Thailand, the safe paradise vs. the USA, a horrible crime riddled sewer

[Wezil]

I feel safe here as well but I know there are some neighborhoods I would not walk through at night.

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Well again according to those stats, Americans feel much safer walking around at night here, then people do in most other countries.

I feel pretty safe here.

I'm pretty sure violent crime rates in the US surpass violent crime rates in the rest of the civilized world.

[rah]

Gee, a little common sense.

There are places where you feel safe and those that you don't in every country.

[SlowwHand]

As a tourist you won't see it though.

Very few people climb in a cab, or a baht bus, and ask to see the slums.

[Whoha]

Thailands numbers are likely being inflated by the situation in the south:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,20487781,00.html

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by atawa


You realy have no idea what you are talking about do you?

Or you, apperently.

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Whoha
Thailands numbers are likely being inflated by the situation in the south:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...487781,00.html

Inflated? I think an armed insurgency that has raged for 2 years is worthy of note when deciding whether Thailand is a tranquil society of peace & puppydogs.

[SlowwHand]

Thailand has a population of 60 million people, 10 percent of whom live in Bangkok. Nearly 20 percent of those live in slums.

http://www.dpf.or.th/eng/slums.html

2002, but I'd be vastly surprised if the numbers have changed much. Seems consistent to me.

[LzPrst]

http://www.exile.ru/2005-October-07/southern_thailand_the_long_grind.html

I just love this guy's analysis of stuff. and speaking of thailand... here's one just for you guys

[Colonel_Treize]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
It was the first comparative crime stats site I found.

Anyways the idea that when he went to Thailand he never got shot and thus the country is 100% safe is a preposterous argument. I could make the same argument here in the United States, I've never had my house broken into, I've never been robbed or shot at or raped, thus those crimes never happen here. Right?

The first problem is that you are taking a general comparison of violence and arguing a specific violent crime, namely a shooting. I never said what you claim I said, that "I was never shot in Thailand, therefore it is safe there." I never uttered those words once. I was never shot or otherwise molested in the US OR Thailand. My comparison is based on other factors my experiences of the two countries.

Ozzy, you and I know that most of news we hear on TV and in newspapers in the US is bad news, often relating to crime. Sure, that kind of news is published because people want to hear about it (Americans also love sensationalism and scandal, btw, but I daresay that is not exclusively an American trait), but those stories we hear every day are true. On the other hand, you simply won't hear about violent crimes being committed by Thais on Thais, and especially by Thais on tourists. You could say that they censor the news, but I've never seen ANY violent crime happen to ANYONE there, not just to me.

The truth is, the recent military coup, which is supported by their King AND the Thai population, will actually make the country safer, especially for tourists. The majority of the Thai economy depends on tourist trade. The Thais are smart. They know that if they close the borders or make the country unfriendly to foreigners, or farang, then they would effectively cripple their own economy. Thailand always has a special tourist police force to protect foreigners. The military occupation can only make things safer, because they don't want to lose money. They want foreigners to be alive and well, having a good time and spending freely. I've never heard of a 'tourist police' in the US, and I've lived here all 25-26 years of my life! The US doesn't have the same philosophy on tourism simply because it doesn't have to rely on tourism. On the other hand, we do have border patrol.

The stats that ARE accurate reflect the border insurgency, and those are gun murders, not rapes or burglaries. Moreover, those border wars were started by violent Arabs who have twisted the words of the Koran, as they have in other parts of the world. Also, they are ONLY in the three southern provinces, as I said before. Like Slowwhand pointed out, if you stick to the tourist areas, you have little chance of being harmed in any way. And if you went there for yourself, you'd find out why everyone is so peaceful and happy. You would love it there Ozzy, I'm telling you. I guess you'll just have to take my word on that for now.

