Guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 it depends on a lot of things, but just a business card won't do the trick if that influental person is not willing to really back one up. just imagine - you collect the business card of some very powerful person (very few farang are actually able to socialise with those sort of people) and in case of trouble someone calls a guy up who doesn't even remember you - what an embarassment! and in case of a clear violation of the law there must be a very strong relationship so that the influental person would consider using his influence. and, more importantly, nothing comes for free - if such a person backs one up that also means that one is indebted, and there might come one day to repay that favour even if it is more than one might be willing to do. if refused that would mean a more than serious loss of face... i actually have seen it working a few times. once, a friend's apartment was searched by the cops after neighbors complained about him. of course the cops found a few grams of dope. fortunately for him his at that time girlfriend just walked in and told the cops that she works in the palace (of course backing it up with the proper IDs). the cops uncuffed my friend, handed him the dope back, apologised and left. of course when my friend separated from that girl it was everything else than an easy thing... i have one official document wich has helped me already in some attempted little shakedowns, but that one document is a legal document issued to me, and not some 'influental' person's contact. and i don't doubt for a second that this would be jackshit if i would really break the law here. personally, i do not want to ever be in the situation to be indebted to anyone powerful enough to get you out of serious trouble. i have met several of those people, the few i respected i would be too embarrased to bother in case i did something wrong (and would not want to bother them with little stuff), but most of them scared the shit out of me and i don't want to have nothing to do with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 personally, i do not want to ever be in the situation to be indebted to anyone powerful enough to get you out of serious trouble. i have met several of those people, the few i respected i would be too embarrased to bother in case i did something wrong (and would not want to bother them with little stuff), but most of them scared the shit out of me and i don't want to have nothing to do with them. Like the cop you drink with that assasinates drug dealers? :: Sorry Fly had to get that one in... Oneye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didierhardy Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 One can read many "horror" stories about the treatment of falangs in Thailand. Since 13 years never had a bad experience with any officials, including police and immigration Probably sometimes falang's imagination take a wild ride. Didier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Me either...going on 14 years and never had a bad experience. Last year I had occasion to meet the Chief of Police (Sant Sarutanond). He gave me a small gift -- a keychain with an inscription and his name on it. I do keep that in my glove compartment, but have never had to flash it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lembeh Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 As has been said, these can be a very double edged weapon...given the amount of political rivalry, in fighting, disputes etc between different fractions in Thailand (Political fractions, Army fractions, police fraction etc)...pulling out the *wrong* get out of jail card could land you actually in deeper shit. "Oh, he's friends with *him* eh....OK, lets see how much we can f*ck with him!". Given the chance of it backfiring, plus, if you are doing something *really* dumb, the risk of potential embarrasement to the "patron", all in all, probably not a good idea. While a "royal" pass may be as good as gold, the probable only other one worthwhile is something issued (as noted ) *to you*. -j- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 I have a get out of Jail free card. -My university ID badge. Yesterday, I was pulled over by the cops by going through a Pink Light ( ie I swear it was not red) and the cop pulled me over. I passed him my thai drivers licence and my work ID. The copper asked me when I taught at. I told him. I got a salut and was told I could go. No talking of bribes, nothing. Most guys at work get the same treatment. The guy knows I would talk to my boss who would talk to his boss and the issue would have been forgotten about so no sence in trying to get money out of the foreigner, because he knows I would win and he would most definately lose!!! We have a new guy at work who did not know the game. He was pulled over last week and was charged 2000B for having "illegal counterfit plates" on a new car. A simple phone call and the HEAD of the police district was in our office. Picked up the teacher and the guy got his money back from the policeman within 2 hours. You play the card everytime, they do not take it. It is reusable I have had to play this card , plus a very special get out of jail free card a number of times (10+) and always get the treatment that I deserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Hi, "and always get the treatment that I deserve." Would you mind telling us why you 'deserve' better treatment than the rest of us? Maybe you did not mean it this way, but that statement sounds *very* arrogant to me. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 [ It is reusable I have had to play this card , plus a very special get out of jail free card a number of times (10+) and always get the treatment that I deserve. We're all born equal, farang, BG, even people who work at incredibly prestigious, aspirational quasi international schools,in a way using a get out of jail card is not dissimilar to how Uday Hussein conducted himself... Jokes aside at the end of the day if someone genuinely influential wanted to harm someone no card will prevent that. I think a lot of farangs revel in being " well connected " I find it laughable and tedious . Most of the farangs / losers I have met who have bored me with this have been old bores propping up the bar in Chequers and Jules... Does anyone agree with me? STH STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 I probably deserved a ticket or at least the book through at me. But instead I just got another Thailand story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Its not so much get out of Jail free card, as you were not in Jail. Just common sense on the officers part... STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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