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Does it bother you when people talk on smartphones on buses, trains or in restaurants?

47 Comments
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47 Comments
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I vote no but it is shutting out the world when your focus is phone only. Texting and games are big problems to add and I don't think it's socially healthy and you miss real life.

2 ( +5 / -4 )

Doesn't bother me at all.

0 ( +14 / -14 )

It's annoying when it's a foreign male speaking awful Japanese to his wife or girlfriend.

-16 ( +6 / -23 )

Bothers me when they talk in a loud voice, increasingly so when it goes on and on, like with obahans on the bus back to Shikoku from Osaka.

Otherwise just generally with smartphones, people become so switched off nowadays, looking and listening to them with headphones. The only bright thing about it is school kids riding bikes at night in winter wearing black school uniforms and no lights on except their faces lit up by the glows of their screens. There is usually one like that in a group of six or more, so I can see them, a bit, so it is all right!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Its no different to two people having a chat together. Anything wrong with that????

1 ( +12 / -11 )

Depends whether they are just talking or trying to impress everyone within listening distance.

Even then, people who walk while using them, or drive when using them annoy me far more.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Yes of course!? Because obviously the world's for everyone, right?! So It's our common duty to respect each others excistence in our common and prosperous world!!

-3 ( +4 / -8 )

I think a bunch of cackling obaaachan are much more annoying. That can be very irritating.

Walking text people are quite a problem.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Since I have no desire to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, no it does not bother me that I can only hear one person talking. I think that is what is going on when a lot of people express annoyance. What is the difference between a person talking on the phone and talking to someone next to them? Either one could be talking too loud or at an appropriate volume. To those annoyed I say: learn to mind your own business! People talking too loud is your business, otherwise, find your own distraction.

I do find I am annoyed by texting however. You cannot even make eye contact with people anymore. Strangers remain strangers forever. The entire world is becoming anti-social, and its not good.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

They've found in studies that some people cannot filter out one-sided conversations (when they can only hear one side) the same as they can filter out two sided conversations. Our brains are wired to pick up the responses to questions/comments, and when the second person is there, the conversation has a 'natural' feel, allowing us to filter it out and ignore it. But when only one side of the conversation is present, it doesn't have a 'natural' flow, and therefore is harder to filter out for many people, which is why it's so annoying to listen to someone talking on their phone.

People should not talk on their phones in restaurants or the train. Go outside to talk.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

People should not talk on their phones in restaurants or the train. Go outside to talk.

I remember one particularly obnoxious character yelling into his phone on a train when mobiles first took off. The expression of his face when we entered a tunnel was golden. I would not have been surprised if the other passengers stood up and applauded.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

What bothers me most is it's most often the older people who are using their phones in the priority seats.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The funniest thing I've seen was a really old deaf man in a wheel chair speaking on his cell phone in a big hospital waiting area. He kept shouting repeatedly, "NAN DESU KA?" or "NANI?". Usually people are annoyed by such a thing, but everybody was smiling and giggling.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I vote No. It only bothers me when it a long conversation. I voted No because it is part of everyday life weather I dislike it or not.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I voted 'No'. Of course it bothers me if they are shouting, talking extra-loudly, or being obnoxious in general, but that's hardly limited to using the phone. I'd much rather hear someone talking on the phone than a bunch of Obachans shouting to the seats across from them, or even beside them, about how hot it is or how great the local manju is, or a bunch of old men after an enkai. But as I have absolutely no right to interrupt their joy and ask them not to do what it is their right to do, I cannot ask people using a phone, either. And neither can you. Public spaces are not our own, be it the person 'offending' or the people 'being offended'.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Uh, NO... its a "portable phone". It does bother me when they're being annoyingly loud or obnoxious while on the phone. I'd be bothered if someone was talking on it in a library, during a movie/play/theater etc. Aside from that there is no point in making something out of nothing.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

It's annoying when it's a foreign male speaking awful Japanese to his wife or girlfriend.

Why? Cause he's hooking-up and you ain't?

Talking on cellphones might be annoying but it ain't a crime. Japanese- so quick to throw a fit on just about anything ordinary people do in public.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Japanese- so quick to throw a fit on just about anything ordinary people do in public.

Except for uyoku, yakuza, bosozoku, electioneers and the old guy collecting sodai gomi.

