Post Bag
On more than one occasion the Bangkok Post has reported opinions offered by Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon. In the article "Ex-PM Suchinda calls for national reconciliation," (BP, Aug 6) the former military officer and politician offers advice and comments on the political situation and praises PM Samak for his "courage and loyalty".
If it is worth reporting the opinions of Gen Suchinda on his birthday, it certainly is worth pointing out that he held the post of premier during Black May 1992, when the military brutally suppressed and killed large numbers of demonstrators in Bangkok.
It is also relevant to mention that Mr Samak served as deputy PM in Gen Suchinda's government and showed his great "courage and loyalty" by defending its abhorrent actions.
NERVOUS NELLY
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'Knot' in Thai means nut
Philip Suradjvibul (Postbag, Aug 5) was surprised that railways here are connected by "knots" instead of nuts and bolts. Apparently, Philip doesn't know Thai-English. In Thai-English, "knot" means any type of screw and bolt. It is probably a corruption of "nut".
The same goes for "choke up" which is short Thai-English for shock absorber. "Ver" (short for over) means to exaggerate; "oil" could mean benzene, diesel, jet fuel, crude or lubricating oil. These are just a few examples of English words that have been absorbed into Thai.
SOMSAK POLA
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Video games and real life
Re: Ploenpote Attakor's Commentary (BP, Aug 7). The Grand Theft Auto computer game has sold over 70 million copies and has probably been played by two or three times that number of people. So why isn't the world awash with copycat killings? Because most of the players can tell the difference between games and real life.
If this young man really did gain inspiration from the game, then he is clearly mentally disturbed. If that is the case, why didn't his parents or his school teachers notice some warning signs?
Does Ploenpote consider any of this? Not likely. The crime was caused by the game, the boy was addicted, the arcade owners are untrustworthy and there are not enough law enforcers to see that kids do not play outside the 2-10pm permitted zone.
Someone else is to blame. Case closed.
DOM DUNN
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At the mercy of climate
The book The Great Warming by Brian Fagan describes how humanity adapted to climate change in previous centuries.
The examples cited show that climate is not at the mercy of man but that man is at the mercy of climate. It is natural for climate to change. We don't cause climate change nor are we able to prevent these changes. All we can hope to do is to adapt to the changes when they occur.
CHA-AM JAMAL
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