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Buck up Your Ideas (16/03/2009 03:50:58)
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Author: Ivan Dowie.
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In your 27th Feb issue the PBTA want to know how to get the tourists back. Well I have at great length emailed them in detail, only to find that the contact facility does not work. So with some frustration I will be brief and blunt. There are many places in the world that are poor and want foreign exchange, so the baht is too strong the beaches are full off litter and rats run around freely, local people do not care about their surroundings and litter even in the villages. Stray dogs are everywhere, holes in the roads waiting for us to have that nice holiday fall, foot paths like obstacle courses, 15 day visas; what are you trying to do? People are voting with their feet! When will the penny drop, you aren’t that customer friendly. Buck up your ideas and look after the ones who are coming here and maybe some will return.
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Big Foot (07/03/2009 08:41:27)
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Author: Rory UK
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So, Editor, Bob puts his big foot in it yet again. Checking your website’s letters pages, you see the abstinence subject arose when author Tony Crossley correctly pointed out that Sarah Palin supported the policy even though it failed her 17 year old daughter and Catholic priests also. These are facts that Bob is in denial of. If he knows of an organisation exposed as creating and harbouring more child molesters than the total-abstinence Church, then he should let us all know about it. Neither did he reply when Mr Crossley asked how long Bob thought people should abstain from sex, a very relevant question. Bob goes on about safe-sex in an attempt to change the debate’s course, but the Church he defends does not permit contraception. Signalling that Bob had run out of ideas and that he has a suspect mentality, he brought 11-year-old boys and animals into the equation. He alone made that jump. He attacks Mr Crossley and Mr Jack Tighe for pointing to facts and denouncing child molesters and accuses both of being child molesters. If he said that about me, I’d be at the next Expat’s Club meeting and looking to make him eat his words. While they were on the page! A male person that joins a debate on dealing with the sexuality of young adults and introduces sex with children and animals defeats himself. He also ought to be looked at by the authorities. .
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NO SMOKING (07/03/2009 08:40:44)
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Author: Andrew Pitt.
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I have noticed that when the no smoking law was passed, most venues obeyed the law. The threat of 20,000 baht fine or the venue and 1,000 baht fine for the customer seemed to work at first. Then there was no enforcement. Bars and restaurants slowly started to allow smoking to a point that even air conditioned restaurants are now allowing smoking. I was wondering if Pattaya People would be willing to investigate this! It seems to me that enforcing the law would be very lucrative to the police or any agency that would be tasked with the duty of enforcing this law. 20,000 baht at each venue plus 1,000 for a customer violating the law would certainly help a department's budget. Is there a reason the government officials are not enforcing this law? If I remember correctly, when the law was announced, Pattaya was to have an enforcement telephone number so the public could lodge complaints. I have seen no promotion of this number or of what agency has the responsibility of enforcement. Would you publish this information if it does exist? Thank you, Andrew Pitt.
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Confusing Rules (07/03/2009 08:39:48)
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Author: Don Aleman.
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Immigration in Thailand is a cruel joke foisted upon the public, Thai and foreigners alike, although infinitely more confusing to foreigners. No Immigration office publishes an Email address - why is this "secret?" President Obama has a published Email address. Baffling forms, almost weekly changes, different requirements often described as "up to the agent at that office". Open at Penang, not open, 30 day or 15 day, lease from landlord, 90 day reporting on "annual" retirement visas. Telephones often constantly busy and then when getting through, confronted by someone who speaks little/no English. Why, when Thailand has thousands of English teachers, are there, rarely, anyone truly fluent in high profile visitors offices? More Chinese, Singaporeans, Japanese and, indeed, Africans speak English well and no one visits there! Although websites indicate "English" clicking on same produces mostly Thai. Websites have a "contact us" section and, usually, send an electronic automated confirmation but, never reply to those who do send inquiries. Office visits for information only are time consuming and futile unless you can be "fined" and then the numerous rubber stamps literally fly through one hand while the other makes out your useless "receipt". Thailand solved the "too many tourists problem" last year and now with just a little more incompetency will rid the country of those money laden, crime free, charitable, undemanding expats. Congratulations to Malaysia, Laos, Korea and Cambodia for your thoughtful, enticing, expat incentive programs.
