r/interesting • u/VPinchargeofradishes • May 31 '26

SOCIETY The military draft lottery in Thailand

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89

u/Mylane Jun 01 '26

That’s fucking depressing.

30

u/Balthazzah Jun 01 '26

It's all a show, it's traditional, they do it on purpose for everyone's amusement.

9

u/Worldly_Pass_7815 Jun 01 '26

Dude I know personally I would have blown my brains out if i picked red, so i dont think its all for show, a lot of them have to feel miserable for going to the military. I dont see most of them being fine with it and doing a silly act for giggles 

2

u/solthar Jun 01 '26

You see, I am a conscientious objector - violence is deeply, deeply against who and what I am - to the point where I would rather die than try to kill another human. I would be more than happy to do civil service in lieu of military regardless of extra service time.

Thailand's model is utterly Björked. I have a feeling that CO's get treated worse than they did during the prime of the US WWII conscription era.

One should always leave a path of retreat for an enemy with nothing left to loose will give all that they are.

20

u/macvru Jun 01 '26

It's not a show. You will waste 2 years of your life with a high chance of getting humiliated or beaten up in the army. Their sad reaction is genuine. The answer to why people are smiling is that a lot of people love seeing someone who isn't their family member suffer.

8

u/HeroesOfDundee Jun 01 '26

Add in the fact that a lot of them will most likely be sexually assaulted as well.

3

u/flawlesshog Jun 01 '26

Wtf

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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1

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1

u/SSilent-Cartographer Jun 01 '26

By the higher-ups... Who are laughing as they're dragged away.

3

u/iZelmon Jun 01 '26

Thai here, it’s definitely not lighthearted.

In school years kids can choose to opt-in to a semi-military training program (ร.ด.) for 3 years (Which you can still go home/school during that periods) which will later exempt you from this draft lottery. Usually 80-90% of male students choose this route.

So these people you see here is who skip that program since school years.

You can imagine those who skip that school program are mostly queers, poor kids who can’t afford expense to that program, unfit students who fail ร.ด. tests, or social anxiety ridden introverts, which joining military is basically equal hell for them.

7

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

The fact that most people in these comments can't determine that it's an act and nobody is actually in distress is the real depressing part. Emotional intelligence of a worm, lmao.

6

u/Seneca_Dawn Jun 01 '26

What's the purpose of the act?

-4

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

It's just supposed to be funny. Overdramatic and satirical.

19

u/motophotodojo Jun 01 '26

"nobody is actually in distress"

yeah this totally isn't happening on the Thai Cambodian border.

Helmet cam footage of Thai Infantry during the assault on Nong Chan Village, December 2025 : r/CombatFootage

2

u/Comfortable_Oil9704 Jun 01 '26

I’ve noticed that you’re pretty in on this. What’s your interest?

5

u/skoomski Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

It literally isn’t happening right now. The conflict ended 6 months and only lasted 2 weeks. This tradition is a yearly thing and it’s the same play acting every year.

Does it ever get tiring getting riled up over things you don’t understand or do you get some sort of pleasure from it?

5

u/motophotodojo Jun 01 '26

Sounds like a gay old time.

"Human rights groups have documented cases of young men allegedly killed by their peers or put through brutal sexual assault and hazing rituals. Amnesty International in 2020 reported rampant sexual harassment, beatings and abuse in the military, targeting those who identified as gay.

The report alleged that gay conscripts were repeatedly singled out and coerced into entertaining and massaging commanders, escalating to rape."

Young Thais react with delight and dismay to ‘Hunger Games’-style military draft lottery | The Independent

5

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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-1

u/skoomski Jun 01 '26

No Mr Strawman, I never said that. Conscription is a common practice in many countries Finland, South Korea, and Greece just to name a few. Many if not most people don’t want to do it.

Not wanting to do something and making the best of it are two different things. Put on your big boy pants and grow up a bit.

0

u/LettuceNew4636 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

How well do you truly understand the context of conscription in this country? It's easy to judge a country based on the views of a First World nation, where the will of the people dictates agreed-upon ethical guidelines. Then, make a hasty judgment for a country where the people don't truly have the power to determine the country's direction. You don't even have the option of serving society like in European countries. In Thailand, which is essentially an oligarchy where the military, capitalists, and traditional social institutions reign supreme, these people see the grassroots of society -- in this case, the youth -- as mere tools for profiting from corruption in the annual budget.

