Comments on: long live the king!

long live the king!

gman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:21:24 -0800

Youtube banned in Thailand.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:25:10 -0800

Dissing Bhumibol Adulyadej? Oh NOOO you DI'NT.

By: quarter waters and a bag of chips

quarter waters and a bag of chips — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:28:01 -0800

aww phuket.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:29:39 -0800

Seriously... dude is kinda God-like over there. You just don't mess with him. But you CAN jam with him!!!

By: gman

gman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:32:58 -0800

my buddy over there alerted me to this. i sent him a captured avi file of the video and his response was, "holy shit. god if thais ever saw that they'd riot! i just watched it and then threw it out and emptied the trash!".

By: These Premises Are Alarmed

These Premises Are Alarmed — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:39:17 -0800

So why are feet on the head so insulting?

By: bruce

bruce — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:40:54 -0800

let me get this straight. if i come right out here in public and say king bhumibol adulyadej is a poopyhead, will metafilter be banned in thailand? anybody else catch the ominous implication of the last sentence of the article: the head censor is trying to id the poster. will google finger him?

By: gman

gman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:42:36 -0800

Thai people consider the foot to be the dirtiest and lowest part of the body, and the head the most respected and highest part of the body. -wikipedia

By: gman

gman — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:47:10 -0800

every time one goes to a flick in thailand, you have to stand and watch any one of these.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:47:51 -0800

Tell them the Megalanthropic Era passed already.

By: jaruwaan

jaruwaan — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:53:04 -0800

There's been quite a discussion buzzing over here. I was looking at youtube when the gov't censorship screen came up earlier today. Can the poster of the video be identified by a user profile?

By: Gnostic Novelist

Gnostic Novelist — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:20:47 -0800

Katoey

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:28:50 -0800

I try not to see Asian societies as insect hives. I am going to try really hard now.

By: agropyron

agropyron — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:30:03 -0800

The youtube comments are the kicker. You animal of the West, I can't find any human word to define what you have done because this is not what living thing can do. If I compare you to a dog, all the dogs in this world would cry with deeply sadness to be compared with something as low as you, who that never know what is loyalty. If I call you dirty pig, the pigs in this world would stop breathing at once cause it can't stand for your smelly rotten brain and mind.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:30:10 -0800

While I respect google's decision not to drop the video it must hurt to lose access to a 60 million strong market over such an insipid video. I mean it's not a video that promotes a strong and substantive critique of the King, but rather a short slideshow of third-grade humor, complete with a "please register this software" slide at the end.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:31:03 -0800

I try not to see Asian societies as insect hives. I am going to try really hard now. -- telstar Um. Good luck with that...

By: agropyron

agropyron — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:32:05 -0800

I Think that you 're the fuc..k guy . And Your Family is same to you guy . Your dad is a sucker ? Or Your mom is a prostitute ? Go to hell and let your family go too !!!

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:38:01 -0800

Like there's this big, fat, greasy, slightly-translucent "king" ant, which is tended and stroked by hundreds of tiny worker ants. The workers will die in defense of the "king" ant, in fact will eagerly rush any threat. Yep, that's what I'm not picturing this as, yep.

By: katillathehun

katillathehun — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:39:00 -0800

this is not a joke, it is a massage that has hidden meanings... Heh heh. A massage with deeper meanings. *guffaw*

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:44:49 -0800

this is not a joke, it is a massage that has hidden meanings... posted by katillathehun Heh heh. A massage with deeper meanings. *guffaw* Let's hope it's a massage with a happy ending that doesn't involve being fingered by Google.

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:46:29 -0800

By the way, I love Thailand. Visiting there was a wonderful experience, the best fucking food you can imagine, everyone very nice and friendly, beautiful scenery, exciting night life. But I hate Monarchies. The Thai King isn't that bad a dude, really. Educated, fair-minded, stays in good physical shape as an example to his subjects, a swell guy all around. But ha-yell, that's just too juicy a target, knowing that all you have to do to set off a Thai is to say shit about his king.

