Fine ‘headphone dodgers’ if you will, but to really tackle antisocial behaviour, Britain should look to Japan | Emily Bratt
Working in Japanese schools, I saw how teaching young people civic pride creates adults with consideration for others There are two types of people who listen to music in public: those who wear headphones and those who … are a word I probably can’t use here. “ Loudcasting ” – playing audio, watching videos or talking on speakerphone in public spaces – is a form of antisocial behaviour that drives…
Emily Bratt explores how Japan's emphasis on civic pride and social harmony could inform Britain's approach to tackling antisocial behavior. She highlights that loudcasting, or playing audio, watching videos, or talking on speakerphone in public, is a major irritant for many Brits, with eight in 10 people finding it intolerable.
While supporting Andy Burnham's proposal to fine those who engage in loudcasting, Bratt believes it is insufficient on its own and must be part of a broader solution. She notes that Japan's collective culture, which emphasizes meiwaku wo kakenai - avoiding inconvenience to others - has led to low crime rates and well-maintained public spaces.
Japanese schools instill responsibility and pride in their environment from a young age through regular cleaning duties and special activities. While Japanese children are not perfect, the impact of these social ethics is evident. Bratt emphasizes that simply fining loudcasters without enforcing the rules and rebuilding social norms through education is crucial.
She suggests incorporating civic responsibility lessons and modeling behavior for children to foster empathy and respect for others.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
