Gaybutton

I get them sometimes too. They're all only a con game, similar to the Dr. Mwenene Bluluku from Nigeria messages you may sometimes get via Email, in which he's going to put 3 million dollars, or something like that, in your bank account in order to get his cash out of the country. There are still people who actually fall for it.

Every so often there is a story about someone who sees the Virgin Mary in a potato chip or a wall stain. You don't hear about things like that very often when it comes to Buddhism, but you might want to have a look at this. Since viewing the photos is important to the story, rather than post the story, just click on this link: http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2009/november/news_13_11_52_4.shtml

I'm not so sure you're correct about that. When it comes to money, they have the greatest memories I've ever seen. I've seen and experienced many times when either I or a friend encounters a boy he hasn't seen in years and the boy not only remembers his name, but also remembers everything they did as if the last time they were together was yesterday. For many of these boys, money (and the potential thereof) is an excellent memory enhancer.

Dear Pattaya Area American Citizens, The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to inform you of a consular outreach visit to Pattaya on November 19, 2009. Please come if you can! Consular staff will be available to provide services at the following location: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Dusit Thani Pattaya, at 240/2 Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi, 20150, Thailand. Telephone: 03-842-5611. The following consular services will be available during our outreach visits: * Passport renewal applications ($75.00 or Baht 2550 for adult passports, and $85 or Baht 2890 for a child's passport) * Notarial Services and Certified Copies ($30.00 or Baht 1020). This includes income affidavits for retirees in Thailand. * Social security, VA, or other federal benefits question will be limited, but we will try to provide forms and answers (Please bring exact change!) NOTE: We cannot process extra visa pages during our outreach trips. We can accept applications, but the passports will have to be brought back to the Embassy for final processing the next day. The passports will then have to be picked up in person (or by a friend upon presentation of a letter of authorization signed by the applicant) at the Embassy. We regret any inconvenience caused by this. Additionally, Consular Reports of Birth cannot be processed during consular outreach trips. If you have any questions, please email acsbkk@state.gov or call the American Citizen Services Unit at 02-205-4049. We look forward to seeing you in Pattaya on Thursday, November 19th. Sincerely, American Citizen Services U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

I agree with you. When it comes to getting money out of farang, suddenly they know all about Email. Maybe I've become jaded over the years, but in nearly every case I've heard about, when a boy is sending and responding to Email and is also getting money out of you, rest assured you're not the only farang he's doing the same thing with. I've seen so many farang who come here, meet a boy, have a wonderful time with him, become convinced that the boy is honest, truthful, and loyal to him, start sending money to him, and then sooner or later discovers that he's not exactly his only 'boyfriend.' I know one boy who carries 4 different mobile phones, one for each of his 'farang' boyfriends, none of whom have the slightest idea that he is involved with and gets a lot of money out of the others too. I know another boy who is one of the "farang hunters" at the beach. He's there nearly every day. You know where he lives? In a View Talay condo, paid for by his boyfriend who comes to Thailand two weeks out of the year and is convinced the boy is faithful only to him. Meanwhile that same boy tries hooking up with different farang every day at the beach. If someone wants to send money to these boys, I have no problem about that, but I do have a problem when I see unsuspecting farang being taken advantage of, being lied to, becoming convinced he has found the boy of his dreams and the love of his life, while the reality is he is being conned right from the beginning by a boy who will empty your bank account and break your heart with no remorse whatsoever. Just within the past two weeks a boy tried it with me. His farang boyfriend and I have been friends for years. I happened upon them at the beach. We sat and chatted for a while. Then my farang friend left without taking the boy with him. I wondered about that until only a few minutes later the tears started flowing and the boy told me my farang friend had "finished" him that very day and left him high and dry with no money at all and no way to pay for a room or even have money enough to eat. When I asked him why and what had happened, the boy said he didn't know. He said as far as he knew everything was fine, there were no problems, and this came as a total surprise and shock. That instantly caused my eyebrows to raise. I know my farang friend a whole lot better than that, so I knew immediately that I'm probably hearing a line of bullshit. Only a few days later the "I not have money for room" calls started coming in (along with plenty of others that also started coming in from other boys). When I next saw my farang friend he made it clear that this boy, as cherubic as he looks, is nothing more than a ya ba ridden liar who is a very convincing con artist. I'm not surprised. In my opinion, no matter how enamored one may have become with the boy of his dreams, the boy he met during a two or three week holiday in Thailand, the one who falls into the category of "Not this boy. He's different.", the best thing to do if you are someone who can come to Thailand for only a few weeks or so during the year would be to tell the boy you had a wonderful time with him and you hope you'll see him again when you return. I would give him a decent amount of money right then and there and say the goodbyes without exchanging Email addresses or telephone numbers. When you return, if he's still there, that's wonderful. If he isn't, this sea has plenty of other fish. I know some will disagree with me about this, but based on the number of horror stories I've both heard and seen for myself, that's what I would do. Many of these boys really are honest and sincere, and the tears they shed when you depart are genuine, but since you have no way of knowing for sure, then my free advice would be to err on the safe side rather than risk heartbreak and ending up having to move into the poorhouse. Bear in mind that no matter how moving his sob story may be, he managed to survive until you came along and he will continue to manage to survive after you're gone. I've posted this many times, but I think it's appropriate on this thread to repeat what Richard Burk, owner of the Amor restaurant, told me years ago, and from my own experiences and observations I have come to agree with him: "If you want love in Thailand, rent it."

