Bob

Can't really blame you, lvdkeyes, for the way you reacted as I'd have probably done something similar. But, you're probably also lucky that his three friends didn't beat the living hell out of you. Probably not wise to physically confront one Thai let alone one with a few buddies around. It can be downright dangerous and sometimes deadly. But, like I said, sometimes things happen so fast we tend to react without much forethought (just go into automatic mode). I'm personally fine (can take about anything) unless and until somebody touches me or a friend in an unfriendly manner and it is at that point I'm in danger of doing something smart (if it works) or stupid (if I or others get hurt). Thankfully, I've only had one incident ever here in Thailand where I had to stand up and clearly advise a couple of Thais (in the best Clint Eastwood impression I could muster) that they were about to make my day. Thankfully, they quickly sized me up and left the premises (or maybe they just thought I was too ugly to die that day?). A decade or so ago, I was in a bar/restaurant with my bf somewhere in Thailand (it was either Phuket or Pattaya - so long ago I don't remember) and there was a table of fairly drunk falang who were giving us the "stare" and making noises about "fags" or whatever. We quickly left that place as I was certain that big trouble was coming and, while discretion is sometimes the better part of valor, I still would have like to have confronted them (but, given I'm still alive, maybe not....).

Actually, I believe the so-called "mental image" you cite is rather accurate in most cases. People who have difficulty (psychologically, alcoholically, financially, etc.) tend to attempt to escape their troubles by moving to another location. They blame their immediate environment for all or part of their problems and presume that a new a glorious life can be found elsewhere; unfortunately, the problems eventually tag along. But most people make choices and I have difficulty getting too compassionate for people who continually make self-destructive choices. It's not that different from the drunk driver in my view. He kills himself and/or others because of really stupid choices - and I'm going to reserve my true feelings of sympathy for those who are innocently harmed by those self-destructive choices. I've always assumed - without really any valid evidence - that falang suicides in Thailand exceed the per capita suicide rate in the falang's home country. Maybe my perception/assumption is accurate because a high number of problem people are drawn to Thailand; however, maybe it's just because the Thai press seems to so callously report and photograph every falang taking the big dive. I'm not sure which view is accurate but there surely seem to be a lot of flying falang around here.

"Barebacking, is there a problem?" No, no problem and I take it that this is a rhetorical question? Absent an absolutely certain monogomous relationship where you're absolutely certain of your partner's disease status, one would have to be an idiot to bareback in this day and age.

A bit pedantic to argue about whether it's a fee or a tip. Just like suggesting that what you pay a boy after offing him from a bar is just a discretionary tip (yea, I suppose you could voluntarily elect to pay him 15 baht for a blowjob just like he can voluntarily elect to muay thai your ass to Koh Larn!). Call it what you will (it's actually irrelevant) but the boy must be paid. And many of the massage joints up here have suggested minimums.

I'm in both camps here to a degree. Rather sad that somebody (usually some drunken ass but not always) elects to joing the flying farang circus. But I guess I'll save my compassion for the loved ones (if any) the leaping guy left behind. And, as GB noted, also for the poor bastard walking by a high-rise that some day is going to be a landing pad (years ago I suggested we all start wearing hard hats when walking by the tall buildings in Pattaya).

During the show, it surely does happen. I happened to be sitting at a table right by one of the stage/catwalk extensions so the nude guys were litterally dancing - and wagging their weenies - within 3 feet of my face. I have no problem with that theoretically but personally I don't like the in-your-face stuff (so, if and when I go back to AA - which actually might be in 2 weeks if a certain buddy coming to town wants to go), I'm going to sit back against one of the walls a little farther away. Plus the front tables only have stools and my back didn't appreciate that after a while.

I went to Adam's Apple with the bf and another friend the other night. Regarding the premises, all jazzed up and brand new. Metro Bar is on the first floor, bathroom is on the second floor, and the showbar is on the third. Still somewhat of a narrow stairway to the showbar but it's a new and a hell of a lot nicer than what it used to be. In any event, nobody likely will complain about the premises. We stayed for the show and it was okay. Last time I went there was in 2005, about 3 months before it closed. I've seen all the old acts including the boyscout routine. The new show (at least the one I saw) did not include the boyscout act but, as noted above, there was a fair amount of full nudity and some mild action. The show started out with some guy using his engorged member to play a vertical piano (sort of....). I will say that they do have some rather big-dicked guys (enough to put me to shame...). I'm not going to say anything negative about the show for the basic reason that I'm not a big fan of any of the bar shows. I go to one every 3-5 years whether I have to or not.

Every dictator understands that the only way to stay in power is to control the information available to their subjects (chattel) that serve the state. Whether in Saudia Arabia, North Korea, China, etc., information is potentially dangerous to those in power, the elite who "benignly" know better than their citizens. The Thai concept of lese majeste, at times, seems to follow the same line of thinking. Maybe there is some hope for some kind of rational evolution of human rights. It wasn't that long ago, historically, that we westerners lashed offenders at the mast, burnt witches at the stake, and treated darker-skinned people as subhumans. Thankfully, some of us have evolved somewhat.

