clutchcargo wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:45 pm

Cam Nivag wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:27 pm

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:17 pm
I mentioned the KR coz it set this country back I dunno how many decades and they are still trying to catch up to a lot of their neighbors in terms of achievements. Let's not forget they took everything back to year 0 and killed off all their intellectuals..and that was only 40 years ago.

You said earlier that the Khmer Rouge killed half the population and that's untrue it was a quarter of the population or less.

Have you ever been to Rwanda? A good percentage of that country was butchered 25 years ago and now it's one of the most advance and civlized and prosperous countries in Africa. They have well maintained roads and crosswalks and drivers will stop for you if you're walking in one.

"Oh, poor Cambodia, take pity on it, it's still recovering from the Khmer Rouge" is a cop out at this point, 40-45 years on.

As I said before, I believe Angkor Wat is a source of great national pride to Khmers and a symbol of the country's identity bearing in mind their traumatic recent past. Using that symbol in the manner that Amazon has done imo denigrates the country. You and others don't share that view..that's fine. We're all entitled to share our views.

No, I don't think it's a cop out..again, my view. Fine if you disagree.

You and others don't share that view..that's fine. We're all entitled to share our views.

That's right. We will just agree to disagree However!

A toilet seat cover sold on a website that most Khmer can't use anyway creates turmoil and denigrates the country, but Cambodian flags inside and out of hooker bars are ok. The flags have Angkor Wat printed on them though! You see the hypocrisy there?
They're just pissed off because no one in Cambodia is making money off of the damn toilet seat covers! That's really what it comes down to! Since this feeling of getting cheated can't be logically justified, they will use the infamous "you're looking down on Cambodian people/ Cambodia."
Their traumatic past doesn't justify everything. At this point it doesn't even justify 60% of their problems. The Khmer are faced with problems that do not always stem from the KR. I know when the use of "the KR killed my father" is authentic or fake. They've been using this excuse to the fullest. I'm not buying it anymore.
What's bad about always blaming the KR for everything is that it has become a part of the culture. Even if the Khmer are very resilient, there's always that "poor me, the KR bla bla bla. I'm therefore entitled to treat you like a walking ATM" attitude.

My 2cents.

Interestingly, there are a couple of other threads that touch on this issue..albeit they didn't generate much discussion..maybe it's on people's yawn list?

the-rest-the-world/australian-tourists- ... 11005.html

asinine-arena-enter-your-own-risk/manki ... 16685.html

Saddam Hussein had a rug with George Bush's (the elder now deceased) face on it. I forgot where he had put it but it sure got trampled on quite a bit. A lot of Americans took issue with that too.

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:10 am Interestingly, there are a couple of other threads that touch on this issue..albeit they didn't generate much discussion..maybe it's on people's yawn list?

the-rest-the-world/australian-tourists- ... 11005.html

asinine-arena-enter-your-own-risk/manki ... 16685.html

They might be on people's yawn list because the situations are very different from the toilet cover thing? If you don't see the difference between foreigners stripping at a GP wearing speedos with the country's flag printed on them (muslim country!) and selling Angkor Wat toilet seat covers for the western market, well...

Since you mentioned Borat... Kazakhstan was hot when the movie came out. Sacha Baron Cohen pretty much ridiculed the entire country with that awesome movie. He apologized and people went on about their lives. Couldn't say the same about the Khmer and apparently some of the expats... And we're talking about a toilet seat cover smh...

rubberbaron wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:34 pm Saddam Hussein had a rug with George Bush's (the elder now deceased) face on it. I forgot where he had put it but it sure got trampled on quite a bit. A lot of Americans took issue with that too.

Now we're comparing two countries that have a history of conflicts with Amazon.com and Cambodia.

Did Amazon publish a video of people pissing and shitting all over the damn toilet seat covers, yelling "we must eradicate Cambodia"? Do you now see how the two instances are completely different?

