Right or wrong?

[Confuscious]

Yesterday night, I was walking at the big night market.

Enjoying the nice weather, enjoying looking at the different products and the people.

While looking at the products at one of the stall's, I was approached by a Thai family.

An old woman, a man who was clearly younger as the woman but who was already older too, and 2 young female children.

But 1 of the children was a foreign child.

I am not good at guessing ages, but I thing that the child must have been somewhere between 5 and 8 years old.

The child had a terrified look on her face and was firmly held by her hands by the Thai couple.

The woman started talking to me and asked in Thai: " (Do you like the child)" while showing me the child.

My instinct said to me that something was very fishy here and I continued my way without responding to the woman.

Later that night, whilst driving home, I could not get the terrified look of the kid out of my mind.

A lot of things started to flash trough my head and I was thinking if I took the right decision.

What would you have done in my situation?

Edited November 3, 2013 by metisdead
Thai language edited out of post. This is an English language forum, English is the only acceptable language, except in the Thai language forum where Thai language is allowed.

[CharlieH]

Thought of a better story.

[StreetCowboy]

Do you make pies?

[rotary]

Call the Thai police who will probably do nothing but at least I know I tried.

[SOTIRIOS]

...not good.....

[Gsxrnz]

In your story you say the alleged child was foreign. Specify the ethnicity.

You have a child yourself (according to a prior post), so how come you could only determine the age range as 5 to 8? A 5yo in any country looks nothing like an 8yo.

Why would the Thai woman start talking to you in Thai? I assume you don't look Thai?

Do you have a goatee beard and wear glasses? Were you wearing extremely short shorts, black socks, and sandals. ?

Edited November 4, 2013 by Gsxrnz

[slipperylobster]

You put the story here. Good enough. Just the other day, I heard from a 15 year veteran of Pattaya claim that he has never witnessed underaged sex trafficking. Your story is pretty accurate. I had a mom try to sell her girl scout kid to me in a bar on Ko Chang. The Mom owned the Bar...and from the looks of several other Patrons (who bought drinks for the kid), they were in the loop. I left the island the next day...and did not say a thing. But now I have. Its true...it does exist.

[Just1Voice]

Over the past 6 years:

I've had a woman who sold garlands at a major intersection here in CNX try to sell me her 9yr old daughter "for all night" for 5,000 baht.

I've had a woman who sold lottery tickets try to sell me her 12 yr old daughter for 2,500 for one hour.

One one of my many bike trips I had a husband and wife who ran a small restaurant at an off the main highway road to Phitsanulok try to sell me their beautiful 12 yr old to keep and take home with me for 25,000 baht, claiming she could go with me now on the back of my CBR.

Those who claim this crap doesn't happen need to either pull their heads out of the sand, or need to get out more.

[Confuscious]

Call the Thai police who will probably do nothing but at least I know I tried.

At the market, there were no Police or security guards nearby.

So I went to the Thai police they day after to report the situation.

But without pictures or names they did not want to make a report.

[pgrahmm]

Dicey situation with almost no upside.....you couldn't "take" the child to protect....no authorities nearby to let know.....language barrier......maybe about the only thing to do was to say loudly something like you didn't want to buy the child???? hoping interested onlookers would take action.....

Maybe go to the authorities with a Thai friend(s) and give the location, time, descriptions and any helpful information you can provide....after that you've done the best you can do.....

[Confuscious]

In your story you say the alleged child was foreign. Specify the ethnicity.

You have a child yourself (according to a prior post), so how come you could only determine the age range as 5 to 8? A 5yo in any country looks nothing like an 8yo.

Why would the Thai woman start talking to you in Thai? I assume you don't look Thai?

Do you have a goatee beard and wear glasses? Were you wearing extremely short shorts, black socks, and sandals. ?

Western ethnicity.

Middle Europe, American, etc.

Age was difficult to guess in that short time.

By the way, I can show you pictures of a 5 year old child who you would give 10 years old.

My own child is guessed many times 3 years older as her real age.

Maybe because she can not speak English?

My child who was inside the stall trying to fit a dress overheard the conversation and confirmed later what the woman said to me.

Does the last line fit the description of yourself?

I might have seen you on Beach Road in Pattaya ...

