| |
dirty guru
|
I think the danger we are seeing isnt in so much the social reforms that this goverment has sought. Remember the kings message to it on his birthday, expressed such apprehensions of "acting in a manner outside of authority", this was a reference to the enquiry the king asked for, on the reported 2500 killings that were as a result of drug crackdowns over 3 months. Naturally the goverment insisted alot of these deaths were of consequence to police duties in ridding thailand of that element. World organizations were shocked, and report that accurate death figures might be alot higher. This new ambition to reform trading hours, and restricted access by westerners to such obvious places that they frequent, is another radical solution. We are seen rather as contributers to the encomy, more as vemon to the nations reputation. I notice when sending money via western union :''common bitches will say the phillipines?.."" on having a shot at me....It happened 4 times, so its not hard to imagine that p4p and those two nations are seen in the same light. This guy wants wealth asians, as western countries fall less in favour, and we are seen as low market enders in spending. gRadually gambelling that we might be discouraged and stay away, and social improvments made. Ofcourse ecomically thailand isnt able to for go the 40% of single male tourist dollars without back lash...This might be in the long run a great thing in that, when it fails, no future experiments by goverments brave enough will be tried again. I predict by years end, the cracks will show.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:01 pm on Feb. 15, 2004
|
|
Arcadius
|
I predict by years end, the cracks will show
Actually, they're already showing. We know that opinion in the Thai cabinet is quite sharply divided on the issue, and there has been lively debate and criticism in the press.
But it is folly to assume that just because foreign sex tourists are mainly (if not solely) interested in the farang-oriented P4P scene, that either the Thai government or Thais generally share this obsession. As you might expect, their interest in their own country goes rather wider. Most of the criticism I've read and heard about earlier closing times and the proposed teenage curfew focuses on issues like civil liberties and state nannying, which is much as you would expect anywhere. Most of those banging on about the impact on tourism are directly involved in the industry and talking their own book - again, much as you would expect anywhere.
There is some anxiety among educated Thais about the sexy image of their country abroad. I have never met a single one who was hugely concerned about this, and in any case their exasperation has been as much focused on the one-tracked prurience of the Western media as on anything which goes on in LOS itself. They are perfectly clear in their own minds that Thailand has a great deal more to offer than sex, let alone the minor part of the Thai sex industry directed at farangs, and they're quite right. It annoys them that Western journalists (and rather too many tourists) are interested in nothing else, but I think very few of them lose any sleep over it.
At any rate, it is a gross distortion of reality to think that this is the prime motivation for everything the Thai government does on the 'social order' front. They are responding to Thai concerns about Thai issues, and most of of the controversy is conducted in purely Thai terms. We are not nearly as important as some people like like to think.
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 5:36 am on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
silentbob1234
|
AMEN!! Basically what I've been saying all along. Sometimes ya got to adapt to crazy, asinine rules, but there is always a way to have a great time. Even if it means starting early. No big deal at all
Quote: from Arcadius on 2:19 am on Feb. 16, 2004
Terrorism now?
Given the history of Prohibition in the States and the absurd licencing laws in England, this might be a trifle strong. I leave aside the decades-long hounding of smokers in the West.
Puritanism is always with us, manifesting itself in various irksome ways - but even after this upward bliplet in LOS, I'd say it must still be one of the most licencious countries on earth. By far.
The P4P scene has always existed here, but it has never stood still. Bangkok old hands have no trouble remembering a time before NEP, before Cowboy - even before Patpong. Regulations come and go, service providers adapt (usually very quickly) and consumers adapt too - bellyaching or not, as the mood takes them.
At any event, this is a living society, not a sex theme park. People get worked up about falling moral standards, youth going to the dogs, &c &c - just like they do back home. And sometimes governments respond to these concerns with stupid laws and regulations - just like they do back home.
What can do you do about it? You can make the choice which always faces the foreigner in Thailand. You can play poor little put-upon victim, and convince yourself that everyone and everything is trying to rip you off, do you down and generally make your life a misery. Or you can go with the flow and have a fabulous time. One thing I can guarantee - whatever 'final' form the new regulations take, no-one with half-a-dozen functioning brain cells will have the slightest difficulty getting a drink and/or a girl long past midnight.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:46 am on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
ThaidUp
|
In SUnday's Bangkok Post I read an a letter to the editor from a guy from the UK who praised the early closing time as he lack the discipline (His words) to leave before the bar closes, was tired of paying for drinks for freeloaders, and of course had to wait until the bar closed so he would not have to pay the bar fine.
There is your protest for you 
I was looking for it to be signed UKGUY84, but it wasn't or maybe he goes by a different pen name in the Post.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 10:42 am on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
Hermanolobo
|
I am relieably informed that it is 'Cosmetic Politics'
Or as the French say "The more things change the more they stay the same!"
The impression is of great change, the reality may be very different.
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 10:55 am on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
Arcadius
|
Well, ThaidUp's Post correspondent makes for as good a take as any:
Farang-loving government protects defenceless tourists from evil freeloaders and barfines.
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:58 am on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
Smegma
|
Arc, the first time I came to Thailand, I asked my local colleagues about places to go at night. I asked about places where I could go see classical Thai dancing. They were surprised and said I was the first farang coming into the office asking for that instead of asking about Patpong.
They were so surprised that they said they would take me and go with me to see some classic Thai dance performance.
After the performance... they said that because I had shown interest in Thai culture and was not like other guys who only asked about Thai pussy the moment they walked into the office, they would take me to see the "real' shows where Thais went. Well, let me just say that I think they wanted to shock me for the fun of it... and they took me to see things that I had never before and never since seen (and that I do not care to see ever again).
What I am trying to say is that you pointed before, Thais do know what their country is (has) and is not (has not). But they get annoyed by the monodimensional view that many stupid farangs have about the country.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:39 pm on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
abuelo
|
Under the new regulations, when will be beer bars such as the one in Soi 7 operate? I've seen conflicting times..
|
Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:56 pm on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
artful dodger
|
i notice a large number of bars are now for sale in phuket,,anyone know which ones are in patong?probably a direct result of all the uncertainity in closing hours.
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:44 pm on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
Arcadius
|
smeg
An interesting reaction. When I first started working here - without going quite as far as inquiring about classical dancing - I certainly steered clear of the whole sex issue because I feared it might hit a raw nerve.
That turned out to be completely wrong, of course. I soon found that once you get to know them, Thai guys enjoy talking about women and sex as much as anyone, and have no qualms about doing this with foreigners. Rather to my surprise, I have never encountered ANY resentment along the lines of "you bloody people think you can come over here, throw your money around and f_ck all our women." Provided you show some appreciation of the other things LOS has to offer, they couldn't care less - in fact, most of them seem to think that anyone who doesn't take advantage of the local P4P facilities is probably a bit weird.
At least that's the guys. The women are rather less enthusiastic, but after all they're conditioned to think that guys will be guys - you're a guy, ergo you mess around with prostitutes, and it's no big deal (one thing I just love about the Thais is how un-neurotic they are about all this stuff). Some of my more daring female colleagues have been quite keen to discuss a Western take on these matters (why do you farangs like dark-skinned girls? why are you interested in peasant girls from Isaan? &c &c), and one night a couple even insisted on accompanying an office expedition to NEP to see what it was all about (admittedly they were pissed at the the time). They got bored quite quickly, as you'd expect, but otherwise seemed to take it all in their stride. No subsequent embarrassment or other adverse reaction in the office either.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:59 pm on Feb. 16, 2004
|
|
| |
|
