Annoying flower sellers

[Wrestles4Food]

I want to guage the feelings of other BM's about annoying flower sellers.
We have them all over LOS in bar area's.
The old women park their motorbikes down the street in a dark spot, they send their little children off to sell flowers.
If the kiddie is seen goofing off mum comes down and slaps the kids face hard until there's a stream of tears and snot.
Then the little 6 year old is handed a string of flowers again and is sent back into the night.
This goes on until the bars close, be it 2,3 or 4 in the morning. I hear these kids never go to school.
IMHO never buy flowers or croaking frogs from these people...

 

[xxamethystnightxx]

He's been there. They also call him the Scarlet Pimpernel.

 

[eclecticdoctor]

Agree J-Man - very annoying and underage kids should not be allowed in adult entertainment zones period.

If foriegners all didnt patronise them this malpractice would die out or at least they would pester tourists hopefully during daylight as temples/markets etc.

OK in your bar area they are not too persistant like in BKK but still not healthy for the kids to be exploited like this. :complain:

 

[Ryu]

I think i played Connect4 with this girl in CHiang Mai.

She demanded to play me and I would have to buy some flowers if I lost.

Then when i beat her 3 times in a row (555 ruthless basterd!) she proceeded to repeatedly tell me to fvck off / go home falang. 55555

so i gave her some of her own medicine and repeatedly called her a LOSER! and made the 'L' sign on my forehead LMAO

the girls in the bar said she is not used to losing....obviously. LOL

 

[Shania]

That's not the same thing. Most of us (and them) know the difference between someone who's begging out of necessity, and someone who's begging as just another "scam" to get $$$$$ from the "rich" tourists.

You won't see the flower sellers going up to other Thai people for the same reason you won't see the "touts" trying to make a sale to other Thais, but I don't think I'm saying anything you don't already know.

 

[F. Ken Angry]

.. I have to wave the kids away, IMHO it really is nothign more than Child exploitation..

I suppose a good thing to remember, if you become a consumer you create the demand.

 

[smackxgarden]

There used to be a women who used to go around with a card saying something like "Deaf, dumb and blind. Please can you spare 100baht" or similar.

The first time she handed me the card I went in to my pocket and pulled out my notes and only had a 50 except for the 1000's. So I went to give it to the deaf girl only for her to point at the sign and say "100 baht!"

I just laughed and gave her the 50! Well one out of three isn't bad.......


Edit:

I wonder if she was any good at pinball......... 555555

 

[Bastion Lord Flash Heart]

Yes of course this has been happing since adam was a boy, do you not think there has been beggars, streel sellars and child workers since time began or do you honestly think its only since you've been coming to Thailand?

Foreigners did not create the problem, which foreigner told the Thai to exploit their children for a few bob?? they didn't sit in the bar waving around a few hundred baht speaking out loud about an irresistable urge to buy some flowers, or wooden frogs, did they?

Thaicam, you openly admit to never going to the bars but you join a discussion about persons or situations you can only guess at and it shows.

Why did you never call into MTB to meet some of the regular posters on this forum?

 

[sid]

Yeah, since your very first post.

 

[Katelyn F]

Yes they are annoying but come on guys its Thailand and they are just trying to make a living to survive. I think you're being a bit harsh, recession hitting hard or too tight to spare some loose change to some harmless kids !!!

I dont buy flowers off the kids just give them the odd 20Baht and sometimes a bottle of Fanta...... not a lot but it makes them happy and they are on there way....

 

[lovelylady]

I have a hard time seeing how it can be considered a good deed handing out 20baht bills to kids running around among drunk/high bar girls and sex tourists at 4 in the morning. Giving them 20 baht today is just going to make sure they will be here tomorrow, with their younger brother as well.

If you really want to help the kids don´t encourage the exploitation of them, it is not like the kid has a choice. More money for the adults behind this scam=more kids on the streets=more kids that are not going to get a chance to go to school.

Agree that anyone who is rude to these children deserves a kick on the shin. Just a simple "no thanks" and a smile works.

 

[Ada]

A BM put me onto it last week, tastes like liquid jaffas.es:
but I substituted Tia Maria and OJ for Khalua and OJ.
Not a bad name for a drink anyhoo Denver old boy.

 

[linda2joann]

Great Post Denver. Have to agree with Dennis though. Malibu and Coke?uke: ... Do you sit down to take a piss as well? That's a joke by the way

 

[Quia]

When I was in Koh Samui they wanted to play for 50 baht/game, if I lost I had to pay obv., if I won they just ran. lol

 

[It Girl]

Have to agree with Si here. They are just trying to make a living and I must admit I get very annoyed with people out here on holiday who don't interupt thier conversation and just wave them away with a flick of the wrist like an annoying mosquito without even looking at them or saying a simple 'No Thank you" - Miserable B'stards as far as I am concerned.

Have a laugh with them, spend maybe a 'whole' 20-50 Baht with them and enjoy the flowers, stick them in your 4x4's to make 'em smell a bit better!

If a persons concern is the manipulation of kids then have a go/sort out/voice your opinion about at those people, not the kids trying to make enough for a meal IMHO.

If a, or even several flower seller/s is the most annoying thing in someones life then...........I guess I can't put what I think here.

 

[Sexy Beast 123]

I have to agree that the flower sellers are very annoying in Karon. I'm not sure that giving them money and not taking the flowers is the answer either because I'd bet London to a brick those poor kids are searched for money when they get back to 'base'. A couple of bar owners I know in Karon always keep on hand some treats for the kids, maybe a bag of chips, a bottle of softdrink etc. Plus these guys always make sure the kids get some food if there is a party on. What I see is that this generation flower sellers (girls) are the next generation BG's. They are being conditioned to it every day. Very sad

 

[Glow]

do those objecting to 'encouraging' the exploitation of flower sellers by family, society and poverty also object to bar girls?

 

[stopadeeboomba]

When I get the bunch of flowers shoved in my face I just sneeze really loud... they usually walk away laughing.

 

[ilovejustinbieber(:]

Thaicam you have been asked 3 times and avoided the question 3 times, why do you never visit MTB when you are in Patong????? and why do you never answer the question???

 

[Black Sal]

I need therapy.. I agree with Denver...