Farang murdered over 51 Baht.

[jumusman]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/08 ... gkok-over/

Is it worth dying over 51 baht ? I have seen falang's in Thailand argue over paying 20 or 10 baht for a bus, apparently that extra 10 baht was just too much! It's just not worth it, especially when you have the money. Really... 51 baht...ridiculous.

[Big Boy]

ridiculous.

I disagree. IMHO, the problem was that a fare had not been discussed beforehand. Had they discussed it, and the fare was too much, then the victim could have walked away.

Too many times here in Hua Hin I've had Tuk Tuk drivers quoting me too much for the journey. I don't argue, if I don't like it, I'll either walk or move to the next Tuk Tuk in the queue. Invariably, if the Tuk Tuk at the front of the queue is asking too much, the Tuk Tuks behind him will either take the correct fare for the journey.

I'm not being tight, I just won't be exploited. I know the fare from MV to my house is 100Baht. There is actually a sign displayed at the Tuk Tuk rank saying it should be 80Baht - I accept the 25% add-on without argument. If they try to ,exploit more, they don't get my business. I do not call that ridiculous, I call it common sense.

I'm sure in the victim's case, he wanted to pay the fare he was used to paying, and was rightly upset when the driver wanted more. Should we be afraid to stand up for ourselves if we're being exploited? Or should we be bullied? Personally, I worked hard for my money, and I don't want it taken from me unfairly.

[jumusman]

I respectfully disagree. If he had been here three years he should know some Thai and also know how Taxis work, you ask them to put the meter on as soon as you get in, if they refuse you get out. Who knows if the guy in the taxi threw coffee at him, if he did, then that was certainly a VERY stupid move to make.

Last year on second road I was in a baht bus in Patts and a falang was holding a baht bus up for everyone else because he wanted to pay the 10 baht like his girlfriend paid and not the 20 baht falang price. Its cheap people like that who make me sick and it disgusts me when I see it. I understand being ripped off a little bit. Its part of being here and not being a national but really... weigh the pro's and con's and we all know which wins... otherwise we would not be living here!

If you ask the question " Should we be afraid to stand up for ourselves if we're being exploited?" well I guess my answer might change if I knew there was a 12 inch machete in the boot. I don't know if there is much of a lesson to be learned here. I would like to know more details but that's impossible at this point.. Arguing over such a small amount where you are VERY much a foreigner isn't always the best idea apparently...

[Big Boy]

As I said, he should have agreed the price before he accepted the ride. That was where he went wrong, because he could have refused the ride at that stage - no harm done. Whether it was a small or a large amount, succombing to such exploitation will only encourage them to do it more and more.

If we go around fearing a potential 12" machette is hidden in every taxi driver's boot, we aren't going to go anywhere.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, but I would not give in to bullying. However, if a knife was pulled, neither would I argue - he could have what he asked for.

[jumusman]

Agreed. You always talk about price before you get in. I am 100% sure of that.

[STEVE G]

My suspicion is that this man was killed due to how he dealt with the situation and not for 51 bt which is not that much even for a Thai taxi driver. Too many Westerners come to Asia thinking that ranting and raving and pushing your weight around is a good way of dealing with a dispute.

[russ]

I respectfully disagree. If he had been here three years he should know some Thai and also know how Taxis work, you ask them to put the meter on as soon as you get in, if they refuse you get out. Who knows if the guy in the taxi threw coffee at him, if he did, then that was certainly a VERY stupid move to make.

Last year on second road I was in a baht bus in Patts and a falang was holding a baht bus up for everyone else because he wanted to pay the 10 baht like his girlfriend paid and not the 20 baht falang price. Its cheap people like that who make me sick and it disgusts me when I see it. I understand being ripped off a little bit. Its part of being here and not being a national but really... weigh the pro's and con's and we all know which wins... otherwise we would not be living here!

If you ask the question " Should we be afraid to stand up for ourselves if we're being exploited?" well I guess my answer might change if I knew there was a 12 inch machete in the boot. I don't know if there is much of a lesson to be learned here. I would like to know more details but that's impossible at this point.. Arguing over such a small amount where you are VERY much a foreigner isn't always the best idea apparently...

never paid 20 bht on bht bus in pattaya it is 10 bht for everyone thai or falang me and my friends go there golfing allways been 10 bht

[Dannie Boy]

Although it isn't specific in the report, it would appear this was a meter taxi as opposed to agreeing a fare up front. If the guy has been here 3 years then its likely he has done the journey before and would know if the price should be less, but to get killed over 51 baht is ridiculous and I'm sure he wouldn't have expected a machete to be pulled on him over such a relatively small amount.

