This episode seemed a little more focused on the downside of drunken behavior in Pattaya and the Full Moon Party. Though they did have the Brit who is doing a long sentence in the Bangkok Hilton for possession of ecstasy with the intent to sale. I really have a difficult time feeling sorry for these knobs. I mean, how hard does it have to be beat into your head that Thailand is not a place to try to become a drug kingpin? I almost had to laugh when he said he thought someone he knew ratted him out in order to get all of his money and possessions while he was locked up. Duh! When you life involves hanging out with regular drug users you’re usually associating with scumbags. It shocks you that one of them might have looked at getting you banged up as a nice little payday? If you’re really that stupid it does sort of explain why you would come to Thailand and think dealing drugs is okay. You’re retarded!
EDIT: I forgot to mention the documentary filmmakers who got caught trying to film inside of a go-go bar and then go to the cops to complain when the owner swiped the camera and threatened to kick their ass. As it gets explained to them, people do get the crap kicked out of them for filming inside of go-gos and they’re actually quite lucky the owner didn’t have them beaten and is agreeing to return the camera (minus the film). It’s happened enough times that most intelligent people know not to do it. But just like the drug dealer above . . . somehow they don’t think the rules actually apply to them.
And then he has the balls to say “This place is advertised internationally as a sex tourism haven yet somehow it’s not okay to show that.” Guess what moron? Las Vegas is advertised as a gambling mecca but you can’t walk around inside the casinos filming. Everywhere you go in the world there are places that for whatever their reasons choose to enforce a no-photography policy. The only difference is that here in Thailand kicking your head in for violating the policy will probably be seen by the police as just punishment.
And last but not least . . . those freaking Indians kill me. They go and complain that they paid a whopping 300 baht to see a “sexy show” and never saw the show. When they are taken back and are talking with the management they admit they watched the show but they didn’t like it and want their money back.
This is why I view every negative thing written or said about Thailand, Thai people, Thai police, etc under a very careful microscope if it sounds even the slightest bit suspicious. People tend to lie and exaggerate a lot of stuff and they often leave out incriminating bits of their own behavior to amplify the injustice they suffered. I’m sure if those Brit documentarians were telling their story on Stickman, ThaiVisa or some other site they would be claiming the camera had just been in their bag with no film in left in it as they had been out filming all day and they were threatened and intimidated by the staff and then when the police came the police basically sided with the owners demonstrating once again what a total land of scams Thailand is.
The camera ban in Las Vegas and other casinos relates directly to the security of the operation, the guests and their assets. Accurate visual depictions would greatly assist in planning cheats, robberies, extortion and the like.
The camera ban in Thailand nightlife venues partly stems from the desire of the operators and their uniformed co-conspirators not to be called to account for violations of the law which go unaddressed as long as bribes are paid, and partly from the monkey-see, monkey-do conformity that is so prevalent here. Accurate visual depictions would make impossible for the TAT to fancifully market Thailand as a squeaky-clean family destination.
Whatever the reason for camera ban, it is advertised clearly outside the establishment. The bottom line is if you follow some simple common sense rules, no matter which country you visiting, there will be no problem.
Every country has its own rules, culture and ethics.These may not conform to yours or your country’s.
The problem with most tourists from western countries, is that they have the attitude that they doing the rest of the world a huge favour by visiting.
The sooner they realise that both sides benefit, and give locals some respect,the better.
@MongerSEA: I agree with Zed. It doesn’t really matter why they have the rules. If they say “No cameras” then you shouldn’t be taking pictures/video.