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:51:12 -0800

posted by telstar there's this big, fat, greasy, slightly-translucent "king" ant, which is tended and stroked by hundreds of tiny worker ants. The workers will die in defense of the "king" ant, in fact will eagerly rush any threat. Sounds like MetaFilter.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:52:49 -0800

They are VERY sensitive about feet there. For example, if an American dropped some Thai money our natural reaction would be to stand on it. To a Thai person, not only would that be offensive because you used your unclean foot, but you also just defiled the King's head with it. Likewise, in the Grand Palace in Bangkok you must ALWAYS sit with your feet pointing away from the Emerald Buddha (preferably tucked under you) because the foot is the least sacred part of the body. The monks will actually walk over to you and tell you that you must move them away. Later I learned that the foot is considered unclean in many cultures. Same in many Islamic countries. This is why when they took Saddam's statue down, many Iraqis took off their shoes and hit the statue with them. Also, in the relics of Egyptian, Roman & Ottoman history, there are a lot of royal footrests that show the ruler's enemies on them. To keep your enemies under your feet is to have power over them & to show them as unclean and beneath you.

By: agropyron

agropyron — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:53:41 -0800

From the thaivisa.com forums linked by jaruwaan: I cant see a stand up comic in Thailand referencing the Monarchy AT ALL...quick route to a painful death at the hands of the audience...Oh well,I guess every country and culture is a bit touchy about SOMETHING. Please tell me that's an exaggeration.

By: mhum

mhum — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:00:51 -0800

How long before a Bhumibol Adulyadej vs. Ataturk battle rap video shows up on youtube?

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:02:07 -0800

Oh well,I guess every country and culture is a bit touchy about SOMETHING. posted by agropyron Please tell me that's an exaggeration. Try asking Michael Richards and Mel Gibson.

By: reklaw

reklaw — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:02:15 -0800

Those Thai King cinema bits are some weird stuff. The things you never knew...

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:02:44 -0800

By the way, if you look around you are very likely to find a posted photo of the King displayed somewhere in every Thai restaurant you go to. That's not just for decor, in Thailand people hang his image in every home & every place of business... a practice that generally continues long after Thai people come to America. He's also on ALL Thai money.

By: agropyron

agropyron — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:03:49 -0800

I didn't think it was an exaggeration that different countries are touchy about things. I hope it is an exaggeration that a stand-up comedian in Thailand would be quickly beaten to death by the audience if he made a joke about the king.

By: konolia

konolia — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:09:47 -0800

Guys, when it comes to their monach, Thais are VERY VERY sensitive. They really do love him. But it really IS ILLEGAL to diss him over there too. If you ever go to Thailand, do NOT do NOT do NOT say anything negative about him at ALL. This is practically on the par of insulting allah in front of radical Islamists. It's just that Thai people aren't into issuing fatwas. But they ARE equally offended if not more.

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:09:55 -0800

I hope it is an exaggeration that a stand-up comedian in Thailand would be quickly beaten to death by the audience if he made a joke about the king. but it ain't. There was a tourist who got into a money dispute in Thailand and stomped some Thai bills (with the King's portrait) while in the pique of anger. He was NOT EVEN consciously denigrating the king. He was jailed and it took some doing to get him out.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:10:28 -0800

Oh dude! Ataturk is another one people really don't mess with. (Meanwhile, to feel patriotic here you need to deface pictures of the President...)

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:13:26 -0800

Oh and telstar, I linked to this earlier but it's a good example of what happens when you mess with the King.

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:21:20 -0800

Holee fuck. That guy volunteered to go to the Thai joint. speaking of thai joints. *cymbal*

By: thirteenkiller

thirteenkiller — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:41:39 -0800

shoes on head. shoes on head. shoes on head.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:43:17 -0800

Hey! Loookeeee what I found! ::taps feet:: I really dooo need to go back to work...

