Angry People Write Letters !
By Annie
@Anniedup (3651)
Richards Bay, South Africa
July 30, 2007 7:46am CST
There are a lot of angry people in the world.
You see them every day. They pop out of nowhere and shake their fists at you if you're driving too slowly, or too fast!
They arrive five minutes before closing time at the bank, become flustered at the length of the queues and then irrationally berate the teller because their credit card hasn't arrived on time.
Angry people write letters. Which I suppose is a healthier alternative to wielding a hockey stick at those infuriating happy people...
Everyone gets angry. It's impossible not to. But not everyone writes letters.
Got a problem? Write a letter. Is the government intent on demolishing your golf course in an effort to erect a football stadium that no one but the homeless will utilize in years to come? Write a letter.
Did your husband run off with your best friend Gloria? Write a letter (but first torch his priceless CD collection). The letter is the tool of change. Anyone can throw a Molotov cocktail. But only a truly enraged person can write a letter.
I'd rather punch something (soft, like a pillow) But write a letter. I've never tried that one before.
I'm going to try it one day.....
The next time I'm waiting to board a plane and Johannesburg International shuts down because a family of moles has relocated to Runway One, when my blood boils and the veins on my forehead start to engorge like the Nile in flood, I'm going to jot down my grievances with the world and mark it to the attention of the Airport manager.
Or you could just let it go. The world needs to relax a bit. Because some people take their lives a little too seriously. I understand. I really do.
It's hard to bounce around all day in a syrupy state of bliss when at any moment you could be the victim of rape, murder, burglary, global warming, or an errant nuclear missile.
But if you keep exploding at every little mishap in your life you'll never live to see the imminent end of the world anyway. When that first nuke does flash through the bright night sky there needs to be someone around to document mankind's demise.
4 people like this
10 responses
@weemam (13372)
•
30 Jul 07
I have been angry like this a few times in my life, at the time I thought I would explode with anger( can't even remember them now ) I was going to write a letter to the company or even phone them , My hubby is a pretty easy going kind of a guy and when we got home he would always tell me not to bother as I would just be putting myself through the whole thing all over again and probably not even get an answer , So many things are happening with my family now health-wise that if anything else was happening now I would probably just ignore it , I think nowadays Annie we all seem to get stressed more then usual , and it is usually because SOMEONE ELSE isn't doing their Job right pal xxxx
2 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
I totally agree....not that letter writing ever felt as good as getting a spot of well deserved revenge on the evil human being that has caused your blood to boil, but definitely a peaceful alternative. Maybe answer is to be totally involved with something else to distract us, and prevent us from murder:)
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
30 Jul 07
Happy Birthday, Annie! Annie, this so good. And I can relate to it. Ever since I was a little girl, my mother has been writing letters to deal with many situation, instead of calling on the phone or getting upset. She has a very productive way of handling things. I used to be one who would get angry, but I have learned a lot from her. I either write a letter and send it or write a letter to get it off my chest. I am much better at not getting all bent out of shap. As my mother reminds me, when I get all bent out of shape, the only one it truly hurts is me.
2 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
Thank you for the Birthday wish my friend. Sometimes it helps just to write a letter without even posting it. I think it is for some people a very good outlet! But oh my sometimes it is very hard not to feel angry at someone and especially over the phone. There is no eye contact and you feel kind of hopeless when they put the phone down in your ear! Soooo frustrating
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
7 Aug 07
Annie,
My life is so crazy these days that it is so easy to get angry. I have high expectations of people today. Just expecting them to be honest is too much for some.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
14 Aug 07
I'm with you Anniedup! Why sweat the little things, when there's so much bigger things to 'worry' about?!!
2 people like this
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
1 Aug 07
I can't help be amused by your post, which is a paradox, cause I'm pretty good at being angry. I'd bash a pillow before I'd write a letter. But I think writing a letter is really pushing the anger into something more concrete. Remember I have to lie on that pillow I just pushed all that anger into! Though sending anger through words via post or email is sometimes not productive either, yet at least the angry party feels their expression is being heard by someone who they think will listen! The recipient of the letter probably won't give a continental.
I really admire people, though, who have a beef and do something about it - like write a letter to request change to something.
2 people like this
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
2 Aug 07
I know for my own self, my anger is really to do with not being able to hold an assertive state for long enough. Anger always hides something else. It's a mask emotion. One of the most common masks is covering hurt.
But in the context of your post, frustration seems to be a prominent reason for having to write an aggressive letter. Anger is assertiveness and will gone wrong.
We humans seem to have allot of problems getting what we want, so in the process of attempting to sate our desires we feel guilt for thinking we are being selfish when it's a load of rubbish created by our minds, and blackmail by those who have the green eyed monster as their best friend!
Another way of looking at anger is to see it as your own fire coming out wrong. When our fire or strength or truth comes out in a straight line from a clean space it feels really amazing. Saying this and doing it are two different things! Arrggg!
