What Red Dots?

Round about 4 years ago, I first arrived in Udon. Staying at the Napalai hotel, I was pointed in the direction of Harry's bar. I met the man himself and shared a chat and of course, a couple of beers with him. Learning I was new to town he gave me a copy of the Udonmap to show me the way to the town centre, he also indicated the red dots, don't know why ,maybe a guy on his own, fresh from the wilds of Pattaya, he assumed I would be interested. In fact, although I didn't know it then, I was about to meet the lady, who was to become my wife.(we had chatted on the internet).I can honestly say, that is the only time I have been aware of them. So my point now is,there or not, what difference? They never jumped off the paper and grabbed me, (Anywhere), they never instilled a raging desire in me to visit them, they never really existed , for me, anyway.They exist only for those that want to see or find them, so why all the fuss?However the map proved invaluable, firstly for introducing me to this forum, but that is the subject of my next scribbling.

I endorse the removal of the red spots from the map. I think it brings the map more up market, or should I say, makes it more acceptable to all. It can be used by tourists in hotels, business people, or even schools, and can be openly displayed in any sort of public or business premises, Libraries, or the TAT office, without fear of embarassment or criticism.

If someone wants to know about other nightlife, they can ask Forum members, people who live here, their local hotel doorman, or a tuk-tuk driver, as is the norm in most towns or cities.

It also has the advantage that it doesn't attract the wrong type of people to Udon for the wrong purposes, or under the impression that Udon is another Pattaya or Patong, which it isn't!

I am certainly not prudish, but IMHO Good Move.

These are two very well thought out and spoken post. I applaud Mr. Valentine and Mr. Arjay.

See we can give two sides of an issue professionally.

Thanks Guys

I to agree with Mr Arjay. I think it opens up the map to more sponsors and uses.

I ONLY JUST REALISED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MAP WITH RED LIGHT AREAS . FIRST REACTION WAS TO Ask where I could find it , really not for me but for friends when they come and stay .ie young son etc. Then thought about it and decided I dont want to know and Im sure youn g son will pretty soon find out for himself if he is so inclined ect. Point being I guess if it had been therre I would have gone and looked ,as its not then it really dont matter. I thnk you have it right ajray .

I knew where all the hot spots were in Udon within the space of my first two week visit and years before I knew there was a Udon map. You were told by locals and other falangs regardless of need.
The issue of the removal of the red spots is similar to the debate over the Mohammad cartoons. The right of freedom of whatever is not being oppressed. The editor is exercising that very freedom in choosing to print a quality product that will appeal to a wider group of comsumers.
And for falangs who have no thought beyond what their own needs are, and how they should be expressed, if you cannot find your way to a brothel anywhere in Thailand without a map then how the hell have you survived the very basics for this long.
Frankly I never gave them much thought when I first saw them on a copy of Udonmap. But now I am pleased to see them gone. Why? Because I can now print of a new copy and not have to shudder when my partner produces the new copy of Udonmap here in New Zealand to explain to family and friends her home town.

Some are so very quick to forget, or perhaps not capable of thinking anout others. Think back to before you knew anything much about Thailand. What would your answer have been then to the question "what do you know about Thailand?" Guarentee about 90% of western people would give the same answer.
So before jumping up and down about a few spots on a map, try thinking from a Thai women's (or your own thai wife or girlfriends view if you are so blessed) point of view about the unfair stigma "simple little dots on a map" places on them.

i think it was the tireless "campaigning" by TC that may have had a little help in the scaling down the advertising of certain areas. Me i am not fussed either way, as been mentioned most people already know where and those that don't will find out some other way. so i think everyones happy. any one seen a tuk-tuk ?

I just checked issue 10 of the map. The red dots are there and are described in the legend as adult entertainment. What is so offensive about that.

wokkawombat wrote:I just checked issue 10 of the map. The red dots are there and are described in the legend as adult entertainment. What is so offensive about that.

Exactly; the red dots (squares) indicate

Wokka, I think you'll find Issue 10 is an old edition of the map.

Just to clarify my earlier posting. I have no strong feelings either for or against the red dots. In summary, I am just saying they have been there for the last 4 years as far as I am aware, and haven't affected my life, one way or another.I am just surprised at the strong reactions from either side of the divide. Surely if you are "for" then by now you know where they are. Conversley, if against, then you can just ignore them, a thing I have apparently done for a period of time, without even being aware of it.
It would seem that some of the newer members are seeking out, what could be contentious issues to comment on, without any consideration of whether they directly affect them or not.
Quite rightly, Udonmap have made an executive decision to remove them, it is after all their prerogative. May I suggest therefore, in view of the clamour for them to be available again, they may consider the viability of producing a seperate Udon Nightlife map to satisfy the apparent need.A whole new panorama of places to spend the after dark hours and of course a whole new bunch of potential advertisers.The demand seems to indicate the need for a totally commercial product. You can sell it

Sorry BM, like most things in life at my age, I have many ideas but never see them through to fulfilment

sorry deleted that post by mistake.

i said there's a buissness oppertunity for valentine in producing his own map and bagging some nightlife sponsors. and making big money (or not) something like that any way.

Huu, how did I get here?
search on Udon map got me here, so I registred, because I moved to Udon on feb 01.

And have no problem with the red dods, just happy I asked for a map at Charoen hotelwhen I stayed there last Januari.

More info is better that less info and I don't understand why people have problems with dots they never go to.
I don't go to bars, should I shout I want them removed??? No sir. Some need bars for a drink isn't?

My final word on the subject, I promise. The removal of the red dots on commercial grounds, ie: they don't contribute to the cost of Udonmap so why give them free advertising, is to me valid. What I don't accept is the removal on moral grounds.When the map publishers accept ad submissions from bar owners who are no less than pimps, having girls for ,and actually encouraging , the rent of the same girls for sexual services.I am sorry , I couldn't find a nicer word that was appropiate to the situation.You pay the bar owner for taking the girl off ,a sum of money, far in excess of her loss of earnings for the evening.Can anyone think of a more appropiate word?Ashamed to say, most of the aforementioned are farangs.

In an earlier post, I suggested that the webcam in the Aussie Pub be disconnected. At that time, I was unsure about my proposal and stated that it was only an idea. I asked myself many times whether I was over reacting to its contribution to the attraction of punters to Udon and the associated deterioration in the quality of life in the city (which I