Gaybutton

Didn't the driver have anything to say about why he didn't help you? Unless he was blind, he had to have realized what was going on. You're lucky. I'll bet one of the things nobody on the trip anticipated was the possibility of being attacked by a crazed dog.

I don't know for sure, but my guess is that the police are not directly involved at all until after sex takes place. This is only a guess on my part, so don't take this as fact, but I believe a boy like this allows himself to be picked up by the farang, has sex with him somewhere, and then either of two scenarios take place: Either the boy demands more money from the farang and threatens to go to the police if he doesn't get it, or he takes the "tip" money the farang gives him, thanks the farang, and then goes to the police because he gets more money as a paid informant. I could be way off base here, but to me it makes perfect sense from the boy's point of view. Here he is, a street urchin, likely ridden with ya-ba, and street-smart enough to seduce an unsuspecting farang who is expecting to have sex with the boy, pay him the usual "tip" amount, and that's the end of it. It seems that the average farang prefers to pay as little as possible and the boy knows that if he turns in the farang, he gets paid informant money. Nothing happens to him at all. He's right back out in the streets seeking his next victim. Meanwhile, he just destroyed the farang's life and couldn't care less. Right or wrong, that's the scenario I envision. For whatever reason, it is extremely rare for a farang to end up arrested when he takes a boy from a bar, even when the boy is under-age. But it's a different story when picking up an under-age street urchin. Just why it works this way goes beyond me, but that seems to be the case. To my mind, given the possible consequences, if you're out there knowingly taking under-age boys for sex, then the cheese slipped off your cracker a long time ago . . . "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves . . ." - William Shakespeare

One question: If she goes any time soon, will the movie about her life star Maggie Smith or Judi Dench?

It came to him in a dream. He might have gotten it from the following, but his dreams are more reliable: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000008143

GaySacGuy is much more qualified than any of us to answer those kinds of questions, but I've heard that more people die in fires because of smoke and toxic fume inhalation than from being burned. You can die from smoke inhalation, panic stampedes, being burnt alive, or other causes, but none would be a pleasant way to go, that's for sure.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Survivors Say Fireworks Lit on Stage By The Nation Survivors of the tragic Santika Pub fire recounted that they saw fireworks lit on the stage before the blaze started, leading to a stampede. A patron, who identified herself as Fah, said she and two friends arrived at the Santika Pub at 10 pm and by the time it was already packed with customers. She said it might be his luck that the pub was nearly full with about 500 customers, causing him and friends to be stand near the exit. The customers were packed inside for the farewell party of the pub, in an event titled "New Year Goodbye Santika" she said. She saw many customers on the second floor of the pub. Fah recounted that he saw a group of singers went up on the stage at nearly 1 am and he saw fireworks being lit up to create some effects. "I believe the fireworks caught fire on the ceiling and spread quickly," Fah said. "At first, I thought it was an effect, which looked like real thing. Then, someone shouted "fire, fire" and panic broke out and people ran for their life. "It's my luck that I and friends were standing near the exit so we could quickly leave and survive." Pongsiri Wongseng, 28, said he and his sister joined the farewell and countdown party after hearing that the pub would cease operation after the party. He said he, his girlfriend and his sisters as well as her friends arrived at the pub in a group of seven and they gather for music in front of the stage. Pongsiri said he saw fire shot up on the stage, causing fire at foam which was used as props on the ceiling. He said the fire spread very fast and his girlfriend shouted to others that fire broke out, leading to turmoil. "Everybody ran outside and the situation was very chaotic," he said. "I jump-kicked at the glass in front of the pub. I made small hole and I don't know how could I get through the hole because I a big guy." He said he later worried about his girlfriend and sister, who were later rescued by rescue workers. He said his girlfriend suffered from a burn on her chest and hip and fainted out and rushed to the Camillian Hospital. His sister also suffered from minor burns.

Gentlemen, let us not forget that HIV is not the only sexually transmitted disease.

If I remember correctly, only a few years ago a similar incident took place in a club in the USA. There were not enough adequate exits and some sort of pyrotechnic display went wrong, setting the club ablaze and resulting in a lot of people dead. Apparently that is what happened in Bangkok. It seems like every year we read about a similar incident in which a fire breaks out in a crowded club and scores of people are trapped inside. Sometimes we even read that fire exits existed, but were blocked or locked. After all, let's risk the lives of all these people in our eagerness to make sure nobody can sneak in for free . . . I think part of the problem is that people do become wary of this sort of possibility when these incidents occur, but after a while people just stop thinking about it, at least until the next incident.

