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@dooks
i am trying to be more zen about things these days. i have to remind myself that it really is just the adrenaline talking and take the polite but firm rebuke route.
weirdly (or maybe not) the only other place i occasionally get aggy is in the pool when i'm doing laps. it's the same thing, tons of adrenaline, high heart rate, you're focussed and in a rhythm and all you ask is that other people have enough enough self awareness and consideration to not unneccesarily inconvenience or endanger you. it's not a lot to ask is it really? personally it's my primary concern whether i'm cycling, swimming, driving... whatever. in fact that's my A1 golden rule of riding in town. traffic laws be danmed - as long as it doesn't inconvenience or endanger anyone else then it goes. that's it.
anyway back to the pool as handy analogy. more often then not a significant proportion of the pool users don't seem to have that basic common sense or courtesy. it's just the same as riding. if you expect it (as you must when riding in order to avoid constant accidents) and let it go people just carry on and on doing these selfish and potentially dangerous things. in the pool i find it niggles niggles niggles with me then when the same slow-ass macho twat cuts in front of me at the turn without looking for what might be the 20th time in an hour...yes i occasionally snap. i've been known to throw goggles and kick out at people. shame
i hate myself for it and i'm pretty sure that people think i'm a dick when i do eventually lose my rag. i can't really blame them...I think i'm a dick when i do it. i llose any moral advantage my theories of coutesy and awareness might have given me. plus when i get out, the adrenaline subsides (as it always does almost instantly) then i have to stand in the showers with the now furious macho guys i just yelled at. that's not fun. it happens to me man.
anyway - i think my point is that relatively harmless and cathartic (it IS a good release of stress) the odd shout and yell is - there is a more contructive and positive way to make these points. it just takes some self control. i'm pretty sure the quiet word in the offender's ear (letting them know how unacceptable their behaviour is) is always more effective than the insane rant.
i'm working on it anyway.