Does Anyone Know......

[Soutpeel]

Yeah he was walking away from the guy...in the direction he had been clearly told he couldn't go.

So it was ok to hit him with a metal detector ?

[Pseudolus]

The argument that the chap had been allowed onto the other two trains does not hold water at all. So he got past a bunch of guards who couldn't care less about doing there job and then got confronted by a little chap who valued the 10k a month job he has and wanted to do it properly. Maybe for his own kids welfare? The fact is that apparently more than however many balloons is against the laws and someone did their job and tried to uphold them. The fact that the little chap was still not backing down when the 2 farangs could easily have attacked him shows that he thought he was actually doing his job. ....right until he cracked him with the metal detector that is.

We don't know really what happened before the hit to the head. We only have the words from as poster who apparently knows the chap. But really, if I was there with my wife and daughter, and the guy was not letting us on with some balloons, its time to be the grown up and tell the daughter that some are staying behind and thats it. Not to make the daughters memory of her graduation being an image of her dad getting his head stoved in. I don't really buy it that the little lad cracked him one, in the middle of the station, on camera cctv, in front of his colleagues, with 2 big lump farangs, for no reason. I would guess some things were said, and the guard stopped being a guard for a bit and lost face, so smacked him one.

Either way - not nice for the daughter, and the dad should have had the sense to realise that when someone says no (who can say no) it is a better lesson to the child to respect that than to let her see you acting like a prat and getting a smack. Unless of course the guard wanted the balloons to give to his kids, which is a possibility.

[HeavyDrinker]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

If not, could someone take a snap and whack it up here?

While they're at it, could they also post a full list of childhood toys which are banned from the BTS as I was planning on buying a space-hopper to ease the pain of travelling down the busy pavements in Lower Sukhumwit and don't fancy a clout nor to incur Newly Minted "Thai"'s displeasure.

Edited March 21, 2012 by HeavyDrinker

[Bangkokhatter]

Just read this whole thread and have to say there are some complete cocks on TV .

From Bendix who thinks he is so clever posting about some archaic law that says it's our duty to hit Irishmen, to the delusional newly minted thai who just posts utter nonsense!

The thread has gone full circle with the usual Farang bashing ( should not be here he deserved everything he got ), to the equally absurd racist little Thai man and then to the slagging off of Tefl teachers, how did they get involved ?

I would imagine both parties involved probably regret certain actions and now wish it didn't happen, and was it was a pretty bad ending to the daughters graduation , but some peoples posts and replies on here are as shocking as the actual incident.

[Pseudolus]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/88769-toy-balloons-filled-with-hydrogen-gas/

On the BTS website it says no flammable substances. No doubt him not allowing them on was precautionary.

[travelmann]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

http://www.thaivisa....h-hydrogen-gas/

On the BTS website it says no flammable substances. No doubt him not allowing them on was precautionary.

I ate beans last night? am I allowed on the BTS now..............thats if theres even room on it anymore?

[inthepink]

As Bangkokhatter said, there are some real idiots posting on this thread (although I think bendix was joking!).

Unless the Westerner in the video physically attacked the security guard before the video started, I don't need to know what was said beforehand (or any other details) to know that the security guard was out of order.

if you think beating somebody around the head with a blunt instrument for breaking a rule (if there is one) about taking children's balloons onto a train is reasonable then you are a complete waste of space.

I remember being escorted out of the Trocadero Centre, (Piccadilly Circus, London) when I was rather drunk and they managed to eject me without beating me around the head. I was also thrown off a tube train for verbally abusing somebody once (An Irishman believe it or not). I'm not proud of either incident but I used to drink a lot in my younger days, which often led me to behave like a fool. However, on both those occasions the security staff involved managed to do their job without setting about me like some yobs off the street.

Edited March 21, 2012 by inthepink

[edwardandtubs]

I'd better avoid using the BTS then, after my usual baked beans!

Whether it's a poison gas attack or makeshift explosive, you are clearly a terrorist threat!

[StreetCowboy]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

If not, could someone take a snap and whack it up here?

