TotallyOz

I hope this board actually tries to cater to everyone and not telling others there are other board options if they disagree with one decision. IMHO this board is the most inclusive of all the boards and tries to be the least controversial. To be sure Heygay/LMTU was controversial but I hope that a "civil standard of debate" allows for ALL points of view and not just your own.

I totally agree with this. I have learned so much from these boards and gotten some great information. I still learn from them and think that the more people post their experiences, the more we all learn. I know that I would NEVER be an asshole like the Australian guy but I also knew I could not just pay without asking for a supervisor. I knew from the instant I got the ticket that I was on the "hook" for the money but I had to give it a try. I would never do anything disrespectful to have problems in the Kingdom.

He was and he was cute but a bit too old for me. If I were looking for a "daddy" he might have been perfect.

I had both with me. I also had my Passport with me. I had everything required to drive in Thailand.

Is it the shoes being aired out?

The Senate last week passed a resolution exhorting Backpage.com to end publication of its "adult entertainment" section. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Kirk commented, “The numbers are rising, in part because it has become frighteningly simple to order a child prostitute on the Internet. One merely needs to look at the classified ads on Backpage.com, the leading Web site for prostitution advertising in the United States according to the Advanced Interactive Media, AIM, Group. Just a few clicks on this site easily enables ‘johns’ to purchase children for sex. Law enforcement believes that the existence of Backpage encourages the recruitment of victims for sexual exploitation because it allows traffickers to operate out of sight from police patrols.” Backpage.com argues that it works closely with law enforcement to identify, track down and arrest anyone trafficking minors through the site. One such criminal was convicted in Florida a few weeks ago. Backpage.com, which was severed from Village Voice Media a few months ago, is now run by Phoenix New Times founders Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin. Operators of the site have also consistently claimed that legitimate speech will be censored if the government tries to force it to shutter the section, and that any moves to do so are unconstitutional. http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/U-S-Senate-to-Backpage-com-Tear-Down-These-Trafficking-Ads-498590.html

Khun TW, I have picked up a great deal of guys from this area over the years and never had a problem. Some of the guys are military and some are students but all of them did not want to work in the gay bars. They rarely get farang customers and the Thai customers pay 500 baht. I also pick up guys from the street in Sao Paulo and this is not smart but I have never felt unsafe in this area of Bangkok. It is to each his own but anyone that does not feel safe, should not do this. As for the 500 baht, that is what they ask for. One can tip above that amount. And, IMHO, they should. I know many guys that live in Pattaya that will pay this same amount to guys they meet and tell them that is what they pay and they can take that or not go with them. I don't think that the guys in the area in Bangkok that work this park area will ever turn down more than 500 baht.

haha How did I know you would say that?

Sorry, I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off as it is Christmas Eve and in 7 minutes Christmas Day. I have been busy cooking up a storm. This is not a movie I can see. I was supposed to be in Phuket during that time and I have many friends that lost loved ones in it. The 2 boys that live with me in Thailand told me they did not want to see it either. I guess for us, it just brings up really bad memories. I have also not seen many movies that were based on Sept 11. I tend to stay away from those kinds of movies. This movie looks beautiful well made. I am glad it is doing well. The movie I am waiting for is Les Mis! Can't wait.

I wish each and every one of you a very happy holiday season! I hope you get everything in your heart's desire!

I have a friend that has to get a few stints in his heart and he is very worried about this. I had a friend that had these put in last year and it was very quick and he recovered very fast. Has anyone else here ever had a stint? How much recovery time did they need?

Not sure, but I have checked on 2 machines and neither have that advertisement on the site. Doing a google search of the name I also see one other person page but no advertisements.

FH, not sure why, but I am not getting that advertisement at the top. However, this looks like something similar that many hosting companies to when they offer free hosting as opposed to a paid account.

I can't find this. What is the url you are looking at? I see a personal site with only one page with a photo. What do you see?