[Confuscious]

You put the story here. Good enough. Just the other day, I heard from a 15 year veteran of Pattaya claim that he has never witnessed underaged sex trafficking. Your story is pretty accurate. I had a mom try to sell her girl scout kid to me in a bar on Ko Chang. The Mom owned the Bar...and from the looks of several other Patrons (who bought drinks for the kid), they were in the loop. I left the island the next day...and did not say a thing. But now I have. Its true...it does exist.

For the records, I never said in the story that the child was offered to me for sex.

I published a similar story here a few years ago.

I go every week to the morning market buy fresh vegetables and fresh fruit.

One of the vegetable seller who I visit every week is a young couple and they had 3 children already.

The youngest was a 8 months old baby and all of them were playing and sleeping in the market stall.

On one of my visits, they asked me to take their youngest child with me and take care of him.

They knew me already a long time and thought that the child would have a better future if I would take care of him (the text was translated from Thai to English by my daughter at the time).

I refused the offer, but decided to give the children every week fresh food.

I still go every week to the market, and the child will go next year to school.

The most beautiful thing is the smile on the child's face every week when I go to the market and bring her food and sometimes presents.

[MILT]

So this is how people deal with human trafficking of children? Apathy? Look the other way? Walk away?

There are reasons why a chance encounter with people willing to sell theirs, others children to strangers.

Like maybe protecting a child!

Here is some advice for the next time something like this happens. Make a REPORT even if it doesn't go anywhere. People will most likely

think twice before trying to sell children again. There are police everywhere on all the "walking streets" Just1Voice? You have how many opportunities to help, possibly save a child from a sh*tty life? Come on people apathy helps situations like selling children breed.

Here's a real thing that happened about 6yr ago on Loy Crow RD. There is a little restaurant at the beginning of the street that faces some bars.

(They make an awesome pizza at this place) So I'm sitting there about 9pm watching the street come alive. As I was watching this little cutie

work this westerner, my eye catches this tall westerner walking holding hands with a tiny Thai/Burmese?? kid (maybe 8 years old possibly 10)

All of a sudden i am finding myself running up to this guy and all I said was "What are you doing" The kid runs off and the guys starts walking away quite quickly.

I went back to the restaurant where the owners are looking for me thinking I skipped my bill. I apologized went and finished my meal.

That kid was stuck in my mind for days! Where did she run off to? Maybe to her parents that sold her off for the night? Who knows really.

My point is that seeing this (what i think and believe is a predator) didn't look right. Totally wrong! and before I could think about it I just asked a simple question.

If it was right I would have been told to piss off which I would of. Next time PLEASE step up when something doesn't look/feel right.

[WitawatWatawit]

Just1voice is correct.

[Confuscious]

So this is how people deal with human trafficking of children? Apathy? Look the other way? Walk away?

There are reasons why a chance encounter with people willing to sell theirs, others children to strangers.

Like maybe protecting a child!

Here is some advice for the next time something like this happens. Make a REPORT even if it doesn't go anywhere. People will most likely

think twice before trying to sell children again. There are police everywhere on all the "walking streets" Just1Voice? You have how many opportunities to help, possibly save a child from a sh*tty life? Come on people apathy helps situations like selling children breed.

Here's a real thing that happened about 6yr ago on Loy Crow RD. There is a little restaurant at the beginning of the street that faces some bars.

(They make an awesome pizza at this place) So I'm sitting there about 9pm watching the street come alive. As I was watching this little cutie

work this westerner, my eye catches this tall westerner walking holding hands with a tiny Thai/Burmese?? kid (maybe 8 years old possibly 10)

All of a sudden i am finding myself running up to this guy and all I said was "What are you doing" The kid runs off and the guys starts walking away quite quickly.

I went back to the restaurant where the owners are looking for me thinking I skipped my bill. I apologized went and finished my meal.

That kid was stuck in my mind for days! Where did she run off to? Maybe to her parents that sold her off for the night? Who knows really.

My point is that seeing this (what i think and believe is a predator) didn't look right. Totally wrong! and before I could think about it I just asked a simple question.

If it was right I would have been told to piss off which I would of. Next time PLEASE step up when something doesn't look/feel right.

