Road Rage even in Thailand

Who is this guy in the picture nearly in tears?  He is 'DJ Keng', a disc jockey on Sweet FM, a Bangkok radio station.  Last week, he became "bad famous" in Thailand, as my good Thai friend told me, featuring in all the local news and being the talk of town. 

What happened, you may ask? 

Well, one day last week, he was driving along a major road in Bangkok when he had some altercation with a driver in another car.  This inspired him to ram the other car big time, following which he jumped out of his SUV ready to bash the driver with a wheel brace, as one would.  This was all happening in full public view.  As a result, the incident went viral on Thai social media.  After finally going to the police and publicly admitting guilt, his story was then splashed across the local media. 

Being the well known DJ, he was reconized as someone famous and hi-so, an importnat standing in an Asian culture.  Fact is that this is not the first time road rage has occurred in Bangkok, involving someone from 'the better side of town'.  I ask - What is going on? 

After all, Thais are the gentle, dignified people of the region.  Also ones from the upper clases are supposed to be better educated and have better management of their behaviour.  But does all this match reality for you see time and again how angry and ruthless they can get?  You can even see their sense of arrogance in dealing with others. 

My theory is simple, they may be Thai or hi-so but more importantly they are human beings like the rest of us.  I find myself repeating this line like a mantra but this is so for a reason.  Basically, I live in a country where the people are placed by various social forces for various reasons in a near perfect state of recognition.  I see it in Thai tourism campaigns.  Everything and everyone are presented as so perfect. 

Reality is otherwise.  None of us can be tightly defined by our race, culture, religion or ethnicity.  I learn that through living here and experiencing people and everyday life.  No matter who we are, we are all human beings.  We have our strengths and weaknesses, we have our good and bad points.  It is best we know who we are and appreciate who we are in solidarity with the human race.  It does no one any good to over glorify or present perfect pictures of themselves or any person or peoples.  We are all human and we can glory in that.  This way makes life easier and when things go wrong we can more easily manage the situation for the good of all. 

As the present Thai military government says - "We are stronger together".