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As the anchor drags (07/03/2009 08:39:08)
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Author: Keepers Of The Ocean
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Aloha Beach-goers Now that the tides are changing our beaches are starting to experience more rubbish, sea urchins, star fish and sand dollars. The outgoing tide will always leave things behind. Be more aware where you put your bare feet, sea urchins have brittle spines that can break off into your foot, like slivers which are hard to get out. The star fish are harmless. We often throw them back into deeper waters to give them another chance for survival as they will die out of water. Also a friendly reminder to smokers! Please don't leave your butts behind, unknowing children up to two years old put everything into their little mouths, a toxic butt can become stuck in their throat, choke them to death or be swallowed and also kill them. Bottle caps also pose a problem. If you happen to be in an area where you see butts and bottle caps where a baby or unknowing animal could ingest. If you’re aware and care, doing something about it like removing them from harm’s way will not go unnoticed. If you believe in the powers above be it whomever or whatever, your good deeds will be observed. The internal rewards for assisting Mother Nature are priceless. Once you experience this you will be out there Waster-Sizing quite often, doing (Tamboon) (Doing good deeds, merits). Bending at the waist to pick up the waste and getting rid of both. (The waste and your waist ). You would be helping the environment and getting exercise at the same time. Being in tune with nature and your surroundings is being part of the solution not the pollution. We here at Pollution Solution want to be the first to thank you for reaching out for the voiceless. If you are living here or on holiday please help us take care. Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much). With Aloha The Pollution Solution Group, Keepers Of The Ocean
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Same old BS (07/03/2009 08:32:56)
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Author: J. Chunkito.
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Pattaya People: Two months prior to the United States election we have been hearing mainly from two individuals in your Opinion column. Now months after the election these two still dominate your paper each week with tick for tack political spins that would make Sean Hannity of Fox News come in second in any contest! Readers like myself have to wonder if these individuals own a percentage of Pattaya People or you run them constantly because you are selling more papers. As I have read many paying readers like myself are tired of hearing about things that really no longer has any relevance considering how there are so many more important things in the world including Pattaya that we can comment on than the weekly nonsense that is going on between these two. Let us move on and I think they have said enough let’s give others a chance to impress more important subjects. Another week of this B.S. and I plan to move on to another paper... like Pattaya Today!
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Big Foot (03/03/2009 07:29:55)
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Author: Rory UK
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So, Editor, Bob puts his big foot in it yet again. Checking your website’s letters pages, you see the abstinence subject arose when author Tony Crossley correctly pointed out that Sarah Palin supported the policy even though it failed her 17 year old daughter and Catholic priests also. These are facts that Bob is in denial of. If he knows of an organisation exposed as creating and harbouring more child molesters than the total-abstinence Church, then he should let us all know about it. Neither did he reply when Mr Crossley asked how long Bob thought people should abstain from sex, a very relevant question. Bob goes on about safe-sex in an attempt to change the debate’s course, but the Church he defends does not permit contraception. Signalling that Bob had run out of ideas and that he has a suspect mentality, he brought 11-year-old boys and animals into the equation. He alone made that jump. He attacks Mr Crossley and Mr Jack Tighe for pointing to facts and denouncing child molesters and accuses both of being child molesters. If he said that about me, I’d be at the next Expat’s Club meeting and looking to make him eat his words. While they were on the page! A male person that joins a debate on dealing with the sexuality of young adults and introduces sex with children and animals defeats himself. He also ought to be looked at by the authorities. .
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Lurking Dangers (03/03/2009 07:27:49)
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Author: Somsak-Martin
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Danger lurks on Pattaya’s roads! I have lived in Pattaya for a very long time now and consider myself a careful driver. But quite frankly that’s just not good enough here! I drive my automatic motorbike and a car at various times. The other day I was on my motorbike down the hill into Pattaya Tai, and driving slowly and carefully when my heart nearly stopped beating as coming towards me coming up the hill was a car with young noisy Thais who were overtaking a bike at speed and nearly crashed into me. I did not even get the time to offer them an impolite gesticulation, as I pulled into the side of the road to get my breath back. At other times you will notice that the Thais have absolutely no patience whatsoever, and they peep you like mad if you haven’t swooshed off quick enough at a traffic light. All I can say to my fellow expats is to keep your wits about you when driving about the town of Pattaya. Somsak-Martin.
