Comments on: Mobile Madness In Shanghai http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:39:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jeremy http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9604 Jeremy Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:37:10 +0000 http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9604 Something I should have mentioned is the relationship between guanxi and voicemail. Guanxi is a massively important concept in Chinese society. It relates to an individual's personal connections and networks of influence, and in Shanghai it's the oil that keeps business moving. Voicemail erodes the personal nature of these connections. Essentially, it's a loss of "face" -- another facet of guanxi -- to have to leave a message for someone. Equally, it's a loss of face if you have to leave a message with someone's PA. So leaving the mobile on isn't in any way impolite. Quite the opposite -- turning it *off* is far more likely to offend. Something I should have mentioned is the relationship between guanxi and voicemail. Guanxi is a massively important concept in Chinese society. It relates to an individual’s personal connections and networks of influence, and in Shanghai it’s the oil that keeps business moving.

Voicemail erodes the personal nature of these connections. Essentially, it’s a loss of “face” — another facet of guanxi — to have to leave a message for someone. Equally, it’s a loss of face if you have to leave a message with someone’s PA.

So leaving the mobile on isn’t in any way impolite. Quite the opposite — turning it *off* is far more likely to offend.

]]> By: Liam http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9600 Liam Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:50:27 +0000 http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9600 But if you take a lengthy call in the middle of a meeting, then what was the point in turning up to the meeting in the first place? But if you take a lengthy call in the middle of a meeting, then what was the point in turning up to the meeting in the first place?

]]> By: Dave http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9559 Dave Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:58:11 +0000 http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9559 I experienced the same thing in Russia. Though phones were not necessarily in hand at all times as you experienced Jeremy, Russians seemed quite happy to take lengthy calls in the middle of a meeting. I experienced the same thing in Russia. Though phones were not necessarily in hand at all times as you experienced Jeremy, Russians seemed quite happy to take lengthy calls in the middle of a meeting.

]]> By: Michael http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9552 Michael Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:33:45 +0000 http://www.altogetherdigital.com/20080201/mobile-madness-in-shanghai/#comment-9552 I haven't been to any meetings in Japan, but my experiences of mobile phone use in public is completely different: there, even though you can get network reception on the trains, no-one dares to actually converse whilst communting. (Although the Japanese sure are happy to play with their phones, Nintendos, etc.) I haven’t been to any meetings in Japan, but my experiences of mobile phone use in public is completely different: there, even though you can get network reception on the trains, no-one dares to actually converse whilst communting. (Although the Japanese sure are happy to play with their phones, Nintendos, etc.)

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