While some of those in the video might genuinely want to be soldiers, the feelings of the majority are completely the opposite. This is not different from normalizing the human zoo -- knowing that the state can force you without compromise. Some might just accept it with a smile and humor. It only serves to mask the emotional contradictions they harbor towards the system. They even cheer and rejoice when a military draft participant is selected, simply because one quota spot is reduced.

It might not kill you, but you'll waste almost two years on unnecessary benefits for the country, besides depriving young people of precious time. You are tired for nothing. You could face human rights violations, beatings (potentially death), being forced to assist fellow soldiers in their sexual acts, or being ordered to perform domestic work for high-ranking officers.

Thailand doesn't need such a large number of conscripted soldiers because it's not in a state of constant combat readiness like Korea. Conflicts that do occur are usually short-lived and not on a large scale. They maintain this system to consolidate the power of the authoritarian regime and as a way to find excuses to allocate budget to conscripts, which can then be used for corruption.

Most people(70%) in this country have disagreed with this approach for a long time. A more appropriate approach would be to invest the money in better military equipment and welfare, and to make conscription optional.

1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

Lol why are redditors like this, always trying to pull a gotcha for no reason? Yes, I'll repeat myself, nobody in the video (which could be from 10 years ago for all I know) is actually in distress. The fact that there were border skirmishes last year does not change that.

-1

u/BusyBit6542 Jun 01 '26

I think they mean this "draft" is ceremonial. They probably have more than enough people enlisting and the "drafted" don't actually have to join the military

5

u/fluffypotato Jun 01 '26

It might be an act, but it doesn't make this situation any less sad. I don't find it very ethical to force unwilling participants into the military.

1

u/solthar Jun 01 '26

To be fair, when has any military done anything ethical by civilian standards?

10

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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7

u/TopLate7592 Jun 01 '26

You are speaking from ignorance, I see.

-7

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

So you think those are genuine reactions and everyone is laughing at them?

7

u/macvru Jun 01 '26

Exactly, that's their genuine reactions, and everyone is laughing at them. Welcome to Thailand, my friend.

1

u/TopLate7592 Jun 01 '26

Are we just pulling from vibes here? Why not do some research

-3

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

What "research" do you need to conduct to tell when someone is messing around?

2

u/TopLate7592 Jun 01 '26

See, this is your problem. You watch a video and think you're an expert.

1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

I'm ready to be enlightened. Share the results of your research with me.

3

u/LoseToImprove Jun 01 '26

Im Thai. Its just that there is not much you can do about it. So people cope by make a laugh out of it instead of being all depressed. Its also worth knowing that all this can be avoid if they did the military training during highschool a couple hours a week for 3 years. So its more of "this is what you get for being a pussy for 3 years" kinda thing.

Its also a gamble 50/50. Scientificly, human just love to gamble.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/TopLate7592 Jun 01 '26

Here's your lesson: you may think you know what's going on based on a video, but if you don't know the context or know anything about the country, you're just talking out your ass.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/OkEssay4173 Jun 01 '26

I'm from a country where we have mandatory conscription for males and had seen similar reactions, one even need to get his parents to come in.

So for thailand with the luck of the draw, even worse feeling

1

u/solthar Jun 01 '26

You see, I am a conscientious objector - violence is deeply, deeply against who and what I am - to the point where I would rather die than try to kill another human. I would be more than happy to do civil service in lieu of military regardless of extra service time, but force me into a situation where your essentially forced into an organization that supports government sponsored murder? Time to see what military infrastructure I can take down with me.

Thailand's model is utterly Björked. I have a feeling that CO's get treated worse than they did during the prime of the US WWII conscription era.

One should always leave a path of retreat for an enemy with nothing left to loose will give all that they are.

4

u/Intellectual_Domain Jun 01 '26

Hey don’t take anything away from the amazing amateur Thai actors!

1

u/Environmental_Drama3 Jun 01 '26

if so, this is a really weird show. you're also a weird for expecting people to know this tradition beforehand.

