Oops I hit the "post my reply" button by mistake so to continue - if John44 made a mistake then he should acknowledge it. Click on his name and go back to his earliest post and you'll see that I try to answer all of his posts or questions, something that I now regret.

To insult something that other people respect or hold in the highest regard is not polite or respectful and one should acknowledge that if they had made a mistake. What has the King or Queen of Thailand ever done to deserve this kind of an insult? As Bella had said "manner cost nothing" and as I have said "sorry" is just five keystrokes.

Hanuman,

You write "The Thai people just got rid of one of the richest and the most powerful Thai person in history - Thaksin!"

Well, I’m not an expert on Thai politics, but let me remind you - the 10 Million Thai's living in Bangkok are a small voting section...TRT party (And Thaksin...) got her majority of votes from the voters in Isaan, where around 30-40 Million people are living, and don't give a damm about business, economy and all the rest. They only think about if they have something to eat tomorrow morning (and they should...)

Thaksin is not going anywhere...he will be the PM after the elections.
TRT might have fewer chairs in the Parliament, and Thaksin will lose some of his power, but defiantly not lose his chair...

We all know he is stepping on toes (selling AIS to foreign hands, and basically doing whatever he wants…) but it’s going to take much more than that to get him out of his position.

But let’s stop with Thai politics, people wants to travel…:-)

Exactly Benkok - "people want to travel" so how does insulting something that a country hold sacred has anything to do with travel?

I wouldn't bet any money on Thaksin returning either!

I really tend to doubt that john meant to insult anyone. I got the sense he was just surprised that the King would have ladies other than his wife, which by now, if he has been reading, he knows isn't true. John's only "offense" is that he was gullible and believed something some jerk told him. Who among us has not fallen for some stupid line in the past? I know I have. Poor john is probably afraid to post now. He shouldn't be, he is not the one ro blame.

Seems to me, John just posted a query. So what is there to apologize for? I have learned a little by just reading these threads, as I have yet to go to thailand.

I totally agree with you, Laurie and Bella. I am sure John did not want to insult somebody.
I do not think that this discussion should continue longer. Its is a clear difference of opinions and feelings between people from Thailand and from another country.
If I was John, I would say, just because a polite person will do this: Sorry, it was not my intention to offend somebody, I just told what I heard.

If john44 recieved bad information on his visit to the Palace,should he not have investigated a little further before he formed his opinion of the King,and the young ladies of Thailand and writing his post.Or did he already have a preconcieved idea of the people of Thailand before visiting there country.If john44 had taken the time to learn about this country,and isn't that why we travel,during his visit he would known how insulting his post was to Thai people.

Perhaps his way of "investigating" this was to post on fodors. Many of us post here regarding things we've heard and this is the way of getting other opinions, expert or otherwise. Give this guy a break. What, are we all so perfect that we can't understand someone falling for something that isn't true? It's time for everyone to get off their high horses and show some understanding. If I was insulted to this point everytime someone made a derogatory remark about the U.S. president or New York City, I'd spend my life fuming and harboring a whole lot of resentment. Is this really how you wish to be perceived? What happened to the concept of understanding and forgiveness?

I think greengrem might be a troll - this is his/her first posting on fodors

Maybe we should wait and see what john has to say himself?

He's probably sitting back and having a good laugh at all the fuss that's been caused by his 'innocent' question.

Yawn! This is all turning into a storm in a teacup. There's no way john44's remarks can be deemed offensive – naive & ill informed perhaps– but not offensive. Therefore no apology is needed. Anyway, perhaps john44 just got his facts mixed up a little and was actually referring to some previous Thai monarch, such as Rama V who had 92 wives.

Texasslim,

Most Thais love and respect the King and Queen as if they are our loving parents. We don't expect people from another country to share or undrstand our feelings but it is definitely an insult to most of us.

I agree that this post should end now and it's obvious that John44 does not have any intention to retract what he has said.

Hanaman, there’s nothing to retract. John44’s remarks were not offensive, insulting, belittling or disrespectful in any way towards the Thai monarch. He’d heard a piece of erroneous information and was merely commenting on that.
I think you need to come to terms with the fact that Thai jurisdiction does not extend around the world. Someone suggested that john44 is in the UK. In that country it is perfectly acceptable and entirely legal to freely hold a discussion on any public figure.

The funny thing about this thread is how many of the same people respond to it each day.I keep hearing,give the guy a break,forgive and forget,yawn this is so boring,but everyday they feel they must keep the thread going,responding to each post with some kind of judgement(just because this was my first post someone felt like passing judgement on me)and isn't this what john44's problem was.His post wasn't in the form of a question he decided to make a statement on this website.after looking at one painting how do you come to the conclusion that Thailands prostitutes are a result of the King.Thats like saying the U.S.A's prostitutes are a result of Clinton's affair.bella blueball watch out this troll might be hiding under your bed, and get a life and do somthing besides posting on this thread everyday.

plus, as I pointed out before, he hasn't posted on fodors for a while so may not even have read this! He may have a life outside fodors :) He posts regularly on the Europe board re. UK and hasn't been on there either

I think you've got me wrong I never said that John44 broke the law in his country or that he should be extradited to Thailand to face criminal charges for what he has said.

To you it might not be offensive but to me and a lot of my countrymen it is very offensive. To write that our King and Queen set example to the young women of our country to sell themselves is so far from the truth and I can't really understand why he would make such a hurtful and insulting statement. If he was misled, like I think he was, is it so hard for him to say that he didn't mean what he said?

John was just questioning the culture of the country, as he did not know. If I had heard something like this, I, too would want to check it out, and I might be more comfortable asking on this board, than trying to understand from someone in thailand, and perhaps offending them. I didn`t know a thing about the prime minister, so Thailand`s politics are quite a mystery to me, in spite of the fact I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. (including a book about the king) Isn`t this board for asking questions and gaining knowledge? You are being way to sensitive.

Now the hysteria seems to have quitened down I will detail my side of the event.

I asked the question of a english speaking licenced guide and have repeated the response I got, he spoke in hushed tones and said previously nobody would have dared speak on this matter but recently it had come out in the open far more and people were begining to talk about it.

I had no reason to disbelieve the him and indeed even after all the responses on the board I am undeceided at what to believe, hense I see no need to apologise, if I have insulted anybody it is the ladies concerned, if they do not exist it is impossible to apologise to them, if they do exist I stand by my statement.