Gaybutton

As many of you know, the major Thai governmental election will be held on Sunday, December 23. If you are interested in how the whole thing works, or at least is supposed to work, you might want to read the following from the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/showfeatur...reID=0000000634

Yes, that's the place. I still haven't been in there since they reopened, so I don't have any idea what changes have been made or if the same boys are still working there. I'll try to get there soon.

I'm not surprised. I hear that sort of thing quite frequently about a large number of Thai hotels and guest houses. So many of them never check that it's not possible to rely upon online reservation forms. I can't understand why they place online reservations on their web sites, and then never check them to see if anyone made a reservation. I have also heard of a number of incidents when people used an online reservation form, didn't hear from the hotel, but assumed they had a reservation. Then they arrived at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning only to find out that the hotel never heard of them, they had no reservation, and there was no room available for them. That's just fine after a long haul flight and arriving at an ungodly hour, especially if other hotels with which you are familiar are also full. I suggest that whenever anyone makes an online reservation, no matter which hotel it is, if you haven't heard from them within 48 hours then you probably won't hear from them at all. In that event I would suggest sending a fax, if they have a fax number, or better still, spring for a phone call. That's the only way to be certain there is a reservation for you. It also can't hurt to carry the hotel's phone number with you and give them a call upon arrival at the airport, just to be certain there won't be any unpleasant surprises when you get to the hotel. After all, even if you arrive at the airport in the dead of night, it's still a good hour and a half drive from the Airport to Pattaya, and that's after having spent an hour or so inside the airport retrieving luggage and clearing customs. If you arrive during the day, you'll be lucky if the drive is under two to three hours, due to traffic and road construction delays. I don't like it any more than you do, but that's the way it is.

No need to amend about Tend or take your shirt and rend. If you send some Tend or at least lend some Tend, that would make for an excellent end, especially if some of the beach boys start to vend some Tend.

Apparently Tend tends to tend to tender skin. GT intends to find out if tender skinned Thais intend to try Tend if it tends to their tender skin too. We'll see if the Thais intend to attend GT's booth selling Tend. Maybe he'll extend some free samples of Tend for those who intend to try Tend to find out if it will tend to what they intend to tend. Maybe he could just send some Tend. I don't intend to try Tend because I'd rather just pretend that Tend can't tend to what I need tended. Personally, I won't bend about Tend. What does that portend? Maybe that tends to end the thread about Tend. That's what I intend. The End

I believe you went to Honey Boys, not Happy Bar. Happy Bar is the one off of Sunee Plaza, the Po Pot restaurant side, to the left, next door to the Family Mart.

I haven't been in there yet and haven't spoken to anyone about the goings on yet, but last night I passed by and Happy bar is open again. I'll try to stop in within the next several days.

You've made my point for me. No matter what we do or how we do it, somebody doesn't like what we do or how we do it. I also think moderators should discuss what's best to do in public. It clarifies to people just how we think. But even more important, as far as I'm concerned, is it shows that while GayThailand and I vehemently disagree on certain issues, we still are able to discuss our disagreements without anger or degeneration into getting personal, pissing contests, insults, snide remarks, and all the other things that are so unnecessary. If we can disagree that way, then I'll be damned if I can understand why so many others can't.

It's no mystery to me. I know how to end it instantly, at least on this board. The trouble is, that's a big part of where we agree to disagree. If I had my way anyone, no matter who, would be warned once. If they refuse to comply and do the same kind of thing a second time, out they go. I get called a control freak for wanting to do things that way, but usually the ones who call me a control freak are the very same freaks that need controlling. It's your board, GT. You have to run it as you see fit, but it ought to be obvious to you by now that the people who do this are not going to stop simply because you ask them to stop. Everybody who writes these kinds of posts thinks they are the exception and everybody has to comply with the rules and our wishes except them. They post these things and the only consequence they ever face, if any at all, is having posts rendered invisible or ending up on moderated mode, usually only temporarily. Until you are ready to do more, or allow me to do more, it's going to continue. That's sad, but all my years of running message boards taught me that, if nothing else.

I disagree. That person does indeed post here, in my opinion, but he is certainly not the only one. No matter how you slice it, there are just too many people on the various boards who insist on carrying on with this nonsense and just run it into the ground. For what? Pissing and insult contests. As I said, no matter what I do as a moderator somebody is going to be right there to criticize it. I got heavily criticized because I had Hedda set up his own forum on my former message board. I happen to like Hedda. Isn't that terrible? Hedda has never had any qualms about criticizing me when he felt it was called for, but his criticism has always been just that . . . criticism. He never resorted to calling me names, getting personal, or publicly trying to embarrass me. But the people who hate Hedda still jump down my throat for it to this very day. As many recall, one person actually tried to blackmail me into removing Hedda's forum. I didn't know I had to clear it with others before deciding who I like or who can create a forum on a message board that was free for anyone who wanted to use it, with no paid advertising, and with the all the fees for it coming out of my own pocket. The same goes for EarWig. I do like very much when he posts useful venue information and he often does have good information nobody else has. I intensely dislike it when he posts about the people with whom he feuds. I intend to moderate as I see fit, not how somebody else sees fit. Nobody is forcing those who dislike the way I do it to read or participate on this message board. This evening a close friend made what I considered to be an excellent point. Many people who have never been to Thailand get their information from reading these boards. Half of what they see are these constant barbs and insults. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many people decided not to come to Thailand, or at least to Pattaya, for fear of ending up unwillingly involved in these disputes or forced to take sides. To my mind, not one of these insult and wisecrack posts have ever been necessary or of any value whatsoever, and that includes the ones I've been responsible for posting. I don't think that's what these boards should be all about, but they either are already that way or are quickly becoming that way. If I had my way, every one of those types of posters would not be allowed to post at all. But I don't have my way, whether that's a "lame excuse" or not. That's simply the way it is.

