“Road Rage” — why…?
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“ROAD RAGE”
Story By Vikram Karve
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PART 1
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FRUSTRATION and “BOTTLED UP” ANGER
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Long back — when I was in the Navy — I once had a terrible Boss.
Every morning — he used to reach office in a foul mood — and he would start shouting at me and everyone else — and this would spoil our mood — and vitiate the office atmosphere for the entire day.
One day I got fed up — and — I complained to the Commanding Officer (CO).
I told the CO how my Boss shouted at me for no rhyme or reason early in the morning every day — how my Boss started shouting and abusing me — the moment he reached the office in the morning.
This spoilt the atmosphere in the office for the whole day — and his terrible behaviour was demoralizing me and affecting my health.
I told the CO that I did not want to serve under this individual — and I asked for a transfer out of the department.
The CO refused my request.
He asked me to try and understand the situation.
The CO told me that my Boss had a very unhappy family life — and this caused a lot of pent up frustration and anger within him.
Hence — my Boss took out all his “bottled-up anger” by shouting at me — the moment he reached office.
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The CO advised me ignore the ranting of my boss — and he offered me this rational explanation:
“People who are unhappy at home vent out their frustrations at work — they shout at their subordinates and colleagues.
Your Boss is unhappy at home — so — the moment he comes to office — he shouts at you — and he vents out his domestic frustrations…”
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After explaining his Anger Management theory — the CO looked at me with a smug look.
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On hearing this theory — I said to the CO:
“Sir — conversely — can it be argued — that those individuals who are unhappy in office — those persons who are frustrated at work — do they go home and release their pent up anger and take it out on their wives, children, and family members…?”
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The CO seemed to agree.
He said:
“Yes — that is true — I have seen some persons who are unhappy at work venting out their bottled-up work frustrations at home.
In extreme cases — workplace frustrations can even result in domestic violence at home…”
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I looked at the CO.
Then — I asked him, tongue-in-cheek:
“Sir — what about those people who are unhappy at both places — at work and at home — persons who are unhappy at work and also unhappy at home…?”
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The CO looked at me curiously.
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Then — he asked me:
“Are there really such persons who are unhappy both at home and work…?
Well — I really don’t know what they do…”
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I smiled at the CO and I said to him:
“I will tell you what they do, Sir…”
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“Go ahead…” the CO said, “tell me…”
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So — I said to him:
“People who are “frustrated at work” and who also have an “unhappy family life” — they take out their frustrations and vent out their pent-up anger while commuting to work and back home — to and fro.
They vent out their “home anger” while driving to work.
And — they vent out their “work frustrations” while driving back home from work…”
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“Really…?” the CO exclaimed.
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I smiled and said to my CO:
“Yes Sir — these are the “ROAD RAGE” types — who are always on a “short-fuse” — and they holler at the slightest instance — at their fellow commuters — driving in the traffic — and they even shout at passing vehicles…”
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On hearing my logic — the my CO had a hearty laugh.
I suspect he knew that my boss was a “ROAD RAGE” type.
From the way my boss shouted at me the moment he came to work in the morning — it was clear that he was unhappy at home.
Maybe — he was unhappy at work too — and — he took it out on his wife and family at home.
And — being unhappy and frustrated at both home and work — maybe — he indulged in “Road Rage” too — while driving from home to work — and again — while driving back from work to home in the evening.
I felt pity for my boss and decided to ignore his ranting and raving.
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PART 2
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ROAD RAGE
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Dear Reader:
So — now you know the reason for “Road Rage”.
If you see some persons losing their cool while driving to work — and also while driving back home — please sympathize with these “road-rage types” — because:
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1. they have an unhappy family life
and
2. they also have a frustrated work life
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Poor things — they deserve pity…!!!
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For these “road-rage types”:
It is a “Double Whammy”…!!!
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So — do sympathise with them — and ignore their ranting and raving…!!!
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PART 3
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Let us use the term “Road Rage” metaphorically to represent bottled-up anger and pent-up frustrations.
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ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA “ROAD RAGE”
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With the advent of Social Media — you have one more avenue for you to vent out your bottled-up anger and pent-up frustration.
Now — you can rant and rave on Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc — and release your pent-up frustration and bottled-up anger.
Yes — you can indulge in online “Road Rage” — by “Virtual Shouting”.
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VENTING YOUR ANGER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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This “Virtual Shouting” on the Social Media is a much better way to vent out your bottled-up anger — rather than actually shouting at people in real life — or indulging in physical “Road Rage” — isn’t it…?
So — we have one more benefit of Online Social Media — it can be used as an effective “release valve” to vent out your bottled-up anger and pent-up frustrations by “Virtual Shouting” (online “Road Rage”) — rather than physically losing your temper and screaming or indulging in Real Life “Road Rage”.
Some prefer Virtual “Road Rage” on Social Media as an alternative to Physical “Road Rage” in Real Life.
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VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
- This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
- All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
- E&OE
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
Link to my original post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/frustration-management-humor-in-uniform.html
Revised Version of my story ROAD RAGE posted online in this blog earlier at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/11/road-rage.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/04/road-rage.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/10/how-to-release-your-bottled-up-anger.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/07/humor-in-uniform-anger-management.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/how-to-vent-out-your-anger-and-frustration/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/02/05/how-to-manage-frustration-and-bottled-up-anger/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/09/20/road-rage-2/ etc
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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