Jingjok
Careful what you post: defamation is criminal
mìn-bprà-mâat
In Thailand หมิ่นประมาท is a criminal offence as well as a civil wrong, and it covers social media posts, group chats and online reviews. Being right is not automatically a defence: the question is whether you damaged someone's reputation, and whether you were making fair comment in good faith on a matter of public interest. Hotels, clinics and individuals have filed complaints over angry reviews, and foreigners are not exempt. Most cases end in a settlement (ยอมความ) with an apology and payment, because defamation is compoundable, but the process can still mean police stations and court dates. Describe your own experience factually, leave out insults and guesses about motives, and don't name private people.
Try this today
Reread your last angry review or post and remove anything that is opinion about a person rather than facts about the service.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Law and bureaucracy deep” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.