Community Watch

[Big Boy]

We were browsing the market alongside the City Beach Hotel last night. My wife and son were bartering for some items, when my daughter realised that my eldest grand daughter was not with us. With it being a small market, I said that I would look towards Petchkasem Road, while my daughter searched in the other direction. My youngest grand daughter decided that she was going to walk with granddad, and took hold of my hand.

As we walked down the road, I overheard a few remarks in Thai, commenting on the Farang and the small Thai girl - I didn't mind, it must have looked strange.

Just before we got to Petchkasem Road, a Thai gentleman approached me with a bit of idle chit chat, and also talked to my grand daughter. My understanding of Thai is good enough to know that he was asking where she was going, and who was I. Obviously, there was nothing to hide, and we carried on searching.

I didn't say anything, but I was really impressed that somebody was thoughtful enough to make sure that I wasn't simply a Farang paedophile abducting a 5 year old Thai girl for my own perverted pleasure. I applaud that gentlemen for potentially coming to my grand daughter's rescue; and for doing it in a very diplomatic manner.

Incidentally, my eldest grand daughter had walked to the other end of the market looking at something

[Spitfire]

Yes, the Thais do still have this sense of community in many ways. Sadly, it is something foreigners seem to have cast aside, the "don't get involved" attitude usually prevails amongst westerners, probably through not wanting to risk an aggressive/violent encounter, which is all too possible these days.

It can often be commented on in many places here that there is little, if any, community amongst foreigners. Of course there are going to be exceptions, but probably not as many as we might like to think.

[PeteC]

Yes it's good, yes It's sad also. It's happened to me before with a young Thai boy who is in the family. It got so bad however we had to stop going to the beach (not in HH) without another Thai member of the family present.

I guess my personal bottom line is that unfortunately we, the majority, suffer because of the actions of a few, and the perception by many Thais that we are all bad. Or at least in their minds the risk is so high it compels them to get involved and ask questions. That can result in many emotions/reactions from an innocent person; BB's above, anger, embarrassment, confusion, disgust. I guess on any given day and any given event a person may feel one, many or all depending upon how the Thai person approaches the situation, their attitude, and the way they look at you.

I hope the day comes that 'normal' people don't have to worry about this and we can enjoy outings with youngsters alone and without trepidation. Doubtful though as long as the poverty here is what it is, which the low life's take advantage of.

It also needs to be said that incest and abuse amongst Thais is common and widespread. I wonder if an older Thai man with a young child in tow is even looked at? Pete

[Nereus]

While in no way knocking what occurred, having been in exactly the same situation with my own Granddaughter, I just have to wonder what exactly the motive was. I don`t think the Thai has been born yet that would approach another Thai, and ask the same question, regardless of the circumstances.

Do you really believe that what you describe would ever occur, with a Farang openly trying to abduct a child in a crowded place? Even if it was true, is a Thai going to try and stop you. A Thai lady, maybe, but I doubt if a male would.

I hope that I am wrong, and that there is indeed some responsible Thais that have genuine concern. There was a thread some time ago about Thai children being abducted, and although that can and does happen all over the World, I have not seen any reports here of Farangs abducting children.

[Big Boy]

I wrote on this Forum several years ago (I think in answer to the incident that Pete refers to) that I had never been questioned walking around wth my (Thai looking) son as he grew up, nor my Thai daughter from the age of 13. I also wrote that I was sickened by young boys aged 7 or 8 wanting to have sex with me.

Do you really believe that what you describe would ever occur, with a Farang openly trying to abduct a child in a crowded place? Even if it was true, is a Thai going to try and stop you. A Thai lady, maybe, but I doubt if a male would.

Openly trying to abduct in a crowded place - that could be tricky, but not impossible. However, I've read (as I'm sure many others have) how clever these paedophiles can be. Didn't you know that I keep my cute little puppy at the end of my Soi?

It was definitely a Thai male asking the questions yesterday. As I said, idle chit chat with me, but focused direct questioning of my grand daughter. Would he have tried to stop me? I honestly don't know. However, had I been up to no good, I think his intervention would have been enough to rattle me.