Queef wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:34 pm

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:10 am Interestingly, there are a couple of other threads that touch on this issue..albeit they didn't generate much discussion..maybe it's on people's yawn list?

the-rest-the-world/australian-tourists- ... 11005.html

asinine-arena-enter-your-own-risk/manki ... 16685.html

They might be on people's yawn list because the situations are very different from the toilet cover thing? If you don't see the difference between foreigners stripping at a GP wearing speedos with the country's flag printed on them (muslim country!) and selling Angkor Wat toilet seat covers for the western market, well...

Since you mentioned Borat... Kazakhstan was hot when the movie came out. Sacha Baron Cohen pretty much ridiculed the entire country with that awesome movie. He apologized and people went on about their lives. Couldn't say the same about the Khmer and apparently some of the expats... And we're talking about a toilet seat cover smh...

Didn't we at least agree this issue isn't such a big deal in the scheme of things?

I suspect it's more likely on ppl's yawn list coz of this.

Rightly so, the situations are different but at the heart of it in these instances...isn't it about cultural disrespect and insensitivity? ie resulting in an insult to the country?

As an aside, I have a friend who recently worked on a contract in Kazakhstan. Yes, they've moved on with their lives but despite the apology they still hate him apparently.

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:56 pm

Queef wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:34 pm

clutchcargo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:10 am Interestingly, there are a couple of other threads that touch on this issue..albeit they didn't generate much discussion..maybe it's on people's yawn list?

the-rest-the-world/australian-tourists- ... 11005.html

asinine-arena-enter-your-own-risk/manki ... 16685.html

They might be on people's yawn list because the situations are very different from the toilet cover thing? If you don't see the difference between foreigners stripping at a GP wearing speedos with the country's flag printed on them (muslim country!) and selling Angkor Wat toilet seat covers for the western market, well...

Since you mentioned Borat... Kazakhstan was hot when the movie came out. Sacha Baron Cohen pretty much ridiculed the entire country with that awesome movie. He apologized and people went on about their lives. Couldn't say the same about the Khmer and apparently some of the expats... And we're talking about a toilet seat cover smh...

Didn't we at least agree this issue isn't such a big deal in the scheme of things?

I suspect it's more likely on ppl's yawn list coz of this.

Rightly so, the situations are different but at the heart of it in these instances...isn't it about cultural disrespect and insensitivity? ie resulting in an insult to the country?

As an aside, I have a friend who recently worked on a contract in Kazakhstan. Yes, they've moved on with their lives but despite the apology they still hate him apparently.

We sure did!

It is about cultural disrespect and insensitivity, even if there's absolutely nothing disrespectful and insensitive about toilet seat covers, once again. This oversized sense of pride and sensitivity among the Khmer is the main issue here. I'm sure they got that god awful trait from the French. Only the French can display such a high level of misplaced pride (they still didn't get mad or offended when they started being labelled as "freedom fries" btw).

If I were Kazakh, I wouldn't like him either. He did make fun of the US as a whole, but he went ham on Kazakhstan! His movie was culturally disrespectful and insensitive, but so were all his movies and shows. That's his bread and butter right there.
I wonder what would happen to Cambodia if Sacha Baron Cohen decided to become a tuk tuk driver, a ladyboy, or an NGO worker for a day. They would probably all jump off Japanese bridge after not receiving any apologies from him.

Remember the problem with cultural disrespect and insensitivity regarding selling coffee in China's former imperial palace.

Starbucks closes coffeehouse in Beijing's Forbidden City JULY 15, 2007

BEIJING — Starbucks has closed a coffeehouse in China's former imperial palace, the company said, ending a presence that prompted protests by Chinese critics who said it damaged a major historical site.

The controversy over Starbucks at the 587-year-old Forbidden City in Beijing has highlighted Chinese sensitivity about cultural symbols and unease over an influx of foreign popular culture.

