Complaints Filed Against Topless Women Dancing During Songkran.

[Deeral]

it simply exposes another archaic facet of Thai society and the patronising attitudes of bureaucrats and those in positions of power who think they know what's best for Thailand.

'bout time they had a democracy?

[sirchai]

What is the big fuss about topless girls/women the breasts are not sexual organs no more than a mans nipples

He said that the clip has negatively affected the image of Thai culture and that all parties involved with such behaviour should be punished, while asking police to give importance to this issue, for it destroys the country's reputation.

The topic will be a part of the new Thai culture course for foreigners who'd like to become teachers. Destroying the country's reputation? Guess Thailand is pretty much well known for Ping Pong ball shooters, 3rd Genders, Mia Noi- cut it off affairs-, massage parlours with full body service like 100 years ago.

But there's no prostitution. What's Thailand's reputation?

Edited April 18, 2011 by sirchai

[yumidesign]

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

No I am certainly not joking.

This event may seem harmless enough, but this leads to other things and sooner or later becomes more extreme.

For example, in Britain young teens and thugs have practically taken over the streets and this is exactly how it all starts if rules are relaxed.

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

I am not a prude or in anyway against this sort of thing, providing it is done at the right places, only for adults and not as a public spectacle for all and sundry.

sure you certainly are joking

[newermonkey]

Nonsense... This does not tarnish Thailand's reputation (just makes some people want to puke up) but what does however tarnish Thailand is the crooked behavior of the BIB's and the reputation that Thailand is the land of thieves and cheats.

[Billmont]

Missed it again, maybe next year!

[toenail]

After observing Songkran in Bangkok for a couple days (and I was at Silom) I couldn't help but think this is a Thai tradition that has gone out of control...totally missing the theme of its original purpose. At one time, the sprinkling (NOTE: I said sprinkling, not spraying) of water was to mean good luck and a new beginnning for the new year; now, it is three days of wasting and demeaning a precious natural resource, water. Next, the buckets and buckets of white paste leaves its mark (when thrown) on the street, stores, signs, Skytrain steps.... an ughly mess. And all the plastic containers that are not recycled. Instead of the city authorities thinking topless female dancers is not following the Thai tradition of Songkran, they better ask themselves about the waste of water, the filth it generates, and the cost it takes to clean the Songkran areas up. (Heck, most local BKK Thais leave the city. The wild Songkran celebration certainly doesn't bring in revenue for the city.... oh, maybe for the vendors selling the plastic water guns made in China or the buckets of white paste.

Edited April 18, 2011 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[jaideeguy]

Ya wanna see [partial] nudity......just look at the front pages of most Thai newspapers showing models almost full page. The hipocracy of this country!!!

[WhizBang]

Perhaps if there were more topless girls dancing in the streets during Songkran, it would entice me to emerge from the bunker.

As it is, I prefer to stay holed up until all the stupidity is over. I have to add that it seems like songkran is increasing getting out of control and I do think something needs to be done to reign it in. And no, I am not talking about the topless dancers. Maybe a limit should be set on when (and even where) the water dousing can take place. Right now it is totally out of control.

To the Ministry of Culture I say, get a grip. Topless Thai women is Thai Culture. Do you not even know your own history? Have you seen Suriyothai?

I have been in Isaan and have seen topless women... in public, well, sort of public. On their own property anyways. So what's the big deal here.

I think the Ministry of Culture has opened a can of worms here. The incident will not tarnish Thailand's reputation (not by a long shot), and there are far more important things to worry about. How about cleaning up the Land of Scams image Thailand has?

Edited April 18, 2011 by WhizBang

[Deeral]

What is the big fuss about topless girls/women the breasts are not sexual organs no more than a mans nipples

Uh, oh. Had better tell my girlfriend to stop playing with her nipples during sex. Bummer!

Oh dear Max, I bet you're a million laughs in bed!