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:44:15 -0800

Retarded country ! In civilized ones, if you criticize the leader in public occasions you ....are hauled into free speech "zones" :( but there is no youtube bannination, no sir !

By: thirteenkiller

thirteenkiller — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:45:37 -0800

The same government that gave us this heartwarming story. "Of course, we'll only let you go if you can prove you're ~~not~~ a violent threat!"

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:03:10 -0800

"Transvestites released from their cells for the event paraded in high heels around the ring with placards..." Y'know, some of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life were Thai transvestites. Seriously. Just don't ever kiss one!

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:34:38 -0800

every time one goes to a flick in thailand, you have to stand and watch any one of these. what's with all the bubbles? ... does he think he's the good witch glinda?

By: maxwelton

maxwelton — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:42:35 -0800

People are so fucking weird in who and what we venerate.

By: blueberry

blueberry — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:34:17 -0800

self-link, but a bit of background on Going to the movies in Thailand

By: tellurian

tellurian — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:37:55 -0800

A quick Google reveals: India gets upset about Ghandi. Brazil gets upset about Cicarelli. Turkey gets upset about Ataturk. *shrugs*

By: SweetJesus

SweetJesus — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:46:44 -0800

Foreigner: "I know he's the king. But I don't understand why we have to do this? And why the King is everywhere?..." All will be revealed...

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:52:56 -0800

You infidel antidemocratic slanderous traitors already forgot out beloved Türkmenbaşy . I spit on your family tools , go edumacate yourselves, read the Ruhnama !

By: CynicalKnight

CynicalKnight — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:03:28 -0800

An ex-girlfriend of mine owned and ran a rock climbing outfitters buisiness in Thailand for twelve years. One day she was on the beach belaying an Australian tourist on the sea-side cliffs when a small fleet of military boats landed and squads of soldiers carrying machine guns dispersed along the shore. One approached her and said the King and Queen would be landing soon and the climbers would have to come down (when in sight of the royal couple, you are forbidden by law to be above them). She yelled up to the Aussie "You have to come down", he yelled back "Bugger that, ask him what he's gonna do if I don't". "Shoot him", the soldier replied, matter-of-factly, with a very straight face. When the royal launch landed the soldiers commanded everyone to sit on the sand as the King and Queen disembarked. At that point no-one argued.

By: jaruwaan

jaruwaan — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:12:21 -0800

I cant see a stand up comic in Thailand referencing the Monarchy AT ALL...quick route to a painful death at the hands of the audience...Oh well,I guess every country and culture is a bit touchy about SOMETHING. agropyron: Please tell me that's an exaggeration. It would certainly lead to an ugly scene.

By: jaruwaan

jaruwaan — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:18:22 -0800

AND - When I posted the last, I got "cold fusion error" on my screen. My first thought was that the Thai government had blocked this thread. It was pretty wild to be in the youtube site and have that *censored* screen appear yesterday.

By: gman

gman — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:50:24 -0800

I hope it is an exaggeration that a stand-up comedian in Thailand would be quickly beaten to death by the audience if he made a joke about the king. not sure about beaten to death, but mobbed and beaten- yes. i've seen similar situations.

By: Down10

Down10 — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:31:33 -0800

Welcome to the Internet, Thailand!

By: gman

gman — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:39:41 -0800

and......... it's gone.

By: gman

gman — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:50:43 -0800

for all our thai friends. other anonymizers are sloooooooow, but this one seems fast.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:04:33 -0800

well, looks like someone else is starting trouble now

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:40:23 -0800

well, looks like someone else is starting trouble now That one was far more satisfying.

By: jeffburdges

jeffburdges — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:03:51 -0800

So we can look forward to funny photos of Thailand's king on all future stories about the country now? yey!

By: gman

gman — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:59:39 -0800

So we can look forward to funny photos of Thailand's king on all future stories about the country now? yey! no.

By: gman

gman — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:44:40 -0800

Thai king pardons graffiti convict

By: gman

gman — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:45:50 -0800

let's try that again.