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

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Colonel_Treize
@Arrian: My original argument was that Thailand is safer than the US, in my personal, first-hand experience. I provided many valid reasons for that, and you only talked about one of them. Besides, you didn't deny the idea that American culture has the philosophy, 'finder's keepers.' In fact, not only have I been there, but two of my best friends in FL have been there several times, over decades. My point is that my observation isn't something I just pulled out of my *ss to sound cool or something. I am intelligent and well-read. I know what I'm talking about, as well as anyone else in the US who has been there. Again, I invite you to find out for yourself and decide. Don't take my word for it. You be the judge. But, get on a plane and go there yourself before you call me out.

Well let me share a bit of my experiences of American culture. I could count at least half a dozen times I have broke down on the highway or run out of gas or something and some complete stranger has stopped to help me. I have indeed have my wallet returned to me, also a few boxes that were stolen (trust me things get stolen in Thailand too) were found and I was tracked down so as to return them to me. I have accidentally overpayed at stores/restaurants and had my extra money returned to m when it could have been pocketed and I never would have known. I have witnessed hundreds of acts of kindness, generosity, self-sacrifice, courtesy and help from my fellow Americans.

Even though you seemed to have no interest in actually asking me whether I've traveled internationally and just assumed that since I disagreed on your opinion of the United States that I must be somehow ignorant. Well to answer your unasked question, yes I have traveled overseas plenty.

How much have you traveled in the United States? I have been to 40+ states. Have you been to the midwest? How much have you traveled in Thailand? Just the tourist areas as Arrian guessed or have you seen enough of the country to make a balanced judgement?

For my part, having seen much of this country, both the good and the bad, and having seen many other countries, I can honestly say there is no place in the world I would rather live. I'm not in a dreamworld pretending that there are no problems here (as you seem to believe with Thailand) there certainly are problems. But imho the good far outweighs the bad.

[Colonâ„¢]

Originally posted by OzzyKP


Well let me share a bit of my experiences of American culture. I could count at least half a dozen times I have broke down on the highway or run out of gas or something and some complete stranger has stopped to help me.

That's something you won't get in Belgium. We're scared of people we don't know.

[Colonel_Treize]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Well let me share a bit of my experiences of American culture. I could count at least half a dozen times I have broke down on the highway or run out of gas or something and some complete stranger has stopped to help me. I have indeed have my wallet returned to me, also a few boxes that were stolen (trust me things get stolen in Thailand too) were found and I was tracked down so as to return them to me. I have accidentally overpayed at stores/restaurants and had my extra money returned to m when it could have been pocketed and I never would have known. I have witnessed hundreds of acts of kindness, generosity, self-sacrifice, courtesy and help from my fellow Americans.

Even though you seemed to have no interest in actually asking me whether I've traveled internationally and just assumed that since I disagreed on your opinion of the United States that I must be somehow ignorant. Well to answer your unasked question, yes I have traveled overseas plenty.

How much have you traveled in the United States? I have been to 40+ states. Have you been to the midwest? How much have you traveled in Thailand? Just the tourist areas as Arrian guessed or have you seen enough of the country to make a balanced judgement?

For my part, having seen much of this country, both the good and the bad, and having seen many other countries, I can honestly say there is no place in the world I would rather live. I'm not in a dreamworld pretending that there are no problems here (as you seem to believe with Thailand) there certainly are problems. But imho the good far outweighs the bad.

I'm not talking about what specifically happened to you or me in either country. Peolpe help me out all the time in the US and Thailand. I'm talking about incidences of violent crime in the two countries, perpetrated by their own citizens onto anyone, from what I've seen, and what I've been told by my fellow world travellers in FL, who both seem to agree.

My mentor has 45+ years of world travel under his belt. He has been to an estimated 92% of the world's countries and territories, past and present. He has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in History, Summa *** Laude (with highest honors) at Columbia College of Columbia University in New York, NY. He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Wharton School of Business Administration at Univerisity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (PENN). For the international audience here, these are both Ivy League schools, which are among eight of the most distinguished places of learning in the USA. He claims that of all the places he's been to, the US is among the most dangerous, right up there with Brazil or Colombia.

Living in South Florida, where my next door neighbor's house just suffered an armed robbery this very week, I tend to agree with him now, more than ever. I know that there are parts of the US that are much safer than Thailand. But I maintain the general point that a desperate Thai is infinitely less likely to harm a person than a desperate American. And that is what I claim, having been to both places.

In what way am I looking at Thailand with rose-colored glasses, Ozzy? I pointed out the obscene pollution problem in Bangkok, and I admitted that Bangkok is a poor example of many other things. The only thing I claim is that violent crime is not one of Thailand's many flaws.

You, on the other hand, still have to answer for putting words in my mouth and arguing against them, and entitling this thread in such a way as to emotionally provoke people to agree with you. Both of those tactics are bad form in a debate.