I was driving on 2nd road today on a motorbike. I had my helmet on. I was driving slow. I had not broken any laws. There was a police stop not far past Royal Garden and before Central Festival. They were stopping mostly foreigners. I was motioned to pull over. I did as requested. The officer asked me for my Driver's License. I showed him my International Driver's License and he said in English that he wanted to see my Thai Driver's License. I told him I did not have one. He started to write a ticket. I told him that the International Driver's License was acceptable according to the law. He said he only accepted the Thai Driver's License and said I would have to go to Police Station on Soi 9 to pay the fee of 400 baht or I could give him 2,000 baht and go now. I told him no that I would got o the police station as I wanted to talk to his superiors. I did go to the station and I got my number to wait in line and was told by others it was about a one hour wait. I asked the people at info desk to speak to English Speaking Officer and one came out that was in full uniform but not Thai. He appeared to be either from Norway or Sweden. I showed him my ticket and asked why I was given this and he said I did not have a Driver's License with me. I showed him the International Driver's License and he said sorry but I needed to pay the ticket. I explained that this was a legal way to drive and he said, "yes, but today they need money and it is better for you to just pay the ticket." I asked if there was someone else I could speak to and was told no. There was a group of guys from Australia that were here for 2 weeks and had the International Driver's License as well and they were told the same thing as me. When they refused, one officer took the guy away. As I am not stupid, I was not going to cause a problem. But, the other Australian was yelling at the officer when he paid to ask why and the officer just laughed. He said, "Pattaya sucks. I'll never come back to Pattaya again" to which the officers all laughed and said, "OK." There were others in the place that had a driver's license in Thai and were fined because they "switched lanes" to go over to the officers that were pulling people over. So, if they had not stopped for the officers they would not have broken any laws. The officer I had spoke to apologized to me but said there was nothing he could do when I had a ticket written. I told him that the other office back on 2nd road would not have written if I had paid 2k baht to which he said, "maybe a better choice for you." Needless to say, I am not happy with the situation but I am also not an idiot. I'll not cause a stink in a police office in a foreign country and I paid the fee and went back to get the book they held until it was paid. When I picked up the book, the officer said, "Merry Christmas." I said something very nasty but said it so fast he could not understand. To which all I can say now is: TIT So, regardless of what others tell you, you may need a Thai Driver's License if you don't want to get trapped in one of these money making scams. And, even that would not have helped as they needed money and would then get you for driving reckless and changing lanes without signaling.

Santa is a smart man!

I want to thank FH for the Candy Cane he left for me to lick! Also, Happy Holidays to everyone in Thailand and abroad!

I agree.

I just got back from Toy Boy and I have to say, without a doubt, the finest collection of boys gathered together in place that I have seen in Pattaya in 8 years. Pretty amazing and something for everyone! A stop in Boyztown and Toy Boy and Funny Boys will give you the best of the best. IMHO

XBoys in Pattayaland soi 1 is having a party tonight to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary. If past parties tell anything, this should be a great show.

Jomtien, I know you like sex but you don't always have to have the home court advantage.

For those that have not seen The Wedding Banquet, also by Ang Lee, I highly recommend it.

Sorry TW, no board should run by trusting a consensus of opinion over matters regarding board decisions. That is why we have moderators. The Mods and the Admins are the ones to make that call. Do you know how many times members have been totally wrong about new posters? I can tell it for a fact, it is often. Most members are very skeptical of new members. I am not sure why, but it is the same on all boards. I liken this to a conviction to murder. It is better to let 100 guilty men free than to convict one innocent. Err on the side of caution. IMHO

Bob is fortunate to spend time on other boards and know the posting style of many posters. I am not. I never have been and others are not. I have read GayButton's posts for years on this board and if he registered under another name, I would not recognize it. I visit the others boards once every two weeks or so when I am in Thailand and even less when I am away. It would be impossible for me to recognize anyone from another board. And, I have a hard time even recognizing posters here if they were to register under a new name. Sure, if a poster registers and keeps talking about alpha males being superior to every other bar boy type then I might have a guess as to who it is. But, hell, if I might have made some of the same posts if I would more open to offending others. After all, don't we all really go to the bars only to find hot alpha males? I know I do.

It is often hard to determine and when heygay came to the board, it was not know that this was him. Then, after a hundred or so posts it was decided that he was not causing issues and to try to moderate him. Perhaps not the best decision but it was the decision. All I can say is that if anyone has strong beliefs on moderator decisions, they should volunteer to be one. The site always asks for more mods but few volunteer as they know it is not an easy job. It is always easy looking from the outside.