Gaybutton

Thank you, but that is not quite correct.  The info was not sent to me by the owner.  It was sent by a friend who merely happened to be present in Eros when the raid occurred.

It depends on where you want to go.  If you want to go to any of the cities where the curfew has already been lifted, you could go right now without any problems.  The way things are starting to play out, the curfew is likely to be lifted entirely long before November.
 
Whether you decide to go and where you decide to go, one piece of advice:  Don't wait around very long to make your flight and hotel bookings.  I don't know about other cities, but if this year goes as it always has, In Pattaya the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get a room in the area you prefer to stay.  If you wait too long, you'll be lucky if you can get a room at all.

Thank you, but that is not quite correct.  The info was not sent to me by the owner.  It was sent by a friend who merely happened to be present in Eros when the raid occurred.

In Michael's first post he wrote that he was questioned by Homeland Security. Suppose one of the answers was, "I'm gay.  I'm going to Thailand to have sex with young men."  Would someone please explain to me what that would have to do with Homeland Security?  What would the answers to any of those questions have to do with Homeland Security?  This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone being subjected to that kind of questioning outbound rather than inbound.
 
Would someone also please explain to me how being a single man, traveling to and from Thailand, however frequently, possibly to engage in gay sex, in any way endangers the USA?  In the questions Michael listed, what are they trying to find out?  I know of no terrorist activity or incidents that ever had anything to do with single males frequently traveling to Thailand. 
 
The problem is, as earlier posted, if you start arguing with them and/or refuse to answer their questions, you might very well end up on a no-fly list.  Oh well, there's always cruise ships.  Do they have a no-sail list?
 
I agree with firecat69's statement that the Supreme Court is a joke.  The trouble is, I'm not laughing.

I read some of the comments people wrote after the article on the link you posted.  I liked this one:
 
"I guess we should lower our Rainbow Flags to half mast."

In the video it is mentioned that Mr. Seymour had written an article entitled "I Saw Lincoln Shot."  I was interested in finding and reading that article.
 
I did manage to find it.  If you're interested, you can read it at:  http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19540207&id=wHUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5624,3979599

In the video it is mentioned that Mr. Seymour had written an article entitled "I Saw Lincoln Shot."  I was interested in finding and reading that article.
 
I did manage to find it.  If you're interested, you can read it at:  http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19540207&id=wHUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5624,3979599

Or both . . .
 
I've always wondered about this list:
____________________________
 
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. 
John F Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. 
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. 
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. 
The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters. 
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. 
Both wives lost children while living in the White House. 
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. 
Both Presidents were shot in the head. 
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. 
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. 
Both were assassinated by Southerners. 
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson. 
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. 
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908. 
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. 
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939. 
Both assassins were known by their three names. 
Both names are composed of fifteen letters. 
Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.' 
Kennedy was shot in a car, a Ford, called 'Lincoln.' 
Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse. 
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater. 
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials. 
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland. 
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

The drive between Bang Saen and Pattaya usually takes me about 45 minutes.  I've been to the seafood restaurant 2lz2p mentioned several times.  It's very good, very picturesque right over the water, and prices are quite reasonable.  If you've ever been to the seafood restaurant in Bang Sare, it's very similar - so similar that it might be owned by the same people.  Of course, there are many other restaurants to choose from, but if I'm going to eat while in Bang Saen, that's the one I head for.  Look for the blue rooftops.  You can't miss it.
 
The beach and waters are clean and there is usually plenty of parking.  There are also plenty of concessionaires, just like Dongtan Beach in Jomtien.  People are much more conservative about their beach attire than they are in Pattaya.  If there is a gay area, I've never found it.
 
Also, there is a small mountain (can't think of the name, but it's the only one) at the north end. At the top there is a colony of wild monkeys.  Before you're even out of your car the vendors are there to sell you baskets of fruit and vegetables to feed to the monkeys.  I used to buy those, but I found something the monkeys appreciate even more - bottled water.  Now, whenever I go there I always take a few six-packs of bottled water.  Open the bottles for the monkeys.  They haven't figured out how to open the bottles, but they get very thirsty up there and they obviously are grateful for the water.  The vendors don't sell water, so you'll have to bring it yourself.  Most of the monkeys just lay the bottles on the ground and lap up the water as it pours out, but every once in awhile there's a monkey that figured out how to pick up the bottle and drink from it. If the monkeys drop the empty bottle instead of making off with it, I pick it up, put it in the car, and throw it out later rather than leaving plastic bottles all over the place.
 
Also, if you arrive by car, leave everything of value in the car, including the car keys (make sure you don't lock the door with your keys inside the car).  Don't keep anything in your pockets that you don't want to lose.  You think Pattaya has a pickpocket problem?  Wait 'til you meet the monkeys.  Some of them put the Pattaya pickpockets to shame.

The drive between Bang Saen and Pattaya usually takes me about 45 minutes.  I've been to the seafood restaurant 2lz2p mentioned several times.  It's very good, very picturesque right over the water, and prices are quite reasonable.  If you've ever been to the seafood restaurant in Bang Sare, it's very similar - so similar that it might be owned by the same people.  Of course, there are many other restaurants to choose from, but if I'm going to eat while in Bang Saen, that's the one I head for.  Look for the blue rooftops.  You can't miss it.
 
The beach and waters are clean and there is usually plenty of parking.  There are also plenty of concessionaires, just like Dongtan Beach in Jomtien.  People are much more conservative about their beach attire than they are in Pattaya.  If there is a gay area, I've never found it.
 