Looooooong ago, when I was young, I was walking on a Saturday afternoon trough the streets of my hometown when I hear the screaming for help of a woman.

I went to look where the screaming came from and spotted on a side alley a woman being beat-up by a man.

I felt my instinct as a hero come up and jumped in to protect the woman.

A few hours later, I woke up in the hospital with bruises all over my body and a broken eye-case.

At the hospital, the doctor told me that he could save my eye trough a new operation technique from the US, but that was very expensive.

Lucky for me, my country is well known for their free medical care and I thought that this was not a big problem.

But unfortunately, my case was an "assault" and was not covered by the free health care,

I left the hospital a few days later with a 6-digit bill and a distorted eye sight for the rest of my life.

The lesson I learnt from this: "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS".

Edited November 4, 2013 by Confuscious

[manarak]

Over the past 6 years:

I've had a woman who sold garlands at a major intersection here in CNX try to sell me her 9yr old daughter "for all night" for 5,000 baht.

I've had a woman who sold lottery tickets try to sell me her 12 yr old daughter for 2,500 for one hour.

One one of my many bike trips I had a husband and wife who ran a small restaurant at an off the main highway road to Phitsanulok try to sell me their beautiful 12 yr old to keep and take home with me for 25,000 baht, claiming she could go with me now on the back of my CBR.

Those who claim this crap doesn't happen need to either pull their heads out of the sand, or need to get out more.

I'm quite certain it happens, but I must say that during the last 4 years it never happened to me and neither did I witness such a thing.

[silent]

True feeling from experience, after the second statement and conclusion I would have either just forgot about and say to myself I won't make the same mistake next time, start looking for a policeman to get them looking for a tall bald skinny short black fat man, with long blond hair that might be a suspect, or try to find a course that teaches common sense and how to live with myself when I screw up.

Seriously unless you get a second chance because they may be that stupid definately don't dwell on it and learn. For sure I remember making a comment about the same sort of thing recently, when some dufus of denial with rose coloured glasses from too much prozac I suspect, was of the opinion that it doesn't really happen here. Have to wonder if that wasn't really just a case of someone protesting too much tho unless two people.........One person can't really be that stupid, can they?

[A1Str8]

It's a very sad thing but it does exist and you cannot do much. In your case you could have tried to do something but at the end there is a very good chance that you would end up in big trouble and those would get away.

[MILT]

So this is how people deal with human trafficking of children? Apathy? Look the other way? Walk away?

There are reasons why a chance encounter with people willing to sell theirs, others children to strangers.

Like maybe protecting a child!

Here is some advice for the next time something like this happens. Make a REPORT even if it doesn't go anywhere. People will most likely

think twice before trying to sell children again. There are police everywhere on all the "walking streets" Just1Voice? You have how many opportunities to help, possibly save a child from a sh*tty life? Come on people apathy helps situations like selling children breed.

Here's a real thing that happened about 6yr ago on Loy Crow RD. There is a little restaurant at the beginning of the street that faces some bars.

(They make an awesome pizza at this place) So I'm sitting there about 9pm watching the street come alive. As I was watching this little cutie

work this westerner, my eye catches this tall westerner walking holding hands with a tiny Thai/Burmese?? kid (maybe 8 years old possibly 10)

All of a sudden i am finding myself running up to this guy and all I said was "What are you doing" The kid runs off and the guys starts walking away quite quickly.

I went back to the restaurant where the owners are looking for me thinking I skipped my bill. I apologized went and finished my meal.

That kid was stuck in my mind for days! Where did she run off to? Maybe to her parents that sold her off for the night? Who knows really.

My point is that seeing this (what i think and believe is a predator) didn't look right. Totally wrong! and before I could think about it I just asked a simple question.

If it was right I would have been told to piss off which I would of. Next time PLEASE step up when something doesn't look/feel right.

Looooooong ago, when I was young, I was walking on a Saturday afternoon trough the streets of my hometown when I hear the screaming for help of a woman.

I went to look where the screaming came from and spotted on a side alley a woman being beat-up by a man.

I felt my instinct as a hero come up and jumped in to protect the woman.

A few hours later, I woke up in the hospital with bruises all over my body and a broken eye-case.

At the hospital, the doctor told me that he could save my eye trough a new operation technique from the US, but that was very expensive.

