So I made some calls and discovered a place in town. After an introductory meeting where it was determined I didn't appear socio or psychopathic I enrolled in a three month course. I'll be willing to share necessary specifics in PM but since I was one of the few in my class who wasn't there for domestic violence or court ordered reasons I don't want to put too much in the open that could embarrass people.

The main thing that we had to understand before we could move on was that nobody can make you angry. Anger is a natural emotion that is directly related to Adrenaline and our Fight-or-Flight reflexes from Neolithic days. It's completely linked with fear, whether it's fear of being attacked, or fear of losing power, or fear of humiliation, etc.

There's five degrees of Anger (don't ask me to remember the proper order, but there's Irritation, Indignation, Fury, Rage and I think Wrath...I can verify later.) The first two levels you're still in control of your actions and reactions. The final three you're in an increasing state where you honestly have no control.

Have you ever reached the boiling point and just lost it? Someone dropped the final straw and you said or did something you regretted?

Have you ever exploded and then suddenly were empty of energy and couldn't remember specifics about what just happened? Have you ever observed, or had observed of you, that someone seemed like a completely different person when they lost their temper, and couldn't be recognized?

These things happen, more for some than for others but I guarantee that even people you would never imagine this of (such as Sarah or Rob Whitlock...hope I don't offend you two by using you as examples) are capable of reaching this point under the right combination of external circumstances and their method of reaction.

The first thing is to recognize what your body does when you're angry. This is something it will always do, you really won't be able to control it:

Some people tense up. Some people get aggitated, others become more calm and direct. Some breath fast, some become petrified. Some turn red, some have increased heartrates, some have to pee.

This can all happen over very minor things. Traffic. Phones that won't stop ringing. Whining kids. Dripping Faucets. Customers that keep coming in. Hunger. Sleepiness. Achiness.

And you might not even realize that you're experiencing the telltale signs of Anger. You're in the first levels of Irritation or Indignation.

Once you recognize in yourself the signs of your own anger it becomes easier to realize it and do what works for you to deflect it. In my case, either a quick break away from the desk, or doing some work with my hands (such as the dishes) without talking often works. If a shouting match is going on, nobody's going to win but one or both of you might lose.

So let's take how some people have been feeling about Tschida and some of his comments. Me, I personally don't get as bothered as much as some others. I should amend that that to say "I don't get bothered as much anymore." because I don't always practice what I preach. I can probably say the same for Krull.

But back to Tschida: A number of OlyBlog's more prolific contributors have not liked his style of communication. I don't support his style 100% but, hey, there are still people who aren't comfortable with mine. "The Gang" have every right to feel whatever emotion they feel, in that respect I agree with them that people shouldn't be ridiculed for not having a thick skin.

But let's say for the sake of argument a decision is finally made to 86 Tschida from OlyBlog. (A decision I wouldn't like.) The same people will still feel angry or upset if they happen upon his comments in another website, or even if they merely think back on these times.

This isn't meant to excuse hostile or detrimental behavior; it's not meant to suggest that people don't need to accept responsibility for their words and actions. I just wanted to present a perspective on emotions and how we handle them.

What little I've shared of my classes is barely the tip of the iceburg of the rich mine of information on the psychology of Anger. But I paid $520 (I got a discount since financial worries was a major factor in my stress at the time.) and I don't want to give all of it away for free.