One conceit of news reporting is that if you draw attention to the stupid things people do, people will do fewer stupid things. Whelp, no. What a delicious bounty of schadenfreude 2014 brought us, namely the people responsible for the following stories. Prepare to #SMH all over again with the following most-epic fails of the year.
Recap 2014: Most popular stories of the year
Recap 2014: Weirdest stories of the year
Recap 2014: The year’s biggest dramas
1. US ‘Bumfights’ producers caught sending baby body parts, human skin as ‘toys’ from Bangkok
Unsatisfied with their decade-old infamy for exploiting homeless people, two American dudes came to Thailand to achieve new levels of douchebaggery. In November Ryan McPherson and Daniel Tanner were caught trying to ship a baby’s head, foot, sheets of human skin and human heart by DHL back to the United States. After letting them go, the police figured out the body parts were all stolen from the Siriraj Hospital Medical Museum. By then these two wonderful examples of humanity had fled to Cambodia. Nothing has been heard of them since then.
2. In Prayuth’s ‘Thai Values,’ school children love painting Hitler
There’s just sumthin’ about Hitler, who time and again pops up in the most inappropriate places. In a short propaganda film produced by the junta to promote Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha’s “12 Values,” Adolf Hitler’s ugly mug popped up in a segment promoting “Thai democracy.” Two young boys were seen fawning over their loving portrait of the fuhrer. After hearing the collective groans, the film’s director couldn’t understand how using the imagery as a cheap device to make a point in his little morality tale could upset anyone.
3. Durex called out for ‘courtesy rape’ post
Durex Thailand was forced to apologize for a really stupid online campaign that appeared to trivialize – or even encourage – rape. “28% of women who say no give in at the end,” read an infographic with what appeared to be an invented “statistic” about women giving in to sexual violence. Real classy, guys.
4. Prayuth: Women in bikinis may not be safe – unless they’re ugly
Speaking of misogyny and apologies, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha drew global condemnation for suggesting tourists put themselves at risk of violence by wearing swimsuits in Thailand, unless they were unattractive, days after two young Britons were brutally murdered on Koh Tao. “They think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere … but can they be safe in bikinis… unless they are not beautiful?” Prayuth apologized for his comments.
5. ‘I Hate Thailand’ star comes clean: Video funded by TAT
It was a rough year for the national image. Social upheaval, political unrest, horrific crimes, overthrown governments – and that was all in the first few months. So how do you burnish the Thai brand to turn around declining fortunes in the ever-important tourism sector? Find a heartwarming tale to underscore the kindness and warmth of its people? Great idea. But that’s would be a lot of work, so why not just make up a fake story and pass it off as the truth? That’s exactly what the Tourism Authority of Thailand did, planting the story of “James” in media which breathlessly reported it as reality and was widely accepted as fact. As we said before, there are countless true stories of kindness and generosity to tell that story.
6. Badass kindergartners sit on crocodile in school’s field trip
Back when we were kids the world didn’t hold your hand and suck your thumb for you. All the sharp edges weren’t covered with foam and surrounded by velvet ropes. When you saw an enormous, carnivorous creature, you didn’t maintain a safe distance, no, you listened to your teacher and hopped right on that thing.
7. Mall’s Chinese New Year ad has an eye for the politically incorrect
Herro, you likee buy big discount handsome man? You likee racially insensitive marketing campaigns? Retailer Central Pattana pulled a Chinese New Year promotion and apologized after some were offended by an image of a Caucasian model making a distinctive, anachronistic gesture once commonly used to denigrate Asians.
8. Man falls off roof while seeking Wi-Fi to play Cookie Run
Remember those two months we were all playing Cookie Run nonstop? Sanit Puengsangchan was so consumed by his run for the cookies he fell off a rooftop while trying to steal free Wi-Fi to play his favorite smartphone game. He busted his leg, but being a good sport, he later re-enacted the incident to everyone’s great amusement.
9. WTF: Third-grader shows off her skills behind the wheel (VIDEO)
Babies are cute. Making their first steps, speaking their first words, driving their first long-distance haul. Wait, what? A young girl became the talk of the kingdom after a video emerged of her driving the family car while her father filmed her from the back seat. Dad later bragged about how often and how damn well she drove. Said he never gave a thought to the fact it may be kind of a totally stupid and irresponsible thing to do.
10. Apocalypse Quite Soon: ‘Female Nostradamus’ warns Bangkok’s doom is days away
We love a good scare and announcing on television that we’re all about to die – horribly – is a guaranteed ratings winner. TV oracle Kanjira Kanjanaket promised as much in February, and gave a specific list of the things that were going to kill us, from sinkholes to collapsing dams. Ultimately, we’re we’re glad she was just talking out of her ass.
Related:
Recap 2014: Most popular stories of the year
Recap 2014: Weirdest stories of the year