Amen!

First, I have already asked you to stop posting about personal disputes and using things like (__o__). I'll be a lot happier if you comply. I may be being much more lenient these days, but that doesn't mean you suddenly have carte blanche to post anything you want about other people. I have asked that personal disputes be handled by PM. If my requests are going to be ignored, then expect any further such messages to end up invisible and that's exactly what I'll do and will continue to do as long as GayThailand wants me as a moderator here. I think everybody has figured out that you despise these people. Enough of it. As for who my friends are, that is nobody's business other than my own. If you posted in hopes of causing a rift between me and my friends, it's not going to work. The people to whom you refer are my friends and they remain my friends. They are intelligent enough to make the distiction between my Gaybutton message board personality and me as a person. They also know that I couldn't care less about negative posts people make about me, even if they are the ones writing those posts. I also make the distinction between their own board personalities and themselves as people. If I was the type to get all upset when people write negative posts about me, then I would have been gone from the boards years ago. They do not have to agree with anything I do on the boards or anything I write in order to remain friends. No matter what I do, there are always people who don't like what I do and completely disagree with me. That includes my friends. There are never hard feelings or grudges between us. I've even had some of my closest friends tell me off, sometimes quite harshly, right to my face. Our friendships are still just as close as ever. Even GayThailand and I have had major disputes and arguments, including how best to handle you and your posts. To this very day we still don't agree. Meanwhile, I would bend over backwards to do anything in the world for him and I believe he would do the same for me. I have never met anyone who agrees with or supports everything their friends do or say unless they are ass kissers. I don't kiss anyone's ass and I don't expect anyone, including my friends, to kiss mine. Sometimes, although it's rare, I post negative comments about others too. I have yet to lose any friends over it. These same people to whom you refer and I have had disagreements before and probably will again. We are not bothered by that at all. To answer your question, "does that mean we will not see you chumming up to your Buddy again in the corner of Sunee Plaza VIP Corner Bar and Clubbing Restaurant. GB" no, that's not what it means. You can fully expect to see me "chumming up" as always. Now, to address Wowpow's post, it's not so odd that these boards end up cut off. I had the same problem several times when I had my own web site. All of a sudden it would be gone. I would call the provider and, on the rare occasions when I could actually get through to a human, I would be told they cut it because I hadn't paid. I had not received a bill or advance notice. They said it was my responsibility to remember when payment was due. Well, I didn't remember.

I hate to break the bad news, but I haven't changed at all. I'm just tired of dealing with other people's disputes. As long as posts don't violate the rules, as far as I'm concerned people can post what they want.

I suggest that you send a copy of your message directly to Stef. He handles the programming and fixes the bugs when they occur. He'll probably be aware of the problem much sooner if you send a PM to him.

There is also the Rungland area, one block past Third Road toward Sukhumvit, on Pattaya Tai. It's not far from the Sunee Plaza area and a lot of the bar boys live there. If that area interests you, I would recommend Prima Mansion. Their rooms are clean, just as good as places like Howard's in my opinion, and the cost is around 500 baht per night. Telephone: 038-713 618 Fax: 038-713 621

Do we really have to have yet another insult trading contest? Ok, since nobody seems to want to comment on the actual article itself, then this thread is now locked.

I just tried to access Baht-Stop. I ended up with the following: _____ This Account Has Been Suspended Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible. _____ Is it just me, or is anyone else getting this?

If your friend is right, then it would be simple to find out. There is a BTS stop at On Nut and the Tesco/Lotus is right there at the BTS exit. I have never tried bathroom pickups and I have never dialed any phone numbers inscribed on bathroom doors. That's not my cup of pee . . . I do remember, however, a graffiti I saw several years ago in the bathroom of a restaurant in Philadelphia: "If you voted for Bush, don't shit here. Your asshole's in Washington." While I was in Lad Phrao and in that market I never saw any lady-boys at all. I'm trying to figure out why someone thought there are so many lady-boys in that area that a separate bathroom for them was warranted. I have a feeling, though, it was simply that three bathrooms were put in place, all next to each other, and the lady-boy bathroom is someone's idea of a joke.

