NOTStickman's Guide
to Bangkok

 

First, before you do anything else.  Please go and read the current Stickman Bangkok weekly

Weekly 27/8/2006
Teaching in Bangkok, Never A Dull Moment

"Say It isn't so Joe"

I have been a Stickman reader from about July 2001.  I've been watching the site and his columns for a number of years and enjoying for the most part.  There were on occasions questionable comments that I didn't particularly agree with but this is life and everyone is entitled to their own unique opinion.

Then about a year or so ago, Stick went commercial.  He laid out his site with Google and starting hosting advertising.   I didn't think all that much of it at the time.   But over time I began to notice peculiar tie-ins between his work and the advertising.

He would talk favorably about a book, and several weeks later, there was ad up on the site for it.  He would do an interview with a business for Visa services, and again, an ad would follow on the site.   This started to get my attention.

I even noticed a crazy report suggesting that someone had gone into Nana plaza and given out a bunch of free AIDs tests where many of them were coming up positive,  and you guessed it.  There was Stick pumping up the "instant AIDS test" business.

This pattern has been repeated for restaurants, night clubs, and now even business running questionable services for English teacher certifications.

Please tell me that one honest guy hasn't gone the route of commercialization so far that he is not misleading consumers.  Please tell me that my source for insight on Thailand hasn't been corrupted by the culture for  which had been established.  Please  "Say It isn't so Joe"  (Mrs Stick, you can Google that).

 

Take a Guess

My site has been up for 2 weeks now.  Who do you think is most interested in it? 

The answer is here at the end of this column.

 

WTS?! (What the Stick?!)

(This is section of the column draws direct attention to something very specific about what Stickman has said in his last weekly column.)

I have been in Thailand for about 5 years.   I run a factory and produce a few very specific products that are sold inside the country and outside the country.  My perspective may be just a bit different from Stick's on thoughts related to business.

The Stick is Right!

He writes:

If you only ever listen to one thing I say, please do consider this.  If you plan to start a bar in the industry in Thailand, hook up with, or employ someone, who has experience in the industry locally.  Local experience is essential when opening a new bar.  If you enter the industry as an investor and do not get people involved who have some experience, you are stacking the odds against yourself heavily.

This is an unquestionably a true statement.  And experience isn't the only factor.  Here in Asia your business spawns based on the friends you have around you.   Few will trust complete strangers.   The ONLY way to get started here is to forge good friendships and go slowly.   Friends are people NOT taking money from you.  Friends share mutual interests.  Maybe a mutual exchange of business.  Whatever.   What typically occurs is that others will evaluate you.  They want to know what kind of person you are before they give you helpful information.   For all they know, you are coming here to take over their business and disrupt their likelihood.   So, you'll be kept a an arms distance for a while.

You will need to spend no less than 6 months here looking around, learning, and developing your circle of trusted friends before you drop money on any business.   A year would be a better time frame if you are in the fast paced cities of Bangkok or Pattaya.  Trust is a big issue here for everyone.   Any new guy blowing into town with grand plans will get resistance from all parties (except for those with their hands out looking for stupid farangs).    Even the most highly reputable vendors will be hesitant to work with you because they don't know you.

Having a local partner/friend with "juice" is also essential as you begin your relationship with the local police.   For you to be successful in the bar industry, you much have a stable and trusting and equitable relationship with the local police.

Make it your goal to learn the language.  There is no way around this.

I also would be very skeptical of any management company who sell business for others whose sole income requires that you lay down a chunk of cash to buy into a business.   That is a direct conflict of interest against you.   This type of conflict is especially dangerous here in Thailand as the naturally weak laws lean against the unwary foreign investor!    The key for low price and good deal is competition all around.   If you are buying through one entity, they have no incentive to lower prices to "more fair" levels.

I will tell you the truth.   Also most all on-line business advisors are not recommended in my eyes.   All I suggest is that you come here first, meet people, talk to several lawyers, get referrals, meet others in the same business that you intend to invest in.  And sift though everything you hear.   Read between the lines and don't believe any one person.  Even if you have a prime trusted advisor, check out what they tell you.

