Worse than feet on bulkheads

[Quickstatus]

Agree though, if it is considered anti-social in Japan then a Japanese person could call the conductor if they felt so inclined.

The Japanese are too polite to intervene in such cases. Though they will talk about the badly behaved foreigners amongst themselves

Shoes are considered extremely dirty in Japan

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think you are trolling, but I'll add this, what difference does it make as to who calls the conductor.

As an aside, I was at a hotel in Palma a couple of weeks ago, occupants 2 doors up were playing fairly loud music on their balcony, I had the windows/doors closed but could still hear it very clearly/loudly.
Hotel information in room said "No Music" was to be played in the rooms nor balcony so as to not disturb other guests. If this was not adhered to, the hotel had the right to confiscate the machine until the guests checked out.
I let it go for about an hour, thinking they would eventually go out, but they turned the sound up. Went down to reception explained the situation and he said he would call them, by the time I got back to my room the music had stopped.
Something wrong with that?

the music is directly affecting you. you can’t help but be affected. fair enough to complain.

but someone in another row with their feet up doesn’t affect you one bit. no noise. nothing. you don’t even have to look at.

Lounge dress codes. Feet on bulkheads. Other than people saying ‘I don’t like it’, no one has been able to explain exactly why they don’t like. Why is it so offensive if someone wears a pair of thongs in a lounge? Why is it so offensive if someone puts their feet on a bulkhead? Feet on a bulkhead doesn’t make noise. doesn’t stop you watching a movie, doesn’t stop you sleeping, doesn’t stop you looking out the window if you want, or going for a walk to the WC, or having a chat with a travelling companion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just see it as Im guest, I dont go into someone elses home or workplace and put my feet on the furniture so why would I do it on a plane or train, lounge ect.

Except, i think without exception, everyone on this thread has agreed that it’s ok to put your feet on the seats if you get a row of two, three or four seats to yourself and can lie down. So... what’s the difference between that and a bulkhead?

I guess unlike work or a friend’s house, a plane is all about trying to make yourself comfortable for 14 hours in a tiny footprint of space just 17 inches wide and 31 inches long.

 

[drron]

So those guys are definite tourists not travellers as they have not even researched the Japanese culture.What they are doing is extremely rude and culturally insensitive.
Yes I would ask the conductor to say something.What I would get out of it is the respect of the Japanese travellers in that carriage as they would have been too polite to complain.If the guys argued with the conductor I would tell them why he was asking them to stop.

 

[Pushka]

Very quickly followed by the culprit behind being thudded when the affected passenger in front turns around and smacks him across the head!

It's very easy to see how fights errupt on public transport. I have on frequent occasion had to fight the overwhelming urge to stab the hand of the person behind with a fork when they've grabbed the back of my seat as a handle to haul their fat **** out of their own to go to the toilet for the 15 millionth time on a flight.

I agree that’s annoying but instinctively it’s the first thing that comes to hand when exiting from the seat. It isn’t because of size but rather awkwardness of trying to get out of the seats. Maybe the aisle passenger is sleeping? I had to really concentrate not to do this on my recent trip that consisted of several flights. And I really try to avoid asserting my presence when travelling. I like to disappear. But sometimes it is just not easy.

 

[Quickstatus]

Except, i think without exception, everyone on this thread has agreed that it’s ok to put your feet on the seats if you get a row of two, three or four seats to yourself and can lie down. So... what’s the difference between that and a bulkhead?

I guess unlike work or a friend’s house, a plane is all about trying to make yourself comfortable for 14 hours in a tiny footprint of space just 17 inches wide and 31 inches long.

You have a point. The environment is not really analogous to being a guest on someone’s lounge. It’s an airplane - and the industry has reduced the personal space significantly so it’s reality that to be comfortable one has to do things that is usually not done while a guest in a friends lounge. I am sure any of my friends would not want me to be hanging around for 14 hours at their place.

I think some behaviours are more acceptable in certain situations and contexts than others.

 

[Pushka]

You have a point. The environment is not really analogous to being a guest on someone’s lounge. It’s an airplane - and the industry has reduced the personal space significantly so it’s reality that to be comfortable one has to do things that is usually not done while a guest in a friends lounge. I am sure any of my friends would not want me to be hanging around for 14 hours at their place.

I think some behaviours are more acceptable in certain situations and contexts than others.

Good points. And esp on that 17 flight Per - LHR, likely to bring out all sorts of nasties just to get a degree of relief.

But you also have to respect local culture too. The trains are usually comfortable without resorting to feet on chairs. And that practise is offensive to Japanese culture also apparently.

I guess seeing someone’s feet up the bulkhead is not in itself offensive but if dirty I don’t want to see that or dirt trails. And I don’t want to see dirty ‘things’ where people put their food.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes in the Japanese context the feet would be extremely offensive. So it really depends on the context.

Feet from behind on my arm rests would elicit a reaction from me because that’s unfairly invading my space

 

[suze2000]

I have to wonder whether it might not be better to try to explain to the tourists on the train that what they are doing is extremely offensive to the Japanese people, and it would be polite if they put their feet down?

They may just be ignorant and a gentle prompt from a fellow westerner might be all that is needed?

 

[Pushka]

I have to wonder whether it might not be better to try to explain to the tourists on the train that what they are doing is extremely offensive to the Japanese people, and it would be polite if they put their feet down?

They may just be ignorant and a gentle prompt from a fellow westerner might be all that is needed?

I wonder if they really give a damn. Seems to be the ‘me’ time. And if the Japanese won’t enforce this for whatever reason, then really it is just interference from westerners, isn’t it. Just like the Achilles heel of Democracry is giving everyone a voice. Even those anti.

