Stickman's การวิจารณ์ หรือ การดูถูก?

Please take a moment to read the opening section of this week's Bangkok 2018.  This first section is my reaction to it.

I believe there is a fine line between criticism and insult.  In my judgment one of the fundamental distinctions between the two lies in one's motives.   If you are hoping for change when publishing articles about complaints then that might be constructive and just criticism.  On the other hand, if you are nurturing fear in the hopes that you can make money off the bad news, then you're a clandestine theif and your words are nothing more than fear mongering and insults.

The second requirement that qualifies a complaint as criticism rather than just an insult is that you have the initiative to stand up and offer a solution and be willing to take part in making a correction for whatever you are complaining about.   If you're not willing to get involved and make the world a better place, and yet you're willing to be vocal and negative, I would classify the comments as slanderous.   Insults are given solely for the purpose of discrediting another entity.

This week Stickman wrote an opening piece on his speculation that Thailand will drive out foreigners based on their policy changes.  This piece was a just a fictional attempt at guessing at the future.  He described Thailand as a bunch of unfriendly handlers who force visitors to spend a minimum amount of money and charge exorbitant fees during their stay in Thailand.  He also characterizes Thailand mainly as a land of prostitution.

The whole article this week reads like a cheap Thailand paper back novel written by an expat who is trying to eek out a marginal living in the land of smiles.  It's certainly an exercise in creative writing... but at what cost to the readership and to Thailand?  Perhaps one of Stickman's friends wrote this piece?   Stickman published it so he should at least take ownership of it.

So what is Stickman's call to action?   As a reader how is he trying to influence you?   Is it just entertainment?  Or is he running a business and pulling in money in based on his influence?  What is the influence of this article and will he use this to extort a profit?  (notice this week and Sunbelt Asia ads seem to be running in more prominent positions?)

And speaking of profit -- I really find it unbelievable that Stickman would write a few lines about how expensive it will be to start and run a legal business here in Thailand.   He writes that foreigners will not be able to spend more than 5 years here without being required to put up a Million dollars in registered capital and abide by the regulations (he writes this a fictional guess at the future)....

This is totally laughable because Stickman is the king at running an illegal Internet businesses.  I don't believe there is anyone bigger than him on-line here doing this illegally.   He seeks out numerous revenue stream including money from the naughty night life industries.

So, Stickman -- how many baht in registered capital does StickmanBangkok.com have?  Is this operation a legal business in Thailand?   How many Thais do you employ?   What about Thai taxes?  Are you following all the rules on a monthly and yearly basis?  Does you pay VAT (value added taxes)?

These are questions that I imagine Paul Owen will not answer.   He doesn't like to answer questions.  He holds himself above reproach while he is putting down the country .....  

And this is an easy place to be if you're an English teacher enjoying the benefits of the tax breaks and an easy one year Visa renewal.  I think he is still working for Patumwan Demonstration School EPTS in Bangkok.  It's a very highly paid English teaching job.  It's amazing that he is connived his way into such a highly paid job without (as the Brits say...) a "proper" teaching education.

So why is Stickman so depressed about Thailand in general?  I think this entire year the Stickman Weekly has been either bad mouthing Thailand or lamenting his alternatives....

Here is my observation.  Stickman hasn't really earned his place in the world.  H breaks the rules when we wants to and runs the web site illegally.  Basically Stickman is a cheat in that regard.

Stickman's way to make money is a lot like dieting with weigh loss pills -- you're never completely happy with the results because you truly haven't earned it.

When Stickman has the nerve and the wherewithal to take the web site into the main stream to run it like the rest of us run a business here in Thailand, and successful jump through "all the hoops", then he'll have something to be proud about.   He won't have to hide his name.  He'll finally have some accomplishments going for him that aren't a lie on some level.

I know that a lot of you think I just want to squash this guy... but the truth is that I am not interested in his demise.  I'm not looking to have him thrown out of the country or put in jail for deceptive business practices.  I am however pushing for him to follow the rules.   I'm using him as an prime example of how to avoid being unhappy in Thailand.

Let wrap up with section with a few prevailing thoughts...

I harp about the rules, but let me say that it's very tough to follow all the rules.   It's tough.  It's suppose to be difficult.  There is no perfect person or business that follows all the rules in Thailand (or probably anywhere else for that matter).  One of the keys to successful living is making efforts to follow the rules.   Another key to successful living is finding value in what you're doing.   Another is appreciating the benefits that you have and the freedom to pick and choose a path that is most interesting to you.

