Gaybutton

Look at the bright side. At least he doesn't have a Voodoo doll . . . or does he?

You could be right, but one time I was bringing a lot of plants back from Thailand (yes, I had a permit). With plants, you don't just bring them in. They have to be packed and labeled in a specialized way and you have to show permits from the originating country that they also had inspected the plants and authorized you to take them (I had those too). Upon arrival in the USA they are supposed to be rigidly inspected by agricultural inspectors during customs inspection. I had included them on my customs declaration card. The customs officer waved me right on through, but I volunteered that I had the plants. I didn't want any trouble later. I asked the customs officer why he was going to wave me through when I had declared a suitcase full of live plants. He hadn't even bothered to look at the declaration form. You know what his answer was? He simply shrugged and said, "You don't fit the profile." Then he sent me off to the agricultural inspectors. That's what I think it is. I think they are trained to look for certain profiles and that's who gets hassled. I don't have a clue what it is they look for, but with hundreds of people passing by them every day, I suppose after a while they get used to who to single out for inspection.

That definitely gives you my vote . . .

Which exit turned out to be better? On Monday I don't think you're going to have any problem at all.

Yep. Sorry, but as for me you'll have to include me out. I don't play that kind of hypothetical game. I fail to see what purpose would be served. This thread began as a report about the latest pedophile arrest and comments about it. Next thing we knew, it became a discussion as to whether speaking out against pedophiles makes you a pedophile too. Now it's going to become "Let's play a game" and see if sex is the only reason to be in Pattaya. I've already stated my opinion. I don't see a reason to find new ways to say the same thing that's already been said.

A great many Thais believe in ghosts and, for some reason, consider them to be malevolent. Not nearly as many believe in black magic, which is done by a 'mohr doo.' Personally, I believe in green magic . . .

Three posts in one day gets you counted that day toward the contest. However, I hate to tell you, but three short, successive posts only get counted as one or may not be counted at all. However, if you need a toaster, you can have mine. My toaster oven stays with me . . .

Your post worked just fine and welcome to the board. They asked if you ever lived on the east coast? That's a new one. I can't even imagine what difference that would make, but there it is.

Ha! Ok, you got 'em.

Do you actually want to try making your point by quibbling over whether the Chinese are considered farang? They're foreigners and they don't come to Pattaya for the sex. For the Russians, you may be right. I don't know. I have no idea what their homes are like. I've never been to any of them and I've never been to Russia. Have you? If you are right, they also didn't come here just for sex. The truth is the reason I came to Thailand in the first place was because I was invited to do a presentation at the Royal Project in Chiang Mai. I had never even heard of Pattaya until my third trip to Thailand and even then I had no idea that gay activities even existed here. All I knew at the time was that Pattaya was a resort beach town. Any other questions you want to ask?

I agree. For years I would go to Wattana whenever my computer was feeling ill. I was always satisfied with their prices and service. However, I no longer go there. Not since I found Killin. I've posted about Killin before. He's a young Thai, thirty-ish, who speaks excellent English. He makes house calls. He'll come to wherever you are in Pattaya and repair your computer on the spot. If the problem is something he can't repair on the premises, he takes the computer with him and he'll have it back to you, working perfectly, within a day or two. When you need peripheral devices, such as Pattamale's VPN, Killin can probably get it for you at prices less than you would pay elsewhere. I have been extremely pleased with Killin and if nothing else, I don't have to lug my computer anywhere. For those of you who wish to give him a try, his number is 081 295 3860.