While they're at it, could they also post a full list of childhood toys which are banned from the BTS as I was planning on buying a space-hopper to ease the pain of travelling down the busy pavements in Lower Sukhumwit and don't fancy a clout nor to incur Newly Minted "Thai"'s displeasure.

I hope someone posts the video of you spacehoppering up the escalator to the fare gate. Threre's far too little innovation in transport here. Do you think that,in all seriousness and current topic aside, a pogo stick might cope better with the crowds and traffic in Bangkok - particularly on escalators and staircases?

SC

[edwardandtubs]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

http://www.thaivisa....h-hydrogen-gas/

On the BTS website it says no flammable substances. No doubt him not allowing them on was precautionary.

Kids' balloons are not "flammable substances". A cigarette lighter is much more dangerous. Clearly the guard was attempting to exceed his authority and the passenger wasn't having any of it. The security guard is a thug and deserves to be sacked. The pathetic "we are guests in Thailand and must do as we are told" brigade can bleat all they like but this a clear case of right and wrong.

[theblether]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

If not, could someone take a snap and whack it up here?

While they're at it, could they also post a full list of childhood toys which are banned from the BTS as I was planning on buying a space-hopper to ease the pain of travelling down the busy pavements in Lower Sukhumwit and don't fancy a clout nor to incur Newly Minted "Thai"'s displeasure.

I hope someone posts the video of you spacehoppering up the escalator to the fare gate. Threre's far too little innovation in transport here. Do you think that,in all seriousness and current topic aside, a pogo stick might cope better with the crowds and traffic in Bangkok - particularly on escalators and staircases?

SC

and so we go full circle to one of the best topics ever seen on Thaivisa

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/106518-trolleys-on-escalators-near-disaster/page__hl__trolleys%20on%20escalator

I would suggest that our newer members have a read at that, and maybe they will pick up on some of the humour of this forum.

Bendix is a master of it.

[samsiam]

nobody saw the start of the video so we dont know who took the first confrontational step

Why is that relevant?

That is hilarious that you have to ask that....really.

[csolgosz]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

http://www.thaivisa....h-hydrogen-gas/

On the BTS website it says no flammable substances. No doubt him not allowing them on was precautionary.

"Helium has the advantage of being non-flammable (in addition to being fire retardant)." (Wiki) Please, please keep pushing the hydrogen-filled balloon story. Then I will contact the company who supplied the balloons to read this forum. 555

[StreetCowboy]

Has anyone confirmed the "No Balloons on the BTS" rule yet....?

If not, could someone take a snap and whack it up here?

While they're at it, could they also post a full list of childhood toys which are banned from the BTS as I was planning on buying a space-hopper to ease the pain of travelling down the busy pavements in Lower Sukhumwit and don't fancy a clout nor to incur Newly Minted "Thai"'s displeasure.

I hope someone posts the video of you spacehoppering up the escalator to the fare gate. Threre's far too little innovation in transport here. Do you think that,in all seriousness and current topic aside, a pogo stick might cope better with the crowds and traffic in Bangkok - particularly on escalators and staircases?

SC

and so we go full circle to one of the best topics ever seen on Thaivisa

http://www.thaivisa....0on%20escalator

I would suggest that our newer members have a read at that, and maybe they will pick up on some of the humour of this forum.

Bendix is a master of it.

There's nothing funny about escalator safety. Some of the most horrendous accidents you are likely to encounter involving moving stairways happen on escalators... it was while idly browsing that very topic that I came to develop a new respect for the American courts, and the problems faced by American judges when confronted with the incompetence of second-rate lawyers (my point beng that the judge can only comment on what is placed before him, and if a lawyer fails to offer up a common-sense argument, the judge cannot infer it).

My apologies for the digression, but the main thread of conversation seems to be spinning in ever-tighter spirals - on which topic does anyone else miss sycamore seeds?

