Are you a believer in protecting yourself with what you are lawfully allowed to carry (and otherwise) in LoS?
Do you think that it's better no-one was allowed to own weapons such as baton's, pepper spray and so on.
Perhaps the Thai police will show up like wonder-cop at the very moment you need them?
Or perhap's not.
Whatever your stance on the weapon's for defence issue it won't go away anytime soon.
Here's a video on pepperspray (available and legal in Thailand).
Personally I think it comes down to common sence, and assesment of the risks for each particular incident.
As there is no appropriate blanket advice for a variety of different situations.
For example if someone is trying to mug you, and others are around nearby.
I would fight back like a devil.
However, if alone, and assailent is armed; especially with a fire arm, or if close a knife.
Trying to fight back, particularly with any type of weapon; is highly likely to get you killed.
Same same if only yourself and loved ones; I'd never place them at risk.
It is one thing being a macho farang, thinking 10 foot tall and bullet proof.
Quite another to have the sence / experience, to put ones ego on a back burner for a short time, and live to fight another day.
As the old saying goes, there are old soldiers, and bold soldiers; but very few old bold soldiers.
Funny that hey.....
Don't get me wrong.
I am not advocating cowardice.
God knows, I have had more than my share of in hindsight silly scraps.
And if alone, more likely than not even for me common sence would fly out the imaginary window.
As old age (53) only mellows one so much.
But for others reading this thread, I trust my comments give pause for serious thought.
Cheers Allan
Quitters Never Win & Winners NEVER Quit........
Trying To Talk Sanity To The Insane, Only Drives You Nuts........
How Many Social Workers, or Psychologists, Does it Take To Change a Light Bulb ?.....
Only One....But The Light Bulb Has To Want To Change & Admit It Has A Problem.....GRIN
I've never carried a weapon of any type anywhere outside of the military although I've loaded nuclear weapons in it!
I'm a great believer in using behavior, demeaner and manner to avoid trouble but one thing I do now that I'm in my late forties and less inclined to get involved in any fighting, is to carry very little on my person when I go out at night, wherever I am in the world.
I normally limit it to an old pay as you go mobile phone worth practically nothing, a bit more cash than I plan on spending for the night and a photocopy of ID.
Another point is if you have a local partner, listen to them when they warn you about people as appearances can be deceptive in Asia and the chances are that they're more aware about danger in their own environment.
I used to drink in a bar in Jakarta where I later found out that a scrawny young local who was often in there was a local mafia leader and the guy who organized the parking outside was his hired killer. (And I used to wonder why no one ever messed with the car when I left it in a shady Jakarta back street all night!)
Another point is if you have a local partner, listen to them when they warn you about people as appearances can be deceptive in Asia and the chances are that they're more aware about danger in their own environment.
Steve..........Spot on
I never venture into the seedier parts of HH, KK or Bangkok without my wife or trustworthy Thai friends
Had a close shave at Luknam the disco some years back. A girl was making eyes at me so I responded only to be told by my escorts her boyfriend sitting at the next table was in the army and that was his girl
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
My mates a gun magnet, in 1 week in HH he had a gun pulled on him by a Drunk Thai and his sober mate near the Cha Ba Chalet and after ordering a dodgy watch, the guy returned to a bar on Bintabaht with the watch, my mate said it wasn't what he ordered so the guy flashed his gun in his inside pocket.
All I can say is...I would get myself a nice revolver or something reliable, keep it loaded and away from the wife...555! and as a back up... a machete an axe and some pigs...
I'm afraid there's a flip side to all this self defence "have-a-go-hero" stuff here in places such as Thailand.
Often here, the perps are armed in one way or another and not too bothered about using it too, especially if it means getting away with the crime or not. It's amazing the casual nature here with which violence is handed out in unnecessary situations of criminal endeavour.
I'm not suggesting cowardice either, just the realisation that once you get properly involved then you're a marked man for vengeance.
If you stop a crime in progress and the Thai perp gets slammed away for whatever crime, then first stop on the outside will be to deal with you. Not to mention extended family members that may try to take revenge on you for them, for sure if the perp is killed, regardless of whether it was your doing or not, you're the focus of the feeling and an easy target to regain some compensation for the loss of face they perceive they suffered initially.
I remember reading (couple of years back) in the papers about a foreigner who tackled this Thai guy who had snatched his wife's gold necklace, put him on the ground and held him till the cops got there, perp sent off to the slammer, foreigner is shot dead at an ATM 2 weeks later by the perp's mates/family member.
Just as bad if they know where you live, these lot have nothing to lose and couldn't care less what happens to them, apart from losing face. It is sometimes difficult to imagine the contempt they actually hold others in, especially a foreigner.
Just recently in the city I reside in, a criminal that burgled a house in the city also raped and killed a pregnant mother plus her two young kids in the house. Cops finally caught him, he said about he had to do it because she saw his face and he might get caught. Also told the cops the gun he had he threw away under a train bridge, so the cops took him with them to find it. Under the bridge, the perp grabbed a cops gun from his waist and started firing at the cops in a bid to escape, needless to say he was Swiss-cheesed and killed in a hail of bullets from the cops. It might have made national TV news too. Just shows what type of lot these guys are.
I would be very careful getting involved in anything unless there is absolutely no choice. If you do, then it won't end with a quick blast of a pepper spray or an arrest by the cops, you will have to look over your shoulder a lot as we don't exactly melt in with the crowd here like the Philippinos etc do.
Agree with some of the above comments about due diligence/common sense about the situations and locations you put yourself in.
Regarding house breakins etc, then I would say make your house appear like it's simply just too much trouble to get into it. Thieves are cowards and opportunists.
Big Boy wrote:So, are you suggesting that if confronted by any Thai, just hand over whatever they want?
Substitute the words "armed robber (anywhere)" for the word "Thai", and the answer must surely be yes. That's also the advice you'll get from most police forces.
I know what you meant Spitfire, but what is the alternative?
If you stop a crime in progress and the Thai perp gets slammed away for whatever crime, then first stop on the outside will be to deal with you. Not to mention extended family members that may try to take revenge on you for them, for sure if the perp is killed
dtaai-maai wrote:Substitute the words "armed robber (anywhere)" for the word "Thai", and the answer must surely be yes. That's also the advice you'll get from most police forces.
Armed robber, I agree - your life is worth more than a few possessions. However, if you read Spitfire's post, somebody's going to get you, whether the criminal was armed or not.
In my opinion anyone not grasping your point; is possibly having difficulty accepting; hey we are in their country, and the "rules"/"norms" we are used to, often do not apply here.
Quitters Never Win & Winners NEVER Quit........
Trying To Talk Sanity To The Insane, Only Drives You Nuts........
How Many Social Workers, or Psychologists, Does it Take To Change a Light Bulb ?.....
Only One....But The Light Bulb Has To Want To Change & Admit It Has A Problem.....GRIN
allan_leigh wrote:Wise words and comments Spitfire.
In my opinion anyone not grasping your point; is possibly having difficulty accepting; hey we are in their country, and the "rules"/"norms" we are used to, often do not apply here.
allan, you are by self admission somebody who is not afraid to use his fists. If a Thai told you to hand over your wallet (armed or not), would you simply hand it over? Or would you give him/her what he/she deserves? By Spitfires post, if you don't hand it over, you're a marked man, and they will get you.
