Hipster travel blogger talks cultural sensitivity mishap in Cambodia, makes it all about HIM

[Joon]

https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/S ... l-41077028

I just skimmed through because I couldn't go through the self-centered observations that probably make up 75-80% of that piece.

In a nutshell, hipster travel blogger is obsessed with taking perfect pictures for social media, doesn't follow rules and sensible consideration for national heritage, gets told off by Cambodian park minders, overly dramatizes the whole incident and makes it all about him, his boyfriend, his feelings and his hipster adventure in post-conflict, exotic Cambodia.



An excerpt (after he and his group had been pulled up by the park guards):

We walked a good 50 yards in utter silence. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. The sweat would not stop pouring from my head. I was in a country where mass genocide had taken place a few decades ago. I knew nothing about the laws, rules, religion, or punishment, and from the looks on the Germans' faces, neither did they. A memory of Michael Fay came flooding back into my head. He was an American who was caned in Singapore when I was younger for light vandalism and theft. It made international news and caused major tension between America and Singapore. There was an outcry for his release from the American public, but in the end he was sentenced to time in jail and whipping with a wooden cane six times. Was I the next freaking Michael Fay? Would Obama be calling for my release in the rose garden?

I just disgraced a sacred temple. Was that worse than defacing a car? Sure seemed like it might be. Don't mess with religion. A Buddha seems a lot more important than a Beemer around these parts. It may have been the sweltering heat and deafening silence that added fuel to my anxiety, but I was sure sh*t was about to go down.

We came upon another guard who in no way looked friendly. In broken English he asked us who was at the top of the temple. I immediately confessed and made it clear it was not Brandon. I was still hoping that killing them with kindness would save me from one less skin-tearing whip of the cane or maybe provide me with an extra portion of food in prison. The Germans followed my lead one by one, and thankfully they too said Brandon was not involved. The guard gave Brandon his pass back. This was a huge sigh of relief for me. If Brandon was free, he could at least make his way to the American Embassy to get Obama on the line.

And there are things he describes about the Cambodian characters in his story that made the "BULLSHIT" sign flash in my mind.

[Playboy]

Sounds like a TwatFlannel Hipster, shame they do not do public flogging or cane people here.

Meh. Something witty.

[gavinmac]

His boyfriend is a black man named Brandon. Of course he is.

Without hesitation I handed Brandon my camera and started my way to the stairs. I did realize that the gate, which held a sign that pictured a stick-figure man climbing stairs with a big red line going through it, meant DO NOT CLIMB. Brandon tried to stop me because he didn't think it was a good idea. To which I replied something like, "Oh, he's just the rule follower in this relationship," and rolled my eyes.

I thought the gays were better behaved than this.

[LTO]

When I read this a couple of days ago I thought he was a girl.

Anyway, interesting take on it. Thought it strange when I read it but couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly was wrong, but I think you got it. It's all about him (her?) and his millennial self analysis.

[Hanno]

His boyfriend is a black man named Brandon. Of course he is.

Without hesitation I handed Brandon my camera and started my way to the stairs. I did realize that the gate, which held a sign that pictured a stick-figure man climbing stairs with a big red line going through it, meant DO NOT CLIMB. Brandon tried to stop me because he didn't think it was a good idea. To which I replied something like, "Oh, he's just the rule follower in this relationship," and rolled my eyes.

I thought the gays were better behaved than this.

Of course he does everything for his CV, he probably is a fully-paid member of the KKK, voting Trump, but hey, anything for a career.....

[Joon]

When I read this a couple of days ago I thought he was a girl.

Anyway, interesting take on it. Thought it strange when I read it but couldn't quite put my finger on what exactly was wrong, but I think you got it. It's all about him (her?) and his millennial self analysis.

It was written by a Matthew Rodrigues and the incident didn't prevent him from sprinkling his me-me-me piece with look-at-me vacation photos.

[finy]

Joon,

That is how the world works these days. Young people build their personal brands and amass a social media following in order to make money. Of course the piece is going to be about him. I very much doubt PopSugar paid him money to write an editorial piece on Cambodia. It was likely a free guest post to build his cred + help PS make more advertising money.

They don't have the benefit of affordable houses, stable jobs for life, etc.

On a side note: he actually outperformed Johnny Depp on why you shouldn't break the rules in a foreign country.

The bit about his bf tearing him a new one was a bit too much information.

[Notorious9]

Hipsters are fags delete this shit!

[mrdome]

Look at the bright side, people committing moronic acts such as this one means we don't have to anymore to find out the potential outcome. Who knew they had this mini re-education camp at Angkor Wat? If they kinked it up a bit with a serious dominatrix theme, some folks would probably pay for the experience

And finy is right, these youngsters are being taught that they have to become their own brand on social media and such blog /fb & instagram posts are the result.

[Lostmanout]

It was almost painful to read, it was so boring. For once in his life this entitled little millennial learned a lesson-- "OH, I NEED to blog about this!"

[boomer]

I thought the gays were better behaved than this.

These are clearly extreme gays, unlike those moderate gays sitting side by side in the back of a tuktuk...

[KPTIC]

Exotic post-conflict Cambodia is long gone for the most part. It has been replaced by quickly globalizing fast-food franchise and shopping mall welcoming Cambodia. This hipster is a tool.

[Lucky Lucan]

I think he missed the whole point anyway. I would guess that the guards were pissed off because this guy was doing cartwheels and was quite likely to bust his own head besides anything, and they just wanted a quiet day. I've worked on a fair few events, and there's usually a good reason why an area is roped off. So if I was guarding that place, the religious significance/ cultural pride would take a backseat to the fact that this imbecile is jumping over barriers for fucking selfies. I'd be pissed off with the disregard for rules which are in place so tourists don't fall down holes or wander onto crumbling/ recently excavated areas etc.
His description of his incarceration was gripping, fire-ants and impending doom and wincing about being caned etc, then being told off in a very stern manner. Someone needs to get the movie rights to this story, fast.

[DetroitMuscle]

Joon,

That is how the world works these days. Young people build their personal brands and amass a social media following in order to make money. Of course the piece is going to be about him. I very much doubt PopSugar paid him money to write an editorial piece on Cambodia. It was likely a free guest post to build his cred + help PS make more advertising money.

They don't have the benefit of affordable houses, stable jobs for life, etc.

On a side note: he actually outperformed Johnny Depp on why you shouldn't break the rules in a foreign country.

The bit about his bf tearing him a new one was a bit too much information.

Some real and valid points. Judge the kid, but understand the whole me me me thing could just be him dreaming, eventually of $$$