 

[Quickstatus]

I wonder if they really give a damn. Seems to be the ‘me’ time. And if the Japanese won’t enforce this for whatever reason, then really it is just interference from westerners, isn’t it. Just like the Achilles heel of Democracry is giving everyone a voice. Even those anti.

They do. My friend (OZ expat) who runs a ski lodge in Japan says she overhears them often speaking about the foreigners - she is Caucasian and the locals assume she does not understand the local lingo.

 

[Pushka]

They do. My friend (OZ expat) who runs a ski lodge in Japan says she overhears them often speaking about the foreigners - she is Caucasian and the locals assume she does not understand the local lingo.

Oops sorry. I meant I wonder if the offenders really give a damn. I’m sure the Japanese do, but if they aren’t prepared to do something about it then it’s their issue. Politeness comes at a cost.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wonder if they really give a damn. Seems to be the ‘me’ time. And if the Japanese won’t enforce this for whatever reason, then really it is just interference from westerners, isn’t it. Just like the Achilles heel of Democracry is giving everyone a voice. Even those anti.

Well yes. If they are too 'polite' to raise the issue with the offenders they can always contact the conductor.

Oh - I see you've edited your post - but I actually agree with your original one! If they cared enough they would say something!

They do. My friend (OZ expat) who runs a ski lodge in Japan says she overhears them often speaking about the foreigners - she is Caucasian and the locals assume she does not understand the local lingo.

Every country seems to complain about tourists' bad habits at some time or another I don't know if Japan requires any special intervention by tourists to police any potential upsets? Shouldn't tourists be enjoying their experience rather than spending their time worried about what others are doing?

 

[drron]

Though the reason why we keep going back to Japan-over 50 visits-is in big part due to the Japanese culture.
I'm sure your tune would be different if tourists visiting Uluru just enjoyed their experience without worrying about indigenous culture.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sure your tune would be different if tourists visiting Uluru just enjoyed their experience without worrying about indigenous culture.

If I'm an Australian, witnessing a tourist doing something to offend indigenous culture at Uluru, I'm not just going to stand there, do absolutely nothing, and expect another tourist to take appropriate action. You either speak to the person directly, or you notify an appropriate person (guide, ranger etc).

 

[Quickstatus]

Well yes. If they are too 'polite' to raise the issue with the offenders they can always contact the conductor.

Oh - I see you've edited your post - but I actually agree with your original one! If they cared enough they would say something!




Every country seems to complain about tourists' bad habits at some time or another I don't know if Japan requires any special intervention by tourists to police any potential upsets? Shouldn't tourists be enjoying their experience rather than spending their time worried about what others are doing?

My OZ expat lodge manager friend says the Japanese give foreign tourist a lot of slack - in her opinion they see a foreigner bad behaviour as almost childlike - therefore easily forgiven and tolerated. But it does not stop them muttering about it.

Tourists should have some understanding of the culture they are experiencing or at least make an effort to

 

[Legoman]

but someone in another row with their feet up doesn’t affect you one bit. no noise. nothing. you don’t even have to look at.

Lounge dress codes. Feet on bulkheads. Other than people saying ‘I don’t like it’, no one has been able to explain exactly why they don’t like. Why is it so offensive if someone wears a pair of thongs in a lounge? Why is it so offensive if someone puts their feet on a bulkhead? Feet on a bulkhead doesn’t make noise. doesn’t stop you watching a movie, doesn’t stop you sleeping, doesn’t stop you looking out the window if you want, or going for a walk to the WC, or having a chat with a travelling companion.

I think you're trolling but regardless, your argument doesn't hold water. There is a concept of social acceptability you're ignoring. As a test, try walking into a airline lounge wearing a T-shirt with a swastika on it. Or even just a motorsport shirt from a race track from the 80's or 90's with Marlboro emblazened across it and see how far you get. Both items would pass your test of acceptability easily with flying colours. Get back to us with the results of walking around in public not annoying anyone with a Swastika T-shirt on (if the local lock-up provides free wi-fi that is)

 

[JohnK]

My views are more relaxed. I don't understand the need to control what others are doing unless it is antisocial?

In my opinion feet up on tables, bulkheads, someone elses seat is antisocial.

The definition of antisocial is not the same for everyone. Guy on bus with one headphone in ear and other headphone not in ear and music screeching from device. I'm not going to say anything as he's twice my size.

 

[drron]

If I'm an Australian, witnessing a tourist doing something to offend indigenous culture at Uluru, I'm not just going to stand there, do absolutely nothing, and expect another tourist to take appropriate action. You either speak to the person directly, or you notify an appropriate person (guide, ranger etc).

So you agree with me.You wouldn't stand by because the indigenous Australian wasn't going to complain so you would step in and do it for them.So I would do that also as well as in the same situation as in Japan.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think you're trolling but regardless, your argument doesn't hold water. There is a concept of social acceptability you're ignoring. As a test, try walking into a airline lounge wearing a T-shirt with a swastika on it. Or even just a motorsport shirt from a race track from the 80's or 90's with Marlboro emblazened across it and see how far you get. Both items would pass your test of acceptability easily with flying colours. Get back to us with the results of walking around in public not annoying anyone with a Swastika T-shirt on (if the local lock-up provides free wi-fi that is)

The example you have given, the swastika, is against the law. So it’s not a relevant example. I’m not familiar with the Marlboro shirt, but if it is simply advertising tocabbco, there is nothing wrong with that.

Putting your feet on a bulkhead on a plane is not against the law.