Bangkok taxi drivers not big fans of K-pop
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If Uber or GrabTaxi or any of the other phone apps used for summoning cabs need to improve their standing in Asia, they should get in touch with South Korean pop idol Taecyeon Ock.
He’s a member of the hugely popular singing group 2PM and was recently in Bangkok to perform at the “JYP Nation” concert. Then he went out to get a taxi – and couldn’t.
After the show Taecyeon spent some leisure time strolling around the malls, drawing plenty of attention and soon showing up in pictures on the social media. When he finished rummaging through CentralWorld, he went outside and tried to get a taxi to take him to his hotel. It ought to be easy, right?
Sure enough, one driver after another refused to take him where he wanted to go. Bangkok taxi drivers hate inconvenience, as you know. His hotel was probably out of their way, or they needed to refill the gas tank immediately, or something.
Eventually, mall staff managed to find a willing taxi driver. (The city will be presenting him with an award later on.) Taecyeon didn’t mention the incident in his subsequent posts on the social networks, but witnesses swiftly spread the word on Twitter, and soon all the Thai fans of K-pop were sharing their own taxi horror stories.
ASTV Manager Online picked up the foul fumes and broadcast the story further. “Thai taxi drivers show they’ve maintained their ‘good’ service level,” its headline grumbled.
And on Facebook, TofuPopRadio lamented, “Even brother Taecyeon is refused by taxi – oh, my, you really have arrived in Thailand for real!”
Thai Values miniaturised
The government’s plan to give users of the Line app free stickers promoting its “12 Thai Values” has stirred debate. It’s a waste of money to some, while others applaud the idea as good public relations.
The discussion ensued after the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology announced that it was going to spend Bt71.2 million on the stickers for free download on New Year’s Eve.
Facebook simmered with criticism of the government’s lame PR team, while consensus mounted on Twitter that this is a typical approach by any government to spread its message.
“If not Line stickers, would you like to see vinyl signboards erected all around the city?” @DeFirenze asked rhetorically. We’d like to see neither, came the response, and instead have the money spent on more essential projects.
Humour made a welcome appearance amid the chatter.
Some joked that they can’t wait to see the stickers, the giggles deriving from the difficulty involved in incorporating hefty notions like “Discipline, respect for law and obedience to the elderly” in a graphic image the size of a postage stamp.
Another value, “Genuine understanding of democracy with the King as head of state”, is also going to require considerable compression. And the stickers also have to be visually appealing if they want anyone to actually start using them in their posts.
Well, Soopsip can see at least some good coming of this. The stickers haven’t even been unveiled yet, but everyone’s already talking about the 12 Thai Values. Maybe not such a bad plan after all.
