I don’t know, but the number of cases is up since he took over. And, as PM, he can have legislation drafted and introduced to repeal this barbaric law. Excuse me but I don’t think that going on tv to lie and dissemble is very impressive on this count. By the way, about Thaksin/Samak, that’s my point exactly. He is no better, no worse. Just prettier, better educated, less legitimate, weaker, and more pliable.

I think you’d agree that the police would be last bunch to do anything at Abhisits behest.

This is a sucker punch on your part because it is not supported by fact.

In fact Abhisit is the first politician to publicly address the issue and remark that it needs reviewing.

To say his shirt is stained with Harry the Aussie fools tears and the robhinyos blood is pretty ridiculous.
Would Thaksin or Samak have gone on CNN and taken questions about it and admitted that it happened? Never in a million years !

‘Status-conscious, arrogant, greedy, dishonest and uncaring‘ – that sounds like my fellow countrymen, and I’m not Thai.
(I’m sure if my fellow countrymen were asked, many would agree about the population generally, though few would admit they have those traits personally – I will admit to personally being all five at various different times, but think only one applies to me all the time)

They also describe humans generally, Thai’s are human, so what’s the point?

‘…yet Thais stereotype Indians as dishonest, Laotians as being stupid‘

In that one sentence you have shown how sterotyping nations is what’s really stupid.

There is no point singling out Thais if everyone possesses the same attributes is there? Thailand has plenty of flaws, but I am not sure who you think you are that you can pass judgement over a large swathe of the Thai population.

For all your talk rationality its evident you possess very little when assessing Thailand and its people.

I will let you wrestle with what I meant with the veil for ignorance observation, I think its pretty self evident myself. If you wish to be pedantic about the way I have phrased the statement then may point out I did not said that stereotyping is a substitute for ignorance, nor should it be. Which is in fact what I implied in my observation. So I cannot see the point of your little word game.

Personally I think you owe Joy an apology, I cant see anything silly about what she said and how she said it, but I see much silliness on your part.

If a person makes silly comments, it is pointless to say they have previously made some intelligent ones. No? Otherwise one is simply being personal.

@Longway:
It is you that miss the point that the attributes *do* describe Thais. If they describe others as well, then fine but that does not invalidate the points I made about Thais.

A defence in court that a robber is less culpable just because there are other robbers would probably not carry much weight. Rightly.

“Stereotyping is just a veil for ignorance.” What does this mean? In linguistics it is called a nominalisation – usually used to appeal to emotions where the rational case is weak.

“[ignorance] serves a purpose in many situations.” Really? Perhaps it does in Thailand.

@Hobby: Please see above.

Simon

Tom: Are you suggesting those characteristics are exclusively Thai?

I would be interested to hear your stereotype(statistics) for a few other countries – lets start with each SE Asian country, as well as USA, UK, Australia & China.
After that is done, why not move on to each European country individually, then Africa and the Latin American countries.

Will any of those 5 traits will be repeated?

The traits you describe are especially obvious in developing countries, as there is a lack of education and maturity and the rule of law is usually very lax,

I find Thailand fairly middling in terms of its greed, corruption and vindictiveness on a global footing.

Stereotyping is just a veil for ignorance, it serves a purpose in many situations, but there is nothing particuarly clever nor attractive (though it can be funny in the right circumstances) about using this ugly episode as an opportunity to vent your hatred.

I see you and OAH in the same light as I would see any Thai resorting to lazy stereotypes to pass high handed judgements about a peoples’ worth: Very childish.