12 ms·

My first passenger-friend is from Thailand. When I first mentioned her in a blog post, I didn't realize she was going to call me back. She says her home country

My first passenger-friend is from Thailand. When I first mentioned her in a blog post, I didn't realize she was going to call me back. She says her home country is sort of fucked-up. The Thai king who recently passed away was an engineer who helped bring his country into the modern world... I wonder if his son will be as competent a leader.

drzaiusapelord 10y ago
The son, and new king, Vajiralongkorn is one of those classic fuck-ups only wealth, royalty, and inbreeding could produce. I don't have high hopes here. He's already abused his powers and has made a mockery of his station: However, for the most of his first marriage, he lived with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth. The two, who later wed, have five children. Vajiralongkorn filed for divorce, alleging that Polpraserth had an extra marital affair with a 60-year-old air marshal. He allegedly put up poster across the country, accusing her of the affair. In the wake of the scandal, Polpraserth fled the country with their daughter. In response, Vajiralongkorn, abducted their daughter and brought her back to Thailand, later elevating her to a rank of Princess, while sending the rest of family into exile. His third marriage - as per records - was to Srirasmi Suwadee in 2001. The marriage ended with the prince throwing her family into prison for two-and-a-half-years on charges of "royal defamation." Srirasmi courted infamy after a 2007 video of her went viral. In the video, she can be seen topless and celebrating the birthday of Vajiralongkorn's beloved poodle Foo Foo. While the prince appears in a sports shirt and smoking a pipe, his wife is naked but for a fringed G-string, serving birthday cake to the couple’s miniature poodle, Fu-Fu, as white-gloved servants wait on the royal couple. The pampered Fu-Fu has been assigned the rank of “captain” by the crown prince and sometimes accompanies its royal master to formal state dinners.
- 3131s 10y ago
  I know that this is out of place for HN, and I also would not normally make fun of a person's appearance, but since Vajiralongkorn is an asshole... well, these are pictures of the new Thai king: http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/CrownPrince-Bild/657981941.jpg http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/C... http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/CrownPrince-Bild2-1024/3231367321.jpg http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/C...
  - ithinkinstereo 10y ago
    Thailand as a whole is just bizzare to me. They have a ton of national pride and insulting the king is a huge offense there, yet on the other hand, they have no problem with their seedy sex tourism industry. Thailand is arguably the sex tourist capital of the world. Found it totally disgusting seeing all the old western men with young prostitutes during my visit to Bangkok a couple years ago. Can anyone explain why the Thai government turns a blind eye to this? It has really smeared Thailand's reputation for me and others I know who have visited.
    - Oxitendwe 10y ago
      Why do you assume they should care? They clearly have a different value system than yours. If you don't like it, don't go.
      - Chris2048 10y ago
        > They clearly have a different value system than yours What a cop-out. Concern for human welfare is universal.
        Oxitendwe 10y ago
        What do you have against female autonomy? How is sex work inherently in conflict with "concern for human welfare"?
        Chris2048 10y ago
        female autonomy? Is that how you're framing it? 1) Many sex workers have little choice 2) It also legitimises sex as a labour asset, increasing gender inequality
        Mz 10y ago
        Making it illegal harms female autonomy. They become victims of their pimps. Pimping is much harder to prove than prostitution. When it is illegal, it is usually the women who are hurt by it. I will add that there is nothing inherently gendered about sex work. Your assumption that it must be a male customer and female sex worker is problematic and, itself, biased.
ralfd 10y ago
What is a passenger friend?
- jonah 10y ago
  See the blog linked in the GP's profile.
- Markoff 10y ago
  I would guess it's like single serving friend from Fight Club, someone you meet in airplane sitting next to you and leave apart after flight
- taxicabjesus 10y ago
  > What is a passenger friend? These are friends who I met because they ordered a taxi and they got me as their driver. One of them knocked on my window when he needed a ride home from work. The other 3 called me back after their first ride because they liked my style. I haven't posted anything about most of them... I intend to write a book, but the last chapter is still a work in progress.
Existenceblinks 10y ago
Please don't think the previous king is clean. We've been fucked up for almost a century once the monarchy power rises again after Siamese Revolution of 1932. He.. is the one behind a couple big civilian kills. One of the saddest ones is Thammasat massacre on 1976 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCoecsm27o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCoecsm27o) I don't want to mention more.
Sophistifunk 10y ago
I have nothing but good things to say about the king. This of course has nothing to do with the fact that I might one day like to visit my old highschool friend who lives in Thailand.
- geomark 10y ago
  Indeed. Utmost respect. Even for royal pets. Because otherwise http://time.com/4148911/thailand-bhumibol-tongdaeng-lese-majeste/ http://time.com/4148911/thailand-bhumibol-tongdaeng-lese-maj...

