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charmonman

Member Since 2007-12-24
Offline Last Active Today, 10:55
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#5224749 3 Murders As Songkran In Thailand Turns Ugly

Posted hawker9000 on 2012-04-17 02:44:23

View Postjayjayjayjay, on 2012-04-16 23:26:36, said:

View Postcharmonman, on 2012-04-16 22:06:38, said:

Songkran has escalated from a fun and relatively respectful event it used to be to the aggressive, no-fun hazard is has become in many parts of the country today. Before the usual crowd retorts that if I don't like it I can leave the country and go back to my own country, may I point out I've probably been here a lot longer (a quarter century) than the vast majority of those that bring up that lame argument. It is possible for a farang to have a legitimate appreciation for what this country's culture has to offer and at the same time to object to how one of it's traditions seems to have gone seriously off the rails. This gives no excuse for a bunch of tourists to tell them to leave. Besides, there are a lot of Thais who don't exactly enjoy being assaulted - you want to tell them to leave too?

I read a piece in the Thai airways inflight magazine. It totally contradicts your statement here. An elderly lady describes her relatives from DingDang attacking war-style their family home in Silom each year. Water fights, fun and lots of aggression ended in injury each year, but they loved it.  I too have been here for as long as you.  Songkran has not changed, I've celebrated from the north to south, east to west, and now go to Chiangmai every year.  Justify your statement!  I think it might be you've just got too old to enjoy it like the young do with such aplomb. Everybody to there own, but if you can't deal with it, I have not problem saying you should leave.

Oh my goodness!  Thai airways inflight magazine!!??  No, really?  Now THERE's an authoritative news source for you!!  And I mean after all, what POSSIBLE motive might such a respected publication as the Thai Airways inflight magazine have for downplaying Songkran excesses and hazards? It's GOOD to know that someone is covering that for ThaiVisa.  Maybe next time you could report on what 'High Times' has to say about it all for us.

Yes, Pollyanna, it has changed.  And I have no problem saying these "love-[all the violence & mayhem]-or-leave-it" comments are pathetic, not to mention a just a bit suspect.


#5222817 3 Murders As Songkran In Thailand Turns Ugly

Posted apetley on 2012-04-16 13:36:24

View Posthellodolly, on 2012-04-16 13:16:42, said:

View Postapetley, on 2012-04-16 13:07:26, said:

View Postapple69, on 2012-04-16 12:05:28, said:

Sure I get tired of being soaked but it's a great festival and don't think it should be changed at all. The road accients and very small handful of assults is no doubt sad but I love this country for just taking things to the next level. You know Songkran is going to happen so it's not as if it's a surprise - if you don't like it just batton down your hatches and call 1112. If you do like it then just be grateful that you are living in this crazy whacky country where they like to have fun.

Hundreds of funerals later this week where the families won't be having much fun.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com
What a idiotic statement.
There are hundreds of funerals every week where the family's might not be having munch fun.

Yes and they are usually death by natural causes. I was commenting on the hundreds of funerals coming up due to the lunatic behaviour during songkran, usually drunk driving. Thats the idiocy!

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com


#5222794 3 Murders As Songkran In Thailand Turns Ugly

Posted MEL1 on 2012-04-16 13:26:53

View Postscotbeve, on 2012-04-16 13:05:54, said:

View PostHerbalEd, on 2012-04-16 12:53:21, said:

View PostKireB, on 2012-04-16 09:23:24, said:

View Postw11guy, on 2012-04-16 09:08:36, said:

You are free to leave of living here is no longer enjoyable for you. Some of us are happy to join in with the fun. And don't forget that these are isolated incidents. Millions have enjoyed themselves. You get deaths and major events in almost all countries. Just look at the UK and USA. There are plenty getting shot and knifed every day, not just during festivals.
Ahh.. the 'You May Leave Its Not Your Country"-trump card! Be assured that the other millions of Thais are not enjoying themselves! The whole Thai New Year has gotten out of hand, turned in a tyranny of the drunk. It's getting too dangerous, also for a lot of Thais who are hiding in their homes for 3/4 days and should they leave as well?

Meanwhile tens-of-millions of Thais are having a great time. You're not .... but they are.

I'm sure there are some of you TV posters that have been here long enough to remember the days of CLEAN scented / flower-laced water GENTLY tossed from VERY SMALL "pahn" .... that was not only extremely enjoyable, it was cooling, and a show of respect to ANYONE older than the person sprinkling the water. Those of you that have "rote nahm " on elders palms whilst wishing them a great new year and health actually have an idea what Songkran means. Or being in your community temple on Songkran morning... etc., etc. So.... yes, I agree that the whole idea of arbitrarily tossing water has gotten WAAAAY out of hand and DANGEROUS. RIP folks that have passed on due to some of this madness....

Very well put! I posted in another thread this morning:

Songkran is theoretically a thanks-giving for water, a celebration of its availability, and originally was intended as a small bowl to sprinkle each other and respect and thank Buddha for his ways and opinions about water. It has deemed itself of late in to brutally throwing frozen iced water at cars and bikes at speed, and only last year did a huge ice-block shatter my Bro-In-Law's wing mirror. If that had hit a bike rider at speed it could have killed instantaneously. It is demonstrably way out of hand now, and as Thais become more wanting, selfish and greedy they are forgetting to uphold their Buddhist beliefs in their true sense.
As we have seen in the news there were 3 murders, all about brawling during the festivities, or objecting to getting soaked (for the poor guy who bit the bullet on his way to a funeral - bless him and RIP). It is flagrantly about pissing people off now with water, talcum filled water, and the throwing of ice, itself lethal.

So to tell Thais how to celebrate songkran? Nothing wrong with the odd beer, assuming no driving. But there is wrong to forget grass roots of respect and the real Buddhist message. As for the deterioration of festivities to now include blocks of ice being discharged.... it has to be a no-no! Thais have forgotten the bowl for sprinkling said others, with respect. That's advice I'd kindly infuse they remember, and not just out and out show disregard to all and sundry who pass.

So as many posters have incorrectly read me, I have not indicated any requirement to ban Songkran at all, contrary to your inability to comprehend.
I have simply said it needs to be brought back into control, and the true meaning of Songkran remembered for what it is, and not what it has become!

-mel.


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