Farang on Suk Soi 19 on his last legs

[keekwai]

You can give 100s of your baht to Thai beggars in Bangkok if you're comfortable with the fact that a large chunk of your cash is going into the packets of the beggar mafia, paying for their motorbikes, cars, gambling, whisky and pussy.

[Neo]

I think this shows the obvious: giving money to a farang in this situation is just as bad as giving it to Thai beggars. Sounds like he'll keep that miserable existence as long as people are throwing 100 baht notes at him. It's not helping him, just like giving money to Thai beggers only makes the problem worse. The other apalling thing is the dual pricing. Seems people are giving 100 baht notes to a farang and mere coins to Thai beggars.

 

[dinkas]

HT: I think you will find that at most embassies only 5-10% of staff resources are there to provide consular assistance to their own nationals. As Suadum points out in his post an embassy has a number of functions, helping out their own nationals is only one of them. I would disagree with Suadum on where he has placed (g) on his list. I believe (g) would be much higher on an embassy's list of priorities, particularly in Thailand.

 

What would you propose the embassy did in this situation? If he came into the embassy and asked for someone to make a telephone call back home they would likely assist. As he has been able to travel quite some distance along Sukhumvit by himself, he can surely walk the necessary 200 metres to the embassy. Or do you want the embassy staff members to go and see the guy? What happens when they find him? He might tell them to fuck off. If he wants help, he can go to the embassy. If he doesn't that is up to him.

[sayjann]

'My impression was that his accent was southern English/London.

I could be totally wrong, dunno'

 

you may be wrong,i dunno either as the only info i have on this Guy is from here.

Southern English and London is very different as like other Countries.

sad to say that i was bought up in Southern England and i only have to walk 10 Yards to a Neighbours and i have no idea of what he is saying.

i just cannot understand his accent and i have lived near him for 40 odd Years.

if i was to drive 3 Hours from my home to the West Country then i would be even more in the darkness.

they definately speak a different language down there.

 

speaking English does not mean he might be English.

i have been to the USA on occasions and have noticed regional variations regarding the accents.

but an American speaking their native tongue does not make them or any other person speaking English that Nationality.

 

sorry to be picky,but just in a bad mood and needed somewhere to have some fun.....

[Guest]

Oh, Jesus, if embassies placed highest importance on assisting nationals "in distress," then every deadbeat drug addict on Khao San Road wiould be beating down their doors. Embassies are mainly for nation-to-nation relations, as it should be. I know some of the Brit Embassy staff, they've told me tales of those very same deadbeat Khao San Road denizens showing up demanding, not reuesting, but demanding as their right a free air ticket onward, etc. eyc. makes the bad stories of the ones who do need legitimate assistance being raked over the coals more undersatndable to me after hearing oabout the lowlifes they get. Shoot first and ask questions later sort of thing.

 

BTW: The concept of embassies came about during the Renaissance, during the days of Machiavelli. Not only were they considered handy for govt-govt relations, but they were considered ideal for spying on the host country, and that was probably their most important function in many cases.

[FIGJAM]

suadum said:Errr, no. In order of importance to their mission, basically an embassy: a) represents their goverment in that country, acts as a link between the two governments, c) is the "eyes and ears" of their country, d) looks for opportunities for trade between the two countries, e) acts as a PR firm for their country, f) informs people in that country about their country and issues travel documents, and g) helps their citizens in difficulties, or in need of documentation (but that does not include common criminal complaints, lending of money to the destitute, etc.)

 

Basically, if the guy does not want help (and he obviously does not since he is right there at the Embassy), the Embassy is not going to force it on him. And all they will grudgingly do is to contact family to sort it out if he asks. They will not sort it for him. Not their job, despite what 1000's of inexperienced travellers think.

Despite what some experienced travellers think, every embassy has a consular section whose most important job is to provide assistance of various kind to that country's citizens.

It's a so important task that, while there is only 1 embassy per country (doing what you have listed above), you can have several consular offices per country (depending, guess what, on the number of that mother country's citizens living in every particular area and of course, on the financial resources of the mother country) doing just that: providing assistance to that mother country's citizens.

 

BTW (on the "free air tickets"): AFAIK (and of this I'm sure in the Italian case) embassies (or consular offices, if you want...), provided that their citizens prove to have no means and their relatives can't pay for them MUST advance accomodation/food/a way to get back home THEN ask for it back once you are in the mother country (you have a debt with the government pretty much like when you have to pay a traffic fine or the like = if you have any possession beyond the strictly necessary to live they sooner or later will take it off you until they get their money back).

