My gosh they called him Neak, the Khmer equivalent of "you?" What would the reaction be when he's called the Khmer equivalent of "cocksucker?"

Marty wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:03 pm My gosh they called him Neak, the Khmer equivalent of "you?" What would the reaction be when he's called the Khmer equivalent of "cocksucker?"

This from a country that got all bent out of shape because some western diplomat had his foot pointing the wrong way whilst sitting with his legs crossed during a meeting with high level Cambodian ministers. I wish I could find the link to the story.

In a country with so many dire issues that need addressing, Cambodians sure pick odd things to get their hackles up about.

Brody wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:35 pm

Marty wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:03 pm My gosh they called him Neak, the Khmer equivalent of "you?" What would the reaction be when he's called the Khmer equivalent of "cocksucker?"

This from a country that got all bent out of shape because some western diplomat had his foot pointing the wrong way whilst sitting with his legs crossed during a meeting with high level Cambodian ministers. I wish I could find the link to the story.

In a country with so many dire issues that need addressing, Cambodians sure pick odd things to get their hackles up about.

Well, I'm all for politeness and cultural awareness, but they are completely and utterly preposterous.

Marty wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:03 pm My gosh they called him Neak, the Khmer equivalent of "you?" What would the reaction be when he's called the Khmer equivalent of "cocksucker?"

'Neak' isn't the Khmer equivalent of 'you'. In Khmer there's not one single world to address others like in English, there must be over fifty different ways. Picking the wrong one deliberately can be a way to insult someone (and a source of laughter among friends).

Still his reaction is childish and abuse of power.

OK thanks. I sure don't know the language and was just going by what the OP said.

Chheuteal Chrum High School principal Panh Putheara in a screenshot of a video posted to Facebook by his deputy on January 8, 2021.

Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 3:47 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 3:18 pm

Marty wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:03 pm My gosh they called him Neak, the Khmer equivalent of "you?" What would the reaction be when he's called the Khmer equivalent of "cocksucker?"

'Neak' isn't the Khmer equivalent of 'you'. In Khmer there's not one single world to address others like in English, there must be over fifty different ways. Picking the wrong one deliberately can be a way to insult someone (and a source of laughter among friends).

Still his reaction is childish and abuse of power.

What if they had called him vea (វា)?

I take that as a rhetorical question.

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 3:25 pm
Chheuteal Chrum High School principal Panh Putheara in a screenshot of a video posted to Facebook by his deputy on January 8, 2021.

Whether he got pissy or not is not the issue imo.. He states the video was taken at his home, during the holidays ie 'off duty'. Even school principals can 'let their hair down' so to speak in their private time...no?

The insinuation was that coz he's holding a drink and a few cans of beer on the table that he is not a good role model for students to see.

Putting the issue of the student comments aside (acknowledging that they may have had a gripe with him and took the opportunity to get back at him), I do think it was probably best, ideally, the students didn't see the video. In the event too they may not have the maturity to reconcile the principal role model vs the private individual is human after all.

This is where, I believe, the vice principal should have asked the principal whether it's OK to make the video public on FB given the principal's position in the community.

Don't mean to sound sanctimonious coz yeah, easy to pass views with hindsight but I do wonder why this principal is focussed on his defamation by students rather than questioning why the video was ever made public on social media by his vice principal.. I guess they didn't think that far at the time..

I had no idea that "neak" was considered so disrespectful. I struggle with all of the different words for "you" in Khmer and sometimes slip into "neak". But I guess when they are referring to their principal it should be "lok kru", and the students obviously know that.

Further, it seems the principal should be cut a break. It's no big deal to have a beer every now and then.