Temper temper.

[jakesi]

 

Made myself look an idiot this morning.

Everyday other day on my drive to work I get cut up by drivers always in a rush to get where there going, you know when two lanes merge into one ,well today I flipped it and had a go at another driver (I know stupid thing to do) and the other driver turned out to be someone who works in the same building as myself. Now I feel a right prat for having a go even though he was a bad driver. So my Question is:  How do you control your temper?

[nicola_red]

I don't have one, basically.  I know that's not a very good answer!  I'm just very laid back by nature.  I kind of feel sorry for people who get stressed and angry in traffic or queues, cos the 30seconds wait or whatever just won't make that much difference to your day or, indeed, your life.

[racheltje]

Wish i could be more like you Nicola. I'm usually laid back but traffic and queues really wind me up! recently stuck my fingers up at a woman and mouthed an obsenity at her because she was trying to push ahead of me. After felt really stupid for getting so stressed and acting like that. Jakesi, I find that leaving home a bit earlier helps as i'm not in such a hurry.

 

[greenday]

I chant "serenity now" five times. I find that does the trick.

[stoo_pid]

A tip I was given works for me:  whenever you start a journey expect to get cut up by at least 3 selfish drivers.  Somehow, when you know it's going to happen it doesn't seem so bad.  It won't be long before you're calmly saying to yourself, "There we go.  First idiot of the day".  "Oh look, there's number 2." & so on.

 

[CiderMonkey]

if someone annoys me i usually get really 'grrr' with them for a few seconds and then i start to place curses on them (in my head if i am alone, or whispered to the peron with me if i am not alone). They're not anything that awful - mainly stuff like 'I hope you trip up the kerb and land in a puddle' or 'i hope your home hair dye comes out green'. Nothing too drastic, but i find thinking of amusing curses makes me forget i was even angry. I wonder if they ever come true.....  ;-)

[Andrew_2004]

th best way is just to do your own thing, let the other driver in, he might be in a rush, but your not, so a few seconds more wont affect you. Leads to a less stressful drive, or you could always leave a bit earlier to avoid some of the traffic !

[nicola_red]

aaa

[nicola_red]

Sorry, that was me losing my temper after trying to post a reply including a web link 3 times and it refusing to work every time!  Joke...

[nicola_red]

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-bloodhound-gang/i-hope-you-die.html

[nicola_red]

there it is!  I thought those of you searching for appropriate curses might be inspired by those lyrics.

[ICEMANSAV]

I know how you feel Jakesi, one time someone really annoyed me so I " pushed" them into the car in front with my bull bar, no damage to mine or back of his but his front end was a mess and i claimed for the driver in front of him that he let his clutch out and bumped her! Class!

[andy hughes]

I am lucky to not be bothered by road rage at all. I do adopt a zen frame of mind behind the wheel. best way to stay calm is to make sure you have plenty of time for your journey, so you don't have to rush, which is guarenteed to make you stressed. Try playing some relaxing music, something that keeps you calm. Breathe deeply, keep your car well ventilated, and just take your time. You'll soon get into the habit of staying relaxed. Meanwhile, why not find your colleague and apologise for your behaviour - don't make a meal of it, just say you were stressed, and got a bit het up and you;re sorry - you'll feel better.

[smudge]

CiderMonkey  - your post really made me laugh!

stoo_pid - that's a good bit of philosophy.

 

"What's a minute in a man's life time", is mine! Or a woman's of course (seeing as I'm female).

[CiderMonkey]

great stuff nicola_red! My curses aren't quite as harsh but you never know, maybe someday someone'll reeeeeally make me mad and i'll know what to wish 'em!

[greendog]

I think the general consensus is to start your journey a bit earlier, and I certainly subscribe to that myself.  But you need an incentive to help you do this.  Why not try an audio language course.  You could learn to speak Italian or Spanish while on your way to work.  You�ll impress your friends when abroad and it may help keep your mind off the more frustrating aspects of driving.

[jellyyellie]

Learn Elvish.  Not kidding.  Whenever I get really mad at someone (or something) I start swearing in elvish.  You can say whatever you want, PLUS the other person doesn't know what you're saying! Try:

Nostach be Orch gaer
NOST-akh bay orkh gire
You smell like ten orcs


Garich i dh�l goll o Orch
Gahr-eekh ee thole goal oh orkh
You have the hollow head of an orc


Lasto lalaith n�n
Lah-stoh lah-LITHE neen
Hear/listen to my laughter


Rhachon le!
Rahkh-on lay!
I curse you!


D�l lost l�n
Dole lohst leen
Your head is empty


Nai Ungoliant meditha le
Nie un-GOAL-ee-ahnt meh-DEETH-ah lay
May Ungoliant devour you


Labo vi Orodruin
Lah-boe vee Ore-oh-DROO-inn
Go jump in Mount Doom


Ti t�llbe Orch
Tee tahl-bay Orkh
Go kiss an orc

Or go to

http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/elvish/phrases.html

[tigga]

Dont worry about looking a pratt, did you see the guy in the paper a few weeks back ?.

He did the same- kicked off on a driver in london, the guy got out of his aston martin it turned out to be Lennox Lewis- oops !.