It came close to happening right here in Pattaya. A fire broke out at the Central Festival (Big-C shopping center) in North Pattaya. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Rather than reprint the story, I am providing the link. There are plenty of photos: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000008140 The most frightening part of the story, in my opinion, is the part that mentions there is no fire alarm system in the shopping center.

Here is the BANGKOK POST report: Bangkok Post photo _____ Dozens Die in Night Club Fire Published: 1/01/2009 at 04:35 AM Fire broke out in a night club in Thong Lo during New Year's celebrations, and police said nearly 60 people were confirmed dead. The fire at the Santika Club in Soi Ekamai occurred shortly after the joyous midnight countdown, according to Pol Lt Gen Viboon Bangthamai, deputy metropolitan police commander. Thong Lo district police commander Pol Col Suphin Sapphuang said 59 people had been confirmed dead - 53 at the scene and six who succumbed later in hospital. Most of the fatality victims were Thai, but foreigners have been identified from Australia, the Netherlands, Nepal and Japan. The popular club consistently attracts a mixed crowd of Thais and visitors. At least 184 people were injured, according to emergency services at the scene, and had been rushed to 14 hospitals around Bangkok with various injuries including burns and smoke inhalation. Fireworks lit for the New Year celebration probably torched the facility’s curtain near the roof, he said. Pol Lt Col Prawit Kantwol, one of the first officers on the scene, agreed. "It appears that the fire started from the area of the stage where a band was playing. There were some pyrotechnics and it appears that they started the blaze," he said. "Most of the victims died from suffocation but some were also killed in a stampede when people were trying to get out." The two-storey club was completely gutted by the fire, with the front of the building blackened and partially collapsed. Firefighters brought the blaze under control at about 2 a.m. and retrieved most of the bodies, he said. Fifty-three people were found dead in the club and two died at hospitals Deaths apparently came from direct burns from the flames, from smoke inhalation and from injuries during the stampede to escape from the engulfing fire. Most of the bodies were found in the club's basement. Police said the hi-so club had only one door for entry and exit. Some victims were trapped in the basement of the club, which was accessed via a narrow stairwell. The roof of the building had also collapsed during the blaze. Rescue workers placed the bodies in white shrouds, in rows in the club's parking lot for possible identification and removal.

The easiest way to get there is to stand in front of the Friendship Market. Cross the street and follow the soi into the "square." It can be a little difficult to find the first time, but it's there . . .

I won't be anywhere near Sunee Plaza, that's for sure. When those boys start setting off their firecrackers it's like being in downtown Baghdad during a bombing raid. The tall buildings reverberate the noise and makes it even worse. That's not for me. A close friend lives in a high rise condo. He's having a small party for just a few friends. We're going to have our party and have a panoramic view of all the fireworks displays.

I agree. I see no particular reason to for you to reveal anything the media has not already revealed unless your friend requests that you reveal anything more. I think most of us understand that all you were trying to do was warn us about this sort of possibility. There is no need for you to respond to requests for information or comments unless you wish to.

There are all kinds of possible scenarios, including the one you portray. If what you say is what actually took place, then that will be the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. One aspect of the story that remains on my "I Don't Get It" list is that apparently this man suspected this was coming. I can't help but wonder why he didn't bolt while the getting was good. Unless he was sure he could prove he was the victim of a set-up, why did he stick around, just waiting to be arrested? I would have thought he would have sought out a good Thai attorney long before now, would also have consulted an attorney in the USA, and would have left rather than waiting for the axe to fall. Fake ID's are nothing new and that possibility ought to be taken into consideration any time a boy might appear to be under-age. Hindsight is 20-20, of course, but a 14 year old trying to pass himself off as an 18 year old would certainly turn on red lights for me.

I think that's absolutely right. Sting operation or not, if the man (or men) did not make certain about the boy's age, or knowingly took an under-age boy, then in my opinion he (they) has no one to blame except for the person he sees when he looks in a mirror.

Thank you RichLB. This is quite important information for people living in Thailand on the retirement visa and may not have been aware of this. I'll leave this post pinned for a while.

I hope, for the gentleman's sake, that it will turn out that he is completely innocent and the police arrested the wrong man. If he is the victim of some sort of set-up, then I hope it can somehow be proved that he could not possibly have known the boy's actual age, although it would be a little difficult to convince me that he couldn't figure out that someone age 14 hasn't reached age 18, no matter what kind of documentation the boy may have produced. Lester1's scenario makes sense to me, although none of us really know the whole story. Whether the media will ever publish any kind of follow-up to this is anybody's guess. I also think it's logical to guess that the man referred to in Pattayamale's "Urgent" thread is the same man in this story, but I have no way to know that. You know why I don't know? Because Pattayamale didn't tell us. That's why I don't know. In other words, now that the story is out, the rest is sheer speculation on our part unless and until more details come out. Meanwhile, the other day I jumped all over Slackersam's speculation on another arrest thread. However, if it turns out that this person really is the victim of a similar set-up, then I'm going to have to eat my words and offer Slackersam a public apology