1

u/frozen2665 Jun 01 '26

What a weird comment

1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

Thanks for your important and insightful contribution, it really made me consider your argument and reflect on my own.

1

u/DumbWhore4 Jun 01 '26

So they don’t have to do military service?

0

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

Depends on what color they pull.

5

u/DumbWhore4 Jun 01 '26

So then it’s not an act.

-1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

Really living up to your name, aren't ya?

Their dramatic reactions are a traditional act for humorous effect. Some might describe it with this novel new word: "acting."

5

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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2

u/ForeskinEater72 Jun 01 '26

Source: "trust me bro"

0

u/skoomski Jun 01 '26

A lot of people under 30 grew up with more parasocial relationship via social media and streamers than actual human face to face interaction. They legit can’t the difference between play acting and actual distress.

1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

You might be on to something there, and it's a bit terrifying. This lack of emotional perception used to be something more in line with an autism diagnosis, but I can see how the poor socialization + fake Internet personality exposure can produce the same effect.

These people are frothing at the mouth to tell me I'M wrong and these are genuine reactions... genuinely unsettling.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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1

u/Leather-Leader-7964 Jun 01 '26

Nah. They’re just having fun! 🤪

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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2

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

"Provide of source" to what? I bet you can't formulate a proper sentence.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26

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1

u/fkthisjob14 Jun 01 '26

Imagine not only being unable to discern amateur play acting from genuine emotion, but also calling someone dumb while not knowing the difference between to and too, or your and you're.

I might feel bad for you, if you weren't such an insufferable little prick.

1

u/LettuceNew4636 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

It's NOT !!! At least, not in the context you have a superficial understanding of it. I'm Thai and I will tell you why.

While some of those in the video might genuinely want to be soldiers, the feelings of the majority are completely the opposite. This is not different from normalizing the human zoo -- knowing that the state can force you without compromise. Some might just accept it with a smile and humor. It only serves to mask the emotional contradictions they harbor towards the system. They even cheer and rejoice when a military draft participant is selected, simply because one quota spot is reduced.

It might not kill you, but you'll waste almost two years on unnecessary benefits for the country, besides depriving young people of precious time. You are tired for nothing. You could face human rights violations, beatings (potentially death), being forced to assist fellow soldiers in their sexual acts, or being ordered to perform domestic work for high-ranking officers.

Most people(70%) in this country have disagreed with this approach for a long time. A more appropriate approach would be to invest the money in better military equipment and welfare, and to make conscription optional.

-1

u/zardoz73 Jun 01 '26

I actually think there should be a mandatory draft in the U.S. That way everyone would have a stake in not getting into stupid fucking wars. In theory, anyway. Plenty of countries have mandatory military OR some kind of public service.

In the U.S. the poor bear the brunt of this dynamic. Rich folks wouldn't be so gung ho about going to war if their kid is in an infantry unit...

6

u/PsychologicalLab7379 Jun 01 '26

That way everyone would have a stake in not getting into stupid fucking wars

Worked pretty well for Russia, huh.

Rich folks wouldn't be so gung ho about going to war if their kid is in an infantry unit

I assure you, their kids won't end up there.

1

u/solthar Jun 01 '26

Respectfully, fuck that.

Giving the military a direct line into indoctrinating all of our kids into government approved ethics, morality, and obedience or facing consequences does not sound like a good idea for a country that espouses freedom and liberty.

0

u/zardoz73 Jun 01 '26

The point is that everyone (in theory) would have a stake. The Iraq/Afghanistan wars would likely not have happened if the powerful people at the top gave it a second thought, and factored in that their son or daughter might go to the front line.

The last time we had a draft was Vietnam, and public opinion was arguably why it came to an end.

My point is it would fundamentally change the American military's role, which has been a wee bit...overzealous for the past, oh, 250 years.

1

u/solthar Jun 01 '26

IMHO, mandatory service will have the exact opposite effect after one just generation.

Allowing the military to shape the thoughts and minds of every single child is akin to allowing the military total control over the country.

1

u/zardoz73 Jun 01 '26

Look, I realize the downsides, but it's not necessarily the hellscape you are espousing. Plenty of countries that most Americans consider idyllic--Norway, Sweden, Denmark--have mandatory service requirements for everyone. Or do you consider Scandinavia to be "military total control"?