I use my small laptop at Coffee World...Starbucks and all over Pattaya and Bangkok.

If my battery runs low I plug it in a few minutes.

Never has anyone complained.

Most places offer public outlets for phones or ipads or small notebooks.

I always buy food or drinks and leave a good tip.

Most times I am joined by 3-10 fellow farang. All eating and drinking. I am the only laptop user.

Today I plugged in at the Food Park at Central Festival.

I have spent thousands of baht there as well as always shopping...movies...haircuts...restaurants etc and was ORDERED by a new guard to UNPLUG because I didnt pay for the electric.

According to UL a small laptop costs about 5 dollars a year to charge.

My question is this...

Why are Thais given power to CHASE away big money spending customers and their mates just to show their authority?

When I asked the mall concierge they said feel free to use the plugs.

When I returned the guard went crazy!

Recently I am seeing this pennywise...pound foolish attitude with many Thais against farang.

Anyone else notice this?

True WIFI signs are in about 100 places in Central Festival showing WIFI ZONES. Must have cost a lot of baht to add that.

You will run into these rent-a-cops in pretty much any country. I wouldn’t say it’s localized to Thailand.

However flexibility is somewhat less know here...

I think paying the electric directly to the guard would work.

And why should the Thai pay 5 dollars to charge YOUR laptop?

Did you ask to use the power socket or were you an arrogant farang and simply plugged it it?

Did the socket have a sign saying "welcome to use"?

My feeling is No and No.

I would have probably just ignored him...politely, however. I mean, it's probably the only sphere of his life where he feels he has any autonomy and exercise some authority. If he then brought over some kind of mall manager who also requested the same, I would have complied.

As for the attitude, I haven't noticed much of a change in over a decade of living in both Bangkok and now Pattaya. If you give a little respect and kindness you usually get the same in return.

Five dollars for a year.

I plugged into a wall socket in the Food Park for 10 minutes.

No Thais paid five dollars to charge my laptop.

Read and post makes some sense.

RIMMER...Classic Video.

Yes THAT IS IT!

I call it the Wyatt Earp Syndrome.

PS Today I went back and was told please plug in.

Also the guard got fired for asking for tips. I didnt get asked but guess others were and reported it.

Amazing. Miracle. Scammers!

Watch out for the inside man.

Edited September 9, 201114 yr by IAMSOBAD

RIMMER...Classic Video.

Yes THAT IS IT!

I call it the Wyatt Earp Syndrome.

PS Today I went back and was told please plug in.

Also the guard got fired for asking for tips. I didnt get asked but guess others were and reported it.

Amazing. Miracle. Scammers!

Watch out for the inside man.

Great!

RIMMER...Classic Video.

Yes THAT IS IT!

I call it the Wyatt Earp Syndrome.

PS Today I went back and was told please plug in.

Also the guard got fired for asking for tips. I didnt get asked but guess others were and reported it.

Amazing. Miracle. Scammers!

Watch out for the inside man.

Great!

Really?

If you're not British, I would like someone to explain, why this vid would be so great?

I'm dumb fumbled or whatever...

RIMMER...Classic Video.

Yes THAT IS IT!

I call it the Wyatt Earp Syndrome.

PS Today I went back and was told please plug in.

Also the guard got fired for asking for tips. I didnt get asked but guess others were and reported it.

Amazing. Miracle. Scammers!

Watch out for the inside man.

Great!

Really?

If you're not British, I would like someone to explain, why this vid would be so great?

I'm dumb fumbled or whatever...

My great referred to the fact that the staff told the guy that he could plug it in.

TheWalkingMan

I am not Brittish!!!

The point of Rimmers video must be WAY over your head.

I am American and totally got it.

I am not Brittish!!!

The point of Rimmers video must be WAY over your head.

I am American and totally got it.

What I wanted to say but put more politely

I cannot even spell B r i t is h!