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[mrjohndub]

Is there something that I don't know about etiquette when using public pay phones? Or have I just been unfortunate enough to frequently run into the same type of jerks?

Here's the scenario:

I'm using a pay telephone with an international calling card (at a very expensive rate, I might add) to make brief calls home to the U.S. to best friends and family...I usually use phones in and around rail stations...in Saitama, Gunma and Ibaraki...

I've usually just been connected or am still dialing (I have become a master in dialing all the codes in as little time as possible)...when different businessmen (I presume because of the suit) walk up to me and stand (maybe) two feet away...usually calm at first...but quickly hostile...though not visibly intoxicated when at night...

I'm aware that Japanese people in general make very brief phone calls...so I always try to wrap things up quickly...never more than four or five minutes...I can't afford it anyway...many times it's about two and even more times its less than one while I leave my loved one a voicemail...I never, ever hang up and dial again...

I understand that standing close to me is a cultural norm...technically, they're forming a line...somebody could walk up and stand closer and then feel they have a claim to use the phone next...so that doesn't bother me, other than a little because they should know that my call is as private as anybody else's and that they do constitute a distraction to me...

The problem is...they deliberately agitate me or even become verbally abusive or attempt to intimidate me (not that it would work, I'm a big guy by anyone's standard) trying to get me to relinquish the phone. It's been extremely rude and I don't know why they do it...I would think that they would understand that I got there first, might even be aware that I only just got started using it, and that my phone call might be important...everyone that I call, I regard as family...

In some cases there are even other phones nearby that have the same functionality...I use them all...

A note: I change into casual clothing after leaving work...last night, when this happened again, I was wearing a football (ac milan) jersey and jeans with sneakers...it occurred to me they might think of me as young and talking about something frivolous, although I don't look particularly young...

This has happened maybe a dozen times in two months...so I think it shows some pattern...it's also in different cities at different times of the day...

Has anyone had a similar experience? Why might they be doing this?