I can't read the article...it's been censored over here. I got my wallet snatched out of my hand while trying to pay for a motorbike taxi. He dragged me across the pavement for like a good 15 meters, leaving my legs pretty damaged. Luckily I snatched it back from the guy, and I'm almost all healed up now. Also, just from the first day of Songkran, 25 people were killed and 300 were injured. I don't know about the numbers now. Tourists tend to make things more violent when it comes to this holiday, and they also tend to wreak havoc in general when they travel (at least, that's from what I've observed so far). A local, off-the-beaten-path Songkran hangout is incredibly more peaceful and fun and exciting and meaningful than the crazies who shoot at your face on Khao San (the most popular place for Songkran in Bangkok). I've also been picked up by kind drivers via hitchhike here in Thailand, who have even bought me food, and I had quite a number of people help me when I needed directions. I've had sweetheart taxi drivers, and real jerk drivers as well. All that being said, I love Bangkok, it's my home, and I will make my base here. So, Katie is absolutely correct. There is good and bad everywhere. (Ooof, didn't mean to write so much)