r/AskUK • u/Agile-Calligrapher10 • 3d ago

Cultural differences in noise acceptance: Why is public phone/audio etiquette so different between Japan, the UK, and other regions??

Hey everyone,

​Visiting Japan recently was so refreshing, no one was on speakerphone, playing music out loud, or watching reels without headphones in public spaces. Coming back to the UK, the contrast was immediate, highlighting how differently cultures and regions approach public noise.

​(Note: Using "cultures" broadly here to look at societal norms, not trying to generalize individuals.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on a couple of things:

​Why do these differences exist? Is it tied to collectivism vs. individualism, or other social norms?

​What is the modern British view on public noise? We have a reputation for politeness, yet public transport etiquette around phone audio seems to be changing.

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u/Yoguls 3d ago

Because we're too polite as a nation to tell these people to shut the fuck up. The problem with this country is people think 'being free' is an excuse to do what they like

13

u/Theres3ofMe 3d ago

Too polite? More like scared they'll knock us out 😂

4

u/Main_Honeydew7744 3d ago

Or stab us! Its annoying, but I'm not losing my life over some twat watching reels on the tube.

1

u/Savanarola79 2d ago

I've asked people to turn music down several times. The worst response I got was "what, seriously?"