Observation time...

An observation I have made recently:

In Japan, a country of roughly 127 million people and Tokyo a city of roughly 12 million people, almost everyone carries a mobile phone. The mobile phone user count reached 100 million this year and continues to grow. The observation: I never hear a mobile phone ring. Let me say that again. I NEVER hear a mobile phone ring!!

Almost every person that I am around on the streets, the subway and trains, the office, everywhere, has their phone set to vibrate or silent mode. How cool is that?? I never have to listen to some annoying ringtone or have to worry that I will be disturbed while dining with my family.

Want to know what else is cool? Almost no one talks on their mobile phones in public! If they are talking on their phone it is behind their hand shielding their mouths so as not to disturb those around them. They are practically whispering too. Most people use their phones for messaging each other, BlackBerry anyone??, or for games and web browsing. Allowing your mobile phone to ring or talking on it on the trains and subway is a BIG faux paux.

People are courteous and contentious about those around them. On a packed subway if a person, usually a young person, is doing something considered “rude”, like talking on a mobile phone where others can hear you, an elder only has to glance his way to remind him of what is right or wrong. And get this… they listen! They will hang up. A society where one has respect for their elders is truly a refreshing thing. It extends to many aspects of their life too, not just mobile phones.

In America, one might get beat up or worse for telling a youth to hang up their phone because they are being loud or rude. This is largely a regional as well as cultural problem. We should take a few tips from the Japanese. Also, those silly bluetooth headsets that are left on your ear whether you’re using them or not are non-existent. They don’t use them. Idiots in the airport talking so loudly that the entire gate knows their business just wouldn’t be allowed and they aren’t present. Movie theaters do not have phones ringing in them at all! Kids are polite and respectful and it shows.

To live in the US and see this contrast is shocking. When I go back to the States it is going to seem so “loud”. This has been stated by some of my colleagues as well when they travel to North America. Everything is loud by comparison. I hardly ever hear a horn honk either, but that’s a different post…

I think we should all switch our phones to vibrate and text each other more often. That’s what the BlackBerry does best! Oh and respect our elders. I forgot that bit, that’s a good thing too.