July 18 2006
Sodom & Gomorrah in Pattaya

When Joan visited Pattaya, she was shocked to find the naughty bits from the Old Testament being reenacted and felt moved to share her thoughts with me.
Our visit to Pattaya in November gave us a vision of the Biblical Sodom & Gomorrah.
In Patong we had seen a few old men picking up young girls, and it seemed slightly amusing. When we went to Pattaya it was another world. Little did we expect to see the mental and physical cripples from Europe side by side with the Thai girls, who were not innocent parties in these transactions.
These two elements gave a bad taste to normal tourists. How does a country, with the traditions of Thailand, allow itself to be dragged down to this level - a host nation for "dirty old men" and paedophiles?
How could it provide prostitutes, male and female, and pretend that it was the only way these people can provide for their poor dependent relatives?
We have been in Thailand several times and enjoy the people and the culture, but are depressed at the sex industry that is allowed to flourish under the noses of the authorities, all in the name of "tourism".
'God help Pattaya' because no one else seems interested in doing so.
Joan (Ireland)
A straight question deserves a straight answer.
Hi Joan
Pattaya is certainly a contemporary Sodom & Gomorrah and it astonishes me that the resort is sometimes marketed as a family holiday destination. The companies that promote it to regular tourists are seriously misleading their customers.
I understand why you were shocked at what you saw but I think that your conclusions are a little harsh.
There seems to be a widespread belief that only the young and the beautiful deserve a sex-life. Those judged too old, too ugly or too disabled are expected to live lonely and unfulfilled lives. No one at home gives a damn about their welfare and the prospect of a couple of weeks in Pattaya each year might be the only thing keeping them going. However, my sympathy for "dirty old men" certainly doesn't extend to paedophiles.
Thai women do have to provide for their dependent relatives and it's no coincidence that most Pattaya bar girls are single mothers. Factory work only pays about fifteen pounds a week - which obviously doesn't go very far - so this is why many women choose to become bar girls instead. They're certainly not eligible for any welfare benefits. Your assertion that these girls are just pretending to be needy is rather wide of the mark. People sometimes forget that Thailand is a developing nation.
Pattaya is a place that always provokes strong reactions but it's important to consider the bigger picture before rushing to judgment on those who choose to work and play there.
I hope that your bad experience in Pattaya hasn't put you off returning to Thailand. You could go to almost any other resort and be assured of a relaxing and memorable holiday.
Regards
David
Joan seeks refuge on the moral high ground - and recruits her hubby to the cause of righteousness.
Hi David,
Thank you for commenting on my letter re- Pattaya.
I understand your point of view, but do not have to agree with it. I regret suggesting that the Thai girls pretend that they are needy ------ but they are ready, indeed keen, to take advantage of the situation in Pattaya with the influx of western "men".You suggest that even the crippled in body or mind have a right to satisfy their sexual needs. I cannot see the justification for this suggestion. We do not have a right to do what we want. All people have their limitations. What we desire and what we can have are not always the same thing, nor should they be. Life is not a license to do what we want.
You state that most of the bar girls in Pattaya are single mothers. Did they "fall pregnant" by accident? Do they not have a choice? Do they not even have birth control, or is that against what few principles they have, or are taught in the Thai culture?
We have been to Thailand several times, and like it very much, but we are of the opinion that Pattaya is a bad advertisement for the country.
We are also aware that the American soldiers, during the Vietnam War, contributed greatly to all of this, but that is not an excuse for such low moral standards among a proud people, like the Thais.
Thank you again.
Mervyn and Joan
Joan sees only shameless Thai whores and wicked farang evil-doers swirling in a cesspool of wanton debauchery so I tried to inject a bit of reality.
Hi Mervyn & Joan
I didn't expect you to agree with me but I give you credit for withdrawing a suggestion that turned out to be untrue. Hopefully, I can now persuade you to withdraw a few others.
Self-restraint is certainly a virtue but I don't understand why you automatically equate sex with sin. What consenting adults do in private is entirely their own business. They're not harming anyone. If your objections stem solely from a religious conviction, then I think we'll just have to agree to differ.
