Jumping queues and corruption

These “aunties” are often seen obstructing pedestrians in public places or walking down the stairs on the wrong side. Also, on public vans, they insist on sitting right next to the door, making it difficult for other passengers to get on or off, Pantip Member No 722767 wrote. Some users disagreed, however, saying people didn’t have to be middle-aged to be selfish. 

Another user, called Madin, who also thanked people for starting this dialogue, said: “I am fed up of the kind of people who slow down on the street when their phone rings or they need to answer an SMS. They block other pedestrians behind them. It’s like they are wandering souls, looking for somewhere new to be reborn.” 

On the bright side, though, this discussion can be seen as a reminder for people to mind their manners and be more considerate of others in public places. 

Also, as Pantip member Suan Fan Thon said, people should be more empathetic and treat these “aunties” as they would treat their own aunts. 

“You won’t know until you get old yourself. When I was in my 20s I thought the same way. When I approached my 40s, I started becoming an ‘auntie’. I began to lose concentration, got easily annoyed and became too lazy to do things. 

“I felt I didn’t deserve to have to stand on the bus. As for those who sit near the door on public vans, maybe they have a problem with their legs and find it difficult to get off the van. Similarly, they probably rush to get on the bus because they might be very tired of waiting. Men nowadays don’t give up their seat for old women,” she said.

While this topic is still hot on Twitter and Pantip.com, Facebook users have gone down another route and are avidly sharing and re-sharing a 2011 video clip. This clip, created by Life Vest Inside, is called “Kindness Boomerang”, which shows people getting and giving help. It starts with a man helping a boy get up after falling. The boy then helps an old woman cross the road; the woman then gives someone else coins to help pay for a parking fee, and so on.

Most sharers tag this clip with the message: “You won’t regret watching this.” 

Similarly, another clip from 2011 has resurfaced on Facebook – this time with the tag “rare clip”. Perhaps the word “rare” is used to attract attention. This clip was produced by the Anti-Corruption Network and released in the run-up to the 2011 general election. 

The clip displays election posters, with the narrator asking what people want, which is followed by the message: “We want politicians who do not cheat.”

Though this clip resurfaced early last month, it seems to have come just in time to mark this government’s half-term point in August. 

Of course, there’s no reason to remind the government of this because last week Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led both her new and old Cabinet members to announce loudly that they will do everything they can to stop corruption.