SC

[ufo]

The argument that the chap had been allowed onto the other two trains does not hold water at all. So he got past a bunch of guards who couldn't care less about doing there job and then got confronted by a little chap who valued the 10k a month job he has and wanted to do it properly. Maybe for his own kids welfare? The fact is that apparently more than however many balloons is against the laws and someone did their job and tried to uphold them. The fact that the little chap was still not backing down when the 2 farangs could easily have attacked him shows that he thought he was actually doing his job. ....right until he cracked him with the metal detector that is.

We don't know really what happened before the hit to the head. We only have the words from as poster who apparently knows the chap. But really, if I was there with my wife and daughter, and the guy was not letting us on with some balloons, its time to be the grown up and tell the daughter that some are staying behind and thats it. Not to make the daughters memory of her graduation being an image of her dad getting his head stoved in. I don't really buy it that the little lad cracked him one, in the middle of the station, on camera cctv, in front of his colleagues, with 2 big lump farangs, for no reason. I would guess some things were said, and the guard stopped being a guard for a bit and lost face, so smacked him one.

Either way - not nice for the daughter, and the dad should have had the sense to realise that when someone says no (who can say no) it is a better lesson to the child to respect that than to let her see you acting like a prat and getting a smack. Unless of course the guard wanted the balloons to give to his kids, which is a possibility.

I respect some of your points, but you were not there. It wasn't the case of the little chap doing his job. There were only a few words exchanged before the Irish guy went to go through the barrier, and the other big lump as you called was holding the little girls hand and never said one word to the guard. Unfortunately this was more like a Thai guy with a nob the size of a peanut with a chip on his shoulders about farang. He had some new shiny shoes, sparkling whistle oh and METAL DETECTOR that he rapped around his head with out even trying to stop him with his hands first!

[Pseudolus]

I'm not pushing this story. Someone asked if it was indeed a rule that balloons are not allowed. I pointed out that on THAIVISA there is a story about them being filled with Hydrogen in Bangkok, and that there is a rule saying no flammable substances. Hydrogen is flammable. Maybe the guard used to work selling hydrogen filled balloons?

I'm not a Thai apologist, nor am I a supporter of the Sukhumvit Expat king of the world just because I am a white guy. Both are fools as faras I am concerned and need to stop listening to the hype they tell their friends about themselves. The guard needs to be prosecuted, and about the guy who got a whack I just believe did more than say politely "excuse me dear chap, but they are my daughters and she will be upset if I have to leave them behind". If I was going to be a "guests in their country" BS artist I would claim that the farang was most likely beered up and took a swing at the guard or arrogantly pushed him out the way and got a bonk on the noggin. But I didn't. Sorry I do not fit into the one of two camps that are so vocal here.

By the way, I don't think the smack was as bad as it looks. A slight knick on the eyebrow would cause that much blood hence why the farang was able to keep his cool. I would imagine if he had had a dig cranial spanking he would be more angry than the clip showed due to a surge of adrenalin.

[chemolook]

Fractured eye socket

[Pseudolus]

Well he (you?) did a better job at keeping his cool if that is the case. I would have been through that barrier and stuffed the balloons up his arse.

Edited March 21, 2012 by AdamBanks

[onionluke]

Was the guard looking for the now legendary tinfoil hat championed by so many on TV ?

[Beetlejuice]

My biggest concern is for the metal detector after the farang deliberately committed a vicious assault on it with his head.

Was it damaged, is it repairable and was the device covered by the railway’s insurance policy?

I suggest we have a whip round to obtain enough funds for a replacement metal detector.

I think they should deduct the cost from Somchai the guards salary under inappropriate use of company tools

I agree with that.

Why couldn’t the guard have used a hammer or truncheon like any normal head basher?

I retract my appeal for money to buy a new metal detector, just a shear mis-use of company property.

[oldsailor35]

They're not such a problem on over-ground systems with 3rd rail instead of overhead line. But I doubt that the full reasoning for the prohibition was cascaded down to the staff in question.

As I recall, I have never had such a problem with either my son or my daughter, even when accompanied by a balloon.

Unfortunately, when people start exciting and agitating one another with hype about terrorist security, common sense often comes away the worst victim*

SC

* except for Stumpy the Iranian, of course, but he had no-one to blame but himself

ha ha ha ...Stumpy ! i like it, there should be more of them.

