Don't pay attention to what you hear in our news. Anytime American news channels talk about other parts of the world they over exxagerate the danger there is out there to Americans. I was in Batam, Indonesia during the Dec. 2000 christmas church bombings. CNN had my mom scared sh*tless because she new I was in Batam, and that was where one of these 'terrible bombings targeted at americans was.' I went and saw the actuall church that was 'bombed.' It was an incomplete church in the middle of nowhere, that someone threw a moltov cocktail against. I guess CNN must of had borrowed some writers from the NY Times staff.
Basically don't be an a$$, and you'll be fine. Maybe even take some time to learn about some of the Thai culture and customs before you go.
And, if you want to get real world news, watch BBC World.