Taking it on line

[reader]

While the experts report on the startling increase in internet commerce in the Kingdom, I believe that the gay male community became aware of it long ago. This forum--and others--have seen many posts over many years citing the advent of the "apps" and the effect they're having on the once thriving brick-and-mortar venues most of us love. We blame the apps, and ballooning property values of course, for the phenomenon.

What seems clear is that there are two camps. One heralds the apps for their convenience and potential to save on off fees. The other laments the declining number of locations they can physically visit to view what's on offer and enjoy the environment provided by the actual--and not cyber--marketplace. Just look around this forum and we read the latest news about the closing of Twilight and now the latest bulletin on the coming demise of soi 4.

Posters have been writing about the gradual shrinking of Sunee Plaza for many years, along with changes in BT and Jomtien. Some in the Bangkok-centric crowd still get misty eyed over the closure of clubs that have been shut for a few decades . Punters don't like change, especially the older ones among us like me.

The apps certainly make it possible view a large number of guys and possibly engage in some cyber negotiations. But even its advocates frequently cite the sterility of the experience. But that's the cost of convenience. Personally, I want to engage them in the real world, check their facial expressions and generally note any other physical clues I can gather (Christiampfc could do a more precise description of this process but you get the idea).

Having said this, I admit there's not anything we can do to turn back the tide. We can certainly enjoy the venues that remain and support them. We who confine most of our activity to Bangkok can hope that some way, some how, some of our favorite venues will find new homes, preferably in the Silom area. Or maybe they'll migrate further out to less expensive neighborhoods. Saphan Kwai, for example, once offered many gay venues.

I think the massage scene will survive the cyber monster longer than the bar scene will. But I also do not foresee complete extinction of the bars and clubs. The customer base will always be there to some degree. The ancient principle of supply and demand will take care of the rest.

From the Nation (4 Feb.)

Ecommerce in Thailand grew to  Bt3.2 trillion  last year

Thai eCommerce grew the most in the Asean region last year, due to changes in consumer behaviour, and its value is expected to hit Bt3.2 trillion, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) said on Saturday.

The number of internet users has grown four times over the past 10 years, and many Thaiinternational platforms have grown to support the number of online shoppers, along with increasing confidence in ePayment and faster logistics and delivery services, ETDA said.

Service providers have chosen to use Big Data to analyse the behaviour and needs of consumers, while AI is being used to develop the quality of the product and services through uses of Chatbots. 

Trends show that growth will continue with the arrival of 5G, creating new innovations that will lift up the quality of life for consumers.Surangkana Wayuparp, president of Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Public Organisation) or ETDA, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) said that the results of surveys show that the value of eCommerce in Thailand has grown consistently between 810 per cent per year.

ETDA has been collecting these statistics since 2014. When comparing the number of internet users over the past 10 years, there were only 16.1 million internet users in 2008; latest information revealed that in 2017, there were 45.2 million users. 

This reflects the change in consumer behaviour that has come as a result of the changes in technology and communication devices, as well as the reduction of the price of these devices and services, which has resulted in more people having more online access.

This has resulted in the eCommerce market of Thailand growing as well, including increasing numbers of both buyers and online sellers, which is also in line with the growth of platforms by Thai and international businesses.

Surangkana said: “Thailand is a country that has considerable strengths in the B2C sector – one of the biggest growths in Asean. Comparing 2016 and 2017, 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/business/30363445

[ggobkk]

Thanks, Reader, for your essay.  It reminds us (well maybe just me) that life is often just adjusting, transitioning to change.  I suspect the market place to move to where the rents make profit possible and are accessible to customers / patrons / Chinese tour groups.  If not, then like the Gayety theater at NYC’s Time Square they will be gone. 

And...over time, this will happen to the apps that are the meet and greet hookup centers of the moment.   

Mourn the loss caused by transition but look for new opportunities. 

[ChristianPFC]

On 2/4/2019 at 8:59 PM, reader said:

Or maybe they'll migrate further out to less expensive neighborhoods. Saphan Kwai, for example, once offered many gay venues.

As you wrote: "once". Saphan Kwai is in decline as well, and here I assume it's not rising rents or lack of foreign customers.

When you are looking for prostitution, gogo bars and massage shops provide that.

For free encounters, gay saunas and discos could provide that, but my success rate is low.

Online has everything: free and paid, and 90% of my free encounters are from online. There is just no brick-and-mortar place that could provide such a selection. Online, I can fish in entire Thailand. I'm just back from a nice encounter in Sakaew. I went there for sightseeing, and meeting a local boy at night was the icing on the cake.