You think this will lead to a public campaign against fortunetellers and soothsayers, about how dangerous and irresponsible they are? No, majority of the gov. still believes in them.

And you know this because what? Your feelings tell you? You have substantive evidence? If you do not, then you really are no different than then fortunetellers you cite.

You think this will lead to a public campaign against fortunetellers and soothsayers, about how dangerous and irresponsible they are? No, majority of the gov. still believes in them.

And you know this because what? Your feelings tell you? You have substantive evidence? If you do not, then you really are no different than then fortunetellers you cite.

That was the most pathetic comeback sofar GK.

I state that fortunetellers and soothsayers are all fake from the lack of evidence to their effectiveness and from the overwhelming evidence that they are no more than guess-work and cold-reading.

But I guess you approach them the same way you approach politics. Would explain a great deal about you.

I think we can dispense with personal comments that are off-topic.

Why are people concerned about the dam breaking. The OP doesn't say anything about fortune tellers.

You think this will lead to a public campaign against fortunetellers and soothsayers, about how dangerous and irresponsible they are? No, majority of the gov. still believes in them.

And you know this because what? Your feelings tell you? You have substantive evidence? If you do not, then you really are no different than then fortunetellers you cite.

That was the most pathetic comeback sofar GK.

I state that fortunetellers and soothsayers are all fake from the lack of evidence to their effectiveness and from the overwhelming evidence that they are no more than guess-work and cold-reading.

But I guess you approach them the same way you approach politics. Would explain a great deal about you.

My comment was not a comeback. I do not disagree with the view that fortune tellers and the like are bogus. I do however disagree with your broad statement majority of the gov. still believes in them. You cannot substantiate that allegation. Your statement was based on what? A gut feeling? A premonition? If so, then it is no different than the ramblings of itinerant fortune tellers.

Deal with what you wrote. You know nothing about how I approach politics nor is it even relevant as there are no politics involved in this thread. The attempt to turn the discussion to me is spurious and demonstrates that you cannot back up your claim. Do not make a statement that you cannot back up, particularly when it disparages others who you neither know nor relate with. The fact of the matter is that the problem with the dam arose from rumours spreading. Yes, it may have been a fortune teller that predicted an event, but as the story was repeated, it grew feet. Instead of a simple collapse, it became a story of officials evacuating their families and of how the rivers would overflow with floods as well. Your statement really is not much different than someone claiming the dam would burst.

Edited January 1, 201214 yr by geriatrickid

Why are people concerned about the dam breaking. The OP doesn't say anything about fortune tellers.

A fortune teller predicted the dam would break.

They are now trying to get the fortune teller's 73 year old father put in jail for spreading the rumours.

You think this will lead to a public campaign against fortunetellers and soothsayers, about how dangerous and irresponsible they are? No, majority of the gov. still believes in them.

And you know this because what? Your feelings tell you? You have substantive evidence? If you do not, then you really are no different than then fortunetellers you cite.

That was the most pathetic comeback sofar GK.

I state that fortunetellers and soothsayers are all fake from the lack of evidence to their effectiveness and from the overwhelming evidence that they are no more than guess-work and cold-reading.

But I guess you approach them the same way you approach politics. Would explain a great deal about you.

My comment was not a comeback. I do not disagree with the view that fortune tellers and the like are bogus. I do however disagree with your broad statement majority of the gov. still believes in them. You cannot substantiate that allegation. Your statement was based on what? A gut feeling? A premonition? If so, then it is no different than the ramblings of itinerant fortune tellers.

Deal with what you wrote. You know nothing about how I approach politics nor is it even relevant as there are no politics involved in this thread. The attempt to turn the discussion to me is spurious and demonstrates that you cannot back up your claim. Do not make a statement that you cannot back up, particularly when it disparages others who you neither know nor relate with. The fact of the matter is that the problem with the dam arose from rumours spreading. Yes, it may have been a fortune teller that predicted an event, but as the story was repeated, it grew feet. Instead of a simple collapse, it became a story of officials evacuating their families and of how the rivers would overflow with floods as well. Your statement really is not much different than someone claiming the dam would burst.

First off, you say you was against the claim that the majority of the gov. believes in them. Fair enough, perhaps you should have mentioned in the post. You didn't, hence I took it as being against the posts main point - that fortunetellers and soothsayers are dangerous but will not go away anytime soon.

To your then point: Seeing as the majority of Thai people seemingly believe in it then it goes to reason to deduct that the same ratio applies for the gov. - unless you claim they are not an accurate description of the society in large.In which case I would be interested in why you believe them to be less of believers than the common man.