[asiawatcher]

Ah Thailand - the new hub of double standards! In a country of total gender confusion, guys with boobs and indoor plumbing, women with girlfriends, ladyboys, queens, giks and meanois on every middle income, well to do, businessmen arms as well as many politicians and police? Get a life? What stupidity Thailand continues to display and how inept these mindless complainants are.

[Neonben]

No it's true, serious crime has gone through the roof in the U.K. and research shows it started with some girls topless sunbathing in Hyde park.

Beetlejuice probably thinks kids rob banks so they can inject cannabis.

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

No I am certainly not joking.

This event may seem harmless enough, but this leads to other things and sooner or later becomes more extreme.

For example, in Britain young teens and thugs have practically taken over the streets and this is exactly how it all starts if rules are relaxed.

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

I am not a prude or in anyway against this sort of thing, providing it is done at the right places, only for adults and not as a public spectacle for all and sundry.

sure you certainly are joking

Edited April 18, 2011 by Neonben

[PETDCAT]

Well I am just relieved it wasn't 3 big breasted Farang girls dancing up there. Then could you imagine the crap we would be hearing? Good thing it was just Thai girls demeaning the Songkran image.

[gregb]

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

Nobody wants to see the Thai culture converted into the West, but you are simply wrong that this is a Western influence. This is a natural human tendency, during a drunken festival to exercise questionable judgement while getting carried away in the moment. Believe me, there wouldn't be any Thais at all if you think they need Western influences to act this way. The idea that this behavior is due to Western influence is nothing short of absurd.

If you truly want to stop this, you have to stop the party before it begins. Putting thousands of young people in a situation like this nearly guarantees some of them are going to fall prey to decisions like this. This is not Western influence. This is natural human behavior, and it exists independent of time and culture. Young drunk people act like young drunk people.

Again, most people with any common sense recognize what I am saying is true. But too many people feel ashamed that they enjoyed the spectacle, and over compensate by acting like idiots and making a big deal over this. Like somehow human nature is the girls fault.

Punish the media for being irresponsible and showing this, and have a quiet conversation with the ladies who went overboard. That is the only proper way to deal with this.

[hbullinger]

Can I suggest to fine topless men in the streets as well as women, say 500 baht while they are outside, but increase it to 5,000 baht for entering any department store or other indoor facilities topless. Not the cultural considerations nor morality is at stake here but these blokes are simply an insult to anybody's sense for aesthetics, usually much more so than in the case of topless women.

[personchester]

What is the big fuss about topless girls/women the breasts are not sexual organs no more than a mans nipples

Why make such a comment, You know very well that this is not the case, unless you own social culture comes from the deep jungle.

[biloutte]

waow it s time to the people complain to go NANA SOI cowboy street and Bangna have a lot 500 bath for you there

be serious this is party ntohing wrong

[Just1Voice]

"It hurts the image of Thailand, in particular Silom," he said. "It distorts Songkran culture too." :lol:

Thank you Thailand for providing my morning laugh. Now excuse me while I get cheated by a jet ski operator, buy a fake rolex, decline the offer to buy kiddie porn, decline the offer to touch a fake pair of boobs, accept the offer to rent a pair of real boobs, avoid the litter police, drive down the wrong side of the road, pay off the coppers to avoid seeing the inside of the jail...

All the fuss over exposed boobs...

And let's not forget the blatant two-tiered pricing, tuk-tuk gangs (sorry, I refuse to call them "mafia" because they are anything but!), metered taxi that refuse to use meters, the fact that 99% of the time you, the foreigner, are ALWAYS at fault for any accident, regardless of the circumstances, or the mothers who will happily sell their daughters for a couple of thousand baht. The list is endless.

Yet, despite all that, Thailand does have some wonderful things about it, which is why I, and many others, chose to live here.

Edited April 18, 2011 by Just1Voice

[Emster23]

"I believe these girls are hit with 500 Baht fines most evenings." Ha! made me laugh....

In New Orleans Mardi Gras the chant is "Show us your tits!" which is often followed with (ta da) showing tits....

