Venting--Pro and Con

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20070303-121444-6947r.htm

That old-fashioned stiff upper lip that kept Americans calm during times of crisis may be coming back, replacing the notion that men and women alike should vent frustrations rather than maintain their composure.
University of Arkansas researchers are challenging the validity of theraputic hue and cry popularized in recent years by therapy groups, women's magazines and talk shows. Put a lid on it, they say. "While it is a common assumption that an angry person needs to blow off steam or risk going through the roof, research in psychology shows just the opposite," said psychologist Jeffrey M. Lohr, who concluded that "venting anger is at best ineffective and in some cases is even harmful."
Mr. Lohr did not mince words. "Expressing anger does not reduce aggressive tendencies and likely makes it worse," he said. With colleagues at Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan, Mr. Lohr analyzed dozens of medical and academic studies of "anger expression" published since 1959. The team combed through accounts of people who took out their anger on inanimate objects, relatives, bystanders, employers and teammates. The results? The researchers discovered that those who had given into their hostility remained far more resentful in the aftermath than those who managed to stay calm. Even people coached to vent by hitting pillows or shouting did not fare well. The desired mental "catharsis" was not achieved, the researchers found.

The anger index is way up in America, meanwhile, fueled by road rage, workplace stress, family spats and ideological differences. Assorted surveys reveal we consistently rail against gas prices, the press, the judiciary, the health system, computers, weight loss, consumer culture and failed romance. We seethe over Hollywood, co-workers and the threat of terrorism. Some 16 million of us have "explosive rage disorder," according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Underlying public anger has become so pronounced, in fact, that Men's Health magazine identified the 100 most angry cities in America in August, rating them by behavioral risk factors, plus health, traffic, labor and crime statistics. Orlando -- home to Disney World -- was the angriest city; Manchester, N.H., the least angry. Washington was rated the 25th most angry city; New York, the 57th.

Folks literally need to take a deep breath, Mr. Lohr said, adding that anger fades when people take deep breaths, relax or just take a timeout. Any action that "makes it impossible to sustain the angry state" can help defuse anger. "What people fail to realize is that the anger would have dissipated had they not vented. Moreover, it would have dissipated more quickly had they not vented and tried to control their anger instead," he added. Other research supports the idea. Cardiologists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that women who outwardly express anger may be at increased risk for heart disease, according to a study released Jan. 15. In a study released last year, researchers at Ohio State University found that the public is showing an increased tendency to "use the news media to manage anger" by selectively choosing what they read or watch according to their mood at the moment.

This is a double edged sword. On the one hand, psychologists have been telling us to "Emote" and "Get it all out". Yet, if you do that, the panalty ranges from ostracism to incarceration and mandatory "Anger Management Counseling".

A good argument for not expressing your disdain for other people follows.

Ronald Reagan said," You can tell a lot about a fellow from how he treats his waiter". Ronald Reagan's main strength, conceded by everyone, was his ability to relate to everyone. We need another Reagan.

Yet, the "most likely" candidate from the Democratic Party has expressed her relationship to people who risk their lives to protect her sorry ass in the following bits of speech:

WHAT A WONDERFUL, DIPLOMATIC PERSON THE HILDABEAST IS. SHE WAS A DISGRACE AS FIRST "LADY."

IT IS UNIMAGINABLE THAT SHE WILL EVER BE U. S. PRESIDENT!

Cheers to the Truth! "Where is the G-damn f**king flag? I want the G-damn f**king flag up every f**king morning at f**king sunrise." (From the book "Inside The White House" by Ronald Kessler, p. 244 - Hillary to the staff at the Arkansas Governor's mansion on Labor Day, 1991)

"You sold out, you mother f**ker! You sold out!"From the book "Inside" by Joseph Califano, p. 213 -

Hillary yelling at Democrat lawyer. "It's been said, and I think it's accurate, that my husband was obsessed by terrorism in general and al-qa ida in particular." (Hillary telling a post-9/11 world what a 'great' commander in chief her husband was; Dateline, NBC 4/16/2004.)

"I have to admit that a good deal of what my husband and I have learned [about Islam] has come from our daughter." (TruthInMed ia.org 8/8/1999 - Hillary at a White House function, proudly tells some Muslim groups she is gaining a greater appreciation of Islam because Chelsea was then taking a class on the "religion of peace")

Hillary's opinion of cops:"F**k off! It's enough that I have to see you shit-kickers every day, I'm not going to talk to you too!! Just do your G*damn job and keep your mouth shut."(From the book "American Evita" by Christopher Anderson, p. 90 - Hillary to her State Trooper bodyguards after one of them greeted her with "Good morning."