Good for them......that's the best way to face down predictions of doom and gloom, go have a party and tell fate to *ff off.

First off, you say you was against the claim that the majority of the gov. believes in them. Fair enough, perhaps you should have mentioned in the post. You didn't, hence I took it as being against the posts main point - that fortunetellers and soothsayers are dangerous but will not go away anytime soon.

To your then point: Seeing as the majority of Thai people seemingly believe in it then it goes to reason to deduct that the same ratio applies for the gov. - unless you claim they are not an accurate description of the society in large.In which case I would be interested in why you believe them to be less of believers than the common man.

I do not doubt that there are a number of people in Thailand that take fortune tellers to heart. Some politicans might also buy in. However, human nature being what it is, people have a tendency to hear and react on what they want to hear. If a fortune teller were to tell someone, oh, if you study hard, and are honest you will prosper. The person might only hear you will prosper. No one that I have heard of has measured the population's views on fortune tellers. I do however suggest that one not mix up the religious aspect with this notion of spirits floating about and magical incantations by the local con artists.

A core belief of the Catholic Church is the notion of the holy spirit, the ghost of Christ and one can then toss in devil possessions and the other stuff. We would not label a predominately catholic country such as Eire as superstitious or given to believeinbg in spirits and demons would we? Let's extend the same courtesy to Thailand.

A core belief of the Catholic Church is the notion of the holy spirit, the ghost of Christ and one can then toss in devil possessions and the other stuff. We would not label a predominately catholic country such as Eire as superstitious or given to believeinbg in spirits and demons would we? Let's extend the same courtesy to Thailand.

I extend the same courtesy to all ridiculous practices for all religions and cultures, and their odd side-shows of them.

Just make sure that if invites to Brits to celebrate on the dam are sent out, make sure that 617 Squadron, RAF is not on the list. :-)

Yesterday afternoon the village people assailed the Wat of my Spiritual Master, asking for all the holy candles he has to protct them against the ....?. He offered them the candles saying: Now we have no more holy candles in the temple, you are ready now to understand the Buddha's Teaching?

(Lineage Tan Buddhadassa)

A Wat beside with a big White Buddha saw an invasion of hundreds of high instructed and devoted Buddhists (Adjahn Chah lineage) to camp on a higher place, under the protection of the White Buddha.

The construction of this White Buddha had animistic and Buddhist reasons: Protection against the greed of granit entrepreneurs.

The higher the Buddha the bigger the area is protected against environmental crimes.

Partying on the crest of Bhumibol Dam - 10 Billion cubic metres of water on one side, a 150m drop on the other. Add copious amounts of alcohol.

Anyone else see something wrong with this idea?

Perhaps they'll bus up a bunch of expats from Pattaya for an exhibition of Team Balcony Jumping.

Swimming in the sea, you deal with quite more than 10 billion CM and it doesn't kill you.

If there's a risk at the dam, that's on the other side indeed.

With 2 major differences, a sea shore to escape from and not water hundreds of meters deep the moment you step into it and with so many weak and non-swimmers here.

Edited January 1, 201214 yr by WarpSpeed

Yesterday afternoon the village people assailed the Wat of my Spiritual Master, asking for all the holy candles he has to protct them against the ....?. He offered them the candles saying: Now we have no more holy candles in the temple, you are ready now to understand the Buddha's Teaching?

(Lineage Tan Buddhadassa)

A Wat beside with a big White Buddha saw an invasion of hundreds of high instructed and devoted Buddhists (Adjahn Chah lineage) to camp on a higher place, under the protection of the White Buddha.

The construction of this White Buddha had animistic and Buddhist reasons: Protection against the greed of granit entrepreneurs.

The higher the Buddha the bigger the area is protected against environmental crimes.

They are buddhists, too???

Partying on the crest of Bhumibol Dam - 10 Billion cubic metres of water on one side, a 150m drop on the other. Add copious amounts of alcohol.

Anyone else see something wrong with this idea?

Perhaps they'll bus up a bunch of expats from Pattaya for an exhibition of Team Balcony Jumping.

To be more precise 13.462 billion cubic meter of water. If the main dam breaks Thailand will be in a very very deep trouble. Cost of life can run to millions. Does the dam authority has the what so called "Dam Break Emergency Response Plan"?. Base on the way it managed the recent floods I doubt it has the Emergency Response Plan to dealt with such event.