Critiquing the 'Cime'eh' Habit in Minangkabau Culture

Cime'eh—perhaps this term is new to many readers. The author, too, finds it somewhat challenging to precisely define what cime'eh truly is. What is certain is that cime'eh is a Minangkabau word (often known as Bahasa Padang) that roughly refers to the act of criticizing or commenting on others' actions. These comments are typically insulting, mocking, and so forth. So, why did the author choose to address this topic? One reason is the author's frustration with the habit of Minangkabau people (and perhaps many Indonesians in general) who seem to take great pleasure in commenting on others' actions. The author—who is also part of the Minangkabau tribe—cannot fathom why this cime'eh habit is so prevalent, almost becoming a cultural norm in society. As a small example of cime'eh, one day the author observed a child eating. Indeed, the child's eating style was somewhat different from the norm; the child ate very slowly, taking small bites (not as much as people usually do). Then, the child's parent commented, "It's tiring to watch you eat like that. Blah blah blah blah." From this, a thought emerged in the author's mind: "The child is the one eating, so why is the parent making such a fuss with comments? Let them eat however they want—as long as it's still reasonable—the important thing is that the food gets finished." This is just one small example of cime'eh in society. For a more complex example, the author has a visually impaired cousin living in West Sumatra. Often, when he tries to board public transport, he hears remarks from other passengers like, "Geser seketek Kiah!" (meaning: "Move a little, Beggar!"). Whether they are unaware or for other reasons, I am puzzled why visually impaired people are always equated with Pakiah (Minangkabau, meaning beggar)? Perhaps visually impaired friends in other parts of Indonesia have experienced similar situations. Returning to the issue of cime'eh, it is indeed difficult to eradicate this habit from society because it has long been deeply ingrained, especially in Minangkabau culture. In this writing, the author does not intend to disparage any culture or tribe. Here, the author merely wishes to convey that cime'eh is an undesirable habit. Everyone has their own way of doing things, so refrain from commenting on or criticizing others' actions, even if they seem strange. If you wish to offer advice, do so in a better way, not through criticism.