A Thai Boys Perspective

[Dodger]

Talking to Jai this morning I asked him for his opinion regarding the decline in Thai boys working the scenes in Pattaya. His response was not surprising as he considers factors such as e.g., aging population, fewer Gen z, economic improvements with more available jobs, and increase in dating app popularity, as being the primary reasons.

He went on to say that there’s simply no compelling reason for a boy to work in a bar anymore - when selling his services on one of the dating apps is so much easier, convenient, less intrusive, with just as many opportunities, if not more, to hook up with a willing customer.

He noted that ladyboys are sometimes the exception because they like to go to the bars just as much for the fun as they do to hook-up and are sometimes less inclined to confine themselves to “dating app world”. This is consistent with the M.O.’s of the ladyboys in the past as well.

I particularly liked Jai’s final thoughts on the subject when he said: “Prostitution no good…too many diseases…too many ting tong people…too many drug addicts…too much bullshit…and no future”.

That’s my boy…

[Jun]

He went on to say that there’s simply no compelling reason for a boy to work in a bar anymore - when selling his services on one of the dating apps is so much easier, convenient, less intrusive, with just as many opportunities, if not more, to hook up with a willing customer.

I agree.
Yet lots of them still do work at the bars.
There are boys who work at the bars and are rarely on the apps. Some of those only appear online at about 4:00 am. Some might appear on the apps every 3 or 4 days. There are some bar boys who don't work the apps.
There are boys who do both, regularly.
There boys on the apps, who rarely or never show up at bars.

“Prostitution no good…too many diseases…too many ting tong people…too many drug addicts…too much bullshit…and no future”.

The majority of the money boys in Pattaya seem to be from Laos & Cambodia, where there are fewer opportunities.
The minimum wage in Cambodia is $200 per month. That's approximately equivalent to 5 short time customers. Anyone good at his job should clear that in a week. So in a lot of cases, these boys are doing the only thing that allows them to earn sensible money.

I have considerable respect for that.
I have less respect for the way some of them squander the money, when it's fairly obvious that they will often need a different career in their thirties.

As for perspective, well it's easy for educated Westerners or even middle class Thais.
However, what would each one of us do, if we were a 20 year old Cambodian lad, with negligible education, a not very supportive family & if our only assets were good looks and a can do attitude ?
I'm not suggesting any would start working in Pattaya, but do take time considering the alternatives and comparing with the lives we have had.