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thailien
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This is a quote from Oaktoad in a thread that lasted two days, from Feb. 12 to 13, 2003. I found it by searching for "loud music".
"Last trip a friend and I went to Suzy Wong and we were both impressed with the music selection as much of it was "bluesy" and nice.. and when we asked them to turn down the volume, they did..
As a side note.. if more people asked them to turn down the volume, they might start doing it.. The Thais just don't seem to notice how loud the music is..
On the other hand if you don't want to talk to the girls or your friends, then how loud it is doesn't matter that much."
Oaktoad, your 5+ year-old comment really struck a chord with me. Your experience in Suzy's is something I have often fantasized about, and tried for, but have never realized. The times I have complained about the music volume in gogo bars have been total failures. The Thai DJs seem to have too much of their face invested in playing their music at a decibel level that hurts not only their ears (if only they knew), but also the ears of everyone else in their bars. I especially remember the DJ dude in Kiss (also known as Kill) Bar on Patpong, about ten years ago. His music was extra loud, and I made my request to turn down the volume, maybe, a little too obvious. So he cranked it up even more. Luckily for me, I could pay the check-bin and flee his scene. I pitied his trapped employee-victims -- but maybe they enjoyed it...?
Now, at age 60, I've survived 15 years of living in Bkk., very frequently enjoying the gogo bars here, and in Pattaya and Angeles City (not to mention in Manila in 1990, and Pasay City and Makati, after Mayor Lim's desecrations of the Manila scene), San Francisco, Los Angeles, and waaayyy back when the song "Love Potion Number Nine" was a top-ten hit, even in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was young and innocent then, but the thrill of seeing beautiful breasts bouncing on stage can still be a thrill, some evenings.
A problem is tinnitus. Tinnitus is a very common problem when (if) you get to 60. It can happen much younger to war vets or accident victims. It happened to me from listening to too much loud music, at concerts in America, and in gogo bars in Thailand. It can be a bitch. Imagine that a tuning fork is struck right next to your ear. DDDIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG.... The sound, at least in my case, is very high-pitched. Unlike the tuning fork, this screaming in your ear, or ears, inside your head, does not stop. It's 24/7/365. Basic functions like thinking and sleeping can be a problem. Mental discipline is required to live with the incessant noise. The volume does vary. Once you get used to it somewhat, a lower volume is tolerable. But it can get worse at any moment, for no apparent reason. There are good days and bad days.
Loud, and louder, music volume is the norm, the rule, in all gogo bars (that I know of). I have searched in vain for less painful music. Sometimes, Dollhouse on Cowboy during happy hour plays music at reasonable volume. Anywhere else?
If I were a gogo bar owner, I would have occasional mercy on the ears of everyone in my bar, including myself. I would heed the wise words of Oaktoad:
"we were both impressed with the music selection as much of it was "bluesy" and nice.. and when we asked them to turn down the volume, they did..."
Yes! Thai gogo girls can dance to nice "bluesy" music at lowered volume. In fact this kind of music can inspire much more erotic dancing than the standard car alarm noise.
I would love to hear an alternative to the standard blaring of loud noise in agogo bars. This would help save the remaining hearing of this old customer, and might even please other baht-droppers. Maybe a "happy hour" of quieter, sexier music for a change? I would support any bar that tries something like this, and tell all my friends who also wear earplugs whenever they enter a gogo bar. A bar owner who lowers the volume might be pleasantly surprised. Is this worth a try?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:48 pm on May 4, 2008
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NicFrenchy
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Thailien,
so you're saying that because you're an old f*** with an ear problem, all the bars should adapt to your likes of Blues and reasonnable music volume?
(don't get cranky, I am only joking, hope you can take the joke)
I also, as a young French Turd, hate the blasting Loud music in Bars (which is why I much prefer the outdoor bars now). At least, they are now (almost) smoke free... (there are still a few Mel Gibsons out there who smoke in the GoGos).
Can you imagine a bar that would play music at a reasonnable volume and that would be smoke free? We might actually manage to have a good time there... and maybe even come back for more!
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 7:12 pm on May 4, 2008
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DaffyDuck
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Quote: from NicFrenchy on 9:38 am on May 5, 2008
(there are still a few Mel Gibsons out there who smoke in the GoGos).
Make friends with a police officer, make a quick phone call, split the bounty.. 
Quote: from NicFrenchy on 9:38 am on May 5, 2008
Can you imagine a bar that would play music at a reasonnable volume and that would be smoke free? We might actually manage to have a good time there... and maybe even come back for more!
