Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#61

Post by welanes » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:41 PM UTC

Very interesting! The word 'embarrassing' comes up a lot, but I wonder why this would be perceived as embarrassing compared to, say, the ritual bowing to empty carriages that takes place on Japanese trains. Or simply compared to the gesturing that takes place in other professions like the construction industry.

Without knowing the psychology behind it, a good guess would be that it derives from the sense that observers may not understand one's intent in pointing, and could prob be alleviated by using some kind of beacon like those used by aircraft marshallers.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#62

Post by krapp » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:42 PM UTC

DonHopkins wrote: post #48

I have a strict rule that I must touch my keys before closing the front door, because I discovered the keys in my memory don't open the door as well as the keys in my pocket.

I do that with my keys and wallet whenever I travel because I'm paranoid about losing them.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#63

Post by ggambetta » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:43 PM UTC

rco8786 wrote: post #56

Next time your on the NYC subway watch for the conductor as the train comes to a stop. They always point out the window at a marker that helps them know where to stop the train. Seems to be a very minimal version of what this article is taking about. But I always get a kick out of it.

A notable exception is New York City’s MTA subway system, whose conductors have used a modified point-only system since 1996 after then Chief Transportation Officer Nathaniel Ford was fascinated by the point-and-call system during a business trip to Japan. In the MTA’s case, conductors point to a fixed black-and-white “zebra board” to confirm a stopped train is correctly located along the platform.

According to MTA spokeswoman Amanda Kwan, conductors were quick to adapt to the new system, and within two years of implementation, incidents of incorrectly berthed subways fell 57 percent.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#64

Post by innocentoldguy » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:45 PM UTC

DonHopkins wrote: post #48

I have a strict rule that I must touch my keys before closing the front door, because I discovered the keys in my memory don't open the door as well as the keys in my pocket.

I do something similar. I touch my keys, wallet, and phone through my pockets, and then check my fly before I walk out the door (four things). Every now and then, I'll wear a belt, and I always end up checking my keys, wallet, phone, and belt (four things) and then walking outside with my fly down.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#65

Post by itp » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:46 PM UTC

marklyon wrote: post #17

There is a similar situation in NYC [0]. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jIsxQNz0M

Yes, the article we are discussing here spends two paragraphs discussing exactly this.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#66

Post by Freak_NL » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:46 PM UTC

d0mine wrote: post #52

> pointing-and-calling is known to reduce workplace errors by up to 85 percent, according to one 1996 study. If it is supported only by one study; it seems like cargo-culting: performing a ritual without a solid proof that it actually works.

The meaning of that sentence is not that there was only one study done on this topic though; just that the author is aware of that particular one, performed in 1996, that makes the 85 percent claim. The use of 'one' here may even imply that the author is aware of more studies that confirm the usefulness of this technique, but that referring to more than this particular relevant source would be superfluous for this article.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#67

Post by amptorn » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:47 PM UTC

jakub_g wrote: post #32

I noticed the problem on myself on several occasions and kind of invented the same solution. For example, sometimes I would take a medicament mechanically while doing something else and just a few minutes later, forget if I took it or not. Solution: say loud to myself "I'm taking a pill". Another: sometimes I'd lend some amount money to a colleague, and a few weeks later I'd have a hard time figuring whether they gav…

> I'd lend some amount money to a colleague, and a few weeks later I'd have a hard time figuring whether they gave it back, and they too. Solution:

An I.O.U.?

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#68

Post by edsheeran » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:48 PM UTC

I consider the article's title to be clickbaity. The fact of the story is why the workers point at things and there's an interesting explanation behind it. Saying they can't stop, however, isn't a true statement and would have been much better if they stated the real affirmative.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#69

Post by jakub_g » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:50 PM UTC

edsheeran wrote: post #68

I consider the article's title to be clickbaity. The fact of the story is why the workers point at things and there's an interesting explanation behind it. Saying they can't stop, however, isn't a true statement and would have been much better if they stated the real affirmative.

I think it's playing on a meme of "Kim Jong Il looking at things" and similar.

Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things

#70

Post by slapshot » Sat, Apr 01, 2017, 2:52 PM UTC

The US Navy uses much of this as well. For example, here's an aircraft carrier launch from inside the "bubble" (the control area that actually triggers the steam catapult). The officer repeats the mantra aloud for each aircraft and points at the people he's checking. If you watch a similar video taken above deck you can see each responsible person point at the system they are monitoring before giving the thumb's up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMwrMDd2gUE

The comments have an explanation of each phrase in the mantra (e.g., "104 set match" refers to a steam power of 104 (units unclear) and that it matches the board for cross-checking).