How would you change things here?

[roguewo]

I don't think anything needs to be changed. If you don't like the place warts and all you know where the airport is.

there are uncivilized member of African tribus that may sign your post if someone should taught they to write

everywhere in the world there are things that should be changed ( to change may mean to improve ), if you are not able to see it here perhaps you are blind or you got a rapture

This post isn't about people of color, or people who can't write, or even racism. If you can't make a positive contribution, muster the wisdom to not to make a negative one.

Er, I think you'll find he was trying to support you.

Overall things do need to change in Thailand for Thailand. I actually think this thread is very sensible but unfortunately others don't seem to have grasped what you are attempting to draw from them. However, I do believe there are two stages to this; what Thailand could change for themselves for the betterment of their country and changes that could improve things for Thailand's (short and long term) guests - your post does seem heavily weighted towards the latter.

Personally, I believe the changes for "guests" are insignificant compared to changes that Thailand will need to make for itself and it will take decades of focus on the "Thai" changes. With regard to any changes for guests, the only actual answer you've so far received to these questions seems to be just about on the button.

Perhaps he was, and I should have chosen my words more carefully, but it was very late and the end of a long day.

On the surface, many have not grasped the concept/value of the thread, but others have pm'd me.

Thanks for your insight.

[Berkshire]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

Good question. Threads like this are rather self-serving, and for a rather small, already privileged minority. The OP is only interested in "change" that will benefit himself, and not the random Thai citizen. Isn't the government's job to work for its citizens?

I should say that there are many things in Thailand that I wish could be improved upon, but therein lies the charm of the place. When foreigners in Thailand talk about wanting to change Thailand, they're inevitably talking about wanting Thailand to be more like, say, Singapore or Japan. The funny thing is these places already exist. Why not just go there?

[Scarpolo]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

Good question. Threads like this are rather self-serving, and for a rather small, already privileged minority. The OP is only interested in "change" that will benefit himself, and not the random Thai citizen. Isn't the government's job to work for its citizens?

I should say that there are many things in Thailand that I wish could be improved upon, but therein lies the charm of the place. When foreigners in Thailand talk about wanting to change Thailand, they're inevitably talking about wanting Thailand to be more like, say, Singapore or Japan. The funny thing is these places already exist. Why not just go there?

did I see it is 98 degrees right now in bkk?

there is nothing to change,

global warming is creating drought,

and thailand is going dry.

when they say that future wars will be over water,

they fail to also say tens of millions will starve,

who will save Thailand, forget change

[NoshowJones]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

We are not guests in this country, we are just tolerated because we buy houses ( not in our name) spend a fortune on visa runs, bring a lot of money into the country etc etc etc.

[JLCrab]

Positive contribution? Sure. Let's all us expats in Thailand sit around the campfire holding hands and singing Kumbaya my Lord and discuss our common goals and desires for the improvement of our chosen country of residence.

This sounds an excellent idea- will bring some of those yummy Isaan rats on sticks ( actually they are not too bad! )

But probably in the OPs vision for a new sanitised Thai utopia they will be banned.

I wasn't looking for a 'sanitised' version of anything, Peter.

Singing and holding hands is, well, cheesy. Sewer rats and Kumbaya, aren't even a consideration.

Believing in possibilities, priceless!

More likely a very expensive price ... somebody has to pay for those sound trucks and voter gratuities.

Or as Graham Nash sang in Chicago 1971:

We can change the world

re-a-ra-ay-aynge the world

(OK)

Edited April 22, 2014 by JLCrab

[khunPer]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

We are not guests in this country, we are just tolerated because we buy houses ( not in our name) spend a fortune on visa runs, bring a lot of money into the country etc etc etc.

Agree, that might be very true, but we came here voluntarily – and can fly if we don't like it...

[Scarpolo]

I don't think anything needs to be changed. If you don't like the place warts and all you know where the airport is.

+1

As the Spoonman says if you don't like it, there are over 180 other countries that might please you! Airports that way ........

Plenty of threads where guys are indeed, leaving, and taking their familes out with them,

this can be called a "white flight"

never a good thing for a country, county, city or town

[NoshowJones]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

We are not guests in this country, we are just tolerated because we buy houses ( not in our name) spend a fortune on visa runs, bring a lot of money into the country etc etc etc.