IF the ON-LINE guys are reputable.  Their story will hold up to scrutiny after you get here and check out the place.  I recommend that you don't send money to anyone.

And by all means, please ask around to verify what I say here as true.

 

The Stick is Right Again!

He writes:

The fall out from the John Karr incident is going to be much more far reaching than just in Thailand!  For those returning to the West after teaching in Thailand: it may pay to have a job lined up beforehand.  It would seem that the quickest way for your resume to hit the bottom of a recruiter's trashcan is to include any reference to Thailand!  Thanks to the unrelenting drivel of news networks such as Fox, many in the West are convinced that people travel to Thailand only to molest children and rent sex slaves.  One long term reader of this site, himself a teacher for a period in Thailand, took months to get so much as a single interview!  If Thailand wasn't the most morally stigmatized nation on earth before John Karr hit the headlines, it certainly is now.

So, this begs the question:  Why does Stick still push the English schools on his site?   (you guys figured this out yet?)

 

In the 5 years that I have been here in the Kingdom, I have seen nothing but difficulties for English teachers.  These difficulties arise from school administration.  If you come here as a non-professional and work in a school that is not top shelf, you are just asking for heart ache and trouble.

I'll use the most famous Stick-ism here:  "Truth be told"  (well, actually Stick doesn't always tell the truth anymore).

The Thailand school system treats foreign English teachers a lot like the naught night life industry treats the girls from Issan.  They know you are hurting for money and you have one skill they want to buy from you.

 

BTW - I want to extend out a warm welcome from the readers of www.ajarnforum.net.  I've received a lot of hits from their server this week.   Hey, did you guys read the part in Stickman's column where his boss made him deceive the visiting inspector?  The school got a glowing report but they cheated to get it.   Fine piece of teaching Stick had to show the kids that day.  They learned that to win they should cheat.  The ends justify the means.  The boss didn't think twice about it.  Is it any wonder why Thailand has so many difficulties.   What kind of English teachers can we get to come here so we can force them to relinquish their values.... hum... let me think about that one.

 

 

The Great Galt Presents "The Case of the Missing White Boards"

Is it just me, or were Stick's pieces about the missing white boards really lame?

Let me put the scales in my hands... Hum.... Naught Night Life vs. Missing White Boards. (my hands scaling up and down here with palms up).... Hum... Yep.  The white board pieces were indeed pretty lame.   Stick must have been having a slow week for hot topics.

I thought that column was sub-titled "Never of Dull Moment"   Holy Shit.   I mean ... come on, give me a break!!!!

 

From The Galt Mail Bag

I don't typically look to publish email each week but I had one that I thought was worth printing here.

A reader of the Galt writes the following:

Hi, just came across your site - a great idea, and very well written.

Has Stickman seen it yet? Next time he runs a fluff "interview piece" (with himself as the star, of course), perhaps you could be the interviewer? Now that would be worth reading.     Sincerely, BB

What?  Me, interview Stick?   I don't think I could stand any more English teacher stories about kids holding their penis in class (pulling out my hair with hands).  For the love of Pete, will someone please turn Stick's damn microphone off?

 

(a side note here:  If a kid is taking the time to play with himself in class you he know he is bored -5 years and running.  Stick, the other kids thought is was completely normal because they have been watching this for 5 years.  I thought you were a sleuth.  You better keep that day job.)

 

 

A Follow up to Galt Speaks! in Last Week's Column

You'll need to read last week's column near the end where I sharply criticize Mrs Stick for her answer to an on-line question in Stickman's Weekly Column of 20 August.

Mrs Stick, I'm going to finish out my response to you from last week.

...."Ok, I'll be serious with you now.  Your response to that guy's question about the money was just fine."

There you have it.

Was is being honest while I was criticizing you last week?  Or, am I being honest on this final conclusion of my statement this week?   Granted, I allowed a whole week to pass before finishing up and that probably effects your thoughts.  But regardless of my true intentions either way -- do you now feel any better about those negative things that I said about you?   Probably not. 

 

Galt Speaks! Response to Stickman's Readers Questions

I have no criticism for the Stick's for this week's readers questions.  They did a decent job of it.  Pretty boring stuff..... Hum.....