Lucky for me, my country is well known for their free medical care and I thought that this was not a big problem.

But unfortunately, my case was an "assault" and was not covered by the free health care,

I left the hospital a few days later with a 6-digit bill and a distorted eye sight for the rest of my life.

The lesson I learnt from this: "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS".

I get your point. Thanks. Child predators prey on the weak and innocent. They are rapist in the literal context, but would not be the same as a person raping another adult. It is still not an excuse just because you got your ass handed to you trying to help another Human in need. My point is not to escalate the situation that is for the police to do. I never suggested to be the knight in shiny armorer but more like thwarting the intended abuse. So by all means mind your own business.

[PEP]

The opposite way around for me.

A couple of years ago my Thai wife (Registered) and her 11 year old daughter, from a previous marriage, were with me visiting our local Provincial "City",staying overnight in a small local hotel where we had our evening meal. Our young daughter who at that time looked young for her age, wanted an ice-cream for dessert. No Ice cream available at the hotel so I volunteered to take her for a walk to find an ice cream parlour. Wifey declined and went to the room to continue watching Thai Soapies. At about 7:00pm we were sitting in an almost deserted ice cream shop enjoying some ice cream concotion when I was approached by two uniformed Policemen who stated that they had information (from the ice cream shop staff) that I was "fondling" an underage child. Questions, Questions, Questions, mainly in Thai which I did not understand added some frightening drama. Daughter who was frightensd to tears was also questioned. Some time later,under obvious escort we were taken back to the hotel, Wife questioned, Passports examined ETC ETC and finally I was advised that this incident would be recorded and checked to see if I had any similar reports of Phedophile activity!

For sure inoccent, embarrassed, at the time a trifle angry but today,I still am not sure if I was foolish giving "my" a treat or was I a victem of some over zealous party?

Edited November 4, 2013 by PEP

[krisb]

I know saying this some will say mind your own business, but I would have found out what's going on. Thailand is rife with child prostitution and selling them. It's disgusting and something we as adults have a duty of care, even when they are'nt our kids.

[chrissables]

So this is how people deal with human trafficking of children? Apathy? Look the other way? Walk away?

There are reasons why a chance encounter with people willing to sell theirs, others children to strangers.

Like maybe protecting a child!

Here is some advice for the next time something like this happens. Make a REPORT even if it doesn't go anywhere. People will most likely

think twice before trying to sell children again. There are police everywhere on all the "walking streets" Just1Voice? You have how many opportunities to help, possibly save a child from a sh*tty life? Come on people apathy helps situations like selling children breed.

Here's a real thing that happened about 6yr ago on Loy Crow RD. There is a little restaurant at the beginning of the street that faces some bars.

(They make an awesome pizza at this place) So I'm sitting there about 9pm watching the street come alive. As I was watching this little cutie

work this westerner, my eye catches this tall westerner walking holding hands with a tiny Thai/Burmese?? kid (maybe 8 years old possibly 10)

All of a sudden i am finding myself running up to this guy and all I said was "What are you doing" The kid runs off and the guys starts walking away quite quickly.

I went back to the restaurant where the owners are looking for me thinking I skipped my bill. I apologized went and finished my meal.

That kid was stuck in my mind for days! Where did she run off to? Maybe to her parents that sold her off for the night? Who knows really.

My point is that seeing this (what i think and believe is a predator) didn't look right. Totally wrong! and before I could think about it I just asked a simple question.

If it was right I would have been told to piss off which I would of. Next time PLEASE step up when something doesn't look/feel right.

I totally agree with you, but also that can go wrong, one reason is.......... My friend and i a long time ago were walking in Luang Prabang, with his two young sons, born in England, look 100% Thai. I was holding hands with the youngest and as we sat down to have a snack at a bar the elder of the brothers heard one of two back packers say "look at that couple of........" They were very lucky not to get a severe slapping. So check sure, presume nothing

[MILT]

The opposite way around for me.

