Crackdown On Massage Parlours

[opothai]

Eastern philosophies and religions have always been much more pragmatic than Christianity's futile pie-in-the-sky attitude re prostitution.  The only reason Thailand is embarrased about it's sex industry is the Western nation's pressure to fall in line with Christian values, a typical self-righteous do as we say or else approach.

Why would Christian families bring their children here, for the clean beaches, heat, dirt in the streets or what. These people cannot imagine exposing their children to sex, only violence is acceptable. Face it few families come here. 90% of tourism indulges in the relaxed sex scene ( not neccesarily pay-for-play), even couples and females, most too scared of condemnation to admit it.

To change the profile of tourists will take much money and application. In the process most of the current tourism will be lost, before the new profile kicks in, a financial catch-22 situation Thailand just cannot afford.

Christian Imperialism is nasty, destructive and old. Resist it, its time it ends.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

pretty well sums up the situation, well put

[ChrisP]

These may make some sense, but the truth is, stamping out Thai customs to become Westernized doesn't make anyone happy.

"Thai society and culture assumes that the Thai man will sleep around and sow his wild oats as widely as possible. Thais believe that this comes automatically as part of his gender - that it's as much a part of his basic nature as peeing standing up. Much of this promiscuity takes places in Thai Brothels (massage parlours). You may think that the tourist-oriented sex industry in Thailand is big, but it is dwarfed (in terms of customers) by the Thai-oriented sex industry. An early 1990's study indicated that as many as 95% of Thai males have had sex with a prostitute by the age of 21."

From: Thailand Fever - Pirazzi/Vasant Paiboon Pub.

So, first we're not talking about "Massage parlours for Tourists"... second, I don't seriously think anyone CAN change ingrained Thai culture... (at least not in my lifetime.)

ChrisP

[tomchaam]

Well I sure as ###### hope they don't build a school near Sayuree in Chiang Mai. That's a great place for spiritual therapy...and to quote the great philosopher George Carlin "Why should it be a crime to give somebody an orgasm?"

[johnh101]

I wonder if the Massage Palour near The Parliament Building is going to be moved or closed

[Belfastboy]

Hmmm..seems like i have hit a raw nerve with some of fellow posters...firstly lets get a few things straight...

when referring to massage parlours...i interpret this as a brothel....am i right ? maybe wrong.

but a traditonal royal thai massage of which i love and regularly have is not in a " massage parlour" ....so i have nothing against traditional thai massage, im a keen lover of it.

secondly, alot of the replies seem to bring religion into the subject! now its ethier 2 reasons they have a hidden depth of guilt here and feel the need to blame the religion they were brought up with or secondly they have no frigging idea what they are talking about...

sure i agree that tv, junk food, etc are bad for kids...in moderation its no probs....

but get real guys, if u had the choice of a brothel next door to your childs learning world would u want it there are not? and be honest....who cares about the politics of it all...im more concerned about the childs welfare....and yes sure u cant hide all of the worlds nastier sides of life...but sure as ###### every loving parent will try to protect them until they are a bit older and wiser...

thats all my point was...so calm down guys.... .....

your beloved prostitution will always be there..dont worry....

i just get the feelings now that if someone has the opinion that prostitution is negative on society its a criminal offence....but if someone screws a child for money everyone turns a blind eye...just because they are poor.....

and for the "saboo makk" poster who is screaming about belfast...well i wont even go there mate...u really dont have a clue what u are talking about...u really dont...

maybe im on my own on this one....but hey just my opinion it is a democracy right?....

[britmaveric]

Belfastboy - unfortunately all massage parlours are targets of this new crackdown.

Regardless if its legit or not I could care less if one is opened near a school or not. As long as its descrete I don't think there would be a problem.

[Belfastboy]

thats fair enough britmaveric....your entitled to your opinion just as i am..

live and let live....

[amarka]

having a house of ill repute next to a school not a problem

serves 2 purposes

1. as a deterrant - teacher says bad place stay away

2. finishing school

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hi..

how many kids have you got...

sure it was a joke?

amarka

[amarka]

amarka - better leave thailand then if you are worried about what your lil ones will see.

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Yeh, you might prefer the way's of the Saudi's

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hi guys,

no not really i prefer thailand - even as it is -

but everything has its place and some activities should not be near schools or religious sites. its a very simple point and no more than that.

there are areas or zones, just like shopping centers or business centers. nightlife zones are for nightlife.

schools are for kids.

amarka

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Amarka I agree with your sentiments. Yes there are zones. Ratchadapisek is one of them. so in theory the massage parlour owners could open anywhere within the zone. the zones however also include resdientail areas schools etc. noone thought to place furhter restrictions on the locations.

Yet one more example imo of how the thais just often do not think things through.

As for the psoter who suggested that Khun Chuwit the alleged architect of the Soi 10 destruction owned the majority of such parlours, i think that this is a bit of an exageration. Certainly he was the mmost high-profile owner and I would suggest that he owned (past tense) more than most but the majority i think not. Have you seen how many such parlours there are just on the main Ratchadapisek road itself?

Finally regarding the impact on tourism. If they closed down Ratchadapisek completely it would have minimal eefect on tourism particularly from the west.

Patrons in that location are mainly Thai businessmen and their asian counterparts.

i sense closing it down would have a bigger impact on votes than on tourism

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hi...

thanks for the info .. what they allow schools inside entertainment zones? i am stunned... i didnt know that! Ooohh

i am not against massage parlors.... not at all..

i just think they should not be opposite schools or relegious areas and if the school was there first.........then.....

if the massage parlor was there first and legal then please dont open a school.

amarka

[bakachan]

zoning laws? what are those?

[BlackJack]

having a house of ill repute next to a school not a problem

serves 2 purposes

1. as a deterrant - teacher says bad place stay away

2. finishing school

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hi..

how many kids have you got...

sure it was a joke?

amarka

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no joke this is Thailand and this work is considered respectable

[kataiseeker]

In truth, the government is becoming "Westernized". The prime minister luckily made a billion dollars with IBM and became a "convert". So of course he moralizes everything into Western cultural ideas. Work ethic--which he has emphasized--development, economic "progress" etc.

These may make some sense, but the truth is, stamping out Thai customs to become Westernized doesn't make anyone happy. What is the real goal? Christianity? Sexual repressive societies work harder no doubt? The age of Protestantism/Puritanism however, is over. The West just can' t understand that their culture is already dead, and the east thinks it can imitate its way to success.

Most important is preservation of culture, not imitation of capitalist, industrialism vis a vis the Western moral approach. Up until recently, America was full of houses of ill repute, as they were called. Then the moralists got busy and zoned them out of existence. So why is there so much sexual perversion in America?

That's why! And don'y forget it!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have to agree with everything you've said here. America is getting more repressed every day with our new Holy Crusader in power. Perversions here rampant. When people can't find legit, safe sexual outlets their sexuality oftentimes twists to include animals, children, rape, whatever. I'd sure much rather have people going to Massage Parlours and Prostitutes than raping women in the park or having sex with children.