Silence shouldn't mean disagreement with the principles you noted. For me (perhaps I've lead a sheltered life), I had no recollection of ever hearing his name or the name of his group until I saw the mention of his untimely death in the papers and on the net. I still haven't read the original newspaper article (and won't given the reviews) but I did read a few of the comments on Facebook that you linked. I rather liked the one comment which made reference to the fact that being homosexual is not a lifestyle choice whereas being homophobic certainly is.

Ditto!

I'm not so sure that Coach Ditka can speak Thai or likes rice at all...hehe. Plus, I'm quite sure that when they used the term "Da Bears" in Chicago, they weren't referring to large hairy sex objects.

Absolutely correct! Of course, when used by racists or slave owners, it only meant a "subservient human being" and had nothing to do with age.

That's not political correctness in my view, it's just plain idiotic. The words, while they may rhyme, hardly sound alike. As GB intimated, I only pay attention to "political correct" words when I fear I might be offending some group. GB mentioned the Seminoles and use of the word "Indian" in Florida. In my neck of the woods (mid-west US), they specifically dislike use of the word "Indian" and strongly prefer "Native American." That all changed 20-30 years ago, at least around here.

I absolutely agree. And I have no problem in hearing us (or other forums we participate in) use the term "boys" as I know what we mean by that. Here in the US, I'd think most of us would agree that the term "boy" usually means somebody under 18. I'm guessing that Europeans may think the same way given the reaction to the French Minister's use of the term "boys."

I actually have no idea what the BOT did in 1997. At that time, the Thai economy was in full collapse as was the baht as the national currency. It would seem logical, though, that the BOT stepped in to prevent the total depreciation of the baht. In this decade, BOT has stepped in to prevent the baht from appreciating against the dollar and lost tons of money (a significant portion of its foreign reserves) in 2005 and 2006 doing so. Short-term, I suppose that national bank intervention can accomplish something (at least in those economies where the currency is floated in the open market)but I'm doubtful that intervention over the long haul does any good (the fundamentals or lack thereof of the given educational system and economy will take care of that).

If the "boys" were underage, then it's a story; if not (as he asserts - and there appears to be no evidence as yet), then it's a non-starter and ought to be relegated to the pages of some gossip magazine. If his escapades involved males 18 years of age or older, then he probably shouldn't have used the word "boys." I know we all use it on this forum (and on other forums) to mean legal-aged males but the rest of the world doesn't think that way. (I'm not aiming at you, GB, just the news organizations that are trying to make this story out to be something more than it likely is).

Other newspaper articles seem to indicate that the recent spike of the US dollar is due to the intervention of the Bank of Thailand. The BOT lost billions several years ago trying to do the same thing (attempting to boost the US dollar so Thai exports would be cheaper in the US). I have no idea what level the baht ought to be in relation to regional currencies (although, given the condition of the Thai economy and comparing the Thai education system to that of China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, etc., one could expect the baht to fall against those currencies over the long term), but I cannot believe that the US dollar over the next decade isn't going to fall dramatically against most other currencies. Simply too much continuing imbalance in trade and way too much debt (recently, the deficits for the next 10 years are projected at a total of 10 trillion dollars). This all has been predicted for years due to trade imbalances and US deficit spending.

Well, I've got company....you posted it on another board we both belong to and you caught another sucker....

Lol. A perfect place for the new Olympic sport of mugging.

Hmmmm.....now I feel like a complete dolt (oh well, nothing new). (but, honest, Wikopedia spent a fair amount of space debunking so some people are buying it as the real deal).

Well, not to many (have to grant you that); on the other hand, I'm fairly familiar with your detractors on one board we know and I'd actually be rather upset if I thought those juvenile idiots actually liked me. Sometimes, you know, you can measure a man by the quality (or lack thereof) of his enemies. Too bad I don't show up to LOS until the 14th as I'd have like to have a crack at both you and Oogie. Out of charity, of course...hehe.

Hate to blow the theory - hell, sounded good to me - but apparently there are some disagreements here. I googled the term as it seemed strange to me that they'd use brass, a somewhat expensive product, to act as a tray (however, apparently brass was used on ships for other reasons). For some reason, I can't link the Wikopedia page titled "Brass monkey (colloquial expression)" but just google "Brass Monkey" and then it should show up as a sublink there. The exact "http" link I get is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_monkey_(colloquial_expression) but, as I noted, I can't seem to link it directly here.

Nah, my guess is only for a fourtnight (um.....that's fourteen days...)..... And did you hear the one about the guy with the giant penis? A four-inch fourskin which, when extended, would reach his fourhead! Yep, he was a foureigner....

Ah, the shining (not!) city of my state. Hell, it shouldn't be too much trouble there as almost everybody has left! Out of the 20-30 times I've come through US customs, I've only been hassled once and that was in Detroit. I normally go through customs at LAX and, other than the occasional 15-30 minute wait, they've never given me any hassle.