Thread: Anger!?

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

This woman's fear was irrational and stupid. What seems odd to me is that someone who is comfortable in their job performance shouldn't be worried about losing their job, unless the boss just has it out for them.

Or their boss has an eye for the bottom line only.

There is nothing irrational about that fear. In today's corporate setting, being replaced by someone cheaper, younger, and less experienced is a VERY common thing.

Not saying what she did was right, but being afraid of termination in her situation is very sensible. If I'd been in the same shoes I'd have started shopping my resume around just to be safe.

Maybe it's different in other fields, I work in software which is especially cut throat.

Originally Posted by jockeys

Or their boss has an eye for the bottom line only.

There is nothing irrational about that fear. In today's corporate setting, being replaced by someone cheaper, younger, and less experienced is a VERY common thing.

Not saying what she did was right, but being afraid of termination in her situation is very sensible. If I'd been in the same shoes I'd have started shopping my resume around just to be safe.

Maybe it's different in other fields, I work in software which is especially cut throat.

For our discussion about anger and all it's variables we should assume that the story is accurate and the woman just assumed the worse! Even if the woman was provoked or otherwise had a legitimate reason to be concerned I still say she over reacted due to anger and resentment and I still hold that while anger exists, in the long run it is very harmful even if we believe it benefits us for the moment!

I love my anger and doubt i could get out of bed in the morning if i was feeling happy, content and complacent all the time.

When ever i feel the rage build up or something happens to make me mad then i write down my intended course of action, this has the benifit of focusing the mind and playing out a scenario, then i'll read over what ive written and laugh at the stupidity of it all because by the time im reading im generaly much calmer.

The great news is im never going to loose my anger, theres so much wrong with the world and life in general that theres a limitless supply of it and it feels good to use that motivation in order to make positive changes in life.

So in my eyes anger is awesome so long as its not channeled into something violent or spiteful, then again though sometimes revenge is justified and as long as its not taken over the score it can help you move on in life and put some of the past behind you.

Originally Posted by JMS

For our discussion about anger and all it's variables we should assume that the story is accurate and the woman just assumed the worse! Even if the woman was provoked or otherwise had a legitimate reason to be concerned I still say she over reacted due to anger and resentment and I still hold that while anger exists, in the long run it is very harmful even if we believe it benefits us for the moment!

I agree that what she did was stupid. But being fearful for her job was not.

As to your other statement, I do not think such a basic tenet of human existence (feeling angry) is harmful to us, or we would all have dropped dead by now.

Anger is like gasoline, in many ways. Used in a controlled way, it is a fantastic fuel that may power your engine in a helpful way. Used carelessly, it can destroy you. (pardon the quote, my sensei is always saying things like that, a tad cheesy, but usually gets the point across)

Originally Posted by jockeys

I agree that what she did was stupid. But being fearful for her job was not.

As to your other statement, I do not think such a basic tenet of human existence (feeling angry) is harmful to us, or we would all have dropped dead by now.

Anger is like gasoline, in many ways. Used in a controlled way, it is a fantastic fuel that may power your engine in a helpful way. Used carelessly, it can destroy you. (pardon the quote, my sensei is always saying things like that, a tad cheesy, but usually gets the point across)

We are dropping like flies! Stress is way up there for causing many of our health maladies! If one could handle stress without frustration, resentment and anger stress could not have the health affects that it does on us. So while I agree that you can use anger to your benefit, in the long run it will do you in !~ It's kind of like eating your body a piece at a time as it initially sates your hunger , but...you get the picture! There has got to be a better motivator than anger!

How many of you shave with a straight razor while angry...It doesn't work well, does it?

Originally Posted by JMS

We are dropping like flies! Stress is way up there for causing many of our health maladies! If one could handle stress without frustration, resentment and anger stress could not have the health affects that it does on us. So while I agree that you can use anger to your benefit, in the long run it will do you in !~ It's kind of like eating your body a piece at a time as it initially sates your hunger , but...you get the picture! There has got to be a better motivator than anger!

How many of you shave with a straight razor while angry...It doesn't work well, does it?

I'm more worried about what beer and barbeque are doing to my body than I am stress.

But, agree to disagree.

I agree Mark. Whilst we may not have complete control over what makes us angry (although that's arguable), we certainly can (and do) have control over what we do with it.

Anger as a motivator? Sure. But I've found, for me, a calm consideration of all the implications and repercussions of my actions is by far the most productive approach to pretty much anything. So nowadays I always wait until the anger has subsided before doing anything, generally.

And, on a personal note, I've seen first-hand what unresolved and uncontrolled anger can do to a person over the course of their life. Not something to aspire to, let me assure you.

James.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Anger can also motivate. It can focus your energy. It can make you forget discomfort and keep you going.
But the key is to stay in control of it.

I am virtually never angry. I've been a contractor for 10 years, and had my share of shitty situations. I was played a couple of times in a manner that really made me angry, but I stayed professional.

If you are dealing with high level managers of different sites of a megacorp, throwing a hissy fit is not going to impress anyone.
Instead keep your cool and pour your anger in a mail to management, telling them politely to eff off, explaining in detail the context of the situation, and that your contractual obligations do not forsee in you getting treated like shit.

If you can control your anger, then it is an asset. If not, then it is a liability.
Of course, blowing a fuse every other day probably means that you have a problem.

The other side of the coin is that when dealing with peons Such as the morons at customer service counters demonstrating a little anger with the raising of the voice and a few invecitives often gets you what you want or pushed up the ladder to someone who can give you what you want rather than lied to and shown the door.

Originally Posted by jockeys

I'm more worried about what beer and barbeque are doing to my body than I am stress.

But, agree to disagree.

I think if you are in sink with things and stress/anxiety/anger are not an issue, then you will tend to steer towards healthy foods and lifestyle. Also, (this is me just talking out of my a$$), but I think even unhealthy foods are processed/digested better with the absence of stress. Stress is some bad stuff -- up there with best of them. It seems to me that everyone is trying to live these sterilized lives --- dieting, being scared about every possible new disease or catastrophy ----- without thinking about all the stress that this causes. It seems we are wired to information --- too much information , so much stuff without substance -------all in good measure is the key.

Justin

Anger gets nothing accomplished, however in the story if the lady had been seeing straight she would have used an old saying "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold" she should have waited until she was fired then not reset the timer on the virus that would have wiped the computers clean 2 weeks later...

I totally believe in the statement "Don't get angry, get even, or even one up"