Being a white male in his 40′s it’s sometimes hard to answer the question “So, where did you go on vacation”. They may not say it but I know what they are thinking when I say Thailand. Sex tourist, dirty old man, and of course Pedophile! They don’t have to say it…I can see the look in their eyes.
For decades Thailand has battled the stigma of being a country where one goes to have sex with children.
First of all let me clear up some things about prostitution and pedophiles. They don’t just exist in dark alleyways in third world countries. They exist in your home town, they shop where you shop, and they even attend your local church. Sex for sale and pedophiles exist all over the globe in every community. And yet people continue to point out that Thailand is where the pedophiles go…and to a certain degree they would be right. Pedophiles gravitate towards situations where they can prey on children plain and simple.
Thailand has a great need for English teachers to teach their children and that is a perfect scenario for a pedophile. Just like being a camp counselor, a boy scout leader, or a pastor at your local church.
The common misconception is that children can be bought left and right in Thailand which is certainly not true. I’ve been in bars and gogo’s from Soi Cowboy in Bangkok to Soi Six in Pattaya and I have never seen a child for sale. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen but it definitely suggests that what people believe is far from the truth.
Are children sold for sex in Thailand? I’m sure there have been many cases where they have been just as there has been many such instances in America, Great Britain, Canada, and every other country in the world where pedophiles live.
Thailand has gotten a bad rap for a very long time now for something that is a global problem…adults preying on children.
Just remember that every man that goes to Thailand isn’t a pedophile just as every pedophile isn’t going to Thailand… most are staying home and preying on your children.
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I too share the concern of this author as I would like to travel to Phuket for Xmas and as a 50 year old single man worry about the stigma. Not so much, perhaps from my fiends, family, etc. They know me. But what about the Tourist Police, Customs and well meaning locals who heard that in 4 days I have not paid a single bar fine for a female and just want a few beers?
Some points I wish to clarify here:
The author would be unlikely to ever see a boy or girl in a Thai bar for the simple reason that it is not good for business. 1.) No one is going to buy them drinks and 2.) Why should they risk a bust when the bar girls make enough money for them?
“Are children sold for sex in Thailand? I’m sure there have been many cases where they have been just as there has been many such instances in America, Great Britain, Canada, and every other country in the world where pedophiles live.”
If this was true to the extent it is in other third world countries, than why do pedophiles spend thousands of Dollars and Euros to come to the Thai “sex resorts”? Why not stay home?
Because the Thai police are run by a “Mafia” and payoffs are still the order of the day. Follow the money, dude, and you will see who’s pockets it ends up in. As long as people shoot heroin and smoke weed, there will always be someone protecting the producer’s interests. As long enough guys want to rape 10 year olds, and there is money in it, little is going to change. When someone who insults the King ultimatly receives a longer prison sentence than someone who has sex with a child, little is going to change.
A bad rap? They have it and deserve it. When Malaysian style justice for pedophiles exists in Thailand we will talk again. Until then, stop defending those who do little to defend those who cannot defend themseleves.
All the best,
Tortoise
Tortoise,
I see where you are coming from and yes there are very serious problems in Thailand, but I in no way defended anyone who has done little to help the defenseless.
The main point was to let people know that the majority of single males going to Thailand are not pedophiles and sex tourists as some would have you believe.
The main reason pedophiles head to South East Asia is because it’s a target rich environment where even mothers will pawn off their children for a few baht.The chances of them being caught is less as well but not because of any police mafia connection…because the tourist pedophile is in and out of the country quickly in most cases. The more hard core pedo will secure a position of trust like becoming an English teacher.
Pedophiles are caught routinely in Thailand and the sentences they receive are much harsher than those prosecuted for lese majejeste violations.