Is MP3 on mobile phones becoming a bad idea?
Written by ED on July 26, 2008 – 6:55 am - Posted in Singapore, Trivial & Whining |I was on my way down to catch a glimpse of the iPhone when I was attacked with three different waves of MP3. Something wasn’t right from the very second I stepped in, and it took only one station for me to realize I was getting very irritated. I think the packed crowd during peak hours was already a “bad start” to begin with and I seriously wondered how much “improvement” MRT has made.
As I managed to grab a seat smack in the centre of the cabin, a fellow next to me has a SMS ringtone that went, “message… messaGE… messAGE… mesSAGE… meSSAGE… MESSAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“ Ok fine, it got everyone’s attention but just not the owner of the phone. For a full four seconds I wondered why the owner has the phone in his hand but just can’t press the “read” button. Nvm if he flung his long hair several times, and apologize to me countless times. I was close to grabbing his hair and just whip out my lighter right there.
If that wasn’t bad enough, on the left exit a bunch of guys were dishing out their mobile phones and blasting malay songs. No offence to another race, of course they are listening to malay songs. If not, cantonese? On my right, was another two chaps with two SYTs. Similarly, they were having their mobile phones at full volume with chinese songs and techno that goes “tiew tiew tiew…”
I am not sure if I am the only one irritated because from what I can see at least (those standing directly infront of me where I was seated) were beginning to turn and look at these guys. Some can’t help it but just pretend to sleep with the elbow on the thigh and a palm covering a ear.
I think it’s a pretty cool thing to have MP3 on mobile phones, I edit my own ringtones afterall. But there comes a time like this that I actually enjoyed the peace before MP3 phones were being introduced into the market. From a cool function, it becomes a nuisance much like Facebook’s useless applications. At least for that ride which I had to endure from Woodlands to Somerset, I seriously felt this innovation is a very very bad idea.
Let’s not forget, the train was packed to the brim during peaked hours.
There’s an easy solution though, alight the train and wait for the next. Yet, I wondered how fair would it be to inconvenient or get on the nerves of others just because I wanted to show off my mobile? Don’t mobile phones come with earpieces these days? It wasn’t so bad for me honestly, but I feel for those office workers who were making their way home. Imagine after a long day at work and mind you, it’s TGIF. Yet, they had to endure this entire trip like this. Are we suffering from societal deterioration due to technological advancement?
Apart from the No Food/Drinks sign, perhaps they should paint a really big signage on every possible location in the train and station…
PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE
PLEASE TURN DOWN THE VOLUME OF YOUR MUSICAL DEVICE
Hey, isn’t that what hospitals display to maintain the peace in hospitals?
July 26th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I don’t understand why some take more than 4 seconds to press the “Read” button when the handphone is already in the hand.
People with lao hua, I can understand but young people too? I find it irritating that there are many who love to share their music with everyone in the cabin.
I dislike my ears being abused by others.
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Hi Wishbone, beats me either. I know he didn’t doze off. He was just plain sitting there letting the phone rang all the way to the loudest.
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July 26th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Remember the boombox days? Behaviours like these have always been around regardless of technological change. Technology may have improved, but behaviour has not.
I like the Tokyo subway though. It is very quiet. No one was talking on the handphone. They were probably just surfing, emailing or texting using their phones. Even if listening to music, it was plugged to the earphones. Guess it is a cultural thing.
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Hey CP, I haven’t been into Japan’s subway so thanks for sharing your experience. I am wondering now if this is the future “experiences” of all MRT rides.
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July 28th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I heard that Japan actually banned people talking on the mobile phone in the trains. Yeah, it’s all about culture. And I’m pretty sick of what Singaporeans do
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Banned? Really? I think that’s a little extreme though. Imagine you have colleagues or clients calling you when you’re on your way to work.
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July 30th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Seriously, you have mp3 on the phone, I also have. But I listen to mine with a earphone. Come on lah, nowadays almost all phone purchases come with a earpiece lor. If you need to test how powderful your hp speaker is, test it at home lah.
True, it is your phone, you can do anything to it. But the keyword here is “CONSIDERATE”!!! You may enjoy listening to songs this way, but others may not enjoy the songs you enjoy. Another excuse for these pple: “I wan my friend to listen to the song also”. Fine, can’t you playback the song twice if your earpiece is single-sided?
I think I sound aggitated. But there were many a times I feel like scolding these kids, “oei, your parents never teach you to be considerate to others ah?”
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Yea, you sounded like you are close to knocking them on their heads with your shoes. Hahaha..!
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