Comments by "Roope Reimi" (@Yurikon3) on "First Opium War - Trade Deficits and the Macartney Embassy - Extra History - Part 1" video.

  1. Well, it is always good to add some salt when someone develops positive nicks for themselves.
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  2. About that cultural difference... It is not easily seen by westerner but majority of the world still functions in honor-shame dialect while west functions in innocence-guilt spectre. Nuances of both exists in both worlds. Even The Bible seems to speak more in honor-shame dialect which might have been a reason why there has appeared some strange movements in Christian west, when ancient honor-shame infrastructure is looked up through western lenses. Guilt-innocence is more driven toward individualism, since it appeases: "I have not done anything wrong, so it's a-ok". Honor-shame is more all-around in its matters. It is not merely about the fact that you have not really done anything wrong, it is also about what kind of message of yourselves and your kin you send toward others. Somepeople might consider this unnecessary pomp but in eastern mind, when one composes oneself to look good for the others and respect the situation, it is taken as a mark of humble heart. There is not separation of innards and outwards. Outwards give some denote about one's character. In negative sense it might promote good facade, dark innard. British man's approach to by pass all those middle-men was more serious offence than to give heed. Whence someone was to present himself to great authority, one approaching had to realize his place and recognize hierarchy. By agreeing using middle-men one shows the honor of his character by being able to supercede his "self" and go by the rules. Secondly, the middle man was appointed by higher ruler, so message sent through him was approved way to get things through. By bypassing the messengers, person dishonors the ruler by putting himself up to position alike to higher ruler. It was serious offence which might be hard to grasp for individualist. This same kind of dichtonomy can be found even in The Bible.
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