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Sexpats Unite (03/03/2009 07:26:58)
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Author: Jack Tighe
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Editor, Yet again, Bob changes the subject, spews out distortions, creates smokescreens and makes 2+2 = 9. Then he has the arrogance to try and dictate who can write what in your letters page. I think Tighe Books has a great name, but I’m sorry to say I can’t claim a profit-share as the firm is nothing to do with me. I quote from books because I am a fan and the quotes are relevant. Not only do Tony Crossley’s books cover many topical issues that apply to daft Bob, I find them informative and believe they give both sides of an issue. They also counter the stereotyping of Thais that many cry-babies fall into because they fell for a bargirl they couldn’t handle. Quotes used to support TC’s views have rung through the ages. Bob’s sayings are school playground stuff. As to ‘sex tourists’, ‘The Butterfly Circus’, so called because the bar scene can be like a circus, points out a desire of millions of single tourists the world over is a holiday romance and/or sex (with an adult), not that Bob will understand that. You see, the Circus book refers to two dysfunctions. Genophobia is fear of sex. Gynaephobia is fear of womanhood. Bob’s words indicate that he suffers with one or both and every other sexual hang-up including homophobia. He anti-sex rambles then crawls to someone who uses sex stimulants. He went from saying US politics had no place here to writing about it. He begrudges one writer knocking moralistic values then defends two writers who knock the same values even more. He says people should not give their opinion unless asked, but again spouts his without being asked. He wants to point the sexpat finger, yet turns a blind-eye to the world’s biggest paedophile ring. In other words, he’s a big contrary Mary. In saying I find most writing out of Pattaya to be ‘bottom-end’, I am only like Western publishers. A book popular locally, by a writer whose other books supposedly sell internationally, was rejected by his usual publisher. Nowhere did I comment specifically on books by a writer who spoke at an expat’s club meeting. I said sex-stimulants point to a mental need rather than physical one, as any recreational drug does, and learning about a culture does not prevent a person being a ‘sexpat’. Those are simple facts, stated in circumstances that were nothing to do with Bob. As always, he had to stick his nose in. As reader ‘Rory’ pointed out, Bob can’t smell his own mess. A man wanting sex with a willing woman (that means adult human female, Bob) is the most natural thing in the world and if that makes a sexpat then I’m happy to hold up my hand. I’m far from alone and suggest that someone who is single in Pattaya and says he’s not a sexpat is being less than truthful or has a problem. What’s Bob missing, one asks, though you can guess. I personally regard Farang who willy-nilly hang the ‘sexpat’ tag as pretentious. Sexpats unite! Leave Bob to an inflatable doll. It’s his level.
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DEFAMATION (03/03/2009 07:26:21)
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Author: Tony Crossley
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Editor, I hope the person who signs himself ‘Bob’ has deep pockets. Why he needs them will become clear. Expressing an opinion is one thing, outright lies are unacceptable and I must seriously ask you to consider pulling the plug on the person. I understand other journals will not print his vitriol. Because another contributor quotes what is written in my books, Bob turns it into a dastardly plot. My books publisher has no connection with that contributor, as Bob knows because he has been told before. They share a name only. The factual bottom line on the abstinence debate is that it has been preached for centuries and its main proponent has proved to be riddled with perversion. Notwithstanding that Bob has shifted from abstinence until marriage to only until sex has been learned about, however you can do that by abstaining, he should know that a certain body-part in a certain state has no conscience and the practice simply does not work. It’s like telling a cat not to catch mice. To quote a great American: “Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sex. He will go to any length for it – risk fortune, character, reputation, life itself.” - Mark Twain. That says it all. And no, Mr Twain and I are not friends or are we in cahoots. Now, to the issue of the sex trade! I personally refuse to use the word ‘prostitution’ when referring only to the trade. By definition, to prostitute is to sacrifice ethics for profit. People do that in all walks of life and in ways that cause much harm to other people. Examples of the rich and famous doing it are in my book; Pattaya, the Good, the Bad & the Other. Another example is the ‘respectable’ bankers whose greed has caused global problems. Consenting adults trading favour harms no one and, I submit, is no one else’s business. Pattaya and Bangkok prove that where the trade is allowed, there is no shortage of willing workers. Few would agree they are ‘exploited’, many of the workers earning more than professionals like teachers and lawyers. Indeed, rather that a legitimate trade causing them to be exploited, I contend their right of free choice is being abused by illegality. That applies anywhere, not just Thailand. Bob quotes an article that says the trade is “out of control” in one Australia state. All that means is demand there exceeds supply. Removing the supply only exacerbates the problem of frustration. The ‘trafficking’ argument is a red-herring, as it is often willing workers being trafficked where immigration restrictions apply. As I have said before, the voluntary trade where women are concerned is an entirely different issue to that where children are concerned. Linking them is what people like Bob do to bolster their weak case. The trade is not illegal in the UK and only legislation to accommodate the so-called War on Terror prevented easing of supply restrictions in 2006. So far as Thailand is concerned, there have been on-off discussions on decriminalising the trade. As things stand, illegality is irrelevant. As to me wanting Pattaya to be “the sex capital of the world”, Bob must be the only person who doesn’t know it has been widely called that for decades.. Instead of dragging the internet and believing what he finds if it suits his preconceived views, before he addled he should have got out more and tried to work a few things out for himself. Now to a very serious matter! Bob made a statement of fact that I am “pushing for having no legal limits on sex involving minors”. This infers I am a child-molester. THAT IS DEFAMATION of a teacher and author. Defamation could not be more serious. Under Thai law it is a criminal and civil offence and I believe I am within my rights to ask that you reveal this person’s full name and address if you have it. I will be calling to see your Managing Director as soon as the Bangkok school term ends
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