Anger - It's all the rage - Why everyone is so angry and why we must calm down

[groovedaddy]

You are not a hostile person, not a picker of fights. You’re a Boy Scout troop leader, Friend of the Library, PTA volunteer. Last year, you even called in and donated money during a National Public Radio fund drive.

And yet you have these moments when the worst parts of your nature come to the fore. Moments when the world seems to be conspiring against you and the frustration builds inside you and the frustration turns to rage.

This morning, for example, you were running late for an 8:30 meeting and you just wanted to get your latte and bagel from Starbucks and run. Of course the guy in front of you in line had to spend 10 minutes talking to the woman behind the counter about that most fascinating of topics, the weather. You’re ashamed to admit it now, but you were on the verge of balling up your $10 bill, throwing it across the counter, and screaming for service.
>
Then, on your way home, as you were inching toward a tollbooth on 294, it happened again. You had 20 minutes to get home, pick up your daughter, and drive her over to her dance lessons. No chance, right? The traffic was going nowhere when suddenly, thank God, another lane opened up. You went for it. So did the guy in your blind spot. A Hummer, cutting right across your bow like you weren’t even there. And off you went, laying on the horn, screaming some embarrassingly unoriginal obscenities, spittle flying, face contorted. If you could have caught a peek of yourself in the rearview at that moment, you would have seen a person who appeared utterly insane.

Here’s the thing—and maybe you’ll find this comforting or maybe you’ll find it frightening. There are a lot of you out there.

http://tinyurl.com/yvge3c

[gmoney]

1. Starbucks has bagels?

:donut:

[groovedaddy]

5. Only in California? Maybe...

Bagels aren't that hard to come by, are they? - Well, maybe good ones. The fake ones REALLY PISS ME OFF!!!

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Goddammit! If you're gonna post a link, don't post a fuckin' tinyurl one!!

:grr: :mad:


Sonofabitch! I mean, seriously, what's so fucking hard about posting the real link?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!



:nuke: :rant: :nuke:















:hi:

Just kidding. :7:

[groovedaddy]

4. That rant had me going for a minute - then I remembered - it's about the anger!

Thank god for emoticons! :->

[flvegan]

3. If everyone would just stay the sweet fuck outta my way

it'd all be good. For me.

[BreweryYardRat]

6. I've learned how to put my anger to work, thank you.

Since it's not societally acceptable to give people a sound thrashing, I let my anger help me. When I'm mad, I try to get to the gym as soon as possible and use my temper to push my strength toward its limits.

[regularguy]

7. Don't make me go all NRP tote-bag on your ass!!!!!!!!!!!!

:hi:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. "There are a lot of you out there"

And sooner or later, they all seem to end up in GD.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. and GD:P And R/T and....

LOL

[unpossibles]

11. BWAHAHA!!

thank you.

[unpossibles]

9. reading stories like this

really pisses me off.


just kidding. I have personally felt more angry than usual, but how much of that is due to mounting concerns about disappearing jobs, the economy, war, stolen elections, and other real negative things in our lives? I do feel sometimes that things like right wing hate radio and other similar things can inspire us to be more angry, but like I said it's hard to separate that from just a general frustration with the world and ourselves - something which Madison Avenue is more than happy to create/reinforce in order to try to sell us some piece of mind.

Most importantly though, how much anger is simply caused by people who somehow cannot see their own responsibility to some problems and projecting that onto others? Yes, I am aware that many, many things are outside the scope of our own will, but many more are not in the sense that how we perceive life and our choices can greatly influence ... well, our lives, in my opinion. Instead of getting angry and bitter and sad about everything, use that energy to try to change what we don't like and accept that which we cannot change.



Yes, I know I've pissed you all off now.

[TrogL]

12. All I ask is that people get a grip

...on some version of reality that works in the real world.

• A million people are trying to get into Wallyworld. Stopping in the doorway to gawk is not helping.
  
• The light is green. Drive down the street.
  
• The light is red. If you absolutely insist upon creeping into the intersection at least have the decency to step on the gas and proceed through when it does turn green. See above.
  
• Make some sort of vague attempt to understand the technology you are using. Otherwise you're a danger to yourself and others eg. me.
  
• Yes, it is rude to interrupt an activity other than talking. I fully comprehend that you do not think. Others do. Get over it.
  

[Mythsaje]

13. Thankfully, I do NOT have an anger problem.

I've been told on numerous occasions that I am the most patient person someone has ever met. Hard won.

I'm easy-going, and almost always calm.

[BridgeTheGap]

14. What's the difference between righteous anger and rage?

We can't always avoid anger but clearly too much can be destructive. But repressing anger usually results in disease or a destructive outburst.
Meditate?