By Oh Young-jin
Staff Reporter

This age of ubiquity brings a whole world of benefits to people, but also some nuisances.

One such being people who speak long and loudly on their mobile phones in public places.

``I hate people who talk endlessly without paying attention to others,'' a middle-aged man said. ``I spoke to one person but she ignored me and kept on chattering.''

Nowadays passengers often become upset when the person sitting next to them fails to heed a couple of penetrating glances and keeps talking, often leading to a quarrel. The only consolation for these victims of accidental seating and lack of etiquette is that they are not alone.

According to online job search portal, saramin.co.kr, approximately 90 percent of 1,335 people surveyed, said that they felt stressed.

Asked when this stress occurred, 84 percent said it was when a person spoke loudly on their phone, while 42 percent said it was when a mobile was left to ring without being answered.

In response to these incidents, around 45 percent said that they didn't do anything, while 42 percent said that they gave a ``look,'' while about 9 percent said that they actually talked to the person, asking him or her to turn their mobile off.

In a way, such mobile phone-related nuisances are inevitable considering the prevalence of cell phones.

According to data submitted to the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Seoul last week, a total of 43 million mobiles were registered in Korea as of the end of last year. This means just about every Korean has one or more cell phones.

The prevalence, however, doesn't come in proportion to an increase in public awareness campaigns educating mobile phone users to be mindful of others.

Although trains use public announcements asking passengers to refrain from using mobiles inside cars and install notices against in-car mobile use, it is easy to witness passengers using their phones.

``Particularly during morning commutes, I hate people who talk into their phone as if they were in the privacy of their living room,'' one young office worker said.

Interestingly enough, mobile users give a low 41 points out of a perfect 100 to the level of etiquette for others, while they gave themselves a much higher score of 74.

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr

they say vanity is evil. but i say have vanity enough to think you're never below anyone in this world. doesn't matter if it's einstein or obama himself. you're a unique mix of many qualities. that makes you a unique being that can never be beneath anyone else. skin colours in that sense is such an insignificant matter
-entreri

Originally Posted by ProAzn It annoys me when I'm sitting some where quiet, like a doctor's office waiting room and some idiot sitting close to me gets a cell call and answers it.. then they start talking loud etc... like all of us in that room want to sit there and listen to that shit.. TAKE IT OUTSIDE!!!! just get up off your ass and go outside if you REALLY must answer the call etc. That's what I do if I really have to answer the call. My phone is kept on "vibrate" unless I am alone.. but if I am out in public.. it's on vibrate. and I walk off from the crowd if I really MUST answer my phone.. otherwise.. I let it go to voicemail or I text that person back to let them know I can't talk right now.. then if they wish we can have a text message convo. yeah, it's annoying as hell to listen to some loud ass mouth on the cell

Originally Posted by AZN_North LOL. I feel your pain Pro.. What annoys me are people who by virtue of speaking another language think it's a god given right to jack up the volume 10x louder than if they spoke english. I once asked a guy who spoke Italian to lower his voice. He basically said "...piss off I can speak as loud as I want and what do you care? You don't understand what I'm saying anyway.." Of course as one who doesn't take bs in your face crap, I said some expletives in just as loud tone. Luckily other people agreed who were around me. He shut his cell phone off asap. Sometimes embarrassment is the best lesson experienced than taught. .

YouTube - ???? - Bus Uncle (???? - Bilingual Substitle)

Originally Posted by taitai This calls for some Bus Uncle. YouTube - ???? - Bus Uncle (???? - Bilingual Substitle)