How did I successfully extend my stay in Thailand during the amnesty period?

@Shelley *******

totally agree about the Immigration office in town, but quite the opposite about the immigration boss at the airport. What he did to me made only the 2nd half of a smiley and courteous response possible, fighting off tears of despair, pleading with him to reconsider jailing me in a room with no bed or bedding, just a mouldy sofa and an equally mouldy curtain someone had ripped off to use as a blanket, and then deporting me... all while recovering from dengue fever (with a doc's note) after a full day's visa run. The reason? He made a record when I told him "for now I'm just traveling but when I have a longterm plan for staying here I will get a proper visa" on my previous arrival. I had spent only 7 months in the country in the last 5 years, all as a tourist. Every single other member of staff was on my side but the big boss was determined to punish me. Moral being that a polite and courteous attitude improves your chances but if you get the wrong person on the wrong day, they can still throw a nonexistent book at you (I had broken no rule or law, it was purely at his discretion - I later discovered the code he wrote in the red deportation stamp represents working illegally. I've never worked in Thailand, I was just trying to enjoy a sabbatical and recover from a breakup of a 7 year relationship, taking my time, spending my money here, harming nobody. If I had responded rudely I would get it, but I was reduced to a sobbing, groveling mess (I bought a condo here and within a couple of months it seemed I was barred from entry, for no reason, with all my worldly possessions still in there) and he was completely unmoved.

I now have to avoid using my local airport every time I want to come home...