mirrors lie

sometimes the picture is not offensive, it is the person who is offensive!!

Going topless or nude at a beach has nothing to do with the sex industry.

Sounds to me like the local, very local, custom in Thailand, local to the particular beach, is to permit topless sunbathing.

Do western tourists go topless at beaches that are mainly used by Thais?

I'm not sure what to make of the 24/7 TV channels here in the US that broadcast nudity and sex - the Britney Spears, the Madonnas, the gyrating, the sexually-charged words of the song, the men touching their male parts, the girls gone wild, the sex channels for subscription...

I was in Thailand recently and the TV channels at the hotel had none of those things available.

Would a Thai visitor to the US conclude that this is a very immoral society with a "national" penchant for nudity and that our government is very lax in not enforcing greater virtue on its citizens? Would a Thai visitor conclude that we are a totally depraved society with a limitless appetite for the lower forms of sexual behavior? What would a Thai visitor to this country conclude upon seeing the constant stream of sex scandals from highly placed government officials?

I have been to Thailand twice to go sailing and scuba diving, to visit the islands off Phuket, to see the temples and other cultural sights.

As far as sex tourism is concerned, it takes Two to Tango. If there were no buyers there would be few or no sellers. Given the lack of opportunity in Thailand to do more renumerative legal work in the Middle East (where many Thai men earn their family living working in construction) the women resort to using inate skills. So to stop the trade in prostitution, stop the sex tourism.
Dont criticise the girls, the alternative is to starve to death.

So get off your high and mighty soapbox, shame your own pervert nationals who go to Thailand as sex tourists.

DJim, is there a reason you brought up this post well over a year old?

Kathie-I had the exact same thought. What is the motivation of digging this topic up from its grave? Is there really anything new or interesting about this? The original post did bring up a relevant topic, but the last post is much more of the same. I do note that I don't necessarily disagree with the last post, I just question its motive.

Yes, and it's his first post on Fodors. Suspicious, indeed.

Well, I am glad to see this again, because I just noticed that filmwill mentioned that there are signs prohibiting topless sunbathing. I think they should be respected. Are they signs put up by the government? I just wonder what the law actually is.

I don't think it's a matter of law, MrW.

I don't know who put up the signs, but I remember such signs (I may even have a photo somewhere) from my first trip to Phuket more than 20 years ago. In the hotel orientation materials there were also what I would call "pleas" for no topless sunbathing. And yet, there were many European women at the beach topless.

Kathie - How could you tell they were European women???

Clive-I don't know how Kathie can tell, but the only topless women I've ever seen in Thailand were speaking either French or Italian. Admittedly, this does not mean that they are European, but there is a decent chance that they are.

Crellston, Gpanda is correct on how I tell. I heard French (mostly), Italian, and Dutch or German. None of the topless bathers I encountered were speaking English or Spanish or Thai or Chinese or Japanese, for instance.

I raised this topic following a visit to H.I. Phi Phi.
There is an info pack laid out in every bungalow providing specific information about the resort and some general info about Thailand.
In two separate sections, reference is made to topless sunbathing being offensive to Thai people, and a very clear plea to refrain from such activity.
I was stunned to find the selfish attitude of so many who chose to ignore this request. Not only at Laem Tong but at the Tonsai area even more so.
I certainly don't disapprove of topless.....hey....what man does.....but I VERY much approve of respecting the customs and practices of any country I visit.
My post has nothing to do with the sex industry, nor does it make any judgements of the morals of others.
My experience is that most nationalities are guilty, but, Kathie is probably right...mainly, the countries she mentions.....or at least people speaking these languages.

Anyhow, how come this has been pulled up again !

Leigh-your last question is the most interesting. Imagine the diligence with which the poster who dredged this up searched this forum to uncover this gem. Even Bob's time is more valuable than that. Oh, maybe not.

ok, thanks for clarifying about the signs/pleas

... well, 'topless in thailand' ... quite possibly, the most pressing issue of all-time, save for those sensational Singapore Girls, and rather fine SIA fares of late ... (and how did I miss this opening post?!) ...

... (kudos to the 'op', and certain members of my little ol' MacKintosh clan invite you and your healthy looking caucasian companion to turn it up a notch from the h.i. phi phi to the Amanpuri -- not such a bad place) ...

... now, must confess to truly being turned off by the sight of 'large' white women waddlin' 'round without tops on Thai beaches. (And it pains me to say, have heard the occasional 'sectional' UK - and even, Aussie - accents.) Mind you, I stopped dating caucasian women in favour of young, petite Asian women (just one, these days) years ago, so a bit of a bias and perhaps simpatico with the more 'conservative' Asian mentality. (But just you wait until you get the Asian woman behind 'closed doors'.)

... it's not just corpulent, topless, caucasian beach going women who can offend others : it's corpulent men wearing 'skimpy' bathing attire (will never forget a brief glimpse of bloated men and their wives/girlfriends, poolside at a certain Pattaya 'resort' during one of my few pre-mrs. m visits to that fine seaside community), and yes, those overweight tourists in rather ill-advised capris and khakis, occasionally seen in certain fine 'five star' Asian hotel lobbies. (But those well-fed tourists do bring in the revenue -- much appreciated, these days -- and do remember to fly SQ, all of you.)

... thanks again for the classic opening post title, and if all of you want something completely different, well, a certain 'Mile Hi! Club' book, written by a certain Asian female flight attendant, is currently a bit of a 'best seller' in sweet Singapore. (And can assure you, I have no financial/personal stake with this particular 'golden goose' matter.)

macintosh (robert)


... SIA -- All the Way ...

Not advisable to go topless in public in Thailand - the Thai sex industry is behind closed doors......in public they cover up.
It is unlikely that anyone will SAY anything but you might find some are "inexplicably" uncooperative later on.

PS - even bikinis are not the norm on most Thai beaches - look around!

amongst Thais that is....however paying for sex by Thai men is quite normal and even by some women.
A look at newspapers will give you an idea about public display of breasts - bot blood and gore - now that's another thing!