Agree, that might be very true, but we came here voluntarily – and can fly if we don't like it...

Another one of the "if you don't like it go home" brigade. How I hate those type of postings.

[beachproperty]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

Good question. Threads like this are rather self-serving, and for a rather small, already privileged minority. The OP is only interested in "change" that will benefit himself, and not the random Thai citizen. Isn't the government's job to work for its citizens?

I should say that there are many things in Thailand that I wish could be improved upon, but therein lies the charm of the place. When foreigners in Thailand talk about wanting to change Thailand, they're inevitably talking about wanting Thailand to be more like, say, Singapore or Japan. The funny thing is these places already exist. Why not just go there?

did I see it is 98 degrees right now in bkk?

there is nothing to change,

global warming is creating drought,

and thailand is going dry.

when they say that future wars will be over water,

they fail to also say tens of millions will starve,

who will save Thailand, forget change

Quite obviously your 6 months in Thailand has taught you nothing

. Thai's are SURVIVORS if nothing else. Change will come, whether slowly or dramatically is up to the populace (ie This is a nation of few rich people controlling the poor...- The top 20% own 69% of the country's assets while the bottom 20% own only 1%.)

There are close to 1 billion people today who are undernourished .....With Thailand ranking 44th in the world with 17% of the population in that catagory in 2006 and continually improving that situation ....so today it is probably a lot lower percentage.

I guess the USA has no malnutrition, homeless or destitute people because it is the Greatest Nation in the World as the Number 1 producer of Food products.

Your Chicken Little attitude about Thailand says more about you than Thailand .....

get a life, do some research and post something that contributes....PLEASE!

[Berkshire]

I don't think anything needs to be changed. If you don't like the place warts and all you know where the airport is.

+1

As the Spoonman says if you don't like it, there are over 180 other countries that might please you! Airports that way ........

Plenty of threads where guys are indeed, leaving, and taking their familes out with them,

this can be called a "white flight"

never a good thing for a country, county, city or town

Are you serious? That term "white flight" is a uniquely American term applying to decaying urban centers and much more complicated than simply being a racial thing. In Thailand, the guys with financial issues and/or the biggest whiners/whingers leave and that's a good thing.

[JLCrab]

I know how we can change thongs around here to be more fair and less corruption and joy for all the sentient beings:

Hey kids ... let's put on a show!

[Scarpolo]

I don't think anything needs to be changed. If you don't like the place warts and all you know where the airport is.

+1

As the Spoonman says if you don't like it, there are over 180 other countries that might please you! Airports that way ........

Plenty of threads where guys are indeed, leaving, and taking their familes out with them,

this can be called a "white flight"

never a good thing for a country, county, city or town

Are you serious? That term "white flight" is a uniquely American term applying to decaying urban centers and much more complicated than simply being a racial thing. In Thailand, the guys with financial issues and/or the biggest whiners/whingers leave and that's a good thing.

you say they have financial issues,

they say, its quality of life issues

I left because it isnt worth the hassle

[Berkshire]

+1

As the Spoonman says if you don't like it, there are over 180 other countries that might please you! Airports that way ........

Plenty of threads where guys are indeed, leaving, and taking their familes out with them,

this can be called a "white flight"

never a good thing for a country, county, city or town

Are you serious? That term "white flight" is a uniquely American term applying to decaying urban centers and much more complicated than simply being a racial thing. In Thailand, the guys with financial issues and/or the biggest whiners/whingers leave and that's a good thing.

you say they have financial issues,

they say, its quality of life issues

I left because it isnt worth the hassle

C'mon, fess up. You're still smitten with this place, as evidenced by your continued (non-stop) presence on these boards. And let's face it, "quality of life" issues usually involve finances. But have it your way. I do know a few guys who left due to non-financial reasons. But they were in the minority.

[Craig351]

I can see by the few post you have made that maybe your only new here or inexperienced with Thailand

Or you could be like me, I lived in Thailand for over 7 years and Asia for 12. Since have gone home I travel to Thailand back and forth couldn't tell you how many times due to my wife's family and I love Thailand.

I'm coming back early next month on another 5 year contract with a company so I've only posted few times here as I have been a reader, since I am coming back I thought I would be more involved here. But I don't think you have the experience as most of us have here because you would have never posted this.