A couple of years ago my Thai wife (Registered) and her 11 year old daughter, from a previous marriage, were with me visiting our local Provincial "City",staying overnight in a small local hotel where we had our evening meal. Our young daughter who at that time looked young for her age, wanted an ice-cream for dessert. No Ice cream available at the hotel so I volunteered to take her for a walk to find an ice cream parlour. Wifey declined and went to the room to continue watching Thai Soapies. At about 7:00pm we were sitting in an almost deserted ice cream shop enjoying some ice cream concotion when I was approached by two uniformed Policemen who stated that they had information (from the ice cream shop staff) that I was "fondling" an underage child. Questions, Questions, Questions, mainly in Thai which I did not understand added some frightening drama. Daughter who was frightensd to tears was also questioned. Some time later,under obvious escort we were taken back to the hotel, Wife questioned, Passports examined ETC ETC and finally I was advised that this incident would be recorded and checked to see if I had any similar reports of Phedophile activity!

For sure inoccent, embarrassed, at the time a trifle angry but today,I still am not sure if I was foolish giving "my" a treat or was I a victem of some over zealous party?

It's not that I don't believe your story. I do. Sh*t happens. but assuming your stepdaughter would have spoken on your behalf as in "He was not touching me in a inappropriate way" why did things drag out into such a drama? What if you were a predator and this 11 yr. old was on your radar? and the police showed up? because of the ice cream shop staff making sure your stepdaughter was safe. You as a "predator profiled' would most likely move on to the next victim. From what I have read about 80% of pedophiles are dads, step-dads, uncles, close friends of the family you see my point here. I don't think you are a pedo! Listen I understand your point but I would have/kept a respectful and loving distance at least in public because things like you described do happen. It has happened to my wife's sister's husband here in Chiangmai. He basically told the people to piss off as did his daughter. This has never happened in their home country. Thailand is known for attracting the pedo predators. Sorry to hear your were profiled but what about the apathy from most in the world? The old "its not my business" mind set.

[wolf5370]

I have two daughters. Early teens. half Thai (of course). As my wife work abroad, and I home school, I am with them most of the time. Often I get those looks - I can imagine someone running up to me and accusing me of being a paedo!

Maybe three years ago I was in a restaurant here, owner by a friend (foreigner). It was a popular place and the night in question was especially so. A western women, middle 40s I would guess, on the next table asked if her smoking was affecting my girlfriend and me - my daughter was about 11 then and wearing typical kids clothes/no make up etc. I corrected her politely and with a smile, but it makes me wonder how many people think this. I still hold my daughters' hands when crossing the road - and sometimes just walking (we walk a lot).

Earlier this year I was in an expat bar with my daughters having just played in the pub quiz. I knew most of the locals and was cross introduced to some others. After the quiz, I finished my drink and said good bye to the owner, friends and new acquaintances. One of the newly met guys, late twenties/early thirties, sidled up to me with a smile: "Are you taking that little girl home with you?" (I could almost feel the nudge-nudge-wink-wink). "yep I said, She's my daughter - I always take them home with me!" [face falls, realisation set in, apologies follow].

A girl I used to know quite well (a barmaid in a local bar for quite a while before leaving suddenly) - platonically! - came into the same bar where I was sitting. I said "Hi" and relieved her of a few Pringles . She had another girl with her - young looking. I knew the ex-barmaid had left to become a hooker in Pattaya (from CM) and that she was 19; she had only been a bar maid AFAIK back then. The barmaid that replaced her was chatting with me was telling how she earned upwards of 5k a day there compared to the 100-200 baht she made in the bar. The two girls had taken seats in the bar as customers and were sitting with a western guy. The bar maid explained that he often took her home when she came to visit - as a job of course. It turned out though that the girl she was with was only 13! I must admit, she looked young, but I would have said 17 or thereabouts. Others at the bar were agreeing (that she was 13 and what she did for a living) - it was common knowledge amongst the Thais there. She did not ply her trade in that bar - thank god - but she followed this other girl around as friend and mentor back in Pattaya - and on their last visit (I was not there for - I only go out a few times a month usually) they had both left with white customers. Made me very uncomfortable sitting in that bar that night!

[FiftyTwo]

I have two daughters. Early teens. half Thai (of course). As my wife work abroad, and I home school, I am with them most of the time. Often I get those looks - I can imagine someone running up to me and accusing me of being a paedo!