If I were going to send in a question to Mrs Stick I think I would ask:

Dear Mrs. Stick.   While I'm in the middle hot steamy sex with my Thai girl and I'm on the bottom; if I get the notion to slap her on the ass while she is riding me hard, would that be acceptable in Thai culture?   Is there are proper way to deliver that?  Is a full open gripping hand more traditional?  Or would just a finger tip slap be more appropriate?    Also, does it make a difference if I'm with my wife as apposed to my minor wife??  The second part of my question is; is it ever ok to invite both wives together for a "manage trois" because you know guys get a kick of out seeing a couple of girls going down on each other.  

Yea, now that is a question !!!!  

(ok, sorry about being so improper, I'm going to wash my fingers with soap). 

(on a side note here, Yea Stick says he's at Catz to the wifey but he's really next door at Club Boeche watching the girls get it on with each other in the tub and thinking to himself "hum....is the girl on the receiving end a squirter?")

 

Guess Taken?

Would you believe I received about 1,000 visitors to my site this week?   Isn't that amazing?  Any they didn't even know who I was LAST week.  I would have to guess that Stick has at least 50 times this amount each week OR MORE easily.

 

 

 

This page count above counts everything from the first day I set the site up (8 days ago) so the count is bit high.

Google was started 2 days later.  What you see here is a daily count.   This doesn't show the first 24 hours and this snap shot was taken 9 hours before the release of this column.   The total visitor count is 937 in this chart.

I think next week I'll show from where our visitors come from.  I think you'll find that interesting.   Who do you think is the largest readership group?  Inside Thailand?  the UK?  the US?.   I'll show you next week.

 

Campers, can we hit 2,000 this week?   If you have enjoyed the site and it "spoke" to you, can you get on the horn and email your friends and ask them to take a look?  (provided of course you think they may find an interest in the topic of Thailand).

 

 

 

Galt Picks a Favorite

If the Great Stickman has a favorite bar but doesn't live near that bar, then I too The Great Galt can recommend a bar that I like.   Even though I live far from that establishment as well.  Yes, I too can proclaim to have a Favorite !!  Yippee.

Stick's favorite is Catz.

I think I'll pick the club right next to it call Club Boesche.   I like Boesche.  I do go there every time I am in Pattaya.  I have bar fined one girl there.

Stick -- any bars fines for you at Catz??   Opps, sorry, your wife is watching.

Stick likes Catz for -- well, I don't know why.  

Boeches has a nice atmosphere.  They have a variety of girls.  The tub in the ground is appealing.  The girls seem like they're having fun in there he he.

I know of Arthur (the owner).   Ok, guy.  He walks around a lot like the grinch who stole Christmas. Arthur, what gives?  With all that coin coming in you should be in the Christmas spirit!

Chuck (other owner) seems cool; has a good head for business and can mix it up with the best of them.

But the biggest reason that I prefer Club Boesche over Catz is that the Boesche web site kicks the shit out of Catz's web site.     Look first at  Catz  NOW look at Club Boesche   I like how that guy with the deep voice says "Club Booooscheeeee"

 

From the Desk of Galt

This is a very serious comment.  I want everyone to know that I have nothing personal against the Sticks.   Under no conditions do I want anyone to take it upon themselves to do anything toward the Sticks to reveal their identity on the web.  Nor do I want anyone to harm them in any way.  What we do here on the web is innocent ribbing.   Yes, I may want to attract some of his readers here but that is the only direct mission that I have that involves "The Great Stickman."  So, if you do know stick or personal stuff about him, please don't share it me or anyone else.  Thanks.  (besides, if I did see his face directly I might take a greater liking to the Kiwi and might not want to wale on him so much)

 

Ok, well, not too many laughs here in this column - sorry about that.  I'll try harder next week.   Take it all with a grain of salt and ask around.  Don't believe me just because you read it here.  Be skeptical of everything you see and read on the web about Thailand.  YOU have to experience it for yourself for the full picture.  There is no other way around it.

Your Bangkok commentator,

Your Thailand Web Site Watchdog,

John Galt

 

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