No. Phones are fine, but within reason, please.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Have to agree with SenseNotSoCommon here; if society wants people to follow manners with regards to cell phone use then do ALL of society a favor and shut down the one's Sense wrote and more importantly the election vans!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The way people use the cell phone has gotten out of control but the cell phone is not the problem, it's the user's lack of respect for others. Buses, trains and restaurants are places where you should limit your cell phone use. In restaurants you should put your phone on vibrate and only make out going calls if necessary and keep them brief. When people call, let them know that you are eating, and unless it's an emergency, tell them you'll call back later. You should keep your voice as low as possible. In buses, trains and other public transportation your phone should be turned off or have it on vibrate. Limit your calls to emergencies. It is rude to chatter on a phone in public.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

It doesn't bother me. Coming from the States, this is pretty normal for me. But for Japan, anything other than silence is considered disruptive. From my perspective, it seems a bit overboard, but in keeping respect for the Japanese people, I would say only take a phone call in a public space if it's an emergency.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The election campaign vans, The right wing nationalist vans, The biker kids with their noisy mufflers,

There are a lot of things noiser and more stressful than people talking on phones.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I went into a hotel casino in Manila one time and there was a notice reading 'Please leave your firearms at reception'. I thought it was a joke but it was for real. I'd like to see similar signs in restaurants requiring cell phones to be left at reception. I don't need to hear big mouth Joe telling me and everyone else that we have to keep Lucy in the loop. Manners please!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

As long as the whole bus or train doesn't hear in on the conversation then i have no problem with it

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It bothers me more when they walk/cycle and text

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Question to the ones who voted yes: Does it bother you when people talk at all in public places? If yes, then maybe you should stay at home.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

3 ( +5 / -2 )

*It's annoying when it's a foreign male speaking awful Japanese to his wife or girlfriend.*** can also be said when Japanese are speaking english, thinking there skills are impressive when theyre actaully not.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

People who get hung up on someone else's language skills are obviously self-conscious of their own.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If it's just a brief whisper then it's fine, but if it's a prologued and / or loud conversation then it's not acceptable. There are people sleeping on the train, reading, working and it's not like you can move away so talking loudly into a mobile is inconsiderate. Worth noting 9/10 times it's an older Japanese person doing it.

P.S. It's pretty intolerant criticising someone's language skills when they're speaking to their wife LOL. There are worse things to worry about in the world.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Most annoying one: after a 12 hour flight back to Germany, boarding a local, small plane and heaps of men-in-suits noisily cramming the small aisle, one hand with the phone, the other hand with large briefcase...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's not so much that they're talking on the phone. It's that they are usually talking far too loud.

Modern cell phones can pick up normal, conversational levels of speech. They can transmit it clearly, depending on the carrier. There is no need to shout.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

If you are talking in a quiet voice and not shouting, I don't see what's the difference is between talking to person on the phone or next to you. Doesn't bother me.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't see what's the difference is between talking to person on the phone or next to you

There is a difference: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201312/why-are-public-cell-phone-users-so-annoying

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Bring back phone booths.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The main problem when they do it, they think they have to be close to shouting. Plus why bring othersinto your conversation by talking so loud you disturb others.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

As long as they are not SHOUTING ! No problem.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

How are people supposed to enjoy their reeking warmed one-cup and dried squid snacks while leering at the naked women in Tokyo Sports with that racket going on?

There are worse things as long as you keep the voice down.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

On the other hand, it may bother those who are trying to sleep... (The ONLY train I would sleep on would be an "overnight train").

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

There is a difference: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201312/why-are-public-cell-phone-users-so-annoying

Then people need to get over it. I'm never loud or obnoxious. If you can talk quietly to the person next to you, I can do the same on the phone. I don't make it a habit, but even that absurd thought process of people getting annoyed too bad.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

On a bus or train, as long as they're discrete and not too loud, I don't mind. In a restaurant, you should excuse yourself and step outside.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

People who insist on texting on crowded station platforms should be politely shoved into the path of an oncoming train.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I really have no objection to someone using their phone at a reasonable volume. What I do object to is when oyajis sneeze without covering their mouth on the train, or share the delightful sound of snorting their nasal mucus up back into their skull with that rich basso profundo resonance every thirty seconds.

That's a lot less bearable than someone's voice to a loved one breaking the earnest silence.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The average person doesn't konw that the softer you speak into a ketai, the more clear the voice will be ata better volume. The louder you talk, the more the software cuts your voice. If the manufacturers or distributors advertised this, it would make the world a better place.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The reason this is a problem is that almost everyone talks louder when using a mobile than when holding a face-to-face conversation.

If people spoke quietly on the phone I don't think anyone would object.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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