Maybe three years ago I was in a restaurant here, owner by a friend (foreigner). It was a popular place and the night in question was especially so. A western women, middle 40s I would guess, on the next table asked if her smoking was affecting my girlfriend and me - my daughter was about 11 then and wearing typical kids clothes/no make up etc. I corrected her politely and with a smile, but it makes me wonder how many people think this. I still hold my daughters' hands when crossing the road - and sometimes just walking (we walk a lot).

Earlier this year I was in an expat bar with my daughters having just played in the pub quiz. I knew most of the locals and was cross introduced to some others. After the quiz, I finished my drink and said good bye to the owner, friends and new acquaintances. One of the newly met guys, late twenties/early thirties, sidled up to me with a smile: "Are you taking that little girl home with you?" (I could almost feel the nudge-nudge-wink-wink). "yep I said, She's my daughter - I always take them home with me!" [face falls, realisation set in, apologies follow].

A girl I used to know quite well (a barmaid in a local bar for quite a while before leaving suddenly) - platonically! - came into the same bar where I was sitting. I said "Hi" and relieved her of a few Pringles . She had another girl with her - young looking. I knew the ex-barmaid had left to become a hooker in Pattaya (from CM) and that she was 19; she had only been a bar maid AFAIK back then. The barmaid that replaced her was chatting with me was telling how she earned upwards of 5k a day there compared to the 100-200 baht she made in the bar. The two girls had taken seats in the bar as customers and were sitting with a western guy. The bar maid explained that he often took her home when she came to visit - as a job of course. It turned out though that the girl she was with was only 13! I must admit, she looked young, but I would have said 17 or thereabouts. Others at the bar were agreeing (that she was 13 and what she did for a living) - it was common knowledge amongst the Thais there. She did not ply her trade in that bar - thank god - but she followed this other girl around as friend and mentor back in Pattaya - and on their last visit (I was not there for - I only go out a few times a month usually) they had both left with white customers. Made me very uncomfortable sitting in that bar that night!

Just to point out, it is against the law for anyone under the age of 20 to enter a bar in Thailand.

(restaurants have different rules and a different license)

[Neeranam]

I have two daughters. Early teens. half Thai (of course). As my wife work abroad, and I home school, I am with them most of the time. Often I get those looks - I can imagine someone running up to me and accusing me of being a paedo!

Maybe three years ago I was in a restaurant here, owner by a friend (foreigner). It was a popular place and the night in question was especially so. A western women, middle 40s I would guess, on the next table asked if her smoking was affecting my girlfriend and me - my daughter was about 11 then and wearing typical kids clothes/no make up etc. I corrected her politely and with a smile, but it makes me wonder how many people think this. I still hold my daughters' hands when crossing the road - and sometimes just walking (we walk a lot).

Earlier this year I was in an expat bar with my daughters having just played in the pub quiz. I knew most of the locals and was cross introduced to some others. After the quiz, I finished my drink and said good bye to the owner, friends and new acquaintances. One of the newly met guys, late twenties/early thirties, sidled up to me with a smile: "Are you taking that little girl home with you?" (I could almost feel the nudge-nudge-wink-wink). "yep I said, She's my daughter - I always take them home with me!" [face falls, realisation set in, apologies follow].

A girl I used to know quite well (a barmaid in a local bar for quite a while before leaving suddenly) - platonically! - came into the same bar where I was sitting. I said "Hi" and relieved her of a few Pringles . She had another girl with her - young looking. I knew the ex-barmaid had left to become a hooker in Pattaya (from CM) and that she was 19; she had only been a bar maid AFAIK back then. The barmaid that replaced her was chatting with me was telling how she earned upwards of 5k a day there compared to the 100-200 baht she made in the bar. The two girls had taken seats in the bar as customers and were sitting with a western guy. The bar maid explained that he often took her home when she came to visit - as a job of course. It turned out though that the girl she was with was only 13! I must admit, she looked young, but I would have said 17 or thereabouts. Others at the bar were agreeing (that she was 13 and what she did for a living) - it was common knowledge amongst the Thais there. She did not ply her trade in that bar - thank god - but she followed this other girl around as friend and mentor back in Pattaya - and on their last visit (I was not there for - I only go out a few times a month usually) they had both left with white customers. Made me very uncomfortable sitting in that bar that night!

