Posted on 10/24/2007 9:50:16 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
TOKYO (AP) - Did you just grope me? Shall we head to the police? That's the message women are flashing on their cell phones with a popular program designed to ward off wandering hands in Japan's congested commuter trains.
"Anti-Groping Appli" by games developer Takahashi was released in late but has only recently climbed up popularity rankings, reaching No. 7 in this week's top-10 cell phone applications list compiled by Web-based publisher Spicy Soft Corp.
The application flashes increasingly threatening messages in bold print on the phone's screen to show to the offender: "Excuse me, did you just grope me?" "Groping is a crime," and finally, "Shall we head to the police?"
Users press an "Anger" icon in the program to progress to the next threat. A warning chime accompanies the messages.
The application, which can be downloaded for free on Web-enabled phones, is for women who want to scare away perverts with minimum hassle and without attracting attention, according to Takahashi's Web site.
"I first downloaded this as a joke," said Spicy Soft official Michika Izumi. "But I think it could be a lifesaver if I get groped."
Izumi said more users appeared to have recently discovered Takahashi's "Anti-Groping Appli" because of a series of new applications unveiled by the creator this year, including a popular number game, horoscope and blogging program.
Offerings of games and applications for mobile phones have surged in Japan. A survey published by Web research company Yahoo Value Insight in July said 61 percent of Japanese cell phone owners use applications almost every day.
According to Tokyo Metropolitan Police, 1,853 people were arrested for groping passengers on trains in Tokyo in 2005. Experts say the incidence of harassment on trains is much higher, but women are often too embarrassed to report it.
Any day now, this will be the hot new thing here in the US.
bump
I’ve found that a good hard kick in the nuts is the most effective way to deal with gropers.
It also says “Again with the oranges!” and “You must go now!”
Maureen Down is on line 1. She wants one that says “Did you just not grope me?”
If this had happened to clintoon, by all the women he has groped, raped, intimidated, etc,...Perhaps “the bent one” would have b_lls for earrings by now.
“Excuse me, did you just grope me? or did you vote for Ron Paul”
EXECUTIVE 1: We suspect his friend here is also unbalanced.
So how many gropes do you get before the “Shall we head off to the police” message?
And I guess there are a few more after that:
“Again I warn you! WE SHALL head off to the police!”
“Okay buddy, off we go!”
“Hey, I said we’re heading off to the police!”
“Keep up, dammit!”
And so on...
According to NOW, the first grope is “free” now. They said this in 1998 during a high profile sexual harassment lawsuit.
I love groping trains....
You know those things will be going off the scale around Bill Clinton. lmao
I guess I’m confused. Are people mute in Japan?
Here’s how I understand this. Lady gets groped. She gets out her cell phone, starts the software, which puts a message on the scree that says “Did you just grope me?” She then shows this to the offender. Apparently, this is supposed to deter the groper.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to say this to the offender?
Another strike against public transit. The people who ride on them.
Having your own car means never having to worry about being groped by a stranger.
I’ve always wondered where they train gropers.
Of course. The BJ Clinton gold standard. The Jerry Rice of gropers...
How about mood pants that will show handprints when groped?
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