Blasphemy! Don't try to use common sense. Don't you dare...!
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:02 pm on May 4, 2008
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Joe Wood
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I recognize that Tinnitus sufferers have an unbearable time of it when it gets bad.
I am fortunate not to be a victim, but I had a friend who died a while back who had been knocked about a bit (???) on the Kantanaburi stretch of the Japanese Death Railway for about three years.
He suffered greatly with his ears, besides having to cope with screaming nightmares every night. Not the Land of Smiles for him and the thousands of farang and many more Asians who had to or tried to survive during those obsence times.
I don't know anything about the condition, but I do remember him mentioning the different areas of research being done to find if not a cure, then some measures to electronically counter-act and so less, block or eradicate the effects.
Have you looked into this.
I 'm sure you have. I hope you find some relief from the condition.
As for loud music in the bars, I agree entirely.
Most DJs' and dancers' and service girls' hearing who have worked in these bars for some time either already have severe damage to their hearing or are rapidly approaching that state.
Of course, the loud and constant music, in conjunction with the darkness, the flashing lights and the alcohol are all there to enable the newbie girls to lose or temporarily lose their inhibitions so that they will act and behave and dance in the manner of their more seasoned sisters. So there is a purpose to the madness, besides it being seen as all part of the entertainment.
Many visitors are too polite or reserved to mention the annoyance of the high volume. Young ones don't seem to notice or mind it since their ears are young and strong. And it also seems to be the crass perception that the louder the music, the better it is.
Roll over, Beethoven.
I occasionally find myself in a bar in which the music is painful to my ears. I ask for the music to be turned down. If it isn't done, I explain to the Mamasan or the DJ why I am leaving, and leave politely, not making a scene but a quiet statement..............others should do the same if they think similarly.
Tinnitus seems like a living hell, an 'IPCRESS FILE' type prison locked in your head, with no hope of remission.
I hope you find some relief or distraction along your way, thailien.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 9:03 pm on May 4, 2008
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expatchuck
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I have had the problem more years than I care to remember. It is to the point I seldom even think about it, but it remains a constant reminder of a long lost past.
Over the years I have asked, with varying degress of success, various bars to turn down the volume. Sometimes successful, sometimes not.
When my attempts are not successful, I usually just pay up and walk out.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:06 pm on May 4, 2008
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ThaidUp
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The solution is to go to the front of the stage, take a seat and put a pair of Thaimuffs on.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:36 pm on May 4, 2008
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madfrog
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The loud pusic, (along with the "I am a superstar" attitude of most gogo dancers) is the reason why I dont frequent gogo bars any more...
But the problem is not only in the gogo bars, go to any open air market and you will see countless stands selling various rubbish, with VERY loud sound system to "attract cutomer"...
Madfrog
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:55 am on May 5, 2008
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seajohn
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For the reason Joe Wood mentioned above, Thai people love extremely loud music: it's mind numbing and so it is intoxicating in a way.
They feel the same wherever they are, whatever they're doing. Less wall of sound, less pulverizing sound, is not the way to lose yourself, for them. Quietude is not to be desired. Silence is abhorrent.
If you're currently not interested in a multi layered conversation or in reading or thinking, I guess that's an exciting thing to do for some--blast the music til your guts quiver and your ears shatter... The brain reels.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:49 am on May 5, 2008
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madfrog
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Remind me of a visit I did in a Temple of Ayuthaya where a famous 97 years old monk reside.
There was some BIG sound system near the temple, blasting crappy rock music all day long...
I jokingly told the young monk who was at this moment chatting with me that "i was very impressed that Thai monks could actually meditate with strong music like this"....
His reply was "Yes, they vely good"....he did not catch I was joking with this comment...
It was also not seen as disrespectfull to have such music played near where a nearly 100 years old monk was having his afternoon nap...
So really if Thai can do this, how can we expect them to lower the music for some sex-tourist farang???
Madfrog
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 5:08 am on May 5, 2008
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DaffyDuck
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Quote: from seajohn on 7:15 pm on May 5, 2008
If you're currently not interested in a multi layered conversation or in reading or thinking, I guess that's an exciting thing to do for some--blast the music til your guts quiver and your ears shatter... The brain reels.
...and this is different from Western style 'disco' or 'clubs' exactly, how? None of you guys get out much, in the West, do you?
This is not really much different to most clubs in LA.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:47 am on May 5, 2008
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