OPINION

A losing game

Re: "Get tough on stock market misconduct", (Opinion, March 26).

It's been amply proven that most day traders, especially in bear or stale stock markets, lose money over time. Investors are seduced into trading by brokers. They often make all the classic mistakes, ie selling out their winners, while holding on to losers, and not using stop loss orders, etc.

So in time, the broker loses both traders and investor clients, while both may end up shying away from the stock market and brokers for a long time or forever. "Burned once, twice shy". Hence, not a good business model for brokers or investors.

Shaken trust

Re: "Thai watchdog had flagged concerns on building that collapsed in earthquake", (BP, March 31).

As an undergraduate student in Thailand, I am deeply saddened and concerned about the collapse of the unfinished 30-storey tower for the State Audit Office during the recent earthquake. This incident raises serious concerns about the integrity and oversight of our country's construction projects.

Lesson in graft

Re: "Govt 'slow to react' to tremors", (BP, April 1).

Now there is something all young Thais need to remember for the rest of their lives. A huge, partly constructed building collapses in seconds into a pile of rubble. A few weeks ago, there was a minor story of a factory getting caught producing a poor quality product that did not meet specifications, and the usual lack of governmental control and no follow-up investigation, which lead to a disaster of monumental proportions, with many deaths.

This is where corruption leads. Look at who is involved and see if they ever get convicted.

Groundless claims

Re: "Jittery workers flee buildings in capital", (BP, April 1).

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced, "There will be no additional earthquakes". If the all-knowing governor has foreknowledge of earthquake timing, then why did he not warn us of the first one?

Meanwhile, those who study the matter and forecast seismic activity professionally indicate aftershocks are highly likely for the next 10 days.

Seismology is an arcane science and one full of controversy. The occurrence of seismic waves, their energy, and propagation through the earth is dependent upon a vast array of interdependent systems which include not only the earth's composition, the presence of fault lines, moving tectonic plates, and a liquid core, but also gravitational and electromagnetic forces from the sun, moon, and tides. Like climate change science, it is no place for amateurs.

Quake prayers

Re: "Stay safe", (Cartoon, March 31).

The drawing depicting 1.20pm on Friday was most appropriate in how it showed things flying around while a grown-up man was hiding under a desk.

That was exactly where I was on the 33rd floor of an office building, praying in Thai and English, instead of rushing to a fire exit while the space was swinging.

I was influenced by a clip made to teach Japanese schoolchildren how to behave if they are suddenly hit by an earthquake.