Actually, I think liberal / progressive white people (at least in the USA) are secretly the most racist people alive.

No, they just care about the environment more than everyone else. And who can fault them for that?

Actually, I think liberal / progressive white people (at least in the USA) are secretly the most racist people alive. They won't ever admit that they are prejudiced and are quick to judge or correct others who they think are. This is probably because their ancestors killed the red man and enslaved the black man.

Asians tend to hate the group, but like the individuals. The liberal progressives tend to love the group, but hate the individuals. Part of this is because liberal progressives tend to be wealthy, oftentimes with the wealth passed down generations, going back to the Mayflower, etc. Asians, being relative newcomers to the USA, have had to live in shitty neighborhoods at one at or another.

This. In the Netherlands there is the politically correct opinion that racism is a thing of the past yet to this day the one novel addressing the colonialism and slavery practices of the Dutch is still not accepted literature. (Look up Anton de Kom)

In Asian culture, when you are really good at something and devote yourself to it you are appreciated for that alone. When people can, they tend to help you (personal experience). Mainstream culture is only good when it works or is a source or revenue. Apart from that "Western society with its pretentious Western values" is simply a catchphrase for "I know better but I am too lazy to explain why because I am a pink-skinned know-it-all."

If you think I am too critical or cynical look at current mainstream culture. Intellectuals are reduced to sound-bites, too many words is TL;DR and true innovators are not taken seriously until that "innovating nerd" makes millions/billions. Thinking is too difficult for many so societal problems are limited to "for or against" instead of asking "what solution would be most humane and effective?"     

Western society is choking on itself while Asia is quietly eating fresh sashimi with a cup of tea...

I have a feeling many would place them as a sidegrade to something like the HD650

Yeah, pretty much. I think the HE500 is past mid-fi purgatory even though I'm not a big fan of that sound. I didn't bother to put all the potential side-grades at any given position, and since I feel than an HD6xx plus a resolving system is better I skipped that one. And a lot of other stuff that might be consider a side-grade.

What you're talking is more descriptive of Japanese culture. Indeed, without the urushi cup, the price of TH900 should go down substaintially I guess...

From a Chinese background I'd say the highest personal quality to be appreciated in Chinese culture is to get along well with any person, and build a personal network to get whatever you want. Chinese people (that I know of) generally do not appreciate one devoting to something (including knowledge) unless one can capitalize/get fame by it. This is the very reason I got my ass out of China.

I was gonna say I thought that was more apt for honky westerners. Had to read it a couple times to get the crux of your meaning. Being successful is most important. Period. I'd agree with that. Not getting along for the sake of virtue, but personal gain.

Americans actually value getting along with everyone the highest, even if it's just pretend, totally duplicitous and deconstructive. If you look at our Presidential debates, they are the most boring, pussified, mundane exercises in who's the least seemingly idiotic candidate of any democratic country in the world. They actually have to leak made up allegations and character assassination to the press or other fake independent agents to do their dirty work for them.

I will say with Chinese (and Japanese to a lesser extent) there is/was the saving face and don't offend culture, but I find this very regional, class dependent and probably a dying value in modern society. I've been very taken aback by some of the offensive and impolite things I've heard from more recent Chinese and Japanese people, and I'm no shrinking violet. I've heard things from some Japanese youths that made me think if we were back in Meiji era or earlier, they would have been decapitated by a samurai for saying some things. But hey, at least they aren't as bad as Italians.