notion of who or what I am. I know who I am and have no concerns over others who think they do but don't have a clue. That said, labelling is human nature.

I look at it a different way. If I worked at a business and someone complained incessantly, I would listen to him once or twice, but after that, I might tell him to shut up or quit- even if I agreed with him. It drags everyone else down to just keep whining about things that are very unlikely to change.

And look, I agree with UG yet again! He is absolutely right. Constantly focusing on the negative not only drags you down but everyone around you. In some ways, the Thais have it right, if there is nothing you can do about it, why beat your head bloody against a brick wall? It certainly doesn't do much to the brick wall.

I concur completly with above (blue) statement.

Any whinger I had working for me soon became a non-whinger.

Sad to say, but with their fellow workers, inc myself, ridiculing them once they started on something soon cured them.

Many whingers are people who critisise everything, pizzzz me orf.

Constructive criticism may be good.

Some people are pretty narrow minded and are unable to put themselves in other peoples shoes. Its like those who cant possibly fathom why western women would want to live in Thailand, or those that think all males motivation for being here is Thai women, even if they are in a relationship with a non-Thai woman (both men and women can be guilty of these attitudes.). Ive never understood people who cant empathise or those who are constantly negative. Of course there are those who seem to constantly play the victim role too, so after a while its hard to feel sorry for them anymore and you just want to give them a slap! But the whole "TIT" so "go home" when people want to bring up points they find difficult to digest about living here, is ridiculous. I love living here, but there are many things i dont like too. Its good sometimes to have a big ole moan to a friend about stuff thats got under my skin, the same as i would do living in the UK, or anywhere. Just as I will also praise many aspects of what i love to friends too. I guess its about making sure you keep a balanced outlook.

But the whole "TIT" so "go home" when people want to bring up points they find difficult to digest about living here, is ridiculous. I love living here, but there are many things i dont like too. Its good sometimes to have a big ole moan to a friend about stuff thats got under my skin, the same as i would do living in the UK, or anywhere.

Agree with this completely. There are few things I find more annoying on this forum than if someone is just having a bit of a vent or a therapeutic "getting it off my chest" session, then people will react by suggesting that they pack their bags and go home!

I may find my neighbour's barking dog annoying, for example, or the traffic jams on the way to work, or the broken pavement near the skytrain station, but I'm sure as hel_l not going to up-sticks and relocate my family to another country because of it. Yet, if I posted about these things on here, that's exactly what some people would suggest I do...

Double post...

So, how much should my family expect in Sin Sod for me? I am 46 year old widow with no children? Educated, speak French, am kind to animals.

I suspect that your family look upon you as someone they'll need to contribute a hefty dowry to have any chance of getting rid of you Patsy.

Are you my brother in disguise?!

I've been livin' here for awhile now an' I've got it dicked, so to speak; successful marriage and a good living arrangement, loving family, etc. and there's not much more that I could want...

but I do at times complain, 'specially when it comes to immigration matters and the inconvenience of dealing with petty local bureaucrats that don't know shit...then some apologist nincompoop jumps in an' sez 'careful for what you wish for...'...

thing is, those folks will never have it better in Thailand than what I've presently got...

(I love bein' a smug bastid, don't yew? )

So, how much should my family expect in Sin Sod for me? I am 46 year old widow with no children? Educated, speak French, am kind to animals.

Sin Sod shouldn't be paid (if at all) to women who have been married before. However, if you have a Million quid to put into a joint account.....

I would never let on how much i have stashed away, which is zilchish. But I could pretend and then you have to build the house, feed the village and, well, get on with it. Howzat?

I'm qute fit and can carry on a good conversation. read, am interested in World politics,

I asked my mum and she said 3 million squid.

Good catch? Nah. I have foibles....

I'm qute fit and can carry on a good conversation. read, am interested in World politics,

Sadly this has probably dropped your value. If you said thick as pig shit but big boobs and nice ass, many may up the rate they are willing to pay. Mind you, id personally rather do away with a sin sot and have a guy who appreciates my for values other than just how he rates me naked.

I'm qute fit and can carry on a good conversation. read, am interested in World politics,

Sadly this has probably dropped your value. If you said thick as pig shit but big boobs and nice ass, many may up the rate they are willing to pay. Mind you, id personally rather do away with a sin sot and have a guy who appreciates my for values other than just how he rates me naked.

You're verging on misandry there Eek.....which is a shame. I guess you (and a whole bunch of other women) probably have good reason to think like that, but the SNAG (and the Caring Understand Nineties Type) are not myths, they do exist, and can be very masculine at the same time.

This is why some men prefer to meet women on the internet.....they get to know their intellect without being distratced by boobs and ass.

I'm qute fit and can carry on a good conversation. read, am interested in World politics,

Sadly this has probably dropped your value. If you said thick as pig shit but big boobs and nice ass, many may up the rate they are willing to pay. Mind you, id personally rather do away with a sin sot and have a guy who appreciates my for values other than just how he rates me naked.

You're verging on misandry there Eek.....which is a shame. I guess you (and a whole bunch of other women) probably have good reason to think like that, but the SNAG (and the Caring Understand Nineties Type) are not myths, they do exist, and can be very masculine at the same time.

This is why some men prefer to meet women on the internet.....they get to know their intellect without being distratced by boobs and ass.

Ben Harper is my long time favourite artist. This song, the chorus in particular, always makes me think of all those men that give the rest of us a bad rep....

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pvt_ben...xcuse-me-mister

Is he looking for a wifè?!!!!

Is he looking for a wifè?!!!!

He's one cool dude....I think you'd like his song, "Burn One Down"

Hey, I'll be your back-up hubby if you like. If we are both still single in 5 years time, we get hitched....and no, neither photo's in that look-like thread are remotely like me

^ WoW!!