Rising Crime In Hua Hin

[buksida]

Now that one of the HHAD sponsors has printed a report on the incident, will you tell them to limit their discussion as well?

Providing people don't come to their own conclusions, post unsubstantiated specifics, start flame ('scuse the pun) wars and/or break the terms and conditions of this forum discussion is permitted (but will be monitored). What others decide to publish is up to them.

[hhfarang]

Understood and agreed with! I was just worried that there is a fine line between moderating and censorship...

[margaretcarnes]

HHFarang - it should be clear from previous topics why the Mods are maybe erring on the side of caution with this one. IMO they do a good job without bias - and lets not forget this forum attracts posts 24/7. Mods can't be on line all the time!

[sargeant]

Mags
I agree however there are issues that should be addressed
I posted my surprise that the incident had not been posted on this forum 12/13 days AFTER the event.How long before those involved say what we can talk about
I posted a good 8 hours after it appeared in a Thai language newspaper on its FRONT page.
I posted a short synopsis of the article 12 hours later (20 hrs total)(in response to 2 members requests)I was careful to not include real names (which were given in the paper)made it clear that the 3rd person was not named but wrote the allegation of police and officials as reported in the article. I also made it clear facts not guesses as I had not made guesses
I received within 20 minutes a huge sheriffs badge a “D” notice and a sideswipe at “MY” newspaper
An earlier PM would have been far better or better still an announcement a long time before I read it in “MY” Thai language newspaper (1 of 2 Thai language newspaper that I take daily by the way)?
Whilst I understand the Mods caution because of the history (which I took into account myself with my first 2 posts) my peak was well ired when HH farang comes on (after my sheriff’s badge and full Monty) and gives it in far more detail and receives only a “D” notice

That is all very minor what I don’t understand is this thread/forum keeps making unsubstantiated allegations of police corruption, corrupt/lazy local officials and Thai on farang crime which is IMHO perfectly correct and legitimate.
But allegations against farangs TRUE or UNTRUE with regard to crime or criminal involvement being “D” noticed. Is IMHO wrong
To me it has a sniff of hypocrisy for instance are we going to stay quiet until the 3 thugs on their motorbike have come forward to give there ideas on how we proceed.
I agree nothing unsubstantiated purported to be fact
but no guesses no conclusions Means OJ Simpson is really innocent


I just ask could we please apply that to all Thai and Farang and be consistent whichever way it goes.

[JD]

The biggest problem with all of these discussions is finding a balance to allow debate.

On the one hand you get members contacting admin asking if they can talk about certain issues, or you get other members that just post away with insinuations about people and business in town without anything to go on other than ‘they heard from someone that...’

On the other hand you get individuals or business that send admin letters from lawyers threatening to sue the owners of HHAD because someone has mentioned their name in context with something they don’t like. Admin even gets e-mails and PM’s saying that lawyers are ready to take action should anything be mentioned.

The problems associated with trying to allow discussions to continue on some subjects are very difficult. However, when accusations start on other forums and websites, the only thing thrown at HHAD is that we are in the pockets of certain companies because we have xyz as sponsors, or that we are helping the local Mafia by not allowing discussions about problems in our own back yard. All complete bollocks to be honest, HHAD is all about information, discussion and debate, those things should be about the good and bad aspects of our town and admin and the moderators should not be held accountable for members thoughts on these issues, we will just edit and delete inappropriate comments when they occur.

I’m sure most members on here do appreciate the problems we have, and are level headed enough to have a reasoned debate without the need to state unfounded, slanderous comments. But there will always be one or two, with an axe to grind, who will give us no option other than to lock yet another thread.

Admin and the moderators are in discussion about these issues at the moment, how do we allow free and frank discussions about sensitive issues, when parties are either local Hua Hin residents or business?

It’s tough on us to decide how to allow it, and what guidelines to give members. Some will abuse it anyway. Some will stay away because they feel hampered by the guidelines.

The latest story on Hua Hin Report is the issue we have been asked if we would allow to be discussed. http://www.huahinreport.com/

Once a set of guidelines is finalised by Admin and Moderators, hopefully sometime today, I will, post those guidelines for all to follow. Hopefully some good, reasoned debate can be had from this latest story on Hua Hin Report. How long the thread remains open will be up to you and the content you provide.

[sargeant]

Thankyou very much for your well reasoned well stated responce JD it explains a lot and yes i do understand i was very deliberate and measured in my 2 posts or at least i thought i was
My interest in the incident is only on the overall playing field (of living happily with my Thai Hosts) i am not in the slightest interested in being a juror detective or judge in the individual matter
I am glad the openness of the forum is being discussed all i would ask is to also take into account how it looks to the Thais that read (and dont post)

[buksida]

I'll add to whats stated above sarge by saying that generalizing about corruption and other daily 'life in Thailand' aspects is slightly different to specific incidents which name people and businesses (regardless of their nationality).

Hence the level of caution and moderation will vary from subject to subject, we can't get it right all of the time and it is generally a thankless task.

[JD]

OK. Guidelines for posting on this topic.

The HHAD Terms & Conditions apply at all times. We would like to also bring everyones attention to the following.

At no time will anyone's name or company name be used in these discussions unless they willingly do so themselves.

This is not a poll, don't make it sound like one.

We will not allow this to get into petty bickering or flaming. Anyone doing this will be yellow carded then possibly banned for repeatedly doing so.

If you are not sure if something can be mentioned, PM myself, Admin or any moderator, who can advise you on the matter.

The rest we will play by ear, if something is considered an unfair comment it will be edited, and a reason given for doing so.

As always moderator decisions are not to be discussed on the open forum, PM us, your more than likely to get a better reasoned response as to why such action was taken.

PM's received by anybody are not to be published on the open forum, or forwarded to other members.

So in light of these simple rules, most of which are not any different from the standard Terms & Conditions you all agreed to when you signed up as members. Let the debate begin.

[JD]

With grateful thanks to the editor of Hua Hin Report for allowing us to do so, I have copied and pasted a section of the article from their News Bulletin.

From Hua Hin Report
Hua Hin's expats get fired up
News In Brief: The current theme of the moment in Hua Hin appears to be violent crime as news of yet another attack upon a foreign resident comes in. Earlier this month it was reported that a vehicle was set ablaze in a quiet residential area in the middle of the night. According to local police it marks the first incident of this nature to occur in the otherwise serene city of Hua Hin. The victim, a US citizen, was startled by his dog barking alerting him to the burning car, his Honda Jazz (pictured). Calls to the local police and fire department were fruitless due to communication problems so the victim doused the fire himself with a garden hose fearing that the petrol tank would ignite.

The full story and other news items including pictures can be seen here. http://www.huahinreport.com/

[buksida]

Interesting to see the Friar's "hotline" rag this month lifting articles direct from Hua Hin Report without crediting the source.



We know who the thieves are now.

[sandman67]

C'mon now Buksi...This is Thailand.....

....the country where "copyright" translates to "I copy....right?".

[MorgansPride]

I've been coming to Thailand for holidays now for at least 15 years and think its a friendly country. Is Hua Hin any different?

[Randy Cornhole]

No more so than anywhere else in Thailand...

[Cookie08]

Well I have had a great holiday here, no sign of trouble. Think perhaps the Ex Pat community should think about going back to where they came. Seems all they do is snipe at certain topics and themselve's.

If its that bad go home, you have no right to judge, you are guests.

here.

[buksida]

If its that bad go home, you have no right to judge, you are guests.

This is home for many expats, why people bother to join local community forums and make stupid remarks like this as their first post is beyond me.