What Do You Want To Read Here?

[Guest fountainhall]

Having been away for some time on a long trip to South America

[Guest]

I'd like to see friendly intelligent conversations, debate & information sharing.

 

These forums are useful when planning travel & are also frequently very interesting.

 

 

I don't like to see interesting threads taken off topic by bickering, or toilet talk.

[KhorTose]

Take the conversation to a higher level and see how much traffic improves.

 

I quite agree, but please do remember most board members do not live here and many who post on these boards come here for a short time and for the boys. I am sure some would be willing to talk on a higher level, but do we stop helping the newbie and those with questions about who, what, where to go, or why things are "different" in Thailand. I see no reason why we cannot have a mix of both.

 

By the way, welcome to the board.

[Bob]

A mix of topics would seem to mirror most people's interests. It's all well and good to discuss Thai politics but there isn't much which is admirable about any of it; besides, to discuss the entire picture of what's really going on, we'd be bordering on lese majeste on occasion.

 

Perhaps reading Hadley's "The King Never Smiles" might help you set the background. But get it outside of Thailand as I understand it's banned here.

[Guest fountainhall]

It is not available here - and it's best not even to refer to it, I believe.

[Bob]

and it's best not even to refer to it, I believe.

 

If we/its gone so far as there's some wrong (lese majeste or, perhaps, a violation of any board's rules) by only mentioning that the book is out there, that's pretty pathetic in my view.

[Guest fountainhall]

If something is deemed not exist here - for reasons obvious to most - raising it in a post might not be the most sensible thing to do. That's merely my opinion, though, and I don't necessarily agree with it! Perhaps it's a moderator matter.

[khaolakguy]

I would like to see more personal trip reports, like Beachlovers experiences in Cambodia. It led others to bring in their own experiences, unfortunately some old farts with agendas decided to piss on the parade in a way that discourages people posting their experiences.

[Guest RichLB]

One area which would attract my interest is a discussion of some of the many non-sex activities available in Pattaya (and elsewhere for locals there). I know that the Pattaya City Expat Club offers many clubs and meeting opportunities, but I know virtually nothing about them. There are discussion groups, a chess club, bridge club, computer club, and a myriad of other offerings. But, I know little about any of them other than they exist. Are they gay friendly, are they welcoming or a closed group of regulars? Do any of the members here attend any of these things?

 

There are also a number of sporting teams in Pattaya - everything from a regular softball pick-up group to a pool league to badmitton, bowling, and and horseback groups. Again, are they gay inclusive, are any strictly gay, are they open to new members, etc.?

 

I think many of us would be interested in how to participate in any of the charitable groups beyond openning our wallets. What exactly do these groups do and are they eager to secure new volunteers?

 

I'm not suggesting that a continuing discussion of gay venues, restaurants, and travel experiences are unappreciated. But Pattaya has a lot more to offer and I think others might be interested in hearing about them and having these alternatives discussed.

[Rogie]

There are also a number of sporting teams in Pattaya - everything from a regular softball pick-up group to a pool league to badmitton, bowling, and and horseback groups. Again, are they gay inclusive, are any strictly gay, are they open to new members, etc.?

 

Plenty of food-for-thought in what you say Rich.

 

I do not live in Thailand/Pattaya but if I were ever to do so I'd be concerned about keeping middle-aged spread at bay (as far as possible!) so knowing about sporting activities would be of great interest.

 

By the way, not having played softball, what is a 'pick-up group' ?

[Bob]

By the way, not having played softball, what is a 'pick-up group' ?

 

A "pick-up" group is a term (American slang, likely) for whoever shows up plays (and/or just a cobbled-up group of guys who play together on occasion with perhaps not all of them playing regularly). I played softball with a team from age 25-30 and was injured a couple of times. Great idea (the sports deal to keep you fit) but guys who aren't in shape need to take it slow and careful or god will let you know shortly that you're not in shape.

[TotallyOz]

This board and Gaybutton's board are filled with tales of sex. There is little else to read. The majority of readers on this board are not interested in those discussion and when they see a forum full of those discussions they leave the board never to return.

 

I like tales of sex. If anyone has stories to share, please bring them on. PeterP, perhaps you can start a few of the conversations that you seem to be interested in?

 

I'd like to see friendly intelligent conversations, debate & information sharing.

These forums are useful when planning travel & are also frequently very interesting.

 

Agree z909. When I travel to LOS, I find I use the site more and find great information here.

 

I think many of us would be interested in how to participate in any of the charitable groups beyond openning our wallets. What exactly do these groups do and are they eager to secure new volunteers?

 

I'm not suggesting that a continuing discussion of gay venues, restaurants, and travel experiences are unappreciated. But Pattaya has a lot more to offer and I think others might be interested in hearing about them and having these alternatives discussed.

 

I think you are right RichLB. I would be interested in knowing how to get more involved in a few of these charities as well. Good Point.

[KhorTose]

I would like to see more personal trip reports, like Beachlovers experiences in Cambodia. It led others to bring in their own experiences, unfortunately some old farts with agendas decided to piss on the parade in a way that discourages people posting their experiences.

 

I know what you mean. I have a friend who is a Scottish guy that pisses on everything and everyone. He is bad all the time, but when he drinks at night (every night) he becomes a total ass. I do not know whether to dislike him or feel sorry for him. He is such a miserable man.

 

I too like first hand travel report, and look forward to hearing from people who have traveled to different and distant places. Pictures are always appreciated.