I'm not saying its wrong or bad post. I can see what you are trying to say but never going to work, for all the reasons you can see here from all of us. I know, you know, how this would turn out as you tried to cover all bases before we got the topic.

I will say it this way to you "THIS IS AUSTRALIA" and I don't give a toss what you think, where your from, who you think you are, you want to come and live here be apart of us assimilate with us. Believe what you want, do what you want, live how you want, say what you want, be everything you want to be. I don't give a shit I have all the freedom you want, and good on you for whatever.

But don't try to change me, make me smarter, better, happier, richer, take over, or try to make me abide by your rules and regulations, but most importantly your culture. Hey are we perfect no, everything we do is right no, do we have all the answers no, is there no corruption no, is everyone smart and have the perfect education are we all perfect no.

All I will say this when you come to Thailand to live, your choice, enjoy their culture, understand their life style and ideas no way you can change them we don't have the power here anyway to make the change plus if every country was the same boring boring and boring. That's what makes it so interesting and exciting "Welcome to Thailand"

[Scarpolo]

just the girl ;-)

but I had enough of bangkok

I prefer chaing mai, but not ready to return

she wasnt enough to make me stay

[thaibeachlovers]

My gf is 35 years old, I would make her 17. J

I'd like my wife to look 17, but I certainly wouldn't like her to act like a 17 year old.

[Greg Nixon]

Being of a more practical bent I would

1. make defensive driving courses mandatory before licensing and any tickets issued would require a defensive driving course. 20,000 - 50,000 killed on the highways every year.

2. Get stray dogs off the streets. I believe it is a health issue - rabies and dog feces can be harmful.

3. Enforced cleanliness standards in public markets. Let's not talk about sanitary but rather clean and neat. Reasons are this would be good for all including merchants. More and more people will shop at Lotus, Makro and Big C just because they are clean and neat.

4. Public swimming pools as a priority - not temples and other useless expenditures obvious in every town. Recreation for children should take a much higher priority and the children that do swim seem to have quite a natural ability.

5. English books for school children written in English not Thai. The Chinese have mandated English in every grade because they know which way the world is going. There are thousands of English immersion schools in China. Some of the students can enter directly into Universities in North America without any additional testing.

6. These 5 items would make Thailand more liveable for Thais and foreigners alike and should be easy to implement. Governments are more likely to implement items that cost them the least.

[seancbk]

Hispanics number 53 million in America ....that's 17% http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html

Expats living in Thailand ....maybe 200,000 (Wikipedia) and tourists approx 2 million each year and growing

Your comparison has no merit as does your thought that a few hundred thousand expats could alter the course of Thailand....as said before much NEEDS to be done ....BUT getting the Thai government to do it.....well its depends on who's in control and how much they can put in their pockets.

Sorry its not on the positive note you want .....but reality is reality

Well said.

It wouldn't matter if there were 10 times as many expats here. First of all lets define expats... As a born and bred expat I (wrongly I know) tend to think of wealthy, well educated, professional western people when I hear the word expat or use it myself. Whilst that description fits in places like HK and Singapore, here in Thailand you have to consider that expat could mean Mainland Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Burmese, etc

But let's assume for a minute there were 2 million western expats. We would still only be guests in Thailand and no amount of complaining would make the Thai Government start changing things to make us happy.

I suppose if the 2 million western expats were all big time investors here and started withdrawing their investment or going to other neighbouring countries instead of Thailand to invest then *maybe* Thailand might make some concessions for business here.... but I doubt that.

I grew up in Hong Kong and would love to see Thailand do what HK did in the 70's and seriously tackle Police and Government corruption. It worked very well in HK and if done properly here should work fine also. Except it won't any time soon as corruption is too deeply ingrained, the people at the top with money can simply pay their way through any red tape, restrictions or penalties. They have no need for the status quo to change, especially as it would be them paying for the changes.

In the 5 years I've lived here Bangkok has improved by leaps and bounds. Internet is much faster, transport has improved, lots of good shopping, restaurants and clubs have opened.