There are plenty of farangs in Pattaya who both live here and are holiday makers here and the sex has little or nothing to do with it. The Chinese who fill the tour buses. Families with kids. Married couples. There are a great many farang who go to Pattaya for their holidays and live in Pattaya who never go anywhere near the bars, gay or straight. For me, sex enhances my reasons for being here and I would be lying if I said it isn't a factor, but it isn't the only factor and it isn't the primary factor. I, for one, would be in Pattaya even if there were no gay bars at all. In my opinion, not all that many people choose a place to live or choose a holiday spot with available sex as the primary factor in their decision. Some people seem to think that sex is not just a primary factor, but the only factor. I don't think so. After all, there is plenty of sex available in many other cities in Thailand, especially Bangkok. Easy sex is available virtually everywhere in Thailand. Easy sex is readily available in Phuket, but I don't particularly like Phuket. Easy sex is readily available in Chiang Mai, but I don't particularly like Chiang Mai. Easy sex is readily available in Bangkok, but I don't particularly like Bangkok. But plenty of gay farang love those cities, among others, and wouldn't dream of being anywhere else when visiting Thailand or choosing a place to live. Do you truly believe they made their decision based solely upon sex? Even for those who really are in Pattaya only because of the available sex, why should that be viewed as something negative? I think people who base their choice with sex being the primary factor are quite narrow in their decision making. I'm definitely with Shebavon on this one.

I also don't know what you mean. What do you want to know that isn't covered in the threads you have already read? Simply asking for advice for a first time visitor is far too general.

Is that so? In what way is your point proven? As a matter of curiosity, just what is your point?

I haven't been, but I'm wondering if you're finding anything there that you wouldn't normally find in Pattaya anyway.

Beats me. The published fare schedule is more confusing than ever. The best I can suggest is to call the 1337 number, pray that you can get through, pray that someone on that end can speak English, and pray they can tell you the fare.

Does that matter? What difference does it make whether I am angry or not? The problem here is that I see nothing in the blog or your post that suggests reporting anything unless we personally witness it. In all my years in Thailand, I have yet to personally witness a pedophile having sex with a child or even taking a child to his hotel room (or behind bushes at a reservoir). Maybe you think we ought to call the police and report the bars that employ under age boys, just as if the police are not already fully aware of it. All I see is the same implication you claim you are not making. So far, Shebavon sees the same thing. On this board I warn people constantly not to engage in sex with under age boys. What else do you expect a board to do? Do you think the expat community or holiday makers should start doing the job the Thai police are supposed to be doing? We don't permit posting the names of bars that hire under age boys because of Thailand's libel laws. As much as I would like to see the pedophiles go away, I'm not willing to set myself up for a lawsuit to participate in a Quixotic attempt. The implication that the only true reason people choose to live here is for sex is utter nonsense. It may be included in the reasons, but it isn't the only reason. Even if it was, so what? As long as those who are here for only for sex are not breaking laws that could get them arrested, then as long as sex is available what reason would they have not to partake? You wrote, "Finally I think most people who contribute to this sort of board are probably more sex tourist than culture vulture." You can think whatever you like and you are entitled to post your opinion, but your thoughts and opinions do not make it fact. I asked you for some evidence to support your opinion. I don't see any. Your post included, "But these more often sound like the utterances of Pattaya’s prowling or resident ‘sex tourists’ which I guess gives them some sort of feeling of normality." I, for one, do not appreciate being called a resident sex tourist and I don't appreciate the statement that coming out against pedophiles would give me "some sort of feeling of normality." I think I'm perfectly normal, thank you very much. I also think the same about the vast majority of people who post here. People have to make up their own minds as to whether they want to get personally involved. It isn't up to Drummond and it isn't up to you. The fact that people don't see it your way or Drummond's way doesn't make them less than normal. In short, I will continue to vehemently protest about the pedophile problem whenever these reports come out. I will try to warn the pedophiles who read this message board, but I will not start doing the job the police are supposed to be doing. If that makes me something other than normal in your eyes, then I'll just have to be something other than normal.