[Guest fountainhall]

I would like to see more personal trip reports, like Beachlovers experiences in Cambodia. It led others to bring in their own experiences, unfortunately some old farts with agendas decided to piss on the parade in a way that discourages people posting their experiences.

I agree that trip reports can usually be a mine of extremely useful information and can help persuade readers to make a visit. In my view, though, hundreds of words describing a country/city/place are devalued without photographs to illustrate them. Describing a glacier in South America is incomplete unless you post a photo of it - as I did in my S. America report on another Board. This report covered many places and types of accommodation, and to keep it relatively brief, descriptions of each individual natural wonder had to be short. This is what I said about the glacier - and the two photos (out of 100 or more I took just at the glacier) are attached.

 

"The Perito Moreno glacier may only be a matter of 50 miles or so from the National Park, but it requires a long 8-hour roundabout trip and a border crossing to reach the nearest town in Argentina, El Calafate. The glacier itself is monstrously, awesomely large. As it expands each year, it eventually hits a landmass. When that happens, the glacier creaks and groans for months before finally splitting with thunderous crashing that goes on for days and can be heard 50 miles away."

 

On the other hand, reports on things like nightlife in Thailand require more detailed descriptions of bars, locations and personal experiences. Photos are less important and less easy to take due to the bars' regulations.

[TotallyOz]

In my view, though, hundreds of words describing a country/city/place are devalued without photographs to illustrate them.

 

I agree in part my dear. But, many of us don't take photographs on a regular basis. On my recent trip to Brazil, I only took a few and then stopped. At one point in my life I was a professional photographer and survived on my skills. I find taking photos of buildings, and other things boring. Plus, with my IPhoto gallery over 90,000 images, it is time for me to downsize.

 

My friends from ages ago, I think only Firecat on this board, can tell you that when I first started traveling, I would take tons of images on every trip I took. As time went by, age caught up on me, cameras became boring, and life gets shorter and shorter, I have failed miserable in my photography endeavors. I went into great detail on a recent report on my travel to Brazil. But, my images were not there. I could describe all the beautiful boys I met, all the amazing saunas, etc but I took few images (if any). Perhaps that does devalue my report (I agree) but the report was still of value to many. IMHO (perhaps just my ego thinks so).

[Guest fountainhall]

But, many of us don't take photographs on a regular basis.

I perfectly understand. You must have been to Brazil dozens of times. When I return to Hong Kong for the umpteenth time, I will only rarely take a photo. But then those trips are mostly for work and I have so many photos from the couple of decades I lived there. For vacations, I tend not to return to places I have visited very often, and so always snap away, especially if they have some of the great natural wonders of this world.

 

On the other hand, I remember the excellent photos accompanying daily reports of your long bicycle trip through Thailand a couple of years ago.That for me was a model of what a trip report should be.

 

With many members living overseas, I believe most would like to see photos if available, especially of neighbouring countries which they might consider visiting. Or of events here in Thailand like the Ubon Candle Festival, Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai and elsewhere, etc.

 

Plus, with my IPhoto gallery over 90,000 images, it is time for me to downsize.

Time, perhaps, to get rid of some of those gorgeous boys to free up space for lots of new ones?

[TotallyOz]

On the other hand, I remember the excellent photos accompanying daily reports of your long bicycle trip through Thailand a couple of years ago.That for me was a model of what a trip report should be.

 

Thank you! That was one trip that I really enjoyed taking photos. But, that was only so I could get my ass off that bicycle seat.

 

I also took so many photos on that trip as it was a charity event and my first time doing something like that. I have done the Aids Lifecycle Ride from SF to LA 4 times. The first time I had thousands of photos. The last time, only about 5.

 

My next adventure (coming soon) will be in a Tuk Tuk. That will also be for charity and I will have to take tons of photos.

 

 

 

Time, perhaps, to get rid of some of those gorgeous boys to free up space for lots of new ones?

 

That is the downsized files. When I first got my new IMac I had over 600,000 images. I won't give the percentage of guys that were in the collection.

 

So, instead of downsizing the collection, I may have to upsize the computer.

[Guest fountainhall]

WIth 90,000+ photos, it'd take a year looking at nearly 250 photos a day to get through them. With all your nocturnal activities, how do you find the time? (Rhetorical question!)

[Guest fountainhall]

Forgot to add something. It was seeing photos on someone's post (sorry, cannot recall whose) of a trip to the Doi Inthanon National park and its great waterfalls, that encouraged me to visit on my next trip to Chiang Mai. I had been to Chiang Mai at least a dozen and knew nothing about the National Park! It was a great half day trip.

[Guest anonone]

Howdy from a new member.

I have lurked around several forums over the past year or so as I planned my first trips to Thailand. Having just completed by fourth trip, I feel like it is time to jump in and contribute to the conversation, albeit with my limited but growing experiences. Gaythailand seems to fit my personality much more than any of the other forums, so here I am.

 

In regard to the posted question, I would say "more of the same". Recent discussions on bars / clubs / hotels / etc. is important to me as a frequent visitor. I like to keep tabs on what is happening. It makes me feel less seperated during my abscences.

I also appreciate the discussions more cultural topics and everyday life. Every visit to Thailand I become more intrigued by the Kingdom. The culture, the food, the scenery...even the spectacular Thai guys one happens to meet

 

Thank you to the posters who have made my visits to Thailand much more enjoyable for the information presented. I hope to be able to return the favor.

 

Peace.