I don't think there's a group of people anywhere on earth where it can be said that honesty is a value; I can find plenty espousing it as a value but finding it in practice is rarer than snowflakes on the surface of the sun. It's not a Khmer deficiency but a human one. "Oh, but I never cheated on my exams!" is a lovely thing to say until you remember that invigilation, etc. in the West is so strict that getting caught is nearly guaranteed. If the system is set up to accommodate cheating, most people will choose to cheat and if it's set up to punish you severely (no exam grades cripples your chances of finding work) and you're likely to get caught, you won't cheat.

Our own societies are not paragons of virtue. It's just that we've developed legal and social methods of control.

TheGrinchSR wrote:I don't think there's a group of people anywhere on earth where it can be said that honesty is a value; I can find plenty espousing it as a value but finding it in practice is rarer than snowflakes on the surface of the sun. It's not a Khmer deficiency but a human one. "Oh, but I never cheated on my exams!" is a lovely thing to say until you remember that invigilation, etc. in the West is so strict that getting caught is nearly guaranteed. If the system is set up to accommodate cheating, most people will choose to cheat and if it's set up to punish you severely (no exam grades cripples your chances of finding work) and you're likely to get caught, you won't cheat.

Our own societies are not paragons of virtue. It's just that we've developed legal and social methods of control.

I agree. Was suggesting Khmers were not unique paragons of virtue.

samouth wrote:I bought a piece of pineapple for $0.50, then when a barang went to buy it, the price went up to $1. I then talked to the seller and he got the same price as me.

Do not, ever, tell that to SCC/Juanpotato, that would only feed his obesssion

SCC was the barang in question, samouth is the guy who started the whole saga.

the grinch wrote:I don't think there's a group of people anywhere on earth where it can be said that honesty is a value; I can find plenty espousing it as a value but finding it in practice is rarer than snowflakes on the surface of the sun

I beg to differ, there is one notable exception. I lived in Japan for about a year (20 years ago but still) and I experienced that klnd of honesty on numerous occasions.

Cab drivers will routinely chase you if you forget something in their cars, even a wallet or a phone. Don't try to leave a tip, they would often think you dropped some change inadvertently and would come after you as well.

I had an hilarious experience with Akiko, a japanese coworker. At a week end company party a French guy and myself were chatting her up, asking her if sh'e'd had a good day. She said "oh yes, I was very lucky, on the way here I found a wallet with 20000 yen" (about $200 back then). So we go "hey, you'll have to invite both of us for dinner next week then, and you'll still have plenty of change "

She then replied "what do you mean?"
- well, you found 20000, the least you can do is show some solidarity towards your colleagues !
- Oh but I gave it back of course !
- Uh ? What do you mean, give it back ? Did you see who lost it ?
- No, the money was on the floor in the subway, no wallet, so I picked it up and of course I brought it to the koban (police box)

The french guy and I then looked at each other and at her as if she were a martian, then we continued with some questions
- Akiko .... what time did you find the wallet ?
- about 10pm when I got off the subway
- and where exactly was it ?
(we got the exact location and details from sweet Akiko)

On our way out , we both did the obvious thing and rushed to the police box. Where extremely suspicious japanese cops gave us the third degree when we reported a loss of 2 new 10000 yen notes, that must have fallen out of my pocket when I took out my subway pass. They still took down name, tel, address and confirmed the money would be mine if nobody claimed it in the next 30 days.

We'd almost forgotten about the story but 30 days later, as punctual as a bullet train, I did get a call from the jap cops : nobody claimed the money so I could come get it.

We went to the koban together and got it after signing some paperwork. We then got back to the company and told Akiko "thank you Akiko, thanks to you we could get back the 20k you had found in the subway"

Her reply was the absolute cherry on the cake :
-Ohhh really ! I'm so happy ! So you were the one who had lost the money then !

logos wrote:

the grinch wrote:I don't think there's a group of people anywhere on earth where it can be said that honesty is a value; I can find plenty espousing it as a value but finding it in practice is rarer than snowflakes on the surface of the sun

I beg to differ, there is one notable exception. I lived in Japan for about a year (20 years ago but still) and I experienced that klnd of honesty on numerous occasions.

Cab drivers will routinely chase you if you forget something in their cars, even a wallet or a phone. Don't try to leave a tip, they would often think you dropped some change inadvertently and would come after you as well.

I had an hilarious experience with Akiko, a japanese coworker. At a week end company party a French guy and myself were chatting her up, asking her if sh'e'd had a good day. She said "oh yes, I was very lucky, on the way here I found a wallet with 20000 yen" (about $200 back then). So we go "hey, you'll have to invite both of us for dinner next week then, and you'll still have plenty of change "

She then replied "what do you mean?"
- well, you found 20000, the least you can do is show some solidarity towards your colleagues !
- Oh but I gave it back of course !
- Uh ? What do you mean, give it back ? Did you see who lost it ?
- No, the money was on the floor in the subway, no wallet, so I picked it up and of course I brought it to the koban (police box)

The french guy and I then looked at each other and at her as if she were a martian, then we continued with some questions
- Akiko .... what time did you find the wallet ?
- about 10pm when I got off the subway
- and where exactly was it ?
(we got the exact location and details from sweet Akiko)

On our way out , we both did the obvious thing and rushed to the police box. Where extremely suspicious japanese cops gave us the third degree when we reported a loss of 2 new 10000 yen notes, that must have fallen out of my pocket when I took out my subway pass. They still took down name, tel, address and confirmed the money would be mine if nobody claimed it in the next 30 days.

We'd almost forgotten about the story but 30 days later, as punctual as a bullet train, I did get a call from the jap cops : nobody claimed the money so I could come get it.

We went to the koban together and got it after signing some paperwork. We then got back to the company and told Akiko "thank you Akiko, thanks to you we could get back the 20k you had found in the subway"

Her reply was the absolute cherry on the cake :
-Ohhh really ! I'm so happy ! So you were the one who had lost the money then !

It's a social construct in Japan not an individual value system. I agree that it's a nice way to live... but I don't think I'd want to put up with the rest of Japanese culture (particularly work culture) for this benefit.

I think the point is that it's much more common to get ripped off as a tourist in Vietnam than in Cambodia. It's usually for small stuff, but it adds up and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when it's almost relentless.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote:I think the point is that it's much more common to get ripped off as a tourist in Vietnam than in Cambodia. It's usually for small stuff, but it adds up and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when it's almost relentless.

That, yes.

i have never thought is as being "ripped off"
but call it a "white tax"

the sellers operate on a very small mark up for their goods so why not try and get a few Riel , Bhat, Kyat, extra from someone that, they presume, has more money than a local

as to the pineapple in question, one could always go buy at the supermarket , where the price is fixed for everyone.