Culture Cops should have just ignored it. As it is, everyone wants o see video.

I live in BKK and have condo in Pattaya. I shot a video a few years back of topless boobs in pickup truck going down Jomtien Beach Road. It was Katoey's, though they'd had the augmentation operation. Nice jobs, too, I must say.

So if you're a man with a great set of knockers, you can show them, right? But not if they are the real deal...

I see plenty of topless European women on the beach in Pattaya, and once some Katoeys.....

Makes me think of Billy Crystal's "It's not how you feel, it's how you look and you look mahvellous" but modify for Thailand

"It's not what you do (corruption, oppression, etc) but how you look (topless) . And you look dangerous"

[Soutpeel]

Ah Thailand - the new hub of double standards! In a country of total gender confusion, guys with boobs and indoor plumbing, women with girlfriends, ladyboys, queens, giks and meanois on every middle income, well to do, businessmen arms as well as many politicians and police? Get a life? What stupidity Thailand continues to display and how inept these mindless complainants are.

The sad thing is there has been 300 deaths (official statistic's... ) over Songkran and where is the outrage over this ???.....but a couple of females lift their shirts and show their t*ts and everyone comes out the tree's...

Rather pathetic..

[bsssboy]

I see real hypocrisy when i read all these comments..

[Crushdepth]

He said that the clip has negatively affected the image of Thai culture and that all parties involved with such behaviour should be punished, while asking police to give importance to this issue, for it destroys the country's reputation.

Shall we take bets on how many 'mia noi' this guy has?

Bastion of morality my @r$e.

Edited April 18, 2011 by Crushdepth

[softgeorge]

<BR>Nonsense... <FONT color=#ff0000><STRONG>This does not tarnish Thailand's reputation (just makes some people want to puke up)</STRONG></FONT> but what does however tarnish Thailand is the crooked behavior of the BIB's and the reputation that Thailand is the land of thieves and cheats. <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif"><BR>

<BR><BR><BR>As a hetrosexual male I have never puked at the sight of firm ripe young FEMALE breasts. If I was feeling a little off colour this certainly would be the cure. But hey I am hetrosexual male and that is what we inrerently like. Can't speak for others tho.

[wave]

Where were the Bangrak Police while these heinous crimes were being committed?

Maybe someone should file a complaint against the Police for allowing this obscene behaviour to take place.

Let the You Tuber's go free! They are doing a public service, without them no one would have known.....

[smotherb]

it was a lot tamer than another main songran playing soi i was in.....where there was this REALLY drunk girl dancing in the middle of the soi and a farang comes down in his car, stops and buys her bra and shorts and then takes off leaving her totally naked lol

pray tell rogerman, what did you do with the bra and shorts?

[Neonben]

Sorry can we edit your last sentence to: What stupidity Thailand continues to display and how inept these mindless are.

Ah Thailand - the new hub of double standards! In a country of total gender confusion, guys with boobs and indoor plumbing, women with girlfriends, ladyboys, queens, giks and meanois on every middle income, well to do, businessmen arms as well as many politicians and police? Get a life? What stupidity Thailand continues to display and how inept these mindless complainants are.

Edited April 18, 2011 by Neonben

[hansnl]

I watched the uncensored video and it is still out there.

This is extremely bad for the country's image around the world.

It has the semblance of the Brits loutish behaviour in the Spanish holiday resorts.

It is simply done in bad taste and should be kept in the bars. In fact these girls have brought the bar culture out onto the streets in full view of children and for the world to see.

A 500 baht fine is a joke for lowering Thailand's image to rock bottom.

I guess that the pillocks who uploaded the video onto the Internet are shiteing their pants right now and the girls claim to fame has backfired on them.

You are joking, i hope..........

No I am certainly not joking.

This event may seem harmless enough, but this leads to other things and sooner or later becomes more extreme.

For example, in Britain young teens and thugs have practically taken over the streets and this is exactly how it all starts if rules are relaxed.