Also, there is a small mountain (can't think of the name, but it's the only one) at the north end. At the top there is a colony of wild monkeys.  Before you're even out of your car the vendors are there to sell you baskets of fruit and vegetables to feed to the monkeys.  I used to buy those, but I found something the monkeys appreciate even more - bottled water.  Now, whenever I go there I always take a few six-packs of bottled water.  Open the bottles for the monkeys.  They haven't figured out how to open the bottles, but they get very thirsty up there and they obviously are grateful for the water.  The vendors don't sell water, so you'll have to bring it yourself.  Most of the monkeys just lay the bottles on the ground and lap up the water as it pours out, but every once in awhile there's a monkey that figured out how to pick up the bottle and drink from it. If the monkeys drop the empty bottle instead of making off with it, I pick it up, put it in the car, and throw it out later rather than leaving plastic bottles all over the place.
 
Also, if you arrive by car, leave everything of value in the car, including the car keys (make sure you don't lock the door with your keys inside the car).  Don't keep anything in your pockets that you don't want to lose.  You think Pattaya has a pickpocket problem?  Wait 'til you meet the monkeys.  Some of them put the Pattaya pickpockets to shame.

I read some of the comments people wrote after the article on the link you posted.  I liked this one:
 
"I guess we should lower our Rainbow Flags to half mast."

I understand perfectly and I'm sorry for what you're going through.  The last thing you need to worry about is a misunderstanding with me.  Don't give it another thought.
 
The last time I saw jinks was at a Take Care dinner in Pattaya.  We sat together and had a lot of fun.  Each of us won a door prize too.  He liked the prize I won and I liked the prize he won, so we traded.
 
Since then we communicated often via PMs on the boards.  He never said anything to me to indicate just how ill he was.  He wanted to return to Pattaya later this year.  I wish he could have.  I am truly deeply upset about his death and I will greatly miss him.  I already do.

Me?  Ban anyone?  Ever?  For any reason?  Surely you jest . . .

That, by the way, is Pradipat Soi 20. Also, at the end of that soi is the Embassy Hotel. It can be used as a short time hotel or you can stay there. It's rather seedy and run down, maybe a notch or two below the Malaysia Hotel, but at least it's right there if you want to stay close to the Saphan Kwai venues. It's also convenient to the Chatuchak weekend market. The last time I checked, about 2 or 3 years ago, the farang price was 700 baht per night. Their number is 02 279 2641 if you want to make a reservation, although reservations are probably not really necessary.

WHAT?!?!?!?  I hope you're joking.
 
Just in case you actually believe that, read this: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/106225/50-year-thai-man-injured-east-pattaya-road-rage-attack/
 
That's just one example, in one city, out of hundreds and hundreds that take place just as often in Thailand as anywhere else.

What?!?!?  You misspelled something?  You didn't punctuate correctly?  Your grammar was imperfect?  Forgot a capital letter?
 
Just for that, as an officer of the Spelling and Grammar Police, I now place you under assert!

What?!?!?  You misspelled something?  You didn't punctuate correctly?  Your grammar was imperfect?  Forgot a capital letter?
 
Just for that, as an officer of the Spelling and Grammar Police, I now place you under assert!

Unless you have reason to believe the boy deliberately deceived you, since you did take him off I think that obligates you to give him the full tip amount whether you engage in sex with him or not.  It's not his fault you didn't notice his flaws or what you don't like about him until after you took him off.  As long as he's getting his money, which is the reason he went off with you in the first place, he'll be happy.  You could always say you're just too tired now or something.  After all, you're the one who took him off. 
 
On the other hand, if you know he deliberately deceived you, that's a different story.  In that case, I don't think you owe him anything at all.  I'd give him taxi fare just to get rid of him, but nothing more.

Actually, I do have an important message for you.  As a matter of fact it's urgent - absolutely vital.  Now, all you have to do is bribe me the right way to find out what it is . . .

Actually, I do have an important message for you.  As a matter of fact it's urgent - absolutely vital.  Now, all you have to do is bribe me the right way to find out what it is . . .

It would also end my presence in their establishment - permanently.

That brings up a whole new issue.  I read and hear far too many times about indentured servitude and slavery in Asia, and that does include Thailand.  Some of the fishing boats, for example, are notorious for virtually shanghai-ing a crew, forcing them to work, sometimes for months, with little or no pay at all, kept in the most appalling conditions, and if they cannot, or will not, work any more due to lack of decent food, water, illness, and exhaustion, they're tossed overboard to drown.
 
If any bars are engaging in indentured servitude by finding ways to force the boys to remain on premises until a debt is paid off, in my opinion that is as reprehensible as it gets.  If I know a bar is doing that, I would never go to that bar again.  I am aware that some bars pay for foreign boys to come to Thailand to work.  I am also aware that even Thai boys have been known to work in the bars when their parents got into debt and an agreement was reached for the bar to pay off the debt on the basis the boy would work in the bar until the bar had recovered the money - and then some.  It seems to happen to girls more often than it happens to boys.
 
They'll prey on the most rural, uneducated, poverty stricken people they can find - right up there with politicians buying votes in return for a big sack of rice.  I don't know how often this sort of thing occurs, but I do know it does occur.  Maybe that sort of thing is acceptable in some Asian cultures, but that doesn't mean it has to be acceptable to me.  And it isn't.