In a viral video, an American vacationer marvels on the lack of safety tethers on iPhones and iPads in a Japanese Apple Store. The units sit freely on the tables, a sight that might be unthinkable in most U.S. shops the place such gadgets are locked down to stop theft.
The vacationer remarks, “That’s because in Japan, they have a tradition. And they have a mentality. And they have respect. No one would do that.” Many viewers echo this sentiment, attributing the distinction to Japan’s tradition of honesty and social accountability.
It’s a stark distinction to current “smash-and-grab” robberies concentrating on U.S. Apple Stores. In one infamous incident in Philadelphia, looters rushed an Apple Store, snatching armfuls of iPhones, iPads and equipment.
However, their ill-gotten features had been short-lived. Apple shortly locked the stolen units, rendering them ineffective.
Videos of the aftermath present the pissed off thieves futilely pouring orange juice on the bricked iPhones and smashing iPads on the pavement.
Many commenters mocked their ignorance, noting that Apple merchandise are well-known for strong anti-theft measures like activation locks and distant disabling.
While the Philadelphia looters confronted instantaneous karma, the incident highlights a rising drawback in U.S. retail – brazen, organized retail crime. Stores are more and more resorting to locking up even modestly-priced gadgets to discourage shoplifters. It’s an arms race that inconveniences trustworthy clients and drives up prices.
Meanwhile in Japan, unlocked merchandise and reserved seating with private belongings are frequent sights, even in busy cities. Many attribute this to a mixture of cultural values, community-mindedness, and low crime charges sustained by a justice system with a 99% conviction price.
As the “land of the free” grapples with a tide of retail theft, it’s a poignant reminder that true freedom is enabled by particular person accountability, mutual consideration, and respect for others’ property.
While no society is ideal, Japan’s Apple Stores supply a tantalizing glimpse of what’s attainable when these values are deeply rooted.
In the top, the viral video is extra than simply an opportunity to gawk at Japanese effectivity or mock some hapless thieves. It’s an invite to mirror on the social material of our communities, and what we would study from a tradition the place belief and respect are the default – even for one thing as tempting as a cutting-edge gadget.