rage

Road rage, "going postal" and incidents of overt hostility have become common occurrences, and repeated fodder for the nightly news. Are we becoming accustomed to behavior that was considered unacceptable not long ago?

I was recently involved in an online discussion about behavior and rage in the workplace. The topic was inspired by a report that, on the face of it, seemed to indicate that workers perceive outbursts of anger as indicative of a strong personality, of a "winner". The position of the moderator was that rage is appropriate under certain circumstances. He went on to describe two situations where he became involved in profane shouting matches at work. He indicated that the first exchange ended poorly for all involved, but that in the second, rage, (and "words he learned in the Navy") was an appropriate response. He felt that he was in a "no win situation", and interestingly enough, he lost his job over this incident. I subsequently had access to additional information about the "study", and I discovered that the two choices presented were (1) those who exhibited outbursts of rage when stressed, or (2) those who said or did nothing at all. Of course those in category (2) were perceived as spineless losers, so by default, those in category (1) were "winners".

The following is distilled from my posts to the discussion: I really would like to see how others feel about this issue.

I believe that overt "rage" is conceived as a character weakness, not strength. That being said, I never leave a confrontation unanswered. I stand my ground and state my position as best I can, as even mannered as possible, no matter how agitated I may be. This to me is "being professional". I know that co-workers are usually monitoring heated exchanges, and although in the fray of the battle it may not be as satisfying as a screaming tirade, I find that in the long run, I come off better than my counterpart. Invariably, time bears this out. One way or another, I find that I receive positive confirmation, and the feeling that comes when my position is proved out and the asshole gets his comeuppance (I got that S.O.B.!) is stress relieving, sublime, and better than the immediate gratification of overt rage. Something akin to "revenge is a dish best served cold".

I hold a supervisory position for a large construction company. I deal with a varied group of individuals. Some appreciate the finer points of "creative" language ("are you out of your fucking mind?"), others definitely do not ("I'm not sure that I completely agree with your position. Perhaps we could schedule a meeting to discuss our options"). What has served me well for over twenty years is to try to never loose my cool. I had no "philosophy" when I began working in my trade over 20 years ago. I started at the bottom. To me it was natural to handle challenges in a way that wouldn't get me punched out or make me look like a fool. In the workplace, everyone deserves a modicum of respect. At the end of the day I want to be able to look a company president or the laborer in the field in the eye and feel that we're on an even playing field. A lot of the rage today is the result of taking ourselves too seriously. I look around and see a lot of people creating their own crises by politicking and backstabbing. Confrontations occur when things don't go their way, usually over issues that don't have anything to do with their job to begin with. Rage, as with any other emotion, has its place. Let's save the rage for politicians and serial killers so as not to dilute it!

Elvin Holiday is the name of the hero Rage. At 13, Elvin was exposed to toxic waste while hiding from a group of bullies. Returning to his grandmother's home, Elvin was nursed back to health. The chemicals caused Elvin to grow in strength and invulnerability, until he appeared to be a muscular man in his mid-30's. Encouraged by his grandmother to use his new found abilities for good, Elvin adopted a costume and name: Rage.

Elvin attempted to join the Avengers, but his attitude and actions caused him some difficulty initially. Eventually, he became a member in good standing, and went on several missions until it was discovered that he was a minor. His status was then changed to Avenger-in-training.

Rage eventually joined the team known as the New Warriors.

Rage is the pinnacle of the darker emotions in life. As most of us have experienced, emotions lead to other emotions. Therefore, rage can be construed as the culmination of sadness, anger, frustration, and even hate.

Rage in and of itself is dangerous. People who cannot control it will usually destroy everything around them without even a thought. When a person is in the grip of rage, it's as if he or she has devolved into something primal, something that can only react like an animal. I've personally hurt those around me because of this dark emotion.

If someone can control their rage it can be extremely useful in life. I use my rage whenever I work out at the gym. I tap that inner store of rage and immediately begin to feel the adrenaline and endorphine rush that is induced by the emotion. Soon, I'm done with my workout and far more exhausted than most others around me.

I guess that, in closing, we as people should learn to analyze our emotions and find out why we feel them. By using this method of self-analysis we can supress our emotions and learn to invoke them later on when needed. It can be a dangerous path to follow, possibly leading to the devaluation of your emotions, but it can also bring more self-control and discipline to your life if you make the effort.

Rage is a music program screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television network during the early hours of the morning, usually on weekends.

Rage plays many and varied music film clips, including a countdown as well as specials and concerts from time to time. The show also has 'guest programmers' upon occasion, who choose what songs are played and often give commentary as to why they chose a song or what a song is about, if they happen to have written it.

Rage is also a measure of a werewolf's inner fury in White Wolf's World of Darkness. This internal and primal force allows werewolves to shapeshift, heal and use other powers. However those werewolves with too much rage run the risk of falling into a frenzy and losing all control.

Rage (?), n. [F., fr. L. rabies, fr. rabere to rave; cf. Skr. rabh to seize, rabhas violence. Cf. Rabid, Rabies, Rave.]

1.

Violent excitement; eager passion; extreme vehemence of desire, emotion, or suffering, mastering the will.

Bacon.

He appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat. Macaulay.

Convulsed with a rage of grief. Hawthorne.

2.

Especially, anger accompanied with raving; overmastering wrath; violent anger; fury.

torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Milton.

3.

A violent or raging wind.

Chaucer.

4.

The subject of eager desire; that which is sought after, or prosecuted, with unreasonable or excessive passion; as, to be all the rage.

Syn. -- Anger; vehemence; excitement; passion; fury. See Anger.

© Webster 1913.

Rage, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Raging (?).] [OF. ragier. See Rage, n.]

1.

To be furious with anger; to be exasperated to fury; to be violently agitated with passion.

Milton.

When one so great begins to rage, he a hunted Even to falling. Shak.

2.

To be violent and tumultuous; to be violently driven or agitated; to act or move furiously; as, the raging sea or winds.

Why do the heathen rage ? Ps. ii. 1.

The madding wheels Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise. Milton.

3.

To ravage; to prevail without restraint, or with destruction or fatal effect; as, the plague raged in Cairo.

4.

To toy or act wantonly; to sport.

Chaucer.

Syn. -- To storm; fret; chafe; fume.

© Webster 1913.

Rage, v. t.

To enrage.

Shak.

© Webster 1913.