"Quiet" vs. "I Like Small Talk" Options Available
"Quiet Option" Also Added to Taxi Apps
An option to choose whether or not to engage in conversation during a treatment has been added to the reservation screen of a domestic hair salon. As more people find it difficult to talk with strangers, analysts say that changes are also taking place in the service industry.
On December 15, a post titled "A New Hair Salon Option These Days" was uploaded to an online community. The attached photo showed a required field asking, "Please select your preferred treatment atmosphere," with two options: "I want to receive my treatment quietly in a comfortable atmosphere" and "I enjoy light small talk in a pleasant atmosphere."
An option to select the treatment atmosphere added to the reservation screen of a domestic hair salon. Screenshot from an online community.
The author commented, "I think this option was created because many male customers just want to get their hair done quietly," and added that he also chose the "quiet treatment" option.
Online reactions were divided. Some said, "It's not a short time, so a little conversation is fun and makes time go by faster," and "Isn't it too much to sit there without saying a single word?" On the other hand, others expressed, "I start to feel uncomfortable as soon as someone tries to talk to me," and "I just want to do what I want quietly, but when someone talks to me, it feels disruptive and I don't like it."
"Driver, please drive quietly"... 'Quiet' function also available in taxi apps
This is not the first such case. In 2020, SK Telecom added a "quiet" function to its Tmap Taxi application through an update. This was interpreted as a response to the increasing number of passengers who do not want to engage in small talk with drivers.
When calling a taxi using Tmap Taxi (now TmoneyGO), a pop-up menu labeled "Request options when boarding" appears on the app screen while waiting for the taxi. Users can select from three options: "No conversation," "No speeding," and "Follow the navigation." Multiple selections are possible. If the user clicks "Always apply this option" below the request button, these settings will be automatically applied for future taxi calls without needing to select them again.
According to a 2019 survey conducted by market research firm Open Survey with 1,406 taxi users in their 20s to 50s, the top complaint was "unnecessary conversation with the driver" (38%, multiple responses allowed). This was followed by speeding or reckless driving (35.4%) and refusal of service (34.2%).
At the time, an SK Telecom representative explained, "Many taxi users said it is difficult to ask the driver to drive quietly once they get in the taxi," adding, "We expect more customers will use this service as it allows people to express their preferences without uncomfortable conversations."
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