Disclaimer: The purpose of this thread is to ask a simple question. If you just want to read the question then skip to the last line of this post. If you feel uncomfortable answering the question in public, I'd just like you to contemplate it for yourself, since I think that it is something we all should give some thought to. I'd actually discourage anybody from answering untruthfully in such a case. It is a case in which it is better not to say anything than to delude oneself with one's own lies if the truth is too much to bare (or to discuss in public).

However, if you'd be so kind and indulge in the ramblings of a man who has been assured throughout most of his life that he's "lost it" then carry on reading. Thanks for your time.

This is going to sound strange to some, but one thing that I absolutely love about Cambodia is that it brings out the worst in people. Most of us have grown up in christian/humanist first world countries. We've enjoyed the benefits of living in a society that will protect us and in which we will succeed as long as we follow the rules and don't step out of line. If we get sick we will get treatment. If we can't find a job we get unemployment benefit. If somebody harms us we can call the cops. Over all, even if you take some risks, there's always a safety net. When you fall you might break your legs, but you're probably not gonna die from it. Cambodia takes all of that away. If you are self reliant in Cambodia (by that I mean that you don't get an allowance or a pension from back home) you really and truly are self reliant. Everybody's too caught up in their own struggle to give half a shit about your problems. It's the jungle and if you don't fend for yourself, nobody else will.
This changes things. In a caring society you have reasons to act responsibly and kindly toward everybody else. These reasons aren't even based in religion or philosophy. Instead they are based on pragmatism. If you don't act in an anti-social manner you will enjoy the benefits from living in a christian/humanist modern first world country. If you do choose to act anti-socially then society will stomp on you with a vengeance. It's a deal. Your part is to care about society whilst society is keeping an eye out for you, the "upstanding citizen".
So what happens if you have a society in which your well-being is of absolutely no concern to anybody except yourself? If the collective doesn't concern itself with the well-being of the individual, the individual doesn't have any pragmatic reason to care about the collective's well-being, rules or norms. As the individual loses a motivation to follow the collective's moral code it becomes it's own arbiter in deciding what is the right and what is the wrong thing to do. You want to go out and have unprotected sex with prostitutes? Go ahead! You'd like to sell drugs for a living? That's your choice! You want to ride your motorcycle whilst being drunk? What's keeping you? You want to buy a gun and become some sort of wannabe gangster? The only person that holds you back is yourself.
The freedom that is being granted to you by society by disenfranchising you, means that you can truly be yourself. Despicable people will act despicably whilst decent people will act decently. You can be the most vile son of a bitch anybody has ever had the misfortune of bumping into, or you can be an example of ethical behavior and empathy. The dude who's acting like an asshole here, but doesn't do so in his home-country has always been an asshole. The difference is that he is upfront about it now. So this leads me to the question(s).

Where do you draw your own line?/What is your moral code?

Wow very insightful, powerful message in that post. I completely relate to everything you wrote.
Living here has taught me to never take things for granted and I often told people who asked me how do I like to live here "It's great, I love it. I just need to never have troubles with justice and never fall seriously sick."
It's too early to answer your question but I will certainly think about it.

Thanks for the great food for thought.

"To ride, shoot straight and speak the truth"
Jeff Cooper

Jeff had it right the first time.

My moral code is "gas, grass, or ass... No one rides for free!"

To be true to myself.

Treat the other guy how you'd want to be treated. JC.

Man this rings very true about me, esp the security part. Never thought about it before. In term of your question, never thought about it either. I bum around like I was back home but with heavy responsibility this time. Mind my own business and try not to hurt and harm anybody.

I guess I'd say something about my own code too.
Don't steal from the poor.
Don't hold anybody above critizism. (especially yourself)
It's OK to use violence to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.
Everybody deserves a chance to prove his worth to you irrespective of his origin or ideas.
Don't mistreat people who can't fight back.
Don't let your pride lead you to become arrogant and act as if you're infallible.
Everybody should be held accountable for his words and his actions.
Don't do illegal drugs.
Fuck the police.

I try to assimilate to a point. but obviously I cannot. I walk amongst you but I em not one of you.

I try to represent My place of origin as best as possible...to my co workers and students. Not be a sleaze. Look Clean and professional. Be somewhat of a good Catholic in a loose way.

I do explain to everyone trying to scam me. If you scam me out of a dollar or 2 thats less money for me to give to the old poor lady. The more you do it the less money I give generously.

I have zero remorse for the accidents.

Jacket wrote:I guess I'd say something about my own code too.
Don't steal from the poor.
Don't hold anybody above critizism. (especially yourself)
It's OK to use violence to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.
Everybody deserves a chance to prove his worth to you irrespective of his origin or ideas.
Don't mistreat people who can't fight back.
Don't let your pride lead you to become arrogant and act as if you're infallible.
Everybody should be held accountable for his words and his actions.
Don't do illegal drugs.
Fuck the police.

How about dont steal period Jacket?!?!?! Fuck the Police but why not respect the rule of law?