Temper Tantrum

 

Maybe it was always happening, but somewhere along the line people seem to have lost their sense of Good Manners.

I understand when we get tired we can become grouchy and throw a tantrum over nothing.

A tantrum, temper tantrum, meltdown, fit or hissy fit is an emotional outburst, usually associated with those in emotional distress, that is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, violence, defiance, angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and, in some cases, hitting and other physically violent behavior. Physical control may be lost; the person may be unable to remain still; and even if the "goal" of the person is met, they may not be calmed. Throwing a temper tantrum can lead to a child getting detention or being suspended from school for older school age children. A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.

I don’t remember having a tantrum but if I did I’d be pulled aside and patiently request to not misbehave in public. If I became squeamish or bored, I’d be given a piece of paper and a pencil to distract me. I don’t remember any physical abuse but I respected authority (aka parents).

If kids got made at one another the results might end up in a bit of fist-a-cuffs or some nasty gossip but none of the tantrums I see on videos today.

Everyone wants to be the star of their on movie captured and uploaded on their phone. If you are too busy having a temper tantrum, someone else will record the screen to share with the world.

School brawls, road rage, fast food freak-outs, box store bullies; there seems to be temper tantrums happening everywhere. If you get angry with your neighbor’s grass clipping on your driveway, do you get angry and become hostile or point it out to see if your annoyance can be settled in a neighborly way?

Whether you are playing it for the camera just can’t handle your emotions, tantrums can escalate from potty mouth and throwing things to police detention. Unfortunately there are too many weapons out there when a fussy fit can become deadly.

Don’t know when the scale shifted from conformity to entitlement?