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
Ah Tetchie you are quite practical:) Never thought of that punched up pillow full of anger. I agree communication through words via post or email is most probably not very productive, and might come back to haunt you as well. I even heard someone say it is a passive aggressive technique that achieves nothing. If u want some kind of satisfaction then u need to take proper action. Well forget about the pillow, I am getting myself a jar where I will put all of my angry letters in, and I might from time to time go and read them again, and will most probably feel very silly!
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
31 Jul 07
i wish it could be that easy. writing in a journal could also count. i used to write letters when i was angry when i was a child. but now im too afraid it would be used as blackmail. no one grants us a place in the sun. my anger imploded. if somethings goes wrong i blame myself. i dont know if its just the depression...
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
I think it might be, and living in this country ain't easy! In my opinion the key to coping with anger is to learn how to respond to it instead of reacting to it. I am busy reading a book called "The Secret" they had the documentary on Carte Blanche the other night please try and get it, although a bit expensive it is a wonderful book. Go and have a look at my HubPages I asked one of my friends on there to write a Hub on it. This is mind blowing stuff. Especially for what you are going through at the moment. Sorry to go off the topic, but did you manage to get a hold of an Dietitian? Zorrogirl here is the link to that particular Hub go and have a look, you won't be disappointed my girl! http://hubpages.com/hub/Michael_Losiers_Laws_of_Attraction__Part_I
1 person likes this
@AnoChaudhary (1719)
• India
2 Aug 07
Hello Annie, i just saw this discussion by email notification works at times it does not work at times :) and the first few responders wished you Happy Birthday iam sorry i was not aware of it :( Belated Happy Birthday wishes you Annie i hope you had a great day :) and as for writting letters well i the only times i wrote letters was when we had english class in school! the phone and cell have taken away the pleasure of writting letters i guess but as for writting letters when angry seems a great idea but if we are going to write to the government i think no point in posting it we might as well save the stamp money LOL but other sitautions are great idea to write more to clarify our thoughts than anything else. writting does make our thoughts more fluid and concise :)
2 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
It is frustrating when certain features on MyLot don't work. Thank you very much for the Birthday wishes. I agree with you, letters of complaints to Government are the ones that most probably will be the least successful. And writing down some of your frustrations will help you to vent your anger. I am going to get a jar and put all my angry letters in there instead of posting them!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
30 Jul 07
Oh, I really like this post. Sometimes you can also send an e-mail, which I am more likely to do, or place a phone call, which hubby will do. He is working on getting the state in to investigate his employer. Communication is the key to change. Nicely written as well. I want to see your popping veins.
2 people like this
@mykmari_08 (2464)
• Philippines
31 Jul 07
I've done this before & I really think it is better than hurling precious things & inedible words to someone you're angry with. Aside from being angry, you could also write letters when you're sad. Anger & sadness are great emotions which help someone write letters spontaneously. Words in your head easily blurt out to be transmitted to black & white. It eliminates the anger or sadness in your heart somehow and at the same time, you get to control yourself from hurting anyone else.
I'm impressed by your discussion / composition. I believe you're experiencing a great emotion right now or are you inspired?
2 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
mykmari, Thank you for your kind words, I absolutely agree. Writing produces a number of benefits, it enhances creativity, helps cope with stress, anger and sadness. Psychologists have advocated the expression of emotions through writing as essential for good mental and physical health. I think I will go with inspired:)
1 person likes this
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
31 Jul 07
I agree with your observation that there is a lot of anger in this world, more so now than ever before. The world has changed, and so has societies. Many factors contribute to this situation - war, violence, hatred, bitterness, intolerance, jealousy, selfishness, etc. Also, more people nowadays choose to rebel against authority. They see authority a stumbling block to their perceived rights and freedom of expression. The fast paced world of ours also exacerbate angry behaviours because people are now more used to a faster pace of life, and are less tolerant to slowness and delays. They are more inclined to react negatively if something gets in their way of progress in whatever they do, whether it is driving on the roads, or queuing up for service in the shopping centre.
I've also noticed nowadays that more people express their displeasure through the pen. They will write letters to authorities, or express their complaints and anger in letters to the forum of newspapers and magazines, as well as in the internet. These channels can be very powerful and effective, and their outbursts can reach millions of people in a very short time, and these letter writers know it. They will exercise their right of expression to voice out against anything they don't like, and even if they are incorrect in their views, their outbursts can cause untold damage to those they hit out at.
Our world needs to show a little more tolerance and kindness all around, otherwise all this hatred manifested can certainly make living less discomforting, and life more stressful for everyone. Life is already stressful. We don't need angry people to add more stress to what we are already experiencing.
2 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Aug 07
I totally agree this is indeed a very 'Angry World' these days. We are all part of this insane rat race! I heard someone say the other day, "writing letters is a passive aggressive technique that achieves nothing. If u want some kind of satisfaction then u need to take proper action." I think writing a long poison-pen letter and then tossing it out is a good alternative. Or we can try and catch someone doing something right instead of focusing on what is annoying us.
1 person likes this