I personally have my own gripes about Thailand -- but hell if I didn't have gripes about being the US too (as I am an American)....  But, never a day goes by that I don't appreciate being here.   Never a day goes buy that I don't feel an honest love for the people who I work with and those around town.   Never a day goes by that I'm not consciously aware of my good health and all the years I have left to enjoy it.  I'm a spaceman.  I'm guest in a foreign country.  I'm seeing the world and appreciating it because it is so different from how I grew up.

The Grass is Looking Very Green Right Here

We have been seeing quite a few article and newscasts about the pending down turn in the US and how that is going to affect markets around the world.  We are seeing predictions for the US of 4 dollar a gallon gasoline, increasing food costs and inflation across the board.

I, for one, am glad that I'm in here in Thailand.   I do feel the effects of the shrinking dollar but thankfully I can adjust my company's product line to help compensate for the changes. 

Also, I live in a small city up-country where I spend certainly less then 1/2 as much than I would if I were in Bangkok or Pattaya. 

Stickman doesn't recommend going up-country.  That is just a choice for him (our choice of wine selections are too slim for his likely I guess).  But, what about you?   If you need to combat the strength of the baht, then one of the smaller cities might be of some help to you.

So, why doesn't Stickman want to give you this kind of helpful  advice?  Why does he only gripe and complain and scare x-pats with his articles on-line?   Why?

Well, I think you guessed it -- that doesn't bring money into his pockets.  I'm not even to spell it all out to you here.  Ponder his words for yourself and then look to see what kinds of sponsors on that that page.   It is sad really.   It's theft in disguise.  It's trickery and clever deception and it comes from someone who is "one of our own kind".  WTF?

Happenings This Week

I've been abstaining from female company in recent weeks.   I've been completely absorbed with work.  I thought it would be a good exercise just to see how I felt about being alone.   I wanted to determine it I had in fact hardened myself to the point where I really didn't feel any distraction or craving for it.  Well, sure enough after about 5 weeks, I started to sense that lonely insecure feeling about not having female company.  It kind of felt like I was back in the US.   Funny how strange that it.   In the west I believe we feel this push to marry because we need this sense of companionship and security.  Here I think its generally easy to be single.

Anyhow, I decided to go out last Saturday night and kick around town and visit the clubs and see if any of my friends were around and to get my ego stroked a bit (with the females of course).  

Here is a typical story of what may happen on any given weekend.   This is just a small story but if you put yourself in my place I think you're appreciate it.

I parked my motorcycle near a curb in an area of town with a couple of smaller night clubs.  I'm wearing jeans, a collared shoot sleeved Izod type shirt, and sporting my black roper boots.   No gold on my neck or hands, no wrist watch.    In fact, I'm looking very much like my picture on the home page of this web site.

And I'm approaching a club, an Issan country type place with lots of wood paneling inside and a live band on stage.   And as I'm approaching I pass by a couple of girls and guys who are unloading from their motorbikes and brushing themselves off and chatting.  In the cover of darkness I look back and I catch the eye of one of the girls.   She stares for a moment and smiles and I'm looking more closely at a short distance and trying to figure out who she is and just at that point she waves at me.   I wave back.  And my instinct is to approach and find out if I know her (this should always be your default action here in Thailand).   And I walk up and I don't recognize her and I ask her in Thai, "Do I know you" and she says no.  She tells me that she has never seen me before.  So I ask for her name and I tell her that I'm going to the club nearby (50 feet from us) and she confirms that her friends are going there too.  And I told her that I would see her inside.

10 or 15 minutes later after I have had a change to walk through the place and scout around for friends, she and her party have taken up with a table and set up their drinks.  And I swing by and say hello again briefly.  But not knowing exactly what is going on at the table with the Thai guys nearby, I keep my distance.   I walk off to the bar and order a coke and come back to position 10 feet behind her and lean on a wooden railing.

The band is playing, people are dancing and singing at their tables.  Glasses of beer and whiskey are occasional swinging between patrons as they toast each other in celebration.