I read this forum every day and am saddened by how poorly many of the members on here view Thais and Thailand. Sure it has its faults but anyone reading this forum (and not knowing better) would think all Police are crooks... which they are not, that all Thai girls are out to cheat you, which they are not and that everything here is backward and stupid, which of course it isn't.

Ultimately I guess it depends if you are a young person like me or an old retiree as to what you consider important.

Bear in mind also that these "thought experiments" on ThaiVisa are just that.... thoughts.... with no possibility of action.

[namatjira]

I would ban all whistles , security guards and police will no longer be able to blast away.

I would ban all tuk tuks, make em illegal, cultural you may argue, but so was cannibalism.

and whinging farang, who are all bent out of shape mentally , also farang wearing sandals

with long socks, they should be made to wear a compulsory shirt reading,

Good for ATM purposes only.....beat me, whip me, make me write bad cheques

[Scarpolo]

Hong Kong is their only model as you describe it

[tubby johnson]

Establish a Raj in Siam with me as Viceroy.

1. Death penalty for corrupt officials and cops.

2. Send the army to deal with loggers and poachers.

3. Hunt down Thaksin.

4. Improve teacher training and their salaries.

5. Bring back caning in schools.

6. Legalize dope.

7. Sodomize environmental polluters.

8. Boost sex tourism.

9. Invade Cambodia and seize Angkor Wat.

10. Establish a farang elite to run this country.

[tubby johnson]

I know how we can change thongs around here to be more fair and less corruption and joy for all the sentient beings:

Hey kids ... let's put on a show!

"change thongs" ?? Let's not get too kinky.

...

11. Round up filthy stray dogs and export them to Korea's dog meat industry.

12. Turn the navy's useless aircraft carrier into a floating casino.

13. Expel Mormons and other Christian proselytizers.

14. Organise a Formula One race on Bangkok's elevated expressways.

15. Convert Bangkok's military bases to public parks.

---> A thriving and law-abiding country under my benign rule.

[stickylies]

30% of the readers here are Thai nationals

er, says who?

[Ulic]

If we are talking magic wand stuff I would end corruption by politicians, public officials, police and military. If we

are talking real world achievable I would launch a public awareness clean up campaign to stop the littering

and dumping of garbage and industrial waste as well as sewage. Build proper treatment and disposal plants.

Of course I would like foreigners to be able to own up to 1 rai of land, and less restrict visa programs but those issues

are magic wand stuff as well. There is a whole industry in Thailand built around visa runs, boarder runs, extensions. etc..

[roguewo]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

We are not guests in this country, we are just tolerated because we buy houses ( not in our name) spend a fortune on visa runs, bring a lot of money into the country etc etc etc.

Agree, that might be very true, but we came here voluntarily – and can fly if we don't like it...

Another one of the "if you don't like it go home" brigade. How I hate those type of postings.

Considering the current fiscal situation of the country and TAT's attempt to draw tourists (that they say they don't need) if you told everyone you knew not to come, and asked them to tell everyone they knew not to come, the 'go home brigade' would be saying 'come back, we miss you hansum man'

You see that's the power of unity. You can it positively, or negatively.

[roguewo]

I'm a guest in LoS, not a citizen, so I cannot and shall not change anthing...

How will you like to see foreigners, not citizens, change your country...?

Good question. Threads like this are rather self-serving, and for a rather small, already privileged minority. The OP is only interested in "change" that will benefit himself, and not the random Thai citizen. Isn't the government's job to work for its citizens?

I should say that there are many things in Thailand that I wish could be improved upon, but therein lies the charm of the place. When foreigners in Thailand talk about wanting to change Thailand, they're inevitably talking about wanting Thailand to be more like, say, Singapore or Japan. The funny thing is these places already exist. Why not just go there?

You make a lot of assumptions. Go back and reread the OP

[roguewo]

Positive contribution? Sure. Let's all us expats in Thailand sit around the campfire holding hands and singing Kumbaya my Lord and discuss our common goals and desires for the improvement of our chosen country of residence.

This sounds an excellent idea- will bring some of those yummy Isaan rats on sticks ( actually they are not too bad! )

But probably in the OPs vision for a new sanitised Thai utopia they will be banned.

I wasn't looking for a 'sanitised' version of anything, Peter.

Singing and holding hands is, well, cheesy. Sewer rats and Kumbaya, aren't even a consideration.