"You f**king idiot."(From the book "Crossfire" p. 84 - Hillary to a State Trooper who was driving her to an event.)

"If you want to remain on this detail, get your f**king ass over here and grab those bags!" (From the book "The First Partner" p. 259 - Hillary to a Secret Service Agent who was reluctant to carry her luggage because he wanted to keep his hands free in case of an incident.)

"Get f**ked! Get the f**k out of my way!!! Get out of my face!!!" (From the book "Hillary's Scheme" p. 89 - Hillary's various comments to her Secret Service detail agents.)

"Stay the f**k back, stay the f**k away from me! Don't come within ten yards of me, or else! Just f**king do as I say, Okay!!!?" (From the book "Unlimited Access", by Clinton FBI Agent in Charge, Gary Aldrige, p. 139 - Hillary screaming at her Secret Service detail.)

"Many of you are well enough off that [President Bush's] tax cuts may have helped you. We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to have to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."(Hillary grandstanding at a fund raising speech in San Francisco; SFGate.com 6/28/2004.)

"Why do I have to keep proving to people that I am not a liar?!"(From the book "The Survivor," by John Harris, p. 382 - Hillary in her 2000 Senate campaign)

"Where's the miserable c*ck sucker?"(From the book "The Truth About Hillary" by Edward Klein, p. 5 - Hillary shouting at a Secret Service officer) "No matter what you think about the Iraq war, there is one thing we can all agree on for the next days - we have to salute the courage and bravery of those who are risking their lives to vote and those brave Iraqi and American soldiers fighting to protect their right to vote. (Was posted on Hillary Clinton's senate.gov web site on 1/28/05)

"Put this on the ground! I left my sunglasses in the limo. I need those sunglasses. We need to go back!"(From the book "Dereliction of Duty" p. 71-72 - Hillary to Marine One helicopter pilot to turn back while en route to Air Force One.)

"A right-wing network was after his presidency...including perverting the Constitution."(To Barbara Walters about the Republicans who impeached her husband; 20/20, ABC 6/8/2003.)

"Son of a bitch."(From the book "American Evita" by Christopher Anderson, p. 259 - Hillary's opinion of President George W. Bush when she found out he secretly visited Iraq just days before her highly publicized trip to Iraq)

"What are you doing inviting these people into my home? These people are our enemies! They are trying to destroy us!" (From the book "The Survivor" by John Harris, p. 99 - Hillary screaming to an aide, when she found out that some Republicans had been invited to the Clinton White House)

"I mean, you've got a conservative and right-wing press presence with really nothing on the other end of the political spectrum." (C-Span, 1/19/1997 - Hillary complains about the mainstream media, which are all conservatives in her opinion )

"Come on Bill, put your dick up! You can't f**k her here!!"(From the book "Ins ide The White House" by Ronald Kessler, p. 243 - Hillary to Gov. Clinton when she spots him talking with an attractive female at an Arkansas political rally)

You know, I'm going to start thanking the woman who cleans the restroom in the building I work in. I'm going to start thinking of her as a human being -Hillary Clinton(From the book "The Case Against Hillary Clinton" by Peggy Noonan, p. 55)

"You show people what you're willing to fight for when you fight your friends."(From the book "The Agenda" by Bob Woodward, ch. 14)

"We are at a stage in history in which remolding society is one of the great challenges facing all of us in the West." (From the book "I've Always Been A Yankee Fan" by Thomas D. Kuiper, p. 119 - During her 1993 commencement address at the University of Texas)

"The only way to make a difference is to acquire power" (From the book "I've Always Been A Yankee Fan" by Thomas D. Kuiper, p. 68 - Hillary to a friend before starting law school.)

"We just can't trust the American people to make those types of choices.... Government has to make those choices for people"(From the book "I've Always Been A Yankee Fan" by Thomas D. Kuiper, p. 20 - Hillary to Rep. Dennis Hastert in 1993 discussing her expensive, disastrous taxpayer-funded health care plan)

"I am a fan of the social policies that you find in Europe" Hillary in 1996" From the book "I've Always Been A Yankee Fan" by Thomas D. Kuiper, p. 76 - Hillary in 1996

This ill-tempered, violent, foul mouthed, hateful and abusive woman wants to be your president and have total control as commander-in-chief of a military that her party so openly and proudly admits they detest. I can see someone like this gaining the respect of other nations, and especially from their leaders, who refuse to do as she tells them ...or else. No thanks; my country deserves a better leader, not a dominatrix!