This girl looks back and keeps an eye on me from time to time.  I can see that she is making her way through a glass of whiskey and soda water.   And about 15 minutes into our setting, she looks back at me and blows me a kiss.  And I take note of it and smile, nod my head, and appreciate that for what it is.  I just assume she is feeling a little tipsy and enjoying the night.  She is a pretty young thing of about 21 or 22 years.  Pretty face with clean smooth skin, medium length straight brown hair, wearing a brown synthetic backless jump suit outfit with a white cotton spaghetti strapped sleeveless cotton shirt underneath.   Legs showing from the thighs down and high healed shoes.  She wasn't at all bored with her surroundings.  She looked like she was in discovery mode and exploring a fresh experience.

Increasingly curious, I relocated to a position just left of her by about 5 feet.  I'm closer to the door now and near enough to the table to see all the players.   There are two Thai men there and two other girls.   I do remember her telling me prior that one of those guys is the boyfriend of one of girls.   But I don't know who the other guy is.   And this is the time where you want to be respectful and not interfere with a relationship.   Girls in Thailand can sometime do strange things.  On occasion the will flirt with you even if they are with a boyfriend, (it's kind of that farang celebrity type response).  So, before approaching, you need to take notice of the guys and try to figure out if they are paying for the girl's drinks and that kind of thing.

Now that I'm at a closer distance, she lifts her glass and and calls me over to "toast" her and we bump glasses.  They call that "Chong Gkailw".   I step in and reciprocate and then step back out again.  

A few minutes later one of her girlfriend who is sitting next to her takes a break to the bathroom and with a seat now open, she motions to me to join her.  I walk over with my coke and sit.  She is standing next to me and dancing a small jig to the music.   Between her high heals, the wooden floor and those 2 glasses of whisky, she stumbles just a bit and I reach my arm out in a motion to catch her should she accidentally fall.  She returns a smile of thanks and continues on with her dancing.  The boys at the table seem alright with my company and now her girlfriends are on the other side of the table chatting away.

I'm sitting with her there for the better part of 45 minutes.  In between trips to the bathroom, she would wander to the other side of the table and conference with her girls friends.  We don't take too much but I'm taking it all in and just enjoying the moment.   It kind of feels like I'm enjoy a small relationship for the evening (does this sound like a familiar premise?) and out of the blue -- without any indication, she slips her left arm around my back and stretches her right arm across my chest, grabs my far shoulder and eases in and plants off a nice kiss on my right cheek.  That was pleasant surprise.... I put my arm round her back at the waist and give her a little side squeeze and say "Thank you".  Immediate her 2 friends across the table are leading a cheer.  They are all smiles.  One is giving the thumbs up and the other is nodding her head in excitement.   This girl who just kissed me couldn't be more pleased with herself.   I would guess she was working up that nerve for that maneuver while chatting it up with her girlfriends.   Perhaps this was her version of farang fishing and she was just enjoying her catch of the evening.

I didn't stay a whole lot longer.   Maybe 20 more minutes.  I typically like to head out before the end of the night.  It was about 1:30 am at this point.  I didn't want to look like I'm the one doing the fishing.   I have my fun.  I enjoyed the evening and got my emotional stroking.  I didn't even get her phone number.   I don't know if I'll even see her again around town.  But, if I do, we may pick back up again and see where else this goes.   But, if not, there will be another girl who will likely be giving me some attention.

This is just a small example of why Thailand holds such power for me.   I'm 45 years old this year and I don't really get to enjoy this kind of flirting back home.   Its empowering.  In it's own way this is a fountain of youth for me.  It's seductive.   I don't see myself ever really wanting to go back to my home country.

Pending Clayton Wade Court Hearing Update

Nothing new on the pending law suit against me.  We are still about 2 weeks away until that court date.  I'll keep you updated with the results.

Looking at the Numbers

We had an upswing last week.  The rhythm of my readership is starting to return.

The Wrap Up

I still plan on telling you about the flight school here.   I'll need some more time to make that happen.  Here is another picture as a teaser.   The school is undergoing a lot of development right now and are signing up cadets from a number of airlines from other parts of the world.  I am also told that it's likely that a larger number of Chinese will be coming here for training as well.

Otherwise, everyone - enjoy the weekend, time some time to relax.  Don't be so down about your lot in life.  Make the best of it and when the chance arises, make it back for a trip to Thailand. 

OH - in case you haven't guessed by now -- that Thai in the title of my article this weeks say "Criticism or Insult".   Based on the content in the recent Stickman weekly articles I'm questioning the Thais thinking to the net sum of his Stickman's "take" on Thailand.

Thanks for stopping by.

The Galt

Thanks for stopping by.

John Galt