tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post8377143307250633210..comments2024-01-24T16:25:58.472+07:00Comments on Somtow's World: Grovelling - a primerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-7691072359601003882009-12-07T12:39:20.105+07:002009-12-07T12:39:20.105+07:00I would like to see some more posts about Thai soc...I would like to see some more posts about Thai society.readerhttp://notnow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-86154813014467296392009-12-04T16:16:27.504+07:002009-12-04T16:16:27.504+07:00I for one, thoroughly enjoy your writing style. F...I for one, thoroughly enjoy your writing style. For the life of me, I can't imagine why someone would want to write as most people speak.<br /><br />Write what your muse commands and pay the naysayers no mind.<br /><br />I guess I have lived here too long, as this whole groveling thing has become little more than a reflex, and a tool to manipulate the situation to my advantage. One doesn't have to buy into something to profit from it.Village Faranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369786770626113739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-49276530995254589952009-12-04T15:33:50.094+07:002009-12-04T15:33:50.094+07:00Dear Thomas,
Undoubtedly such a book should be wr...Dear Thomas,<br /><br />Undoubtedly such a book should be written, but I'm a novelist. I accomplish these goals through metaphor and through holding up a mirror to society. But what is in a mirror is inherently an illlusion. I'm okay with that. I don't mind your calling it "fluff" and anyway you've probably not read most of my books. I'm not a journalist. It has nothing to do with hypocrisy. It has everything to do with what one is called to do in life. <br /><br />And, there's another implied problem with your comment, because you keep talking about "your people" and "your country." Do you actually know what country I'm a citizen of? The truth is that I have given up an extremely lucrative career, and sold everything I own, in order to come to Thailand, a country which played virtually no role in my life until I was over fifty years old, to fight for the things I believe in. <br /><br />You don't need me to get together with you to write a book about exposing corruption and so on. You need to write it yourself if that is where your muse is pointing. For me to do so would be intellectually and morally dishonest. It's not what I came here to do.<br /><br />Anyway, my status in society here has little to do with my being a writer. Less than 1% of my readers live in Thailand, and I don't write in Thai. I left Thailand when I was 6 months old.<br /><br />SPSSomtowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975237665946439187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-62557961167961859172009-12-04T14:52:47.657+07:002009-12-04T14:52:47.657+07:00The top 20 percent own 69 percent of the country&#...The top 20 percent own 69 percent of the country's assets while the bottom 20 percent own only 1 percent. These assets were gained at the expense of the poor, through abuse of power.<br /><br />There is certainly alot for the lower class to grovel about.<br /><br />I am somewhat amazed an accomplished writer such as yourself would comment "I simply don't think the grovelling thing is going to have much effect on whether this country can end up with a transparent and reasonable system of government" when you know for a fact this is impossible.<br /><br />Why don't you write the real reasons why the country can never end up with a transparent and reasonable system of government? <br /><br />You understand Thailand and the Thailand way yet you are scared to death to speak out? Why is this a common trait of all Thai writers?<br /><br />Are all writers here in Thailand afraid to lose their status in society? Where is your moral responsibility to your people and country?<br /><br />Reasons why there will never be a transparent and reasonable system of government:<br /><br />1. To be a politician you much be a millionaire.<br />2. You got to be a millionaire at the expense of the people.<br />3. Politicians live a lifestyle that is 1000 times about their gov't salary? Ever think to write about where the money comes from.<br />4. Police Department same as politicians. Rich get richer extorting the poor. How many police generals living in this 3rd world country riding around in brand new mercedes and living in mansions?<br />5. Where do the poor have a voice anywhere in government?<br />6. Money and materialism has replaced Buddhism and being rich is all that matters. <br /><br />It honestly doesn't make a bit of difference how many books you sell because you are a hypocrite to your own words, settling for writing fluff instead of having the courage to write for the betterment of the nation and the people.<br /><br />You know the facts and when you can write the truth at all personal costs to yourself, you will know what it is to be a world class writer.<br /><br />How about you and me get together and write a book climbing through the bowels of Thailand's Hell, exposing corruption, naming names, places, events, facts. That is the book you need to be writing friend. That is the book the whole world is waiting for.Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-52493908833343568572009-12-04T13:50:58.837+07:002009-12-04T13:50:58.837+07:00A well written, good read. Thanks for that.
Mick ...A well written, good read. Thanks for that.<br /><br />Mick (Ireland)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-22580810308320010102009-12-04T11:59:22.389+07:002009-12-04T11:59:22.389+07:00You'll have to make do with "Nozze di Fig...You'll have to make do with "Nozze di Figaro" for the time being in 2010.Somtowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975237665946439187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-48436774626832179802009-12-04T11:54:35.354+07:002009-12-04T11:54:35.354+07:00Jeez. It didn't seem very difficult to me. As ...Jeez. It didn't seem very difficult to me. As for groveling, it's said to be an antidote for pride - if you're a Buddhist, that is.<br /><br />BTW, Bangkok Opera's production of Cosi Fan Tutte was world-class. Just fantastic. Now, if only we could see a Don Giovanni of the same quality in Bangkok!<br /><br />- CamerataAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-62323722623206909532009-05-27T05:13:13.389+07:002009-05-27T05:13:13.389+07:00Ahmm..I understand it just fine. Had to use a dict...Ahmm..I understand it just fine. Had to use a dictionary for a few words but that was all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-17859881675233565702009-05-04T20:40:00.000+07:002009-05-04T20:40:00.000+07:00Jon, having sold around 2 million copies of my boo...Jon, having sold around 2 million copies of my books worldwide, I probably don't need help from you getting people to read this very personal little blog which is really only for my friends anyway ... and they're already familiar with the idiosyncrasies of my style :)Somtowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975237665946439187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-6998103948951994252009-05-04T18:50:00.000+07:002009-05-04T18:50:00.000+07:00You're going to have to relax your writing style i...You're going to have to relax your writing style if you want people to read it. You're trying to elevate the words you are choosing in order to make the writing sound more intelligent, what this is achieving is making garden variety observations hard to read. Try talking to your audience like you're their friend, not their lecturer!Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15258682240432670736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7313069753393877260.post-19433882493368413212009-04-21T09:04:00.000+07:002009-04-21T09:04:00.000+07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com