drzaiusapelord 10y ago

The son, and new king, Vajiralongkorn is one of those classic fuck-ups only wealth, royalty, and inbreeding could produce. I don't have high hopes here. He's already abused his powers and has made a mockery of his station: However, for the most of his first marriage, he lived with actress Yuvadhida Polpraserth. The two, who later wed, have five children. Vajiralongkorn filed for divorce, alleging that Polpraserth had an extra marital affair with a 60-year-old air marshal. He allegedly put up poster across the country, accusing her of the affair. In the wake of the scandal, Polpraserth fled the country with their daughter. In response, Vajiralongkorn, abducted their daughter and brought her back to Thailand, later elevating her to a rank of Princess, while sending the rest of family into exile. His third marriage - as per records - was to Srirasmi Suwadee in 2001. The marriage ended with the prince throwing her family into prison for two-and-a-half-years on charges of "royal defamation." Srirasmi courted infamy after a 2007 video of her went viral. In the video, she can be seen topless and celebrating the birthday of Vajiralongkorn's beloved poodle Foo Foo. While the prince appears in a sports shirt and smoking a pipe, his wife is naked but for a fringed G-string, serving birthday cake to the couple’s miniature poodle, Fu-Fu, as white-gloved servants wait on the royal couple. The pampered Fu-Fu has been assigned the rank of “captain” by the crown prince and sometimes accompanies its royal master to formal state dinners.

3131s 10y ago
I know that this is out of place for HN, and I also would not normally make fun of a person's appearance, but since Vajiralongkorn is an asshole... well, these are pictures of the new Thai king: http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/CrownPrince-Bild/657981941.jpg http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/C... http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/CrownPrince-Bild2-1024/3231367321.jpg http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/07/C...
- ithinkinstereo 10y ago
  Thailand as a whole is just bizzare to me. They have a ton of national pride and insulting the king is a huge offense there, yet on the other hand, they have no problem with their seedy sex tourism industry. Thailand is arguably the sex tourist capital of the world. Found it totally disgusting seeing all the old western men with young prostitutes during my visit to Bangkok a couple years ago. Can anyone explain why the Thai government turns a blind eye to this? It has really smeared Thailand's reputation for me and others I know who have visited.
  - Oxitendwe 10y ago
    Why do you assume they should care? They clearly have a different value system than yours. If you don't like it, don't go.
    - Chris2048 10y ago
      > They clearly have a different value system than yours What a cop-out. Concern for human welfare is universal.
      - Oxitendwe 10y ago
        What do you have against female autonomy? How is sex work inherently in conflict with "concern for human welfare"?
        Chris2048 10y ago
        female autonomy? Is that how you're framing it? 1) Many sex workers have little choice 2) It also legitimises sex as a labour asset, increasing gender inequality
        Mz 10y ago
        Making it illegal harms female autonomy. They become victims of their pimps. Pimping is much harder to prove than prostitution. When it is illegal, it is usually the women who are hurt by it. I will add that there is nothing inherently gendered about sex work. Your assumption that it must be a male customer and female sex worker is problematic and, itself, biased.

ralfd 10y ago

What is a passenger friend?

jonah 10y ago
See the blog linked in the GP's profile.
Markoff 10y ago
I would guess it's like single serving friend from Fight Club, someone you meet in airplane sitting next to you and leave apart after flight
taxicabjesus 10y ago
> What is a passenger friend? These are friends who I met because they ordered a taxi and they got me as their driver. One of them knocked on my window when he needed a ride home from work. The other 3 called me back after their first ride because they liked my style. I haven't posted anything about most of them... I intend to write a book, but the last chapter is still a work in progress.

Existenceblinks 10y ago

Please don't think the previous king is clean. We've been fucked up for almost a century once the monarchy power rises again after Siamese Revolution of 1932. He.. is the one behind a couple big civilian kills. One of the saddest ones is Thammasat massacre on 1976 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCoecsm27o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCoecsm27o) I don't want to mention more.

Sophistifunk 10y ago

I have nothing but good things to say about the king. This of course has nothing to do with the fact that I might one day like to visit my old highschool friend who lives in Thailand.

geomark 10y ago
Indeed. Utmost respect. Even for royal pets. Because otherwise http://time.com/4148911/thailand-bhumibol-tongdaeng-lese-majeste/ http://time.com/4148911/thailand-bhumibol-tongdaeng-lese-maj...