How corrupt are the Thais? Really bad! But are the foreigners so much better? Not corrupt at all? Never ever? Do they never accept a corrupt proposal or do they never make a corrupt proposal themselves? Of course it is! Discuss the statement.
Statement of the week: Thais cannot handle money
Gringo is not surprised by the results of a study in Thailand that shows that 90% of the population does not keep financial records and has no insight into their spending habits. In short, the Thai cannot handle money. What is your experience? Discuss the statement of the week.
Statement of the week: 'As a farang you can be rude'
Dick wonders aloud if his behavior might be rude, jerky or rude in the eyes of a Thai. But he reasons: I'm not Thai, I'm a foreigner with my own politeness. Do you agree or not? Join the discussion with the statement of the week.
Sometimes you have to lie to your Thai girlfriend because some things cannot be explained. Control urges, jealousy, money matters or a slip, a white lie is sometimes more sensible than the truth... Or do you disagree? Join the discussion.
Just a little while and it will be Songkran in Thailand. Some rejoice in it and others hate it. Whether Songkran is fun or not, you can only determine if you have experienced it once. But maybe you disagree. So give your opinion about celebrating Songkran in Thailand.
No alcoholic drink may be sold on an alcohol-free day here in Pattaya. According to Gringo, this phenomenon is completely pointless. He explains why. Discuss the statement of the week.
Boredom, it is very common among expats in Thailand. But what about you? Be honest, are you also regularly bored? What do you do to spend your time meaningfully? Or is a visit to the 7-Eleven the highlight of the day for you too? Respond to the statement and give your unvarnished opinion.
Say in the Netherlands that you are going to Thailand or live in Thailand and you will see all that brooding look. Prejudice, clichés tumble over you. What to do with it? Dick van der Lugt keeps his mouth shut.
The consumption of medicines in Thailand poses a threat to public health, not only in Thailand but also in the West. Resistance: that's the problem. Some medicines no longer work. Why? Read the statement and respond.
Statement of the week: 'The 'Land of Smiles' does not exist and never has existed.'
Do you enjoy Thailand? I give it to you wholeheartedly. I also enjoy Thailand but for years now with an increasingly heavy and sad heart. My original image of 'The Land of Smiles' has been shattered for years.
Statement of the week: Financial support from your partner's parents is a moral obligation
No matter how you look at it when you have a Thai partner, the financial support of your partner's parents and possibly grandparents will come up sooner or later. Some men think this is the most normal thing in the world; others whine about it. Why actually? Discuss the statement of the week.
It is already a year ago that Prime Minister Yingluck introduced the minimum daily wage of 300 baht (€ 6,70) promised by her party. But what has a Thai gained with it? That 9.000 baht per month is too little to live on and too much to die from. Or not? Discuss the statement of the week.
Especially the delusion of superiority causes a divorce in Thailand. The whiter part of the country looks down on the darker fellow people from the North and more especially the Northeast. Discuss the statement of the week.
Statement of the week: Paying for sex is a form of violence
Prostitution is illegal in Thailand. Should therefore prostitute visitors also be prosecuted? You might say: No, because the majority of prostitutes here work voluntarily. You might say: good idea, Thailand should also criminalize the customer (and act against him). Or is that a utopia? Discuss the statement of the week.
It would be nice if the visa rules in Thailand were implemented consistently and according to the rules. There, in practice, it sometimes appears to be delayed, especially at the regional offices of Immigration. Gringo gives four examples of this. Discuss more about the statement of the week.
Begging children in Thailand. Your gut says: I'll give you some money. But your mind should say otherwise. By giving money you maintain the situation and that is wrong. Or do you think otherwise? Join us for a discussion about the statement of the week.
It is better for expats to get involved in Thai politics, but not actively. However much you agree with one or the other political party or organization, it is much wiser to keep out of it. It can make your position in this country more difficult and even lead to deportation. After all, you are interfering in Thailand's internal affairs, one can argue. Respond to the statement of the week.