Inviting the fury of the Thai public on a matter that is admittedly done and dusted, I cannot help but feel compelled to at least voice my misgivings over the recent “noisy Italian students” incident, especially how it played out compared with another similar occurrence.

By now, most readers are familiar with the details of the viral encounter. A raucous group of young Italians was told by a Thai woman to quiet down on a crowded public train in Bangkok. In defiance of her plea, they chose instead to berate and mock her, going as far as implying that because they had arrived in the country to spend money, they were somehow entitled to do as they please.

Surely, the words and actions of the tourists were cause for repercussion. Their behaviour could not and should not be condoned and it is ultimately correct that they apologise to both the Thai nation and the target of their obscenities.

I support the call for respect towards Thailand, its public spaces and general decency, as well as the condemnation of all acts of disparagement, whether they stem from cultural insensitivity or otherwise.

Having said that however, what was oddly missing from much of the discourse was any sense of restraint or sensitivity to what could be argued was the ignorance and immaturity of minors.

Instead, particularly in Thai language media, there was a kind of gleeful abandon to the backlash against the teens.

In one instance, posts indicated that the hotel where the group was staying had been uncovered and adult men took it upon themselves to appear menacingly at the location.

The seeming majority of comments underneath video of these bullies was supportive, many even goading the more offensive of the students to come out to face the consequences of their display, implying a desire to see a physical altercation.

After coming to a resolution at the Samre police station, the father of the woman who bore the brunt of the group’s ridicule even found it necessary to urge the public to desist from harassing the Italians.

On Friday, it was reported that netizens were so swept up in their virtual bloodlust, it spilled over to a completely unrelated university student in Milan who unfortunately resembled one of the students seen in the mobile phone video.

Again, while the visitors should not be allowed to simply brush off the incident, or that anyone should be allowed to insult public decency without recourse, was the response in this case proportionate to what took place?

Did Thailand react with the understanding and “class” it was demanding for itself?

Queue-jumping flap

Just a few days after the BTS incident, another video surfaced of security staff at the GMMTV International Novel Festival 2026 apparently manhandling a female fan, later reported as a Chinese visitor to the country.

The initial reaction online was antagonistic towards the organisers, based on the belief that the guards had used excessive force. The response was strong enough that the company quickly decided to suspend the security personnel involved while apologising for what happened.

However, it was soon revealed that the woman being shown physically removed had previously attempted to jump the queue and even engaged in an almost 20-minute long dispute with staff upon being asked to conform to the rules.

Witnesses even reported the physical altercation began with the woman at the centre of the video attacking a guard who was attempting to escort her away.

The incident concluded with GMMTV conceding it misjudged the circumstances and lifting its suspension of the staff involved.

What did not take place, though, was a highly publicised campaign to seek a display remorse from the individual who instigated the episode. Did this woman not also display a measure of disregard and disrespect for a public space and the people present here in Thailand?

Interestingly, while the first viral moment would lead to the Italian Embassy issuing an apology on the behalf of its citizens, the second instance prompted the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok to join in the early chorus for GMMTV to take responsibility — before it went silent when the facts painting its national in a poor light emerged.

To be clear, I am not advocating for the pitchforks brought out for the student group to be kept at the ready for any offence that could be construed as demeaning to Thai society. It is that our response to such incidents should be guided by principle rather than passion.

It must also be said that the nationalities in both matters are irrelevant, and I am not seeking to ignite debate about which cultural backgrounds are deserving of which types of chastisement.

The incident at the festival, while generating discussion online, did not lead to threats of violence and unrestrained anger. It did not even seem to lead to pressure on the relevant embassy to step in.

For all intents and purposes, public sentiment was for all the wrongs caused at the event to be righted. Once this was accomplished, any frustration over the matter seemingly dissipated.

The two stories are admittedly not analogous, but that only exacerbates my bemusement over how the case of the Italians played out.

It could be argued that a degree of sympathy was shown in the queue-jumper case, because the person seen being jostled by male security was a woman.

However, very little reference was made to the age of the students on the BTS, beyond its use as a qualifier, even though their status as minors was a reasonable and relevant consideration.

How many examples can be found of Thai youths acting inappropriately abroad? Would we have agreed if they faced such extreme consequences?

If it is respect for Thai society and values that is being demanded, it is these values and practices that must be employed when we mount our response.

My fear is that the example set by the reactions to these two events, and even other similar cases, is that the predominant Thai attitude is to be reflexive and unmitigated.

I do not believe this to be true.

In defending our national honour, I would hope that we do not inadvertently engage in actions that would subvert it.