Now, the US and other developed countries are very different. I'm not just commenting on the US, here, but the entire developed world. In the West, people are taught from an early age that they are alone and independent in this world, and must fend for themselves. Independence is a concept that is foreign in Thailand. The closest word in Thai means 'freedom', in the literal, physical sense. If you told them about your need for independence, they would be puzzled, as you are not a slave in chains. I believe that more violent crimes are committed in the US by Americans on Americans out of desperation. I don't think poorly of my fellow Americans for that. But, Ozzy, if you grew up on the mean streets of America, then you know what I'm talking about.

As you know, I live in South Florida. And while no violent crime has been committed against me personally, I know from experience that life is cheap in these parts outside my own door. And Fort Lauderdale, near Miami, is one of America's major population centers. By contrast, as I said before, most of the murders committed in Thailand are done so in the rural areas by non-Thais. You simply won't hear of such things happening in major Thai cities like Bangkok or Pattaya. On the other hand, look at the murder rate of Los Angeles, Chicago, or even our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Comparing only rural areas or suburbs, you could safely say the US has less crime in Witchita, Kansas, for example.

I know for certain that in South Florida, as in other parts of the US, we have little or no sense of community among neighbors, like we did in the 50's, for example. In the West, everyone is independent, so no one is forced to deal with anyone else. If you don't want to talk to someone, you don't have to, so you're not forced to learn how to be more diplomatic. This trend inspires the basis of our competitive, capalist society. It isn't a bad thing. It is simply a different way of looking at the world. The downside, is that we Westerners are more likely to say '**** you' to someone we may have relied on as a friend. Heck, in this country, I don't even have to know my extended family well, as they live separately, as nuclear families do.

By stark contrast, Thailand is a very social place. You can go outside and meet people everywhere as street vendors who sell food or drive taxis. You get to know everyone over time. It's like a small-town mentality in the big city. You know the one, where everyone knows everyone. Nepotism, the idea of hiring your family members despite their credentials is an unethical practice in the West. In Thailand, family members are encouraged to take care of each other. They live in large families, and if you have a family member who owns a business, you can be sure you have a job. Also, there's no such things as nursing homes or retirement homes in Thailand. They would be shocked to find out that we Westerners don't take personal care of our elderly or infirm family members.

There's another reason why Thailand is generally safer than the US. Thailand simply doesn't have the flexible and kind jurisprudence system we have in the States. Trust me. People don't WANT to commit violent crimes in Thailand. You'd have to be utterly ignorant or crazy to end up in a Thai jail. They don't even have TV in their prisons. And those two types of people are the only types you have to fear, and they are few and far between. Thai people have every incentive to obey the law, believe me. What they lack in lawyers, they make up for in conservative, old fashioned justice, Texas style.

One more point. My friend told me how he left his wallet in a restaurant in Thailand, and how the Thais there found him in order to return it, with all the money inside. This is the Buddhist influence and it has been known to happen more than once in the Land of Smiles. Ozzy, can you honestly say that this is also an American philosophy, where in our independent, solitary society, 'finders are keepers'?

[Colonel_Treize]

Also, I should mention that the very first post in this thread should be Ozzy's first question, "Uhhh, you want to get away from these crazy wars so you are going to a country that just had a military coup?" That was the first post that was off-topic, and the post that started the debate. The post before it by me is precisely on topic, as it informs HOTW7 players of my absence. As it is necessary for that fact to be known to people in HOTW7 who don't know yet, it should rightfully be returned to it's proper place. It also has other things in it that belong in the former thread. Using my post as the first is disgustingly biased, as well as the title of this thread. I would have simply called it, "Violent crime in the US and Thailand." Ozzy, you admitted to being biased in your opinions before, so I'm not surprised that you are being so prejudiced now. And I'm calling you on that.

[DinoDoc]

This thread is boring.

[TCO]

Who was the dude who went to Thailand? Lincoln? What became of him?

[SlowwHand]

Not heard from. I suspect he's fallen in with the prostitution and drug cartel.

[atawa]

Originally posted by Lonestar


Or you, apperently.

I actualy do know what I'm talking about concerning Thailand.

But please enlighten me with your wisdom and knowledge about how Thailand and the Thai (sex) tourismindustry works.