I would never take my daughters to a bar, especially one where prostitutes worked, doubly especially one where under aged prostitutes worked. What do you think your kids think of your friends and how do you think they be affected in later life?

Edited November 4, 2013 by Neeranam

[wolf5370]

I have two daughters. Early teens. half Thai (of course). As my wife work abroad, and I home school, I am with them most of the time. Often I get those looks - I can imagine someone running up to me and accusing me of being a paedo!

Maybe three years ago I was in a restaurant here, owner by a friend (foreigner). It was a popular place and the night in question was especially so. A western women, middle 40s I would guess, on the next table asked if her smoking was affecting my girlfriend and me - my daughter was about 11 then and wearing typical kids clothes/no make up etc. I corrected her politely and with a smile, but it makes me wonder how many people think this. I still hold my daughters' hands when crossing the road - and sometimes just walking (we walk a lot).

Earlier this year I was in an expat bar with my daughters having just played in the pub quiz. I knew most of the locals and was cross introduced to some others. After the quiz, I finished my drink and said good bye to the owner, friends and new acquaintances. One of the newly met guys, late twenties/early thirties, sidled up to me with a smile: "Are you taking that little girl home with you?" (I could almost feel the nudge-nudge-wink-wink). "yep I said, She's my daughter - I always take them home with me!" [face falls, realisation set in, apologies follow].

A girl I used to know quite well (a barmaid in a local bar for quite a while before leaving suddenly) - platonically! - came into the same bar where I was sitting. I said "Hi" and relieved her of a few Pringles . She had another girl with her - young looking. I knew the ex-barmaid had left to become a hooker in Pattaya (from CM) and that she was 19; she had only been a bar maid AFAIK back then. The barmaid that replaced her was chatting with me was telling how she earned upwards of 5k a day there compared to the 100-200 baht she made in the bar. The two girls had taken seats in the bar as customers and were sitting with a western guy. The bar maid explained that he often took her home when she came to visit - as a job of course. It turned out though that the girl she was with was only 13! I must admit, she looked young, but I would have said 17 or thereabouts. Others at the bar were agreeing (that she was 13 and what she did for a living) - it was common knowledge amongst the Thais there. She did not ply her trade in that bar - thank god - but she followed this other girl around as friend and mentor back in Pattaya - and on their last visit (I was not there for - I only go out a few times a month usually) they had both left with white customers. Made me very uncomfortable sitting in that bar that night!

I would never take my daughters to a bar, especially one where prostitutes worked, doubly especially one where under aged prostitutes worked. What do you think your kids think of your friends and how do you think they be affected in later life?

Neither would I. No prostitutes work at the bar in question - one ex-staff member became a prostitute and then came to visit once (and as stated first time I had seen her since) - be pretty hard to never go anywhere where a prostitute might turn up as a customer - cinema? swimming pool? restaurant? The bar is a family bar, we go maybe once or twice a month - eat, do the quiz if its on the night we go, then go home. They are teenagers, not pre-schoolers - no problem them accompanying me to a such a place for dinner and a chat with friends. Think perhaps you misread my post!

[Neeranam]

I have two daughters. Early teens. half Thai (of course). As my wife work abroad, and I home school, I am with them most of the time. Often I get those looks - I can imagine someone running up to me and accusing me of being a paedo!

Maybe three years ago I was in a restaurant here, owner by a friend (foreigner). It was a popular place and the night in question was especially so. A western women, middle 40s I would guess, on the next table asked if her smoking was affecting my girlfriend and me - my daughter was about 11 then and wearing typical kids clothes/no make up etc. I corrected her politely and with a smile, but it makes me wonder how many people think this. I still hold my daughters' hands when crossing the road - and sometimes just walking (we walk a lot).

Earlier this year I was in an expat bar with my daughters having just played in the pub quiz. I knew most of the locals and was cross introduced to some others. After the quiz, I finished my drink and said good bye to the owner, friends and new acquaintances. One of the newly met guys, late twenties/early thirties, sidled up to me with a smile: "Are you taking that little girl home with you?" (I could almost feel the nudge-nudge-wink-wink). "yep I said, She's my daughter - I always take them home with me!" [face falls, realisation set in, apologies follow].

