Computer rage: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:40, 4 February 2018

Revision as of 21:43, 3 March 2018

Line 3:

== Notable cases ==

In April 2015, a Colorado man was cited for firing a gun within a residential area when he took his computer into a back alley and shot it eight times with a 9mm pistol.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Enraged Man Shoots Computer Eight Times|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/22/man-shoots-computer-eight-times_n_7119246.html|website = [[The Huffington Post]]|accessdate = 2015-11-03}}</ref> When questioned, he told police that he had become so frustrated with his computer that he had "reached critical mass," and stated that after he had shot his computer, "the angels sung on high."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Colorado man ticketed for shooting his computer; says it was worth it|url = http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-colorado-shooting-computer-20150421-story.html|website = latimes.com|accessdate = 2015-11-03}}</ref> In 2007, a German man threw his computer out the window in the middle of the night, startling his neighbors. German police were sympathetic and did not press charges, stating "Who hasn't felt like doing that?"<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sympathetic police pardon man who threw computer out of window|url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-469022/Sympathetic-police-pardon-man-threw-window.html|website = [[Mail Online]]|accessdate = 2015-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Veneziani|first1=Vince|title=German Throws Computer Out Window, Escapes Fine|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/07/18/german-throws-computer-out-window-escapes-fine/|publisher=[[Tech Crunch]]|accessdate=2018-02-04}}</ref> In 2006, the staged surveillance video "[[Bad Day (viral video)|Bad Day]]", showing a man assaulting his computer at work, became a [[viral video|viral hit]] on the Internet, reaching over two million views.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Viral Video Breakdown {{!}} Youtube Views {{!}} Youtube Likes {{!}} Youtube Comments{{!}} Make your video viral |url=http://www.views4video.com/viral-video-breakdown |date=2013-07-25 |accessdate=2015-11-17 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725183339/http://www.views4video.com/viral-video-breakdown |archivedate=July 25, 2013 }}</ref> Other instances of reported computer rage have ranged from a restaurant owner who threw his laptop into a deep fryer, to an individual who threw his computer out the window, but forgot that the window was closed.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Drop the mouse and step away from the PC |url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7329279/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/drop-mouse-step-away-pc/#.VjgZQ7erSUk|website = msnbc.com|accessdate = 2015-11-11}}</ref>

== Prevalence ==

In 1999, it was speculated that computer rage had become more common than [[road rage]],<ref name="People Management">{{Cite web|url = http://www.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2013/01/29/4092a-1999-06.aspx|title = Computer rage grows as millions misspent on IT|date = June 17, 1999|accessdate = November 2, 2015|website =[[People Management Magazine]] |publisher = |last = |first = | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703025756/http://www.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2013/01/29/4092a-1999-06.aspx | archivedate=July 3, 2017 |deadurl=yes}}</ref> but in a 2015 study, it was found that reported rates of anger when using a computer are lower than reported rates of anger while driving. However, reports of anger while driving or using computers were found to be far more common than anger in other situations.<ref name=":6"/>

In a 2013 survey of American adults, 36% of respondents who reported experiencing computer issues, also reported that they had screamed, yelled, cursed, or physically assaulted their computers within the last six months.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title = Over A Third of Americans Confess to Verbal or Physical Abuse—Of Their Computers: New Harris Study Reveals the Extent of Frustration, Anger and Helplessness Spurred By Computer Problems {{!}} Bulldog Reporter|url = https://www.bulldogreporter.com/over-a-third-of-americans-confess-to-verbal-or-physical-abuse-of-their-computers|website = www.bulldogreporter.comBulldog Reporter |accessdate = 2015-11-11}}</ref> In 2009, a survey was conducted with British computer users about their experiences with computers. This survey found that 54% of respondents reported verbally abusing their computers, and 40% reported that they had become physically violent toward their computers. The survey also found that most users experienced computer rage three to four times a month.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = 'Computer rage' affects more than half of Britons|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/5086091/Computer-rage-affects-more-than-half-of-Britons.html|website = Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate = 2015-11-03}}</ref>

Differences in types of computer rage have also been found between different geographical regions. For example, one survey found that individuals from London have been found to be five times more likely to physically assault their computers, while those from [[Yorkshire]] and [[Humberside]] were found to be more likely to yell at their computers.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Computer anger: Northerners shout, Southerners lash out {{!}} ZDNet|url = http://www.zdnet.com/article/computer-anger-northerners-shout-southerners-lash-out/|website = [[ZDNet]]|accessdate = 2015-11-17}}</ref> Differences have also been observed for age groups, as younger adults (18–24 years old) have reported more abusive behaviors in the face of computer frustration when compared to older adults (over 35 years old).<ref name=":8" /> Individuals with less computer experience in particular have also been reported to experience increased feelings of anger and helplessness when it comes to computers,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title = No. It's Not OK Computer! Computer-Related Stress In The Workplace|url = http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/business_advice.php?AID=5202#.Vjg-OberSUl|website = www.