Speaking as someone who has had occasional temper problems over the years, it isn't really about running a cost/benefit analysis. It's just sort of an internal explosion. Sometimes it's as surprising to us as it would be to any theoretical witnesses.
For the record, my own flashes of completely irrational temper are customarily directed against inanimate objects. When I have difficulties getting things to work properly, I am occasionally seized with the random, irresistible desire to destroy those things rather than keep futzing with them. Not long ago, for instance, I tore down a miniblind after spending about 90 seconds trying to get the friggin' thing to come down and being unable to make the stupid tug-the-cord-to-release thing work. The red mist descended and suddenly it seemed that continuing to fool with the friggin' cord would be much less satisfying than ripping the whole assembly off the wall, so I did that. And then stood there for a few seconds with the tangled wreckage of the blind in my hands, my mind abruptly crystal clear again, thinking, Now why the hell did I do that?!
I don't kick off at people like Cyclist of Doom, though. Not only do I have a stronger internal barrier against causing other people bother, there's always the possibility that they'll kick off in turn and then beat the crap out of me.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-11-20 06:10 pm (UTC)For the record, my own flashes of completely irrational temper are customarily directed against inanimate objects. When I have difficulties getting things to work properly, I am occasionally seized with the random, irresistible desire to destroy those things rather than keep futzing with them. Not long ago, for instance, I tore down a miniblind after spending about 90 seconds trying to get the friggin' thing to come down and being unable to make the stupid tug-the-cord-to-release thing work. The red mist descended and suddenly it seemed that continuing to fool with the friggin' cord would be much less satisfying than ripping the whole assembly off the wall, so I did that. And then stood there for a few seconds with the tangled wreckage of the blind in my hands, my mind abruptly crystal clear again, thinking, Now why the hell did I do that?!
I don't kick off at people like Cyclist of Doom, though. Not only do I have a stronger internal barrier against causing other people bother, there's always the possibility that they'll kick off in turn and then beat the crap out of me.