The Starbucks store opened in 2000 at the invitation of palace managers, who needed to raise money to maintain the 72-hectare, or 178-acre, complex of villas and gardens. But critics said the move was inappropriate. An anchor for Chinese state television led an online protest, saying the coffeehouse diminished Chinese culture.https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/worl ... 64994.html

Queef wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:05 am

pczz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 2:42 am I wonder if trump would be a good picture to use. or maybe the UK Royal Family or Bezos and his Mrs, his and hers set. The Shite house set perhaps?
Somehow this just seems totlaly unacceptable to me. Real trailer trash souvenirs

Why is it unacceptable to you? Please explain. I'm having issues understanding why the Khmer are getting so butt hurt about this. It's just a toilet cover. it's not like people are gonna shit on it.

I know the Khmer don't have much to be proud of. I mean, let's face it, they don't have anything to show besides Angkor Wat. So instead of embracing the fact that people that have never visited Cambodia may consider purchasing something that represents Cambodia, why do they get pissed off?

The last time the Khmer had sandy vaginas was when some Thai company was selling drawers with Angkor Wat on them. Should the French get upset because some US company sells underwear with the Statue of Liberty on it? Should Donny sue the company that makes unflattering inflatables with his face on it? No. But Trump will sue.

And yes, it's an old people/ trailer trash thing. So?
Not really souvenirs since the items are sold on Amazon.

Khmer are chill people but they gotta get over themselves. Too much whining and bitching for the wrong reasons.

It is unacceptable because it is a religious and national symbol. Do you think anyone would approve if it was the church of the holy sepulchre in jerusalem being used as a toitet seat cover, or notre dame cathedral, or Buckingham palace or the Alamo or the American flag ?Certain things are very importnat to the people of a country and using them as toilet furniture is just plain ignorant and insulting

pczz wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:37 am

Queef wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 11:05 am

pczz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 2:42 am I wonder if trump would be a good picture to use. or maybe the UK Royal Family or Bezos and his Mrs, his and hers set. The Shite house set perhaps?
Somehow this just seems totlaly unacceptable to me. Real trailer trash souvenirs

Why is it unacceptable to you? Please explain. I'm having issues understanding why the Khmer are getting so butt hurt about this. It's just a toilet cover. it's not like people are gonna shit on it.

I know the Khmer don't have much to be proud of. I mean, let's face it, they don't have anything to show besides Angkor Wat. So instead of embracing the fact that people that have never visited Cambodia may consider purchasing something that represents Cambodia, why do they get pissed off?

The last time the Khmer had sandy vaginas was when some Thai company was selling drawers with Angkor Wat on them. Should the French get upset because some US company sells underwear with the Statue of Liberty on it? Should Donny sue the company that makes unflattering inflatables with his face on it? No. But Trump will sue.

And yes, it's an old people/ trailer trash thing. So?
Not really souvenirs since the items are sold on Amazon.

Khmer are chill people but they gotta get over themselves. Too much whining and bitching for the wrong reasons.

It is unacceptable because it is a religious and national symbol. Do you think anyone would approve if it was the church of the holy sepulchre in jerusalem being used as a toitet seat cover, or notre dame cathedral, or Buckingham palace or the Alamo or the American flag ?Certain things are very importnat to the people of a country and using them as toilet furniture is just plain ignorant and insulting

Funny thing is, I found toilet seat covers with Notre Dame, Buckingham Palace, Alamo, and the American flag. Amazon has got them all! I guess either everyone approves, or no one gives a flying f..k! And that, my friend, is exactly the kind of attitudes the Khmer should have in that kind of situations! It would prevent them from looking like a bunch of cry babies with nothing better to do.

Certain things are very important to people, that's a fact. However, most people know when something should be taken seriously and when it shouldn't. Common sense, you know... Involving the Cambodian Ambassador in this non-sense is another sign of the Khmer being waaayyy too sensitive over trivial issues. But then again I am expecting solid critical thinking skills from a population that pours hot molten lead over a bomb that failed to explode a few decades ago....