A girl I used to know quite well (a barmaid in a local bar for quite a while before leaving suddenly) - platonically! - came into the same bar where I was sitting. I said "Hi" and relieved her of a few Pringles . She had another girl with her - young looking. I knew the ex-barmaid had left to become a hooker in Pattaya (from CM) and that she was 19; she had only been a bar maid AFAIK back then. The barmaid that replaced her was chatting with me was telling how she earned upwards of 5k a day there compared to the 100-200 baht she made in the bar. The two girls had taken seats in the bar as customers and were sitting with a western guy. The bar maid explained that he often took her home when she came to visit - as a job of course. It turned out though that the girl she was with was only 13! I must admit, she looked young, but I would have said 17 or thereabouts. Others at the bar were agreeing (that she was 13 and what she did for a living) - it was common knowledge amongst the Thais there. She did not ply her trade in that bar - thank god - but she followed this other girl around as friend and mentor back in Pattaya - and on their last visit (I was not there for - I only go out a few times a month usually) they had both left with white customers. Made me very uncomfortable sitting in that bar that night!

I would never take my daughters to a bar, especially one where prostitutes worked, doubly especially one where under aged prostitutes worked. What do you think your kids think of your friends and how do you think they be affected in later life?

Neither would I. No prostitutes work at the bar in question - one ex-staff member became a prostitute and then came to visit once (and as stated first time I had seen her since) - be pretty hard to never go anywhere where a prostitute might turn up as a customer - cinema? swimming pool? restaurant? The bar is a family bar, we go maybe once or twice a month - eat, do the quiz if its on the night we go, then go home. They are teenagers, not pre-schoolers - no problem them accompanying me to a such a place for dinner and a chat with friends. Think perhaps you misread my post!

Maybe I did, sorry. I got the impression it was some kind of girly bar.

[Showbags]

The opposite way around for me.

A couple of years ago my Thai wife (Registered) and her 11 year old daughter, from a previous marriage, were with me visiting our local Provincial "City",staying overnight in a small local hotel where we had our evening meal. Our young daughter who at that time looked young for her age, wanted an ice-cream for dessert. No Ice cream available at the hotel so I volunteered to take her for a walk to find an ice cream parlour. Wifey declined and went to the room to continue watching Thai Soapies. At about 7:00pm we were sitting in an almost deserted ice cream shop enjoying some ice cream concotion when I was approached by two uniformed Policemen who stated that they had information (from the ice cream shop staff) that I was "fondling" an underage child. Questions, Questions, Questions, mainly in Thai which I did not understand added some frightening drama. Daughter who was frightensd to tears was also questioned. Some time later,under obvious escort we were taken back to the hotel, Wife questioned, Passports examined ETC ETC and finally I was advised that this incident would be recorded and checked to see if I had any similar reports of Phedophile activity!

For sure inoccent, embarrassed, at the time a trifle angry but today,I still am not sure if I was foolish giving "my" a treat or was I a victem of some over zealous party?

It's not that I don't believe your story. I do. Sh*t happens. but assuming your stepdaughter would have spoken on your behalf as in "He was not touching me in a inappropriate way" why did things drag out into such a drama? What if you were a predator and this 11 yr. old was on your radar? and the police showed up? because of the ice cream shop staff making sure your stepdaughter was safe. You as a "predator profiled' would most likely move on to the next victim. From what I have read about 80% of pedophiles are dads, step-dads, uncles, close friends of the family you see my point here. I don't think you are a pedo! Listen I understand your point but I would have/kept a respectful and loving distance at least in public because things like you described do happen. It has happened to my wife's sister's husband here in Chiangmai. He basically told the people to piss off as did his daughter. This has never happened in their home country. Thailand is known for attracting the pedo predators. Sorry to hear your were profiled but what about the apathy from most in the world? The old "its not my business" mind set.

Seriously, what a deranged comment...keep your kids at a distance because of what people might think...<deleted>.

[maprao]

Wolf 5370

Why are you homeschooling in Thailand if your wife is in the UK.]

If they are half Thai half Brit why are they not in School there with their mother and you for that matter.

I understand if both of you wanted to be in Thailand. But your other half is in the UK.

You would not get "those look" in England.

I feel sorry for you my friend had a daughter and everytime he went out with her and not her mother he always used to get people hassling him in Thailand.