In a city where "feelings" continue to ring like an emergency bell - 1/24/2026

Abstract

In an age where discomfort and hurt are more readily expressed in words, the ability to say "no" has been described as a welcome change for many. However, when emergency bells can be rung with such little force, little is discussed: who is forced to run, how much, and what kind of serenity is lost. This paper quietly reexamines the phenomenon surrounding young women's voices through the metaphor of an "emergency bell," without blaming or praising them.

Keywords

Feelings, young women, social media, complaints, handling emotions

When did emergency bells become so light?

Red emergency bells are lined up on the ceilings of large shopping malls. As children, we were taught that pressing them would cause disaster. If we pressed them even when there was no fire, many people would rush in, business would be halted, and we would be scolded. Therefore, no one touches them unless it was absolutely necessary.

The voices ringing on the other side of the screen right now, saying "I'm uncomfortable" or "I'm hurt," sound somewhat similar to the emergency bells of the past. Sexual harassment, discrimination, and ridicule of appearance. A bell, ringing as a signal to "no longer be silent" in the face of long-overlooked issues, was certainly necessary. The fact that young women can now say "no" is a change that many applaud.

However, in the world of social media, that bell can be rung with just a finger. Anonymously, even revealing your face, all it takes is a smartphone. The moment it's rung, company representatives and creators rush around, even in the middle of the night. Apologies are prepared, projects are halted, and relevant parties are gathered. From our side of the screen, the hustle and bustle is hard to see. Instead, the only words that flow across the timeline are "We've taken action" and "We apologize."

The lightness of an emergency bell = the burden on the person who rings it ÷ the effort required by those who rush to respond.

When this ratio changes, the cityscape begins to change.

The other side of "voices that deserve protection"

For a long time, the voices of young women have been marginalized. Groping, insensitive remarks, teasing about their appearance. No one would believe them, they'd be laughed at, or even blamed. Such memories piled up, creating an atmosphere of "Let's believe that voice first."

This atmosphere is the opposite of the "No Tricks Allowed" signs posted around emergency bells. Signs like "Thank you for ringing it" and "Thank you for not overlooking it" are hidden in plain sight. When a young woman says, "I don't like this," many people tend to nod in agreement. Given the historical context, this is a natural response.

However, these "voices that should be protected" are not always treated with equal importance. A single word from someone with a large following can shut down a project for a small local store. A scene from a TV show, a photo in an advertisement, a character's outfit. Even if the person in question had no malicious intent, the moment they say, "I find this unpleasant," it can be treated as a spark of conflict.

Emotional Contagion = The Source's Attributes × The Expectations of Those Around Us

The attribute of being a young woman is given special access here. The face of a being who needs protection and the width of the corridor quietly overlap.

When the Emergency Bell Becomes an Everyday Sound

The emergency bell is meaningful precisely because it rarely rings. However, on social media, it rings somewhere every day. One advertisement is criticized for "objectifying women," while another project is criticized for "not being considerate enough of body image." A young woman's account criticizes the bell, spreading it with quotes and sympathetic comments, while corporate accounts bow.

The important thing here isn't whether someone has malicious intent. For the person who rings the emergency bell, all they have to do is voice their feeling that something is wrong. With a simple movement of their finger, like-minded people gather together and praise them for saying something well. The person who rings the bell doesn't know exactly how many people are running around inside the building.

Meanwhile, the person who is being called learns. "Let's stop using that expression," or "It's safer not to address this topic." And so, little by little, edgy ideas and edge-of-your-seat humor disappear. What remains are well-rounded expressions that are unlikely to be criticized.

Shrinkage of Expression = Frequency of Emergency Alarms × Learning on the Part of the Responder

When a young woman's "feelings" unintentionally become part of this flow, it's no longer a matter of personal character. Pressing the emergency alarm becomes habitual, a kind of "right behavior." Applause and sympathy then join in.

What Remains in a Quiet Building

Eventually, the building becomes very quiet. Risky ideas are not even proposed, and expressions that might raise eyebrows disappear during meetings. People even start asking young women's accounts, "What do you think about this?" This is an attempt to eliminate potential conflicts before the emergency alarm goes off.

At first glance, this quietness appears peaceful. There are fewer flame wars and fewer apologies. But a different kind of emptiness emerges. Scenes of people laughing honestly or pushing the boundaries become fewer, and only "safe-seeming" things are displayed. No one goes near the emergency bell.

A special seat for emotions = a voice that needs to be protected × difficulty in refuting

Young women's feelings occupy this special seat. Words spoken from this seat have certainly shed light on many injustices. Yet, when a single word from this seat has the power to stop someone's work or expression, the weight of that power is rarely discussed.

Emergency bells are necessary. But when they become ringable with too little force, the atmosphere of the entire building changes. Before we know it, the voice that needs to be protected begins to function as a "stopping force." At that moment, we finally realize that we had barely imagined the people running around on the other side of the emergency bell.