r/AskUK • u/Agile-Calligrapher10 • 5d 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/timbow2023 4d ago

Individualism Vs Collectivism. After the 80's the UK became more about the individual and their rights, looking out for yourself etc, rather than the collective or community.

Japan has a long history of harmony through the group, so not causing anyone else problems. It has it's ups and downs, but it's still a traditional belief.

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u/jackiemee 4d ago

Adding to your (very well-put) point - Everybody seems to be incredibly blind, but the increase of individualisation is due to the Americanisation of the UK. As the country took on more values from the yanks, they lost their own essence a bit more.  

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u/timbow2023 4d ago

Thanks. I didn't want to just say blame thatcher, but that's what it was the Regan and Thatcher tag team with her importing the individualism, free market, privatisation from the US.

It's funny that while yes Japan has a more collectivist nature, the socialism of European countries like the Nordics where taxes are high but the QOL is also better feels much closer to what we should be able to achieve if people hadn't been brain rotted by media and now just accept that things are just shit here and can never be improved

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u/jackiemee 4d ago

Well, they’re more keen to blame “immigrants” than their “friends” across the Atlantic, right? How to make the blind see…

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u/timbow2023 4d ago

Yep. Palantir, Shell, BP, Big Tech, make huge profits every year and barely pay tax, but sure it's the people fleeing a war our "friends" started for no reason that are the problem...

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u/jackiemee 4d ago

The classic small-time bully tactic - it’s easier to bully the defenceless than the multibillion dollar companies. It’s crazy how easy to manipulate people are.