Phuket: Showing kindness in a crisis - Thai helps foreigners in virus distress

[rooster59]

Phuket: Showing kindness in a crisis - Thai helps foreigners in virus distress

 

Image: TNN

 

An act of kindness in the face of a crisis is all over Thai social media.

 

It was something simple. A Thai realising that visitors to his country were in need. A realisation that he could help in these very unusual times.

 

Kittikhun Bunrakworakun went on Facebook to relate what happened in Patong in Phuket when he met a foreigner stranded in Thailand.

 

He saw a foreigner with an empty glass in hand as he was handing out food.

 

He went to ask her if she was hungry and she said yes, we all are.

 

He offered her an omelette - would that be alright?

 

Yes, that would be great. When she had finished he asked her if she was full.

 

She said not yet, and would he be able to help her friends who were hungry too.

 

 

Of course. We need to be there for each other in a crisis. What would happen to us Thais if the boot was on the other foot.

 

The touching story was shared by thousands of Thais on social media.

 

Source: TNN

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-11

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[4evermaat]

We can criticize the gov't and even some locals for some of the cultural differences.   But this seems to be a genuine, good-hearted gesture.   

 

Now let's see how long it takes for TV to devolve into a bashing session 555.

[Puchaiyank]

Can't bash people for showing love and compassion for humans in need...

 

Kudos to Thais stepping up to help!

????

[colinneil]

Well done that man, good to see people helping others in times of need.????

[Genmai]

24 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

We can criticize the gov't and even some locals for some of the cultural differences.

 

How about a certain FB page with 600,000 followers calling for Phuket locals to gather up slingshots and shoot rocks at whitey's head? Can we criticize that? Or how about the fact that that page isn't on Thai news but this feelgood "All-Thais-Are-Angels" story is?

 

A genuine good-hearted gesture? Sure, if it's real. But you can't deny this stinks of a damage control PR campaign. C'mon, think of the bigger picture here. A 600,000 strong FB Phuket-based page of racists getting some public attention, and then suddenly- boom - like clockwork, a feel-good article about the kindness of Phuket people? No. It's no different to stories of honest taxi drivers turning in bags of diamonds and cash that get published like clockwork after another story of condemnation.

 

Edit: I'll also add that the ThaiVisa article about that FB page in question is no longer available. Make of that what you will!

Edited April 11, 2020 by Genmai

[Cricky]

50 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He went to ask her if she was hungry

Could have been an Alpha male looking for some friendship

[WineOh]

Just another PR campaign to try and redeem Phukets soiled image by social media gangsters calling for our heads.

No, I'm not buying any of it.

[ChipButty]

Where is she and her friends living? Thai's will always give you food

[stevenl]

34 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

We can criticize the gov't and even some locals for some of the cultural differences.   But this seems to be a genuine, good-hearted gesture.   

 

Now let's see how long it takes for TV to devolve into a bashing session 555.

Didn't take long, look at post #5.

[Matzzon]

31 minutes ago, Genmai said:

 

How about a certain FB page with 600,000 followers calling for Phuket locals to gather up slingshots and shoot rocks at whitey's head? Can we criticize that? Or how about the fact that that page isn't on Thai news but this feelgood "All-Thais-Are-Angels" story is?

 

A genuine good-hearted gesture? Sure, if it's real. But you can't deny this stinks of a damage control PR campaign. C'mon, think of the bigger picture here. A 600,000 strong FB Phuket-based page of racists getting some public attention, and then suddenly- boom - like clockwork, a feel-good article about the kindness of Phuket people? No. It's no different to stories of honest taxi drivers turning in bags of diamonds and cash that get published like clockwork after another story of condemnation.

 

Edit: I'll also add that the ThaiVisa article about that FB page in question is no longer available. Make of that what you will!

You should feel ashamed!

[Genmai]

28 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Didn't take long, look at post #5.

You're allowed to respond to people's posts directly. Any disagreements with the content of what I wrote?

 

The timing of this follows the exact format of angelic wouldn't-hurt-a-fly taxi driver stories. If you go to click on the article and try searching for "Spotlight Thailand" on the TNN page (the name of the racist rock slinging Thai group) you get no results. It's all about face, sorry.

Edited April 11, 2020 by Genmai

[Genmai]

2 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

You should feel ashamed!

Why?

[anterian]

I never see the point of these articles, irrespective of race, sex or nationality, people will be good, bad or indifferent. Often it depends on their perception of you. 

