Hi expat community

[caller]

Of interest - taken from the link that Thomas provided - no idea if these are the right people, but they seem to be involved with the uni.

http://asien.univie.ac.at/en/persons/team/husa-karl/

Mag. Dr. Karl HUSA (Associate Prof.)

E karl.husa@univie.ac.at
T +43-1-4277-48632
F +43-1-4277-9486

personal webpage

Warning: currently somebody is using a stolen copy of my old passport for committing fraud on the internet. In case of suspicion please inform the police.

Current research interests:

•Socio-demographic transformation processes in Southeast- and East Asia, especially dynamics, spatial pattern and causes of the ongoing fertility decline, spatial patterns and consequences of demographic ageing
•Dynamics, structural change and management of internal and international migration in Southeast- and East Asia
•Megacity development, migration and globalisation in Southeast Asia

Regional focus:
•Southeast Asia, especially Thailand
•Middle East and Northern Africa

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http://at.linkedin.com/pub/julia-joestl/31/392/772

Seems she at this university.

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[STEVE G]

In my opinion, even if these people are genuine, if they're studying Geography they should be wading around in a mangrove swamp or something instead of swanning around in Hua Hin.
Surely a few foreigners playing golf is not the most immediate problem that the region faces.

[Thomas1]

Out of genuine curiosity; why is the University of Vienna so interested in what goes on in an upmarket Thai holiday resort?
Do that many Austrians live in Hua Hin?

Actually it was mainly the Thai University who requested our Department to work on that project.

In my opinion, even if these people are genuine, if they're studying Geography they should be wading around in a mangrove swamp or something instead of swanning around in Hua Hin.
Surely a few foreigners playing golf is not the most immediate problem that the region faces.

No offence Steve, but it seems like you don't have to much of an idea what geography is about.


To conclude this topic: Thank you guys for all the E-Mails we received in the last couple of days!

Cheers!

[STEVE G]

No offence Steve, but it seems like you don't have to much of an idea what geography is about.

That's quite likely, I've been working for a living since I was 16 and unfortunately never had the chance to study SE Asian beach resorts, although I can clearly see the attractions.

[Thomas1]

Wow! That's good for you Stevie.

"Live and let live"

[Big Boy]

Out of genuine curiosity; why is the University of Vienna so interested in what goes on in an upmarket Thai holiday resort?
Do that many Austrians live in Hua Hin?

Actually it was mainly the Thai University who requested our Department to work on that project.

Just out of curiosity, how does that work? Thai University needs some help - did the Thai University provide the necessary work permits, etc?

I would guess there is some greater force driving/funding this, so I ask again, what is the stated objective of the study please?

[dtaai-maai]

Don't really understand why everyone's giving these guys such a hard time...

[Big Boy]

Personally, it's lack of transparency. I'd like to know who is driving the study, and why.

[moja]

Don't really understand why everyone's giving these guys such a hard time...

Nor do I! I was actually approached 2 or 3 years ago but 2 girls from the same university and when I said I could not help as I did not have time on that particular day they just said thank you and walked away; no hassle at all. No one is being forced to give out information so why the fuss? It is up to the individual to make their own decision surely?

[Big Boy]

OK, as you guys have probably picked up, my feelings are quite strong about the way this entire matter has been handled. Outside of normal moderator duties, I promise that will walk away from this thread after this post. Apologies if I've droned on a bit.

Somebody is going to a lot of time, effort and expense to obtain this information, yet nobody is prepared to say who is funding this study, what the objective of the study is nor what the data will be used for. I've never been involved in a study without these basic essentials.

I agree that it is an individual's own choice regarding whether to participate or not, but some people are more vulnerable than others.

Personally, I feel the whole issue has been handled very bady, and if this is a genuine request, then when doing their wash up, it is recorded as a lesson learned for the future.

I will now get my coat

[crazy88]

BB wrote a load of the below.

mine in BOLD not shouting.


OK, as you guys have probably picked up, my feelings are quite strong about the way this entire matter has been handled.

BY WHOM INCLUDING YOURSELF?

Outside of normal moderator duties, I promise that will walk away from this thread after this post. Apologies if I've droned on a bit.

DRONED SUGGESTS A QUIET YET IRRITATING BUZZ IN THE BACKGROUND RATHER THAN A (BOMB THE BAR STEWARDS ) STANCE FROM MOMENT ONE.

Somebody is going to a lot of time, effort and expense to obtain this information, yet nobody is prepared to say who is funding this study, what the objective of the study is nor what the data will be used for. I've never been involved in a study without these basic essentials.

UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS BUT 2 UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

I agree that it is an individual's own choice regarding whether to participate or not, but some people are more vulnerable than others.

YOU ARE QUITE CORRECT ON BOTH POINTS.

Personally, I feel the whole issue has been handled very badly,

BY WHOM?

and if this is a genuine request, then when doing their wash up, it is recorded as a lesson learned for the future.

LESSON BEING?

I will now get my coat

PLEASE DON'T. US PLEBS NEED ENLIGHTENING

Crazy88

_________________

[Farang]

Don't really understand why everyone's giving these guys such a hard time...

I agree, there just might be a whiff of McCarthy in the air.

[nanyang]

Personally, I feel the whole issue has been handled very bady, and if this is a genuine request, then when doing their wash up, it is recorded as a lesson learned for the future.

Is this a coded message?

I will now get my coat

Promises, Promises!
You're p*****g more and more people off with your incessant banter.
I enjoy this forum but since you've become more 'involved', for me , it's less enjoyable.
You need to reflect on your input -IMO.

[richard]

Crazy88

IMO some posters are making a mountain out of a molehill on this subject. BB was posting as a poster not a mod. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and some, as already pointed out, are more gullible and may need to consider the implications, so other peoples views are useful providing they are not abusive or insulting.

We are in danger now on this forum of being bullied into suppressing our views. To me, the whole purpose of an open forum is to impart, gather information and express views on said topics. In my 9 years on this forum I've experienced very few people who have backed off from posting but it seems in the last 12 months or so it has increased. Could it be the heat or the economic situation or some people considering they are way way ahead of us inferior plebs?

With regard to the survey I participated in with Kate, no usable personal information was asked for that would be of use to 3rd parties.

[Thomas1]

Somebody is going to a lot of time, effort and expense to obtain this information, yet nobody is prepared to say who is funding this study, what the objective of the study is nor what the data will be used for. I've never been involved in a study without these basic essentials.

Personally, I feel the whole issue has been handled very bady, and if this is a genuine request, then when doing their wash up, it is recorded as a lesson learned for the future.

We can of course understand your doubts, Big Boy.

But since there is no financial interest in this study at all and since it's just our final thesis for reaching our masters degree, it's simply nobody "funding" this project. We are paying everything on our own and we are supported (not in a financial way) by the two universities mentioned.

Why is it so hard to believe that there is an interest (especially by the Thai university) in evaluating the forms of migrations to Thailand and in this case the particular influence on the real estate market?

Things what we are interested in are for example why people chose to live in specific types of properties, how the real estate market in the region developed and how the demand changed.

We already met many interesting and friendly people since we arrived here. As mentioned before, we thought another interesting way to meet new people would be this forum, which turned out to be a good idea!

We really appreciate the input you gave us and we are sorry if we didn't present our objectives clearly enough in the beginning.