Decal: guy carrying woman?

[Chas]

Here is something Thai that I have often wondered about:

The most common decal ( apart from the national flag) on vehicles here, including motorcycles, is that of a guy carrying an unconscious woman ( long-haired person anyway) as seen from the back . .that is, walking away from the observer. (You know the decal I mean . .it is everywhere!)

What is this all about anyway? Some sort of macho "caveman" desire for an unconscious woman to carry off? Did he knock her out with a club? Is this a sexist statement? Why would a Thai man ( or woman?) buy this decal and put it on his/her vehicle? ( Is it perhaps a freebie from some business or the other? And what then does it mean?)

With the general Thai sensitivity to beauty, you would think that an orchid or a bird might be chosen before this not-very-pretty depiction of male domination.

Just curious here . .any insights?



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[Terry]

I was told that it is a sign to denote that the driver would be willing to take an injured person to hospital. i.e. unnofficial rescue vehicle.

Women only? ..........who knows?

As reliable as the 'body wagons'...........just don't get injured having anything of value on your person!

Personaly I like those signs showing a young lady either putting on or taking off her underware

[Sabai Jai]

Yes Terry -

I suppose they should have those on the entraces to Bhintablock and similar areas?

Sabai Jai

[Dawebo]

I was told that the owner of the vehicle usually believes that this sticker makes him look like some kind of hero and maybe in his own mind it gives him some "face"

[Chas]

I was told that it is a sign to denote that the driver would be willing to take an injured person to hospital. i.e. unnofficial rescue vehicle.

Terry, this explanation never occurred to me. . .but I have also seen it on motorbikes so I just continue to wonder about it. Never seen it on a post or wall or anything stationary (like a bar) . .just on vehicles.

So then is this supposed to be a "hero" or just some guy who "got lucky"?




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[Terry]

As you say Chas - maybe it's a hero thing or as Dawebo said - it gives some kind of 'face'

T.I.T.

[tolair]

Terry, That's a interesting idea and makes sense with the lack of ambulances an all.

But it does beg the question;

I'd be willing to use my car take this unfortunate victim to hospital.

But I wouldn't be willing to stop, let alone help, if I knocked her over in the first place.

[hhfarang]

Come on, admit it! Who on here has one of those stickers on their car or truck?

Seems like half the vehicles out there have them!

[STEVE G]

Yes, you them everywhere. I always thought it was originally an emergency rescue thing but it's now become a fashion accessory.
If it means you're prepared to rescue strangers, I wonder what the stick-on bullet holes mean, that you're prepared to get shot at by strangers perhaps.

[Spitfire]

The man carrying a women is a caveman/ yeah, I'm just rescue for the girls only sort of thing and if your female then you should be glad I'm around because I'm coll, funny how you only see them on old 2 door pickups.

The bullets stickers, I can only infer, are that they are letting you know they have just made a dramatic escape from either bad guys or the police in a nail biting way, implying that they have a 'seat of the pants' lifestyle sort of thing going on and should be congratulated for being so daring.

[migrant]

If it means you're prepared to rescue strangers, I wonder what the stick-on bullet holes mean, that you're prepared to get shot at by strangers perhaps.

Maybe if they're too far gone to rescue, the bullet sticker means you're willing to put them out of their misery!!

[STEVE G]

This photo blog tells the story: http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/Body ... A--&ppg=25

Dai is a volunteer for the Por Tek Tung Foundation, Thailand's largest provider of emergency medical services (EMS). Created by Chinese immigrants in the capital of Bangkok over 100 years ago, Por Tek Tung began by offering free funeral services for the city's poor, and now specializes in quick-response rescues. You can spot its staff--over a thousand, nearly all unpaid--by their distinctive blue jumpsuits as they drive around in packs, on the lookout for road accidents.

If this sounds a touch morbid, consider that, last year alone, a motorist was killed in Bangkok every 20 minutes. The city has 26 million registered vehicles; drivers scorn speed limits and traffic rules, and unhelmeted motorcyclists carelessly zip in and out of congested lanes. The result is regularly lethal.

Por Tek Tung also handles murders, airplane crashes, collapsed buildings, and boating mishaps. But whatever the tragedy, the foundation's main duty is "body-snatching": rushing the still-living to hospitals, and ferrying the dead to morgues.

[Chas]

The bullets stickers, I can only infer, are that they are letting you know they have just made a dramatic escape from either bad guys or the police in a nail biting way, implying that they have a 'seat of the pants' lifestyle sort of thing going on and should be congratulated for being so daring.

That is SO well put Spitfire . ..brilliant writing and spot on. LOL

Never thought about the bullet hole thing!

So you mean to tell me that every other pickup truck in Hua Hin belongs to a Por Tek Tung volunteer? And it does sound so morbid and, . . .well, Thai!

Wonder how they fit into the ambulance competition in the tussle for the body . .dead or alive.

[Terry]

This photo blog tells the story: http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/Body ... A--&ppg=25

Dai is a volunteer for the Por Tek Tung Foundation, Thailand's largest provider of emergency medical services (EMS). Created by Chinese immigrants in the capital of Bangkok over 100 years ago, Por Tek Tung began by offering free funeral services for the city's poor, and now specializes in quick-response rescues. You can spot its staff--over a thousand, nearly all unpaid--by their distinctive blue jumpsuits as they drive around in packs, on the lookout for road accidents.

If this sounds a touch morbid, consider that, last year alone, a motorist was killed in Bangkok every 20 minutes. The city has 26 million registered vehicles; drivers scorn speed limits and traffic rules, and unhelmeted motorcyclists carelessly zip in and out of congested lanes. The result is regularly lethal.

Por Tek Tung also handles murders, airplane crashes, collapsed buildings, and boating mishaps. But whatever the tragedy, the foundation's main duty is "body-snatching": rushing the still-living to hospitals, and ferrying the dead to morgues.

Yep - nearly all unpaid.

Just don't have a mishap whilst you are carrying any thong, money or other valuables! .........because then it's PAYTIME

[migrant]

This photo blog tells the story: http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/Body ... A--&ppg=25

Dai is a volunteer for the Por Tek Tung Foundation, Thailand's largest provider of emergency medical services (EMS). Created by Chinese immigrants in the capital of Bangkok over 100 years ago, Por Tek Tung began by offering free funeral services for the city's poor, and now specializes in quick-response rescues. You can spot its staff--over a thousand, nearly all unpaid--by their distinctive blue jumpsuits as they drive around in packs, on the lookout for road accidents.

I remember reading, though I can't remember where, that these "volunteers" somehow earn money from this, and there are different groups that have actually fought over who arrived first.

I'll have to dig around for the article.