Most of the Pattaya single-mothers did indeed have a choice about whether or not to become pregnant and most had access to birth control too. However, ninety percent of them also had husbands - but they ended up either widowed or abandoned.
You're quite wrong to suggest that they're all feckless and irresponsible. If a married woman can't have children then who can?
I'm now going to tell you the true story of an ordinary Pattaya bar girl. Her husband ran off shortly after the birth of their first child and, to make matters worse, the baby developed a debilitating leukemia-like blood disorder which required expensive treatment. Her widowed mother offered to look after the child while she took a job in a garment factory but US$100 a month fell far short of what was needed and she ended up working in a Pattaya bar.
Would you have carried on stitching shirt-collars if it meant that your child was condemned to die from a treatable disease? I hope not.
Countless ordinary women become bar girls out of necessity. They deserve our understanding - not your condemnation.
Your suggestion that Thai people have low moral standards is quite outrageous. It smacks of cultural and religious imperialism and it prompts me to ask you an important question:
Who's the worst sinner - an abandoned wife reduced to selling her body to support her sick child or a complacent armchair Christian who goes around indiscriminately pouring scorn on people less fortunate than herself?
Please don't take offence at the accusation of complacency. My intension is merely to shake you out of it and to encourage you to show a little Christian compassion
Thanks for listening.
David
There was no reply...
When faced with applying their beliefs to a real-life situation, our would-be Christian Soldiers opted to pack up and return to barracks.
[Posted to Your Letters by David]
*** THE COMMENT FORUM IS NOW CLOSED ***
Your Letters
Mac attack: Westerner beaten in Bangkok Apple Store
Unmasking the Nana Plaza prowler
American woman slams Thai marriages
American woman wants a date in Thailand
Hua Hin: Home of the Thai cavalry
Buffalo won't dump cheating Pattaya hooker
Thai massage with a happy ending
Is his Thai internet bride a con-girl? #4
The ultimate sick-buffalo story
The best divorce letter ever written
Rare neurological disorder found in Thai bar girls
Confessions of a Thai driving instructor #2
Confessions of a Thai driving instructor #1
Buri Ram girls abducted by aliens
Why do rich Thai girls act like hookers?
Miss Noo's Best Bangkok Short-Time Hotels
Farang boyfriend steals victory in extra-time
Was my Thai dream date a con-girl?
The curse of your mummy's womb
New gene discovered in Thai bar girl DNA #2
New gene discovered in Thai bar girl DNA #1
Drugged and robbed by Pattaya hookers
Is his Thai internet bride a con-girl? #3
Is his Thai internet bride a con-girl? #2
Previously
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
December 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003







Readers' comments
July 18, 2006 6:27 PM
July 18, 2006 6:52 PM
July 18, 2006 7:04 PM
July 18, 2006 7:27 PM
July 18, 2006 9:28 PM
July 18, 2006 9:41 PM
July 18, 2006 10:09 PM
July 18, 2006 11:46 PM
July 19, 2006 12:44 AM
July 19, 2006 1:02 AM
July 19, 2006 2:55 AM
July 19, 2006 11:16 AM
July 19, 2006 11:26 AM
July 19, 2006 2:58 PM
July 19, 2006 7:24 PM
July 20, 2006 10:24 AM
July 22, 2006 11:52 AM
July 22, 2006 2:24 PM
July 24, 2006 4:47 AM
July 24, 2006 9:38 AM
July 27, 2006 5:52 AM
July 28, 2006 2:42 AM
July 31, 2006 7:38 AM
August 2, 2006 12:31 AM
August 13, 2006 12:50 PM
August 23, 2006 10:33 PM
August 24, 2006 7:50 PM
September 1, 2006 4:05 PM
September 12, 2006 10:06 PM
September 15, 2006 10:43 AM
November 17, 2006 1:04 PM
November 22, 2006 7:14 PM
November 24, 2006 7:47 PM
November 25, 2006 2:49 AM
December 10, 2006 8:30 PM