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

"When was the last time any of you guys gave 100s of baht to a Thai beggar or mother/baby on the streets of BKK??"

 

And when was the last time that this was not a scam?

Sorry, pal, but the vast majority of beggars in BKK (and especially in the tourist areas) are all part of organized crime. And some of them make *loads* of money.

 

Sanuk!

[SingaporeSteve]

FIGJAM said:

suadum said:Errr, no. In order of importance to their mission, basically an embassy: a) represents their goverment in that country, acts as a link between the two governments, c) is the "eyes and ears" of their country, d) looks for opportunities for trade between the two countries, e) acts as a PR firm for their country, f) informs people in that country about their country and issues travel documents, and g) helps their citizens in difficulties, or in need of documentation (but that does not include common criminal complaints, lending of money to the destitute, etc.)

 

Basically, if the guy does not want help (and he obviously does not since he is right there at the Embassy), the Embassy is not going to force it on him. And all they will grudgingly do is to contact family to sort it out if he asks. They will not sort it for him. Not their job, despite what 1000's of inexperienced travellers think.

Despite what some experienced travellers think, every embassy has a consular section whose most important job is to provide assistance of various kind to that country's citizens.

It's a so important task that, while there is only 1 embassy per country (doing what you have listed above), you can have several consular offices per country (depending, guess what, on the number of that mother country's citizens living in every particular area and of course, on the financial resources of the mother country) doing just that: providing assistance to that mother country's citizens.

 

BTW (on the "free air tickets"): AFAIK (and of this I'm sure in the Italian case) embassies (or consular offices, if you want...), provided that their citizens prove to have no means and their relatives can't pay for them MUST advance accomodation/food/a way to get back home THEN ask for it back once you are in the mother country (you have a debt with the government pretty much like when you have to pay a traffic fine or the like = if you have any possession beyond the strictly necessary to live they sooner or later will take it off you until they get their money back).

 

 

As we are talking about the British embassy just wish to advise that there is zip chance of the British Embassy helping out this guy unless they feel it could turn into an embarrasing situation or are asked by the Thai Govt to do something. Despite having a very large population in Thailand the British Embassy certainly has no consul offices outside of BKK (perhaps with exception of CM) and certainly not in Pattaya, Phuket or Samui where most brits live outside of BKK. And as for this clown going to the embassy, I seriously doubt he'd get past the Gurkhas guarding the entrance gates. So really it has nothing to do with a countries wealth etc, but its more of a policy decision, which is ironic as the British government takes such a different view of visiting nationals in its own country but as for Brits abroad your on your own.

 

Cheers

[..]

FIGJAM said:BTW (on the "free air tickets"): AFAIK (and of this I'm sure in the Italian case) embassies (or consular offices, if you want...), provided that their citizens prove to have no means and their relatives can't pay for them MUST advance accomodation/food/a way to get back home THEN ask for it back once you are in the mother country (you have a debt with the government pretty much like when you have to pay a traffic fine or the like = if you have any possession beyond the strictly necessary to live they sooner or later will take it off you until they get their money back).

Then you are extremely fortunate to have such a service and I highly suspect that yours is unique. I know that the US and UK embassies DO NOT offer that. The program is... No money, can't go home? Too bad pal! Here is a 5 minute phone card to call mummy. She doesn't want to help you? Sorry, don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out!

 

In fact, during the tsunami diaster, it was Thailand who offered free lodging and free air tix to those stranded here. Not the person's respective embassy. We can debate the correctness of that in another thread as it is off topic a bit here.

 

It sounds like a cold system, but it is necessary as there are waaayyy too many deadbeats out there. And face it -- we are all adults. We do not need "big brother" to get us out of trouble. If you do, then maybe you need to starve for a bit so you understand the error of not planning for an emergency. JMHO, YMMV.

 

I point this out to help others who may think that there is some kind of a safety net when travelling internationally. There is not. You are on your own. Plan accordingly.

 

Cheers,

SD

[jxxxl]

"It sounds like a cold system, but it is necessary as there are waaayyy too many deadbeats out there. And face it -- we are all adults. We do not need "big brother" to get us out of trouble. If you do, then maybe you need to starve for a bit so you understand the error of not planning for an emergency. JMHO, YMMV."

 

I sure wouldn't want my tax dollars going towards a social welfare system for Americans travelling abroad. If you want or need the govt's help that badly, stay home.

 

I really find it funny how some people think their government owes them all sorts of special services. Yea, a topic for another threat titled perhaps titled "Socialism, any takers?"