I would recommend that you befriend a Thai who will hang around with you as a companion, translator etc especially in the young Thai hangout places in Bangkok.
You might have to buy the drinks, pay the taxi/bts etc but it will be well worth it.
It will allow you to choose who you wish to approach as touts and freeloaders tend to leave you alone when you have company.
Soi 4 has a lot of Thai freeloaders I find, but the minute you speak some Thai they're gone:
They only want fresh-off-the-plane soft marks.