You know I would think the viewing audience would use common sense by filling in some aspects of the show that really doesn't need explaining.
Since you fired that one at me, I'll respond to your allegations:
Like the fact that you have American agents going to a foreign country where foreign native language is spoken, that there would be some logistical prep work done ahead of time. For example, making sure Thai officers who can speak English is assigned to work the case with the English speaking American agents.
Perhaps you missed the part where the
one Thai officer was assigned to them. They were expecting others, but he was it. He did speak English. Your allegation is correct, and my OP did not cover this since it was not a factor.
Next,
If in fact a translator was required...they most likely would have prearranged that as well.
Perhaps you missed the part where the female FBI agent that was on sabbatical met them there and worked as their translator. Note the liaison Thai officer could have performed this function as well- and based upon the anti-female sentiment of the Thai police, IMO this would have been the proper thing to do. My OP did mention the FBI agent not translating, as she gave the profile in English, not the native language. Another member has alleged that the translation was after the fact, however those that watched the episode saw it took place in real time, consistent with my OP.
I don't just criticize, I like to offer solutions. As with many deficiencies with modern police shows, this stems from poor quality writing. The proper thing to do would to have shown the female FBI people giving the profile to the Thai liaison officer, and then in the background he could have been shown giving it to the other officers. This would not have taken any extra time to perform. It was dumb for Sinise's character to intentionally rile the host police by using females. That action fits into the thread title.
I'd suggest paying closer attention to the program prior to making unfounded allegations. That's just common sense to me.
Found an IMDB troll? Remember:
The best thing you can do is report + ignore them.
reply
share
nubyan
9 years ago
Yes...there was one lead Thai officer assigned to them. I am aware of that fact. However, you are making assumptions that he was the only Thai that spoke and understood English. In my opinion, he was not.
reply
share
darkavenger77
9 years ago
However, you are making assumptions that he was the only Thai that spoke and understood English. In my opinion, he was not.
And neither of us can definitively prove they did or did not, so it is a difference of opinion. The research I did and posted earlier in the thread indicates English is an infrequent second language in Thailand (emphasis added):
...prompted me to look up the stats and apparently for the overall population about 27 percent speak English. One US State Department report stated "Tourist Police generally speak English, and many metropolitan police also have some English-speaking ability."
I found it difficult to believe that all of the cops did so. It made no sense since the chick that could speak Thai was there that she did not translate it.
The preponderance of the evidence is that only
some of the Thai officers shown at the briefing would have
fully understood English. What makes this more unbelievable is that a profile would likely use terms not easily understandable to someone that only has
some capacity for the language. For example, didn't the briefing use the term "unsub" w/o any explanation? Use that with a lot of cops in even a large city in America and some will not know what it means- unless they have watched this show or the one where it originated.
Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters
reply
share
nubyan
9 years ago
But, you must admit...da77, that when the American agent was giving her profile of the Unsub to the Thai officers...as you so pointed out, one of the officer's was engaged enough to give a nod with respect to what the agent was saying.
I would consider that sufficient proof that they all spoke and understood English.
You can't expect the writers to neatly place everything in a nice box with a pretty bow. They're expecting the audience to know as much.
Afterall, they only have 45 minutes to tell the story.
reply
share
darkavenger77
9 years ago
You can't expect the writers to neatly place everything in a nice box with a pretty bow. They're expecting the audience to know as much.
Already addressed as a solution, see below. Minimal if any extra effort required to to it correctly, so why take the time to do it incorrectly? Things such as this are why shows used to
utilize and listen to technical advisers. Either they are not using one, or the adviser is being ignored. I saw similar lengthy debates on a military-based program a couple of seasons ago, and the military veterans noted the same thing about the advisers. I trusted their input due to their life experience.
I don't just criticize, I like to offer solutions. As with many deficiencies with modern police shows, this stems from poor quality writing. The proper thing to do would to have shown the female FBI people giving the profile to the Thai liaison officer, and then in the background he could have been shown giving it to the other officers. This would not have taken any extra time to perform. It was dumb for Sinise's character to intentionally rile the host police by using females. That action fits into the thread title.
Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters
reply
share
nubyan
9 years ago
As you said before...although not by the same words, you and I don't see eye-to-eye regarding this subject. So, with that said, I respectfully agree to disagree. How do you feel about that?
Will you be watching the next episode(s)? If so, we may find ourselves debating another show topic. Either way, it was a pleasure corresponding with you.
reply
share
darkavenger77
9 years ago
As you said before...although not by the same words, you and I don't see eye-to-eye regarding this subject. So, with that said, I respectfully agree to disagree. How do you feel about that?
Will you be watching the next episode(s)? If so, we may find ourselves debating another show topic. Either way, it was a pleasure corresponding with you.
Sounds good to me. It's always a pleasure to have a reasoned debate that does not denigrate into juvenile name calling.
Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters
reply
share