In general (very general) eastern culture is more patient than western, but I have noticed that when it comes to crypto at least, there is a lot of maximization on the eastern side, and less sense of a global community - more "us vs them". Personally, I would hope that Steem was able to break these kinds of nationalistic traditions and build something where all kinds of people interact together as equals. Long way off from that though.
RE: Raising fundamental questions of decentralization