For the past few days I have been doing some traveling around. One of my stops was in the Lad Phrao district of Bangkok. I went to use the Men's room at an outdoor marketplace, similar to a mini version of Chatuchak. I wish I had a camera with me because I don't think anyone is going to believe me. I nearly had no need to actually enter the Men's room to relieve myself when I saw that there are three restrooms there. One for Women. One for Men. And a third one for lady-boys!!!! Now I'm sure I've seen everything!

I was out of town for the past few days, so I have no idea whether bars ended up closing or remaining open. Perhaps someone can tell us what actually transpired on Wednesday.

I'm inclined to agree with Pete1969 on this one. I've never heard any of my friends say anything like that and I'm sure they also don't feel that way. However, I don't doubt what you say at all. Unfortunately there are people out there who try to pay as little as possible and they come up with all sorts of excuses and rationales to justify what they're doing. I have no problem at all with the idea of paying the going rate. I think one of the biggest mistakes many of the boys make is when it comes time to pay up and the "farang" asks how much. Quite often the boy says, "Up to you." Wrong reply if they happen to be with one of these people trying to get away with sex for a couple hundred baht. One of the most glaring examples I can remember personally witnessing was several years ago in one of the bars. A "gentleman" who usually shows up at this time of year had called a boy over to sit with him. I knew the boy. This guy spent over an hour sitting there feeling up the boy, kissing him, and even publicly masturbating him. From the expression on the boy's face it was obvious the boy was going through what must have been hell and an extremely humiliating experience for him. When the "gentleman" left he gave the boy a 20 baht tip. It didn't end there. A few days later the boy told me the same "gentleman" had arranged for him to come to his hotel room on a specified day and time. The boy went, despite the 20 baht tip. He had to take a motorcycle taxi to get there. When he arrived and knocked on this guy's door, he opened it up, told the boy he already has a boy with him, and shut the door in the boy's face. He didn't even give him taxi fare. I asked the boy why he went at all, considering how blatantly cheap this guy was. He said he needed the money and had no choice. It doesn't even end there. This same "gentleman" showed up at the bar yet again and called the boy over. The boy risked his job by telling him 'fuck you' and refused to have anything to do with him. Personally, I make no distinction between bar boys, host boys, massage boys, beach boys, or anything else. To me, they're all just people, all trying to survive as best as they can. Many of those beach boys are also bar boys at night. They work the beach during the day and work the bars during the night. The so-called status of the boy has never had anything to do with it, at least in my eyes.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Police Nab Dutch Paedophile Suspect Acting on an Interpol tip-off, Thai police arrested a 60-year-old Dutch national at Hua Hin beach resort on child sex abuse charges, authorities said Monday. Willem Gerard Knoppien, 60, was arrested Sunday shortly after police filmed a 12-year-old Thai boy entering and leaving his rented home in Hua Hin, 130 kilometres south of Bangkok. "We had received a warning from Netherlands Interpol that Knoppien had a child abuse record so we were keeping an eye on him," said Police Colonel Banya Pinsuk, of Thailand's Crimes Against Women and Children unit. "We asked Knoppien's neighbours to tell us if anything suspicious happened," he added. On Sunday morning a man on a motorcycle brought a 12-year-old Thai boy to Knoppien's Hua Hin home. Police filmed the boy entering the foreigner's house and leaving one hour later. Banya said the boy had confessed to having sex with Knoppien for 120 baht (3.50 dollars), while the man who delivered him on the motorcycle received another 200 baht (5.90 dollars). Knoppien, a frequent visitor to Thailand, denied having sex with the child. (dpa)

The only thing I'm sure of in regard to the bar closings is what I have been told and by whom. Two bar owners told me they will be closed and another reliable source told me the same thing. Whether they are required to be closed is another matter. It didn't occur to me to ask whether the closings are mandatory, so I can't answer that one. I don't think it matters much what we've read before. I read those articles too. You know how things work in Thailand. You're told something one day, and the next day it has all completely changed. There's one way to find out. Go to a few bars and see if they're open. But if it were me, and I want to be assured of a "guest" on Wednesday, I'd be making my arrangements on Tuesday.

That will be very interesting. Just how are drivers supposed to know that the Thai National Anthem is being played? I almost never have my car radio on, and that's the only way I would be aware that the anthem is being played. I'm picturing a "farang" driver being fined for failure to stop and turn off his engine because he didn't have his radio on, or if he did then he didn't even recognize the Thai National Anthem in the first place. Until I had come to Thailand a few times, I wouldn't have recognized it. Come to think of it, I also wouldn't recognize the national anthems of Uruguay, Oman, or Burkina Faso.

Wednesday, December 5 is His Majesty, the King's 80th birthday. In Thailand this is a major holiday. All government offices, banks, embassy services, and bars will be closed. ATMs will be working. If you need to cash any travel checks, today or tomorrow is the time to do it. Also, if you wish to have a "guest" on Wednesday, tonight or tomorrow is the time to make that arrangement as well.