[StreetCowboy]

Maybe a brief musical interlude will help everyone cheer up

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/389070-if-youre-listening-to-music-now-whats-playing-4/page__view__findpost__p__5153658

SC

[Soutpeel]

and stuffed the balloons up his arse.

Closely followed by Shultzstaffel Stumfurher Somchai's metal detector.

[oldsailor35]

Well i think that we should all stop talking about Helium, Hydrogen etc., immediately!!!. Because if the army read this , they just might try to get their super duper "no lift off" observation balloon going by trying a few experiments with the information that we are leaking..............this could be dangerous.

Edited March 21, 2012 by oldsailor35

[StreetCowboy]

Well i think that we should all stop talking about Helium, Hydrogen etc., immediately!!!. Because if the army read this , they just might try to get their super duper "no lift off" observation balloon going by trying a few experiments with the information that we are leaking..............this could be dangerous.

"... that we are leaking"

I think you'll find that's methane. Still lighter than air, cheap to produce, and much more entertaining when you set it alight.

Probably about half the bouyancy of hydrogen or helium, though...

Anyway, I imagine they'll be a bit cautious, to avoid any further bother.

SC

[oldsailor35]

Who cares what was or might have been in the balloons?

If you disobey the orders of security personnel at a mass transit station anywhere in the world in this day and age, you can expect to be taken down in short order.

I don't think the defenders of the farang lout would be singing quite the same tune had he been an Arab in turban and flowing robes.

And the reaction when the Customs official resisted the orders of the security personnel at Suvarnabhumi? Universally against the Customs guy. Why different now? Because the offender was a superior farang this time?

Personally, I think it is great that the guards were not intimidated by the guy's bully-boy behavior and performed their jobs well.

I'll feel that much safer next time I ride the BTS.

And here's me thinking that it is Indians who wear Turbans..........geeze ! the world gets more dangerous all the time.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Yeah he was walking away from the guy...in the direction he had been clearly told he couldn't go.

So it was ok to hit him with a metal detector ?

What do you suggest he hit him with?

[StreetCowboy]

Yeah he was walking away from the guy...in the direction he had been clearly told he couldn't go.

So it was ok to hit him with a metal detector ?

What do you suggest he hit him with?

I'd have hit him with a sharp one-liner or a snide remark; something that he could have carried with him to the grave

(We're all wags on the internet, but sadly not so quick with the ready repartee in real life...)

SC

Edit: Maybe he'd have been better to hit him with a quick ' 2,3,4' and accompanied him to the station.

Edited March 21, 2012 by StreetCowboy

[metisdead]

A number of inflammatory posts and replies have been removed as well as posts threatening other members. Some nonsense posts have been removed as well.

[arminbkk]

I have read all the posts here now, up until page 8 ...........boy do I regret that.

That time will never come back..............

Some posters really have too much time on their hands....and nothing much else going on, it seems.

Here for my opinion then (based on the so-called witness accounts posted here, be they true/correct or not, I don't know):

- the farang should have listened/reasoned more with the security guard, not turn around and head for the turnstyles after agruing

he wasn't stopped twice before, so don't try it now. He seems to live here, so he should know better: staying calm and smile will get

you further with a Thai than starting to shout; that's the Thai way (and this is an incident in Bangkok, Thailand)

Also, you don't see a Thai arguing with a police officer that he wasn't stopped the last 5 days in a row when he was not wearing

a helmet while driving a motor cycle past that same officer, "so why are you stopping me today?".

- the security guard should not have used the metal detector, period. That would have only be justifiable if the farang had gotten

physical with him, which doesn't appear to have happened.

Assuming the farang did actually get hit twice (the vid is low quality, but you can clearly see blood, so he did get hit good),

he stayed relatively cool. I'm sure plenty of others would have been on the floor with the security guard already.

To conclude: the security guard was most out of line.

But the farang could have avoided it all by taking a taxi, ditching half of the ballons, or letting the air out of the ballons and taking them all with him.

(It's my opinion, not a directive)