I don't know whether or not this has any relevance to the premise of this thread... I was at a music party once where some Russians that had flown across from Vladivostok were also present. When it came my turn to play something I passed.

A few minutes later one of the young Russians told me severely that in Russia it is considered very rude if everyone doesn't do their part. If you don't want to sing, he said, then recite a poem or do a dance but do something.