I think that's the most important point in your entire post. Whatever happened to your friend, obviously you are quite upset about it. I don't know what it is. Those who engage in sex with under-age boys have to know by now that the odds of getting caught keep getting greater and greater. Why do it? What is it that compels these people to disregard such serious personal risk for the sake of a satisfying cum? People say all the time the police ought to clean up the streets of these under-age boys. They ought to shut down the bars hiring under-age boys. Whatever they ought to do, nothing changes the fact that the ultimate responsibility for making certain the boy is at least 18 rests with you. You're the one who's going to be arrested.

I'll let you folks do the debating about whether sex with a 14 year old fits the strict definition of a pedophile or whether posting this story is fair. This story is a perfect example of the fact that not all these arrests require being caught in the act. If the police are able to gather sufficient evidence, then the arrest can come at any time. I can't help but wonder if this man was a victim of a scam, considering the length of time between the date of the arrest warrant and the date of the actual arrest. Some under-age boys out there will go with a farang, get their tip, and then inform on the farang for even more money from the police if an arrest results. Even if this man was a victim of such a scam, I have little sympathy for him. It's just another example of thinking with one's crotch instead of one's brain. If the allegation turns out to be true, then it would mean he knowingly risked sex with an under-age boy. No matter how it plays out, it's going to cost him a fortune. If he ends up deported, I think most of you know what's going to happen to him once he's back on USA soil. The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: see: http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2008/decemb...0_12_51_2.shtml for photos. _____ Immigration Police Arrest American Suspected of Conducting Lewd Acts with a 14 year old Boy Acting on an arrest warrant number 1195/2551 dated 6th June 2008, Police Captain Achib from Pattaya’s Immigration Office arrested Mr. Kent Meek aged 64 from USA at a house in the Jomtien Nivet Village. The warrant states that on 10th May, the suspect engaged in lewd acts with a 14 year old boy. It is alleged that Mr. Meek, met the boy in Soi Sunee Plaza which is an area notorious for underage sex workers. The boy was not working in a bar but was allegedly propositioned by the suspect in the street. Mr. Meek was taken to Pattaya Police Station where officers will take over the case which will be heard in court at a later date.

One of my favorite moments was when Tina Fey did a parody of Sarah Palin . . . using the very same words Palin had used. Her comments were so ridiculous that Tina Fey didn't have to change a thing. Now, that's a first!

I regret not mentioning Steve. He was a good friend of mine too. I truly miss him.

You don't need to wait for me. My information comes from the Bank of Ayudhya web site. I prefer that web site to others because it has always been accurate with regard to what I end up getting. Also, it's the only site I know that updates the rates several times per day. Again, here's the link: http://www.krungsri.com/eng/exchange01.aspx

Once in a while we do, but you are definitely correct in that it doesn't happen very often. As for when it is and is not appropriate to publish the story, I concede that it's controversial. The ones who have to make the ultimate decision on the boards are the moderators. In my opinion, it should not be anonymous posters on message boards who "break" that kind of news. But once the news hits the media, that's when it becomes a different story. In that case, now the story has been publicly exposed, but it wasn't us who exposed it. It was exposed by reporters who quite often sign their real names to the story, quite often provide photos, statements by the police, the evidence against the accused, any past criminal history, etc. When it reaches that point, I don't see any valid reason to withhold publicizing a story that's already been publicized by the professional media and is available to anyone with a link to their web site. We can debate about the accuracy and level of professionalism of local Thai reporters, but that's what we have. We don't have any better information sources in cases like this. Some people are going to be in favor of the way we handle these stories and some people won't. As I said, the ultimate decision as to whether to permit the story rests with the board moderators. Right or wrong, that's the way it is. I believe we try our best to do what's right and what's fair. Anyone who has been on these boards for a while knows that I, for one, jump all over it when someone comes along and posts baseless accusations. But when the accusation is not baseless and has already been published in the professional media, that's when I think it's fair game.

If there is some sort of point to that post, I missed it. The US dollar closed against the baht today at 34.78 according to the web site I follow: http://www.krungsri.com/eng/exchange01.aspx If it reaches 35 again, that's when I will start making daily reports.

I think that's a very kind thought, but I don't limit it to only 2008. Some names that immediately leap to my mind are David-in-Pattaya, Boxer, both Ians and Robbie of Le Café Royale, and WowPow. All of them, and more, left us far too soon and are greatly missed by many.