Dealing with the Anger and Bitterness...

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PaladinX13

New member
Well as we see how the media spins the debate results and watch gun owners get demonized and so on... we're bound to experience a bit of raised blood pressure. Invariably one will build up some anger and bitterness. That ain't healthy.

Aside from shooting off a few rounds or getting politically active (just trying to trim the typical answers)... how do you deal with it? I'm looking for 2 types of responses... Preventative and Reactive (ideally more of the first answer). So how do you healthly deal with The Rage? ;)
 
There is one place where I can vent, I mean really vent. Yell, scream, cuss, and damn near go hoarse.

In my car, I hit the passengers seat too, I can effectively go nuts and let out some anger. I feel great afterwards. Try it you can only last for a few minutes, it really takes it out of me.

I also have a heavy bag in my basement, I can't yell (townhouse) but it feels good to be physical.

P.s., don't drive and do this, just pull over on a country road, no one will notice.


Almost forgot, the preventive is tough I have never been able to attain that. I am told that if you look at everyone as if they are nothing but children and lack understanding that will put them in perspective. Unfortunately they can still vote.
 
I avoid watching or listening to those who irritate me. When the Bill Clintons or Jessie Jacksons of the world come on I turn them off. I know where the various candidates stand on the issues I am most concerned with, and don't see any good reason to become angry by watching Al Gore or his allies. I avoid the debates, because I know I will become angry and I can't do anything more than I am doing to influence things. My advice is to, when reasonably possible, avoid watching, reading, or listening to those who cause you to become enraged. Why subject yourself to the stress when it will do no good? Jerry
 
I do some local political activism. If I'm upset about something in local culture or politics, I pick up the phone and call a few friends and tell them who to vote for at the local level in the next election. That way I'm doing something about the problem.

I have ranted about this before in previous posts, but here goes the short version again.

1) Many local elections for school board, city council, and state legislature are decided by only a few hundred votes.

2) Most voters have no idea who to vote for in these local elections. So they default to the incumbents.

3) Most people would be glad to have ANY input on who to vote for in local elections.

4) They will listen to you, and if you can give them one or two good reasons to vote for the candidate you support, they will do it. And may pass on the recommendation, especially if you encourage them to do it.

5) You can find out who to vote for just by calling the candidates and asking them a few questions. Most local candidates I have called will pick up the phone and talk to you, or return a message on the machine. Or talk to you after some local meeting. If they won't, that's a yellow flag. They will tell you where they stand on RKBA and home-schooling or whatever topic is near and dear to you.

If you move the school board and the city council on one or two successive elections, you can usually move the balance of power. Now they are thinking right at the local level. Then just start moving upstream.

True story: in a local school board election, my wife and I called about 30 people in the last hour the polls were open, and asked them to vote for our candidate. About 20 hadn't voted yet and promised they would go right now. Our candidate won by TWO VOTES! And the vote stood after the incumbent challenged.

That felt MIGHTY good. Erased a lot of frustration on local school issues.

[This message has been edited by Dave R (edited October 04, 2000).]
 
What I do is behave. I don't put heated rethoric in peoples faces that I am in the NRA (and GOA so no flames). I have the sticker on my car, a mouse pad at work, and a cup here at work as well as a travel mug. I want to do the PR work up front so I can help defeat the media spin. I try to be professional and well spoken at work AND when the gun-ban topic comes up.

So far, it has worked well. I get respectfull responses and others respectfully listen as I debunk their ideas--when we are willing to discuss non work topics. Alot of people don't 'fear' the NRA when they realize I'm the NRA.

Just my .02

madison46
 
dave r;
One of the races here in the primarys was decided by 3 votes.I WAS ONE OF THE THREE or that how I feel anyhow.Your vote does count especialy on local electons.
Blow off steam?I go out and shoot.I allways feel better after.Uptight today raining so I made a holster for a gun I just bought.I feel better even after just doing that.

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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
Howdy, PaladinX13--
My first glance at your title made me think this was a major illness/lost loved one Post, and while I've had lots ( unfortunately... ) of experience there, I wasn't sure I "wanted to go there" this early.
But seeing what it's about, here's my 2 pennies worth:
1- avoid the Void... watch as little TV as possible. Do not listen to any TV or Radio news, except local news. The rest is spin, and what they don't/won't talk about is the real story.
2- the best source of information is the Net. the second-best, AM talk radio, altho this route is painfully slow-- if you listen to every show, all day, you'll hear about most, but not all, items you ought to be concerned about.
3- take action. This helps the frustration and bitterness of having 8 years of the 'Toons force-fed to you by their worshippers in the Media ( and I include both news & entertainment in that )
3a- grassroots activity is so important- not only does rot spread from the top down ( Klink, obviously, and the corruption trickling down thru the feral gubmint...) but it also percolates up!
You can have a lot of influence on local elections ( see others above ) and it helps Y*O*U.
3b- ( I gotta run & get the wife-unit up for work, so I'm cutting this short-- good luck! ) get the real story on bias at: www.mediaresearch.org be sure to subscribe to their free e-letter, and tell your friends- we have got to educate others!
 
Bio-feedback; I was into that stuff when I was in college, and I learned to control my pulse and BP mentally. Being able to stay calm no matter the provocation is just a spin-off from that. Though I must admit that I do change the channel when Clinton comes on; All things have their limits, after all!

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Sic semper tyrannis!
 
Good question. Here's how I address my issues...1. Went to gun show and registered 150 voters 2. Helped create http://handguncontrolinc.org 3. Worked on my whole circle of friends, shooters and non shooters, telling em why Gore is a risky scheme. Oh, and when all else fails, buy some ammo. TRUST ME, you'll feel better!
 
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