The new elite tourists from China ain't buying, business is bad and tensions high. There's much more of this to come as the traditional businesses of Pattaya continue to wither away.

The language barrier dilemma:

Farang retorts with curses.

Thai retorts with knife.

Weird. If you're prepared to pull a knife on someone to get their money, why bother with the watch selling stuff beforehand?

Saw something similar happen on Suk 4 a long while ago. Seems the guy wanted to see a watch, didn't like what he saw, said no thanks, and the Thai seller went berserk, started making threats, etc. The guy was so scared that he apologized and gave the guy some cash.

Nothing like positive reinforcement to insure this happens repeatedly.

Often, all that's required is a small pretext, a perceived (or manufactured) insult, and it is exploited...

On many occasions I've been poked and grabbed by vendors to get my attention for something I clearly didn't want.

I've also been approached by some very aggressive vendors, almost instigating a problem. Most notably shoe cleaners and watch sellers.

While most show what they are selling and move on, there are definitely some very nasty ones around.

With the penalties (if anything) for Thais doing something to a foreigner being so low, it is giving them the impression that they can do what they want, and get away with it.

Only when an incident is videoed and put on social media does something happen. But even this only seems to spark a reaction when a Thai is the victim. Take the recent incident at Oasis agogo as an example where the Thai attacker, caught on video, had no action taken against him.

Things will only get worse unless the right message is sent out and action is taken.

But with police corruption from the lowest to the highest ranks in Pattaya, this isn't going to change any time soon.

Stop making excuses for these guys, it is WRONG to pull a knife full stop.

Seems to me there is a little more to this story than, "he just refuse to buy". Not condoning the vendor's actions, but just saying...

Doesn't matter what the Danish guy said the Thai should not pull a knife on anyone ,the Thai wants to sell he should walk away and not make problem ,Thais are getting more and more evil

Would be interesting to know what words were used when refusing to buy the watch. Usually a small shake of the head and looking elsewhere is enough for them to move on.

No wonder GOOD tourists like Americans, Europeans, Canadians and Australians are finding other places to go for holiday or retirement! From new Immigration regulations, to corrupt police and the ever increasing violent acts against us, .. you deserve to be taken over by the Russians ansd Chinese you now prefer to us!

You can REDUCE your chances of being attacked by a nutcase with a knife with those confrontation avoidance tactics. You can't eliminate them. Some people will just snap and you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't blame the Dane unless you were there and saw him attack the knifer first.

I know this man, Lars... I can garrantee, he was not the instigator... he's a SUPER nice guy..

Talk about a Pressured Sales Pitch!

The new elite tourists from China ain't buying, business is bad and tensions high. There's much more of this to come as the traditional businesses of Pattaya continue to wither away.

And since business is withering away throughout the country due to the being a less and less attractive holiday destination, the locals just raise their prices, loose the (crocodile) smiles, get more unfriendly and even violent... great business tactics!

I just try to ignore completely, but I cannot help but smile sometimes.

(Tribal women scratching wooden frogs).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

^{I doubt the vendor pulls a knife on all farang that don't buy a watch.}

The vendor wanted him to sell Knife in Kitchen Shop

I've never understood how people can't deal with these guys. Just say no and then ignore them completely. They soon get the message.

Sometimes....

Some years ago I was sitting at a streetside table when a beggar walked up to stand in front of me, shaking his cup of coins. Didn't say anything... just stood there shaking his cup and staring at me. My general rule is that if a beggar is 'selling something,' be it a twisted colored straw or a half-dead flower, I'll buy or throw 10 baht into their cup. But if they just walk around and beg, I don't usually give. So I just plan to ignore him figuring that he'll leave after a minute or two.

Fifteen minutes later, he's still standing in from of my table, shaking his cup of coins, not saying a word. I couldn't take it any more, so I threw a few baht into his cup. He didn't acknowledge in in any way. He just moved to the next table, stood in front of it, shaking his cup of coins, not saying a word....

This guy probably buys a new car every two years.

I see there was no plan by the police to also charge him with selling fake goods. TIT I suppose.

Weird. If you're prepared to pull a knife on someone to get their money, why bother with the watch selling stuff beforehand?

Cover up a robbery?

Tribal women scratching wooden frogs

My favorite street vendors... Love the guilt trip MO... and if you don't like the frogs, they got those lovely dried water buffalo droppings cigars

I've never understood how people can't deal with these guys. Just say no and then ignore them completely. They soon get the message.

Sometimes....

Some years ago I was sitting at a streetside table when a beggar walked up to stand in front of me, shaking his cup of coins. Didn't say anything... just stood there shaking his cup and staring at me. My general rule is that if a beggar is 'selling something,' be it a twisted colored straw or a half-dead flower, I'll buy or throw 10 baht into their cup. But if they just walk around and beg, I don't usually give. So I just plan to ignore him figuring that he'll leave after a minute or two.

Fifteen minutes later, he's still standing in from of my table, shaking his cup of coins, not saying a word. I couldn't take it any more, so I threw a few baht into his cup. He didn't acknowledge in in any way. He just moved to the next table, stood in front of it, shaking his cup of coins, not saying a word....

This guy probably buys a new car every two years.

So why do it in the first place?

Normal Thai people are VERY embarrassed by these people themselves and normally completely ignores them, so should you, regardless if they have anything to sell or not.

You can not make this stuff up..."you will buy my damn watch...or I will cut you farang"....I love Thailand and Thai people...they are so very interesting...

Obviously the Vendor is Guilty.

But if one politely says 'No Thank you' I doubt there would be a violent response.

Frankly, many Europeans come across very abrupt in their voice tone.

Particularly Germans and Scandinavians.

In the uS carrying a knife with a blade exceeding 4 inches is a FELONY

even if you don't use it !

Weird. If you're prepared to pull a knife n someone to get their money, why bother with the watch selling stuff beforehand?

Now it's "less" illegal to cheat someone by selling a fake watch than armed robbery but just wait and see, soon it will be harder punishment on selling a fake watch than armed robbery thanks to the intellectual rights laws...

Maybe the vendors brother is ACHMED the Dead Terrorist

After he pulled the knife he said " I'LL KEEEL YOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMpvvnOHC1U

Politeness and patience can wear thin even amongst the most saintly, especially once your meal has been interrupted for the 5th time in as many minutes.

I've occasionally sat outside bars and have seen p*ssed-up farangs just say "#@$! off" to vendors who have done nothing worse than show their wares with a smile.

It doesn't surprise me that some get knifed.

Wow; thirteen people (poster and likes) seem to think it is SOP to be threatened and occasionally stabbed with a knife in Thailand for telling someone to F off.

Exactly. Even IF and it's doubtful that the Dane waved his hand rudely and said F- OFF, that doesn't even begin to make a stabbing attack legal!

Best if Hellen Mirren stays away from Thailand:

Helen Mirren Wishes She Told People To 'F*** Off' More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/helen-mirren-wishes-she-told-people-to-f-off-more_5600076ae4b0fde8b0cee0fc

The Dane looks like a calm and reasonable chap in the photo. He's 50? Must have had a tough life.

Need age of wife to get the whole picture........hahahaha.

Hard life-the guy doesnt look a day under 70. I know what you mean.

Edited November 9, 201510 yr by Nomyai