Personally I don't want to see too many Western influences in Thailand, I love the country just the way it is.

Boundaries need to be drawn otherwise it will lead to the demise of the whole of Thai culture, just as what has happened in the UK.

I am not a prude or in anyway against this sort of thing, providing it is done at the right places, only for adults and not as a public spectacle for all and sundry.

It is all about "face".

[avalonmick]

Nice one.

What? hypocritical middle aged males? Can't be true.

Yes, it's way past time that someone started worrying about morality in Thai culture. With corruption endemic across all levels of society and business - ie everything has a monetary price but no intrinsic value or moral worth, starting with sex - the place went to the toughest dogs a long time ago.

Here are the before & after pics of the topless dancing girls on Ministry of Culture's website http://yfrog.com/h4nvfpkj

Source: Richard Barrow

[freedom4life]

What is the big fuss about topless girls/women the breasts are not sexual organs no more than a mans nipples

That's a western stance..especially a politically-correct one, which makes it more nauseating.

[webfact]

related article

Ladyboys Arrested for Stripping in Public During Songkran

Police have arrested Thai transvestites who stripped down to the waist while celebrating Songkran in Pichit Province.

The ladyboys apologized and promised to wear traditional Thai dress next year after the incident made headlines over the Thai New Year Festival.

Twenty four year old Praewanis Reelakul along with 5 of her friends confessed to allegations after the media revealed footage of the transvestites stripping in public over the Songkran holidays.

The incident has sparked criticisms among many groups in society.

The ladyboys were stripping while water was being sprayed by passers by on a road in Pichit Province.

Police charged the ladyboys with obscene behavior in public and fined them 500 baht each before releasing them with a warning.

Preawanis apologized to the public for her inappropriate behavior, acknowledging that it may have damaged Pichit Province's reputation.

She also promised that this shameful incident would not happen in the future.

A campaign is being launched to urge ladyboys in the province to wear traditional Thai dresses next year during Songkran as a means of preserving good Thai culture.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-18

[Beetlejuice]

I am not a dirty oll b'tard , and if my daughters (I have 2) would be in a jolly mood and had fun like this in a few years then it is their choice to do so.... Its 2011 Gentlemen not 1911....

There are some members here that have WAY TOO MUCH TIME on their hands posting here about a few girls flashing their boobs ...

For christ sake Thais are selling kiddie porn on many street corners and the 'Farangs' here are trying to defend the 'Thai Honor' ...

I love the Thais , I love this country but I also see them for the hypocrites that they are > Thai values? There is only one Thai Value and that is 'Tang'....

The rest is a lot of blabla..

Thai politics are a joke, Thai Police are paid Criminals in brown and the Thai Smile is a thin veneer .........But showing some boobs that will bring the image down in the rest of the world ....hahahhhahaha

You forget about PatPong , Nana.......

Come on guys , when you are not Thai and you are 'a knight in shining armor' defending the Thai traditional values who are you really kidding here....

Love all things Thai but am still able to see them for the hypocrites they are .

And this is exactly the type of opinions and attitudes that are not needed here in Thailand.

Songkran is mean`t to be a cultural festival and celebration, not have it`s theme debased by a load of brain dead maladjusted delinquents.

Yes, there are many farangs here trying to defend Thailand’s honour because most of us respect and abide by the laws of Thailand and prefer things just the way they are. This is why we enjoy living here.

If you don`t agree, and have nothing but criticism for the country, then why are you here? And if you are not living in Thailand, then your concerns should be dealing with the problems in your home country where it is acceptable for young people to run amuck under the protection of the do gooders and those who believe, well, they’re only kids having a good time.

Just go and walk about some areas of America and Britain and see for yourself the results of these liberal attitudes.

As for me, I am happy that this has been nipped in the bud. Good on the police and good on the authorities for they’re actions taken.

Remember that no one is forcing those who don`t like the system here and can`t accept the way of life of the Thai people, to stay in Thailand.

You either accept it or move on.