[richard]

In this case it appears to be the yanks fault. He provoked the taxi driver throwing coffee at him. The taxi driver therefore lost face and therefore escalation.

As quoted above insist on the meter going on or negotiate the fare BUT should you err in any way because you forgot or assumed wrongDON'T put your life on the line by upsetting a Thai. You never win either in the short term or long term.

Countless lives have been lost for paltry reasons because of lost face. The minute you don't settle for it and walk away is when Thais will escalate reprisal.

This applies in all aspects of Thailand whether getting a taxi, buying a house, buying a computer. If they lose face you are the guilty party

Should we be afraid to stand up for ourselves if we're being exploited? Or should we be bullied? Personally, I worked hard for my money, and I don't want it taken from me unfairly.

BB, I beg to disagree. If my life is on the line and realise I'd been exploited and bullied I'd walk away rather than confront

[ste860]

as mentioned above sounds like a metered taxi and a trip the man made regularly ,so a 51 baht hike extra would make one think somethings wrong , i must admit i never ask the price in bkk ,i always use a metered cab , it was a bit of a myth a few years ago for the radio to be attached to the meter and could be moved on a bit by the radio controls to up the fare

[Big Boy]

Should we be afraid to stand up for ourselves if we're being exploited? Or should we be bullied? Personally, I worked hard for my money, and I don't want it taken from me unfairly.

BB, I beg to disagree. If my life is on the line and realise I'd been exploited and bullied I'd walk away rather than confront

Do you think the victim did whatever he may have done thinking his life was on the line? No, he challenged the price (OK, throwing coffee is OTT). If I thought the cost should be A, and the driver demanded B, I wouldn't hand it over without querying it. I wouldn't argue to the extent of showing violence, but I would certainly let my feelings be known. And yes, I would hand it over, eventually.

This is the country you have chosen to retire to. During the Red Shirts dispute, you claimed to be in Isaan helping to plan strategy against the Yellow Shirts. Now your not going to challenge what could be something as simple as a possible mistake or misunderstanding. Are you honestly running that scared?

[PeteC]

My suspicion is that this man was killed due to how he dealt with the situation and not for 51 bt which is not that much even for a Thai taxi driver. Too many Westerners come to Asia thinking that ranting and raving and pushing your weight around is a good way of dealing with a dispute.

I agree completely. A farang with a hot temper trigger is going to run into trouble sooner or later. Pete

[richard]

During the Red Shirts dispute, you claimed to be in Isaan helping to plan strategy against the Yellow Shirts. Now your not going to challenge what could be something as simple as a possible mistake or misunderstanding. Are you honestly running that scared?

I lived in a village which was a red shirt stronghold. I was never involved in planning any sort of strategy for any party. I was a bystander and never considered to be anything other than a retired farang. I was advised by police both here and Khon Kaen of the risks involved. Namely being photographed with a band leader.I could go back tomorrow and I would be accepted as just a farang bystander who knows nothing

[jumusman]

My suspicion is that this man was killed due to how he dealt with the situation and not for 51 bt which is not that much even for a Thai taxi driver. Too many Westerners come to Asia thinking that ranting and raving and pushing your weight around is a good way of dealing with a dispute.

I agree completely. A farang with a hot temper trigger is going to run into trouble sooner or later. Pete

All you have to do to see a perfect example of this is look at the posting of the guy that argued with the Ladyboy at White House Bar and wouldn't let it go. He certainly ran into trouble and hospital which probably could have been avoided too..

[Big Boy]

I lived in a village which was a red shirt stronghold. I was never involved in planning any sort of strategy for any party. I was a bystander and never considered to be anything other than a retired farang. I was advised by police both here and Kong Kean of the risks involved. Namely being photographed with a band leader.I could go back tomorrow and I would be accepted as just a farang bystander who knows nothing

You could check what you wrote at the time - it's still available on the forum. However, we're drifting away from topic, so please.