talltuktuk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:32 pm I have to say this because I’m still pissed about it. I said a lot of this in another thread but I’m saying it again. If you didn’t participate then this admonition doesn’t apply to you.

Over the 3 days of KNY in SR I witnessed a large number of White people (presumably Westerners) participating in the festivities with water guns. I witnessed alot of people (of all races present) intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the face with the waterguns. A lot of these people getting shot at were riding motorbikes. Others were walking and getting shot at nearly point blank range. It goes without saying that this is incredibly dangerous and stupid. The government realized this and banned it last year for safety reasons. There did not appear to be a ban this year and people went right back to the same asinine behavior.

The local culture may not fully understand or appreciate the implications of blasting someone (riding a motorbike or otherwise) in the eyes with a high powered water gun. But someone from a fully-developed and advanced country absolutely should. Granted, riders should be wearing face/eye protection while riding, but this makes no difference when 6 people are aiming for your face at the same time and blinding you with water. I witnessed several Barang intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the eyes and face with water guns - I was even hit myself by a white woman who laughed at me as she did it. Eye protection or not, these water guns are powerful and can cause real damage to people. Aside from the physical damage inflicted by a high powered stream of water, many people are using dirty water which is now getting forced into the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth of those getting hit. This is supposed to be a Khmer celebration (of which you are a GUEST), not a free-for-all to be an aggressive asshole to the people who live here.

I’ve often observed many Barangs (ex-pats or otherwise) behaving inappropriately because 1-everyone else is doing it, 2-they don’t respect the local people and culture (as shown by their behavior), or 3-they are a white person with money and privilege and the rules don’t apply to them. As an American expat, this embarrasses and angers me to no end. You do not get to come to this (or any other) country and do whatever you want. There are cultural and common sense rules and norms here that you should be observing and respecting even if other people aren’t. As someone from a developed nation, your should be bringing, utilizing, and sharing the advances we’ve made that helped us develop, not leaving them at the airport because you’re going to the great playground of Southeast Asia.

Rant over, flame away.

talltuktuk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:32 pm I have to say this because I’m still pissed about it. I said a lot of this in another thread but I’m saying it again. If you didn’t participate then this admonition doesn’t apply to you.

Over the 3 days of KNY in SR I witnessed a large number of White people (presumably Westerners) participating in the festivities with water guns. I witnessed alot of people (of all races present) intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the face with the waterguns. A lot of these people getting shot at were riding motorbikes. Others were walking and getting shot at nearly point blank range. It goes without saying that this is incredibly dangerous and stupid. The government realized this and banned it last year for safety reasons. There did not appear to be a ban this year and people went right back to the same asinine behavior.

The local culture may not fully understand or appreciate the implications of blasting someone (riding a motorbike or otherwise) in the eyes with a high powered water gun. But someone from a fully-developed and advanced country absolutely should. Granted, riders should be wearing face/eye protection while riding, but this makes no difference when 6 people are aiming for your face at the same time and blinding you with water. I witnessed several Barang intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the eyes and face with water guns - I was even hit myself by a white woman who laughed at me as she did it. Eye protection or not, these water guns are powerful and can cause real damage to people. Aside from the physical damage inflicted by a high powered stream of water, many people are using dirty water which is now getting forced into the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth of those getting hit. This is supposed to be a Khmer celebration (of which you are a GUEST), not a free-for-all to be an aggressive asshole to the people who live here.

I’ve often observed many Barangs (ex-pats or otherwise) behaving inappropriately because 1-everyone else is doing it, 2-they don’t respect the local people and culture (as shown by their behavior), or 3-they are a white person with money and privilege and the rules don’t apply to them. As an American expat, this embarrasses and angers me to no end. You do not get to come to this (or any other) country and do whatever you want. There are cultural and common sense rules and norms here that you should be observing and respecting even if other people aren’t. As someone from a developed nation, your should be bringing, utilizing, and sharing the advances we’ve made that helped us develop, not leaving them at the airport because you’re going to the great playground of Southeast Asia.

Rant over, flame away.

talltuktuk wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:32 pm I have to say this because I’m still pissed about it. I said a lot of this in another thread but I’m saying it again. If you didn’t participate then this admonition doesn’t apply to you.

Over the 3 days of KNY in SR I witnessed a large number of White people (presumably Westerners) participating in the festivities with water guns. I witnessed alot of people (of all races present) intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the face with the waterguns. A lot of these people getting shot at were riding motorbikes. Others were walking and getting shot at nearly point blank range. It goes without saying that this is incredibly dangerous and stupid. The government realized this and banned it last year for safety reasons. There did not appear to be a ban this year and people went right back to the same asinine behavior.

The local culture may not fully understand or appreciate the implications of blasting someone (riding a motorbike or otherwise) in the eyes with a high powered water gun. But someone from a fully-developed and advanced country absolutely should. Granted, riders should be wearing face/eye protection while riding, but this makes no difference when 6 people are aiming for your face at the same time and blinding you with water. I witnessed several Barang intentionally aiming for and shooting people in the eyes and face with water guns - I was even hit myself by a white woman who laughed at me as she did it. Eye protection or not, these water guns are powerful and can cause real damage to people. Aside from the physical damage inflicted by a high powered stream of water, many people are using dirty water which is now getting forced into the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth of those getting hit. This is supposed to be a Khmer celebration (of which you are a GUEST), not a free-for-all to be an aggressive asshole to the people who live here.

I’ve often observed many Barangs (ex-pats or otherwise) behaving inappropriately because 1-everyone else is doing it, 2-they don’t respect the local people and culture (as shown by their behavior), or 3-they are a white person with money and privilege and the rules don’t apply to them. As an American expat, this embarrasses and angers me to no end. You do not get to come to this (or any other) country and do whatever you want. There are cultural and common sense rules and norms here that you should be observing and respecting even if other people aren’t. As someone from a developed nation, your should be bringing, utilizing, and sharing the advances we’ve made that helped us develop, not leaving them at the airport because you’re going to the great playground of Southeast Asia.

Rant over, flame away.