My 100th post. Thoughts on the forum.
Having been a member on here for two weeks, i find myself on the magic 99 posts.
I think milestones like this should be celebrated. So how best to do it? A cake, a drink, a party. No, it's just a liittle milestone and anyway it's not 11am. here yet. Too early for cake and parties.
Perhaps a speech....... my memories of my first two weeks as a TD member.
I knew this was a long standing forum, just look at the members who have posts in the thousands. A good sign surely? THe humour is great, and the truly cosmopolitan nature of the membership, a tribute to the interest in LOS.
Thailand gets quite a lot of stick on here, the people, the government, the complex rules and regulations of life in a different culture. Many seem to do nothing but complain about it. Yet the membership on here is huge and diverse. The majority of members seem to be 'In country' or like me, on their way in.
Some obviously come here looking for advice and info: If you ask a question, make sure you are clear about what you want. The gramatically correct fun police are waiting to pounce if you are stupid enough to post an incomplete, or ambguous question. They will shred you if you appear simple or halfwitted. If you are brave enough though, and you stick around long enough you will get your answers.
I think the ethos goes something like this: 'If you come on here and ask for help, you had better have a brain and ask something sensible, or we will abuse you to see if you have what it takes to be a worthwhile member of our forum'.
Once you find your feet and realise who the regulars are, and where they come from, and whether they live up country or in the city, you start to feel more at ease. In your first posting you are breaking in new shoes and your feet hurt. By the time post number 100 comes around, you are reaching for your slippers.
I have had a few ppsitive comments from members, and if i see that members name on a post i will probably check it out. I have been savaged by the fun police, and even desreved it once. It only happened a few times and most of them are pussycats really.
Don't think there is anyone harmful to health on here, unless you are looking for a fight, in which case someone will usually oblige.
One thing i find is that if someone gets attacked, they usually deserve it, but the attacks use humour rather than spite to put down a dummy. (Well, usually they do).
It continues to be a fascinating and worthwhile experience and helps build the knowledge base that will be necessary to survive and even prosper in my chosen country.
One question though, for all those who post negatives about life in Thailand. If it's so bad, why are you on still there, and why are you on here complaining about it? I thought whingeing was a British thing but all nations seem to do it here.
