Biggest Thai protest in years cheers calls to reform monarchy

"You can drive out the prime minister, but don’t talk about the king,"

While I usually comment on sexual taboo, one taboo is as crazy as the next. I don't think one should attempt to put context on the above comment, such as believing it actually means you cannot talk "bad" about the King. I am pretty sure the actual state of affairs is you just don't talk about the King at all to be on the safe side. Its pure madness. If you cannot talk about a thing you only ensure growing horror surrounding it.

I see two things keeping this taboo going though there may be more. One is a sincere feeling of some people concerning the wrongness of talking about the King. It is based on zero logic and only exists because of a natural human tendency to desire a simple way to condemn, attack and feel superior to others plus the indoctrination that guided that natural tendency to this particular rule. The second reason it exists is because the rightist politicians further it so as to abuse it beyond its original intent to sow fear and have control through that fear. They claim to believe, but don't truly, that criticism of them is criticism of the King, as they are posturing as the pro-King party. They are always on the hunt for anything said against them that they can try and interpret as against the King.

What I don't understand though is blaming the King for all this. The previous King was himself a violator of the "lese majeste" laws! He wanted them stricken down and he never created them either.

I did not know the new King was spending all his time in Europe. In a backhanded way this is great for the Thai people! Surely even the "pretend to" love the King folks are losing patience with an absent King!

Thought talking bad about the king is a criminal offense.

Texas A&M Aggie

Thought talking bad about the king is a criminal offense.

I dont think they are talking about the king directly, they are protesting for a reform of the system. That said, while his father was very much respected, the current king, who spends his time partying with his harem and pet poodle in a luxury hotel in Bavaria is not.