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In Egypt, when you are in a position of power - for instance, captain, CEO, president - you aren’t actually responsible for anything. It’s more of a sinecure, w

In Egypt, when you are in a position of power - for instance, captain, CEO, president - you aren’t actually responsible for anything. It’s more of a sinecure, where you are there to be honoured and pampered by your underlings. This seems to be a universal law there - any time I’ve done business there’s been some lavish lunch with the CEO while he talks about his horses, and then negotiations with Farid from accounts. So… the captain in this case is just abiding by Egyptian customs. He is, in his and his crew’s estimation, the most important person on the boat, and is to be protected at all costs.

ty6853 2y ago
It's quite interesting as other Islamic countries I've been to will guard guests with their life and will basically starve themselves to make sure you eat. Protection of guests is a pillar of the culture and religion in most the Middle East. If you are anywhere east of Egypt and you knock on a door you can pretty much bet that unless you're arrested or killed immediately you are absolutely safe.
- steveBK123 2y ago
  Pretty big caveat on that last sentence..
  - ty6853 2y ago
    Sure, but nice to find out quickly at least :) To be fair I was arrested immediately once in Kurdish Iraq... They just took me to go to wait at a hotel on my own honor and took my passport. After my friend and I were interrogated they decided we were good people and told me I could go anywhere I liked and gave me a police card if I needed help to make sure that happened, lmao.
- YZF 2y ago
  I don't think the divers on a dive boat are considered guests of the captain. So yes the custom exists but it's very nuanced.
- madaxe_again 2y ago
  I think it’s the colonial influence - the French and the British officer classes basically just swanned around in hedonistic luxury, idling away their days, and gave people Ideas about what “being in charge” looked like. These ideas are strongly heritable.

ty6853 2y ago

It's quite interesting as other Islamic countries I've been to will guard guests with their life and will basically starve themselves to make sure you eat. Protection of guests is a pillar of the culture and religion in most the Middle East. If you are anywhere east of Egypt and you knock on a door you can pretty much bet that unless you're arrested or killed immediately you are absolutely safe.

steveBK123 2y ago
Pretty big caveat on that last sentence..
- ty6853 2y ago
  Sure, but nice to find out quickly at least :) To be fair I was arrested immediately once in Kurdish Iraq... They just took me to go to wait at a hotel on my own honor and took my passport. After my friend and I were interrogated they decided we were good people and told me I could go anywhere I liked and gave me a police card if I needed help to make sure that happened, lmao.
YZF 2y ago
I don't think the divers on a dive boat are considered guests of the captain. So yes the custom exists but it's very nuanced.
madaxe_again 2y ago
I think it’s the colonial influence - the French and the British officer classes basically just swanned around in hedonistic luxury, idling away their days, and gave people Ideas about what “being in charge” looked like. These ideas are strongly heritable.