Believing in possibilities, priceless!

More likely a very expensive price ... somebody has to pay for those sound trucks and voter gratuities.

Or as Graham Nash sang in Chicago 1971:

We can change the world

re-a-ra-ay-aynge the world

(OK)

[roguewo]

I can see by the few post you have made that maybe your only new here or inexperienced with Thailand

Or you could be like me, I lived in Thailand for over 7 years and Asia for 12. Since have gone home I travel to Thailand back and forth couldn't tell you how many times due to my wife's family and I love Thailand.

I'm coming back early next month on another 5 year contract with a company so I've only posted few times here as I have been a reader, since I am coming back I thought I would be more involved here. But I don't think you have the experience as most of us have here because you would have never posted this.

I'm not saying its wrong or bad post. I can see what you are trying to say but never going to work, for all the reasons you can see here from all of us. I know, you know, how this would turn out as you tried to cover all bases before we got the topic.

I will say it this way to you "THIS IS AUSTRALIA" and I don't give a toss what you think, where your from, who you think you are, you want to come and live here be apart of us assimilate with us. Believe what you want, do what you want, live how you want, say what you want, be everything you want to be. I don't give a shit I have all the freedom you want, and good on you for whatever.

But don't try to change me, make me smarter, better, happier, richer, take over, or try to make me abide by your rules and regulations, but most importantly your culture. Hey are we perfect no, everything we do is right no, do we have all the answers no, is there no corruption no, is everyone smart and have the perfect education are we all perfect no.

All I will say this when you come to Thailand to live, your choice, enjoy their culture, understand their life style and ideas no way you can change them we don't have the power here anyway to make the change plus if every country was the same boring boring and boring. That's what makes it so interesting and exciting "Welcome to Thailand"

I'm not new here at all. I'm married to a sweet woman from a good family, and I speak the language.

I simply see the Thai's trying to change things and also see no reason why it couldn't change for the expats as well, which would probably have an influence on the level of corruption the Thais are trying to rid themselves of. Pressure....

On a side note, there's a battle in Phuket right now between the dive shop owners, and the police who were extorting money from them. It's being investigated because the shop owners all got together and raised public awareness. Take a minute to think about all of the factors of the situation. Think like a chess player; what happens if I/we do this.... and this and then this? Think ten moves out.

The aforementioned is an example. Please, don't anyone get their panties in a wrinkle.

Edited April 22, 2014 by roguewo

[ultimate weapon]

Curious?

You bring up Hispanic in America being united and changing things. What did they change? The questions you ask with regard to change in THailand have nothing to do with what Hispanics did other than by mass emigrating to the US so that just by their numbers government and business gave them a say. Also Hispanics ....again just because they had the shear numbers were able to integrate into politics business etc... That's not going to happen in Thailand as the the number of expats is SMALL compared to the population up Thailand.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of quality answers of what SHOULD be done.....but getting something done in THailand is another matter

how can the hispanic situation be comparable here?

He mentions hispanics are united by culture, language but it isn't so for the expats in thailand. In case he doesn't seem to know there are all manner of nationalities in thailand. Are japanese, africans, middle eastern expats united? Are all farangs united? Of course not. Doubt farangs that speak other languages and not english would be that close so he is wrong on so many counts unless he thinks the only foreigners in thailand are english speaking farang.

[roguewo]

Curious?

You bring up Hispanic in America being united and changing things. What did they change? The questions you ask with regard to change in THailand have nothing to do with what Hispanics did other than by mass emigrating to the US so that just by their numbers government and business gave them a say. Also Hispanics ....again just because they had the shear numbers were able to integrate into politics business etc... That's not going to happen in Thailand as the the number of expats is SMALL compared to the population up Thailand.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of quality answers of what SHOULD be done.....but getting something done in THailand is another matter

how can the hispanic situation be comparable here?

He mentions hispanics are united by culture, language but it isn't so for the expats in thailand. In case he doesn't seem to know there are all manner of nationalities in thailand. Are japanese, africans, middle eastern expats united? Are all farangs united? Of course not. Doubt farangs that speak other languages and not english would be that close so he is wrong on so many counts unless he thinks the only foreigners in thailand are english speaking farang.

I would hate to be stricken with your limited point of view.