[RJRS1301]

37 minutes ago, Genmai said:

 

How about a certain FB page with 600,000 followers calling for Phuket locals to gather up slingshots and shoot rocks at whitey's head? Can we criticize that? Or how about the fact that that page isn't on Thai news but this feelgood "All-Thais-Are-Angels" story is?

 

A genuine good-hearted gesture? Sure, if it's real. But you can't deny this stinks of a damage control PR campaign. C'mon, think of the bigger picture here. A 600,000 strong FB Phuket-based page of racists getting some public attention, and then suddenly- boom - like clockwork, a feel-good article about the kindness of Phuket people? No. It's no different to stories of honest taxi drivers turning in bags of diamonds and cash that get published like clockwork after another story of condemnation.

 

Edit: I'll also add that the ThaiVisa article about that FB page in question is no longer available. Make of that what you will!

I have always found Thai people to be exceedingly helpful and kind, and fail to understand why you even question if it was "genuine"

You must have experienced some very unkind actions during your life. 

[Rhys]

Hmmmm  Apply the gold to the back of the buddah statue, right!!!!

 

[sapson]

Should share the story of westerners on this site who sent money to the hospital that was begging for help online as it was treating 5 covid patients and running out of cash for supplies food equipment and doctors.

 

Somehow the government had overlooked them but some westerners stepped in and sent funds.

 

Astonishing really in lieu of some of the immigration policies aimed at the pesky aliens.

 

WELL DONE TO THOSE GUYS!! 

 

truly hope that can go viral on Thai media.

 

cant find the link to the article!

 

[William Osborne]

If they can't afford to feed themselves now.....wonder how they will sort flights, get to airport and pay overstay fines .....i guess that will be another story......tough situation to be in

[Matzzon]

16 minutes ago, Genmai said:

Why?

That question answer why you don´t.

Because you probably would expect appreciation, when you do something good, and not be compared to people that do the opposite. Meaning you have to learn when credit is due and negativity not necessary. If you wish to miscredit the persons behaviour regarding sling shot and foreigner, there is a thread to do that. This good man does not need to be compared with your inability to comprehend the difference.

[Genmai]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

I have always found Thai people to be exceedingly helpful and kind, and fail to understand why you even question if it was "genuine"

You must have experienced some very unkind actions during your life. 

Don't you think the timing and coincidental location of this is just a little bit too convenient?

 

All we've gotten in the media for over a good month now are stories of farangs being unwashed diseased basturds. Then through Richard Barrow and ThaiVisa public awareness grows of the existence of a Phuket-based FB page called Spotlight Thailand with 600,000 followers and an admin who routinely calls for Thais to take up slingshots and shoot rocks at foreigners. ANY foreigners. In videos he literally calls farangs "s**t" and tells them to "go home and die". The posts have hundreds of comments mostly supportive of his views, with many posters expanding on the admin's slurs, accompanied with photos of their own slingshots and rocks ready for action. 

 

Eventually through combined efforts of reporting to FB on grounds of hate speech the page is removed. Then the ThaiVisa article on the page is removed. And now on the exact day after this we get the first feel-good story on the kindness of Thais to stranded foreigners in the context of covid19. In Phuket. Not in any of the other 75 provinces. 

 

I can't see how anyone can fail to question the authenticity of this story, considering the context of time and location it's being played out in. Especially when we've all seen the exact same thing 100's of times with taxi drivers. 

[RJRS1301]

7 minutes ago, Genmai said:

Don't you think the timing and coincidental location of this is just a little bit too convenient?

 

All we've gotten in the media for over a good month now are stories of farangs being unwashed diseased basturds. Then through Richard Barrow and ThaiVisa public awareness grows of the existence of a Phuket-based FB page called Spotlight Thailand with 600,000 followers and an admin who routinely calls for Thais to take up slingshots and shoot rocks at foreigners. ANY foreigners. In videos he literally calls farangs "s**t" and tells them to "go home and die". The posts have hundreds of comments mostly supportive of his views, with many posters expanding on the admin's slurs, accompanied with photos of their own slingshots and rocks ready for action. 

 

Eventually through combined efforts of reporting to FB on grounds of hate speech the page is removed. Then the ThaiVisa article on the page is removed. And now on the exact day after this we get the first feel-good story on the kindness of Thais to stranded foreigners in the context of covid19. In Phuket. Not in any of the other 75 provinces. 

 

I can't see how anyone can fail to question the authenticity of this story, considering the context of time and location it's being played out in. Especially when we've all seen the exact same thing 100's of times with taxi drivers. 

I refuse to be consumed by fear, bitterness and anxiety. 