I've also sent in a request for further information, including whether tickets are available at other outlets around town, the ticket prices, whether van or car service from hotel to show and back to hotel is available, and whether the is, or will be, a web site. Of course, I'll post the information once I have it. Maybe someone else can get the information and post before I can.

Many of you will remember the highly popular ICON Show in Pattaya, which closed several years ago. Now the previous owners have opened and established an entire new show and venue in Chiang Mai. I received the following via Email: ____________________ Last weekend David Shrubsole, his business partner David Martin and David’s companion of many years Khun Eak, invited me to Chiang Mai for the opening of their new Play House cabaret. It was previously known as Simon Cabaret, but the whole building and site has been completely rebuilt and, interestingly, deliberately using recycled materials. The premier show was attended by seven members of the Thai Royal family from Chiang Mai, 2 ambassadors and 4 consulates, the national director of TAT and 15 hotel managers. There are 26 cast members and 55 staff. I was very surprised at how professional the dancers and the entire one-hour show was, with 14 set changes and 225 costumes. The theatre seats 344 and was packed. There are two shows nightly at 8pm and 10pm and based on what I saw I can through recommend you see the show if and when you are next in Chiang Mai. I have attached some photos which I asked Khun Aopi the Director of Communications & Public Relations to send me. Best regards

Shhhhhh. You promised to keep that a secret. I'm in enough trouble on this thread already . . . Most likely for the same reason Shell Shock is now Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

That's right. After all, I was fired from a suicide hotline. I kept trying to talk people into it . . .

Not yet. We'll let you know.

Pattaya Players put on a great Halloween celebration at Horseshoe Point. The article has plenty of photos, so click on the link to read the article and see the photos: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000010859

Well, one thing I'm certainly used to is drawing flack. This isn't the first time and somehow I doubt it will be the last.

Very good point, kotter. Yes, it's quite true that you can pay the top price, but end up with a dud.

Looking at the writing style, I wonder if the name 'Loeploh' means anything to you.

First, I don't know where the word "average" is coming from. Most of the time it has been referred to as a standard, not referred to as an average. But that's standard for farang. You know why at Saranrom Park, among other places, the standard is 500 baht? Because very few farang ever venture out there. Then who are all these boys waiting for? They're waiting for Thai customers, that's who. When was the last time you saw adult Thais in any of the go-go bars taking boys off? When was the last time you saw adult Thai customers in the bars at all, unless they were with a farang friend? That's because the Thais aren't about to be paying 150 baht for drinks, paying off fees, or giving these boys 1000 baht tips, on up. It's just a different thing for the Thais. It isn't limited to the bars. One example is the Thai foot massages. Most of the places farang encounter charge 200 to 400 baht for foot massages. It's a little different once you get away from the tourist areas. In my neighborhood, for example, the same foot massage costs 100 baht. Most of the time when I go to Bangkok I prefer staying at the Malaysia Hotel or the Pinnacle Hotel. Every so often, when I go to Bangkok I stay in the Saphan Kwai area. The hotel where I stay charges 700 baht . . . for farang. I had a Thai boy call in a reservation. The price quoted to him was 400 baht. When the hotel realized the reservation was made in behalf of a farang, whoops! The price went right back up to 700 baht.

You are not alone. Many share your opinion. I would suggest that if you do not wish to pay the "standard," then at least make sure the boy understands, in advance of agreeing to go with you, what you are willing to pay. If you're offering 300 baht and the boy accepts that amount, then that's his decision. However, I wouldn't expect top quality "service" for that amount if I were you.

Considering the terrible person that I am, that's not a bad idea . . . Would it be ok to draw some perpendiculars?

I think everyone would prefer no condom, but the realities of STDs, especially HIV, obviously make condoms a necessary evil.

I second that. Good for you, lvdkeyes! I'll bet those same 'gentlemen' realized they better think twice before ganging up on someone they think to be vulnerable to bullying.

I agree completely with your first post, but I don't understand why you are upset with gay_grampa's question. The question seemed perfectly legitimate to me. He was merely inquiring as to whether anything was discussed in advance. Many people don't realize that it's often a good idea to clarify everything at the outset and gay_grampa had no way of knowing whether you did or not. Meanwhile, I think you were absolutely right to go back and bring this to the owner's attention, especially since you apparently did discuss the arrangements beforehand. That kind of an attitude on a boy's part can ruin the entire evening. I also agree he was foolish to react that way. Unless he is overflowing with customers, he ought to have considered himself lucky to be getting 1500 baht. You called this a "petty event." I don't think it's so petty at all. You spent money in the bar, probably spent money buying the guy the obligatory drink, paid the off fee, paid for a short time room, and gave him 1500 baht. I'm guessing you spent around 2500 baht, maybe even more, by the time you were done and your evening ended up ruined by this boy's ingrate attitude. I don't see your complaint as petty. I think your complaint is completely proper. If that happened to me, I think I would have reacted just as you did.

An interesting point and you're probably right.

That term has been used on this board for years without any negative comment . . . until now, and I'm not the only one around here who uses that term. Some are saying this is not the GB you know. Well, yes it is. I guess it's a side of me some simply were not aware of. I'll explain a little further for those who are so taken aback about my attitude. I don't make fun of suicide in and of itself. I think it's a terrible thing for someone to be driven to do away with himself. But anyone who has been on these boards for an appreciable length of time knows that an unusually large number of farang intentionally jump to their deaths from local tall buildings. It's happened so many times that I coined the term "Flying Farang." Maybe I've become jaded due to so many incidents. For a while it seemed to be at least one a week. This one is yet another one in a long list and yes, it's true that I really don't care. I'm sorry if that bothers some of you or makes you think that the usually sympathetic, ready to try to help, me would feel that way, but I'll bet that you too have things about you that bother others. I truly have no sympathy whatsoever for the Flying Farang. None at all. I do feel sorry for the reasons that brought them to suicide, but I have no sympathy for their method. Don't expect me to be among those who shed any tears for this guy or anyone else who dives out the window.

I don't think so, my friend. I have no apology to make to anyone. If I apologized about my post, that would be pointless because the apology would be a lie. I don't share your opinion on this at all. If and when I make apologies, I make them because I feel that I owe them, and I do make public apologies on this board. But I never make apologies because someone else decides for me that I should. I have absolutely no sympathy for Flying Farang. Not one bit. I've also been writing Flying Farang posts for years. As a matter of fact, I'm the one who coined the term. No one has ever complained before, but now all of a sudden I'm mean spirited and heartless because of this post. If I'm sorry about anything, I'm only sorry that you and alaan feel that way. Besides, I have yet to ever meet anyone who is consistent about everything.