The full PATTAYA MAIL article is here: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd3 I'm posting the significant portion of the PATTAYA MAIL article: _____ If users are charged the wrong fares by the cooperative, they can call the 1337 Pattaya City Call Center to report it. Disciplinary action can then be taken against offending drivers, such as fines and suspension of the driver’s licenses. Official minibus fares listed by the Chonburi Transport Office are: The Charoenrat Pattana-Najomtien Village route: Charoenrat Pattana-Nipa Lodge Hotel 8 baht Charoenrat Pattana -Asia Hotel 21 baht Charoenrat Pattana-Soi Chaiyapruk 29 baht Nipa Lodge Hotel-Pattaya Market 8 baht Nipa Lodge Hotel-Asia Hotel 14 baht Nipa Lodge Hotel-Soi Chaiyapruk 22 baht The Pattaya Market -Soi Chaiyapruk 15 baht Asia Hotel-Soi Chaiyapruk 8 baht The around Pattaya route: From the beginning of South Pattaya-Banglamung Plaza 8 baht From the beginning of South Pattaya-Nipa Lodge (North Pattaya) 10 baht From Banglamung Plaza-Nipa Lodge junction (North Pattaya) 8 baht From Banglamung Plaza-beginning of South Pattaya 10 baht From Nipa Lodge junction (North Pattaya)-Banglamung Plaza 8 baht North Pattaya-Central Pattaya: North Pattaya-Central Pattaya Road Intersection 8 baht North Pattaya-Somprasong Plaza 11 baht North Pattaya-Wat Bunkanjanaram 23 baht Central Pattaya Road Intersection-Somprasong Plaza 8 baht Central Pattaya Road Intersection-Central Pattaya T-Intersection 17 baht Somprasong Plaza-Wat Bunkanjanaram 8 baht Somprasong Plaza-Central Pattaya T-Intersection 12 baht Wat Bunkanjanaram-Central Pattaya T-Intersection 8 baht For more fare information please contact the Pattaya Information Desk at 038-253-131-32 or the Pattaya City Call Center at 1337.

I hope I'm misinterpreting what you are implying because little makes me angrier than someone who starts saying that those who protest against pedophiles are likely, in reality, pedophiles themselves. In my opinion that is an absolutely idiotic, baseless, disgusting position. The implication is that those who reside here and also speak out against pedophiles are "prowling or resident ‘sex tourists’." I'd like to see either you or Mr. Drummond provide any evidence at all of the veracity of that statement. In case you hadn't noticed, not a single one of the people who post against pedophiles on this board or any of the other boards has ever been arrested or even questioned about being pedophiles themselves. Do those who speak out against pedophiles really have to start enduring baseless implications and accusations, with no evidence whatsoever, that they too are probably pedophiles? I make no apologies for being gay. I make no apologies because I choose to make Pattaya my home. I make no apologies for speaking out against pedophiles. I make no apologies for being attracted to and enjoying the company of Asian boys who are at least 18 years old. However, if I have misunderstood what you were trying to say, then I do publicly apologize to you.

Where did you get the idea that you can't reprint the words? That's perfectly permissible on this web site.

If they need any more people, I volunteer . . .

Meanwhile, these photos are of boys that appear much older than thousands and thousands of photos on the Internet. Why would these in particular end up blocked? What does Denmark do, have people who surf the net, find photos, and then decide to block them?

Both Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Chester Arthur had to re-take their presidential oaths too, due to some sort of a flub up. Constitutional authorities are saying the slip-up doesn't matter, but most likely everyone is now aware that Obama has taken the oath a second time.

The point is to always make sure of how much the total bill is and confirm it with the waiter before you pay. Also, make sure of how much you are supposed to be charged in the first place. I've been billed as much as 150 baht for a 110 baht drink before. If you have some sort of a discount card, make sure it will be honored before you order anything. I don't have any reason to believe the bars themselves are out to cheat their customers on drink bills. It's more likely individual waiters who either cheat people or get confused even with simple math.

That may not be so far fetched. Every so often I hear rumblings that once you have lived in Thailand on a retirement visa for 5 years, they might allow renewals of up to five years. The trouble is, those rumors started even before the promises of online address reporting and submitting. Neither has happened (although you can download the address report online, but you still have to take it to Immigration to submit it, which kind of makes the convenience of it superfluous.)