My personal experiences have been positive, although that may be because, I accept and offer kindness when able. 

There are over 69 million THai, and I will not take anegative view of the majority because of some faecesbook posts, or the rantings of government ministers who in my experience do not represent the views of the Thai people I know.

 

Edited April 11, 2020 by RJRS1301

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, Genmai said:

 

How about a certain FB page with 600,000 followers calling for Phuket locals to gather up slingshots and shoot rocks at whitey's head? Can we criticize that? Or how about the fact that that page isn't on Thai news but this feelgood "All-Thais-Are-Angels" story is?

 

A genuine good-hearted gesture? Sure, if it's real. But you can't deny this stinks of a damage control PR campaign. C'mon, think of the bigger picture here. A 600,000 strong FB Phuket-based page of racists getting some public attention, and then suddenly- boom - like clockwork, a feel-good article about the kindness of Phuket people? No. It's no different to stories of honest taxi drivers turning in bags of diamonds and cash that get published like clockwork after another story of condemnation.

 

Edit: I'll also add that the ThaiVisa article about that FB page in question is no longer available. Make of that what you will!

 

With regard to todays "story".

 

I have no problem whatsoever with a (possibly) invented news story, that (hopefully) inspires Thai people to live up to a (possibly) invented "traditional" ideal of compassion and kindness towards strangers.........in such times as these.

 

If that is what is (and if that it what it does) they can suppress stories like the previous one, and tell as many similar "lies" as this one, as they want.

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2020 by Enoon

[stevenl]

37 minutes ago, Genmai said:

You're allowed to respond to people's posts directly. Any disagreements with the content of what I wrote?

 

<snip>

Thanks for the invitation, but I don't get involved with other people's bitterness.

[beechbum]

17 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

That question answer why you don´t.

Because you probably would expect appreciation, when you do something good, and not be compared to people that do the opposite. Meaning you have to learn when credit is due and negativity not necessary. If you wish to miscredit the persons behaviour regarding sling shot and foreigner, there is a thread to do that. This good man does not need to be compared with your inability to comprehend the difference.

The total and utter irony that a poster with this guys past history should say....

[Genmai]

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

I refuse to be consumed by fear, bitterness and anxiety. 

My personal experiences have been positive, although that may be because, I accpet and offer kindness when able. 

There are over 69 million THai, and I will not take anegative view of the majority because of some faecesbook posts, or the rantings of government ministers who in my experience do not represent the views of the Thai people I know.

 

 

Not fear, bitterness or anxiety. Just a healthy dose of skepticism. Nevertheless, I appreciate your mannered responses and accept that we have our difference in opinion.

 

Although if such negative anti-farang perceptions are not representative of the views of Thai people one has to wonder why they haven't received more criticism either in the media or in the social media sphere..... ????

[colinneil]

Now heres a thought, what about all members on here now they are saving money not buying beer, dipping their pockets, and giving some poor Thai people a bit of food, you know just like the Thai man did for farangs.

I did that, milled about 12-14 kilos of rice, wife handed out to a few poor people.

Come on you lot, get up of your backsides and do your bit, help poor folk.

[Genmai]

5 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Thanks for the invitation, but I don't get involved with other people's bitterness.

No problem bro, I wish you a good day! Sorry to hear you lack confidence to express your opinions.

[FarFlungFalang]

2 minutes ago, Genmai said:

Although if such negative anti-farang perceptions are not representative of the views of Thai people one has to wonder why they haven't received more criticism either in the media or in the social media sphere.....

There are restrictions in place to what can be said.

[Silencer]

1 minute ago, colinneil said:

Now heres a thought, what about all members on here now they are saving money not buying beer, dipping their pockets, and giving some poor Thai people a bit of food, you know just like the Thai man did for farangs.

I did that, milled about 12-14 kilos of rice, wife handed out to a few poor people.

Come on you lot, get up of your backsides and do your bit, help poor folk.

Yep...it's my plan for today/tomorrow. Lots of locals near me without work, living in less than ideal conditions.

[Olmate]

2 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Now heres a thought, what about all members on here now they are saving money not buying beer, dipping their pockets, and giving some poor Thai people a bit of food, you know just like the Thai man did for farangs.

I did that, milled about 12-14 kilos of rice, wife handed out to a few poor people.

Come on you lot, get up of your backsides and do your bit, help poor folk.

 Better run that by the red devil woman first!

[Genmai]

3 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Come on you lot, get up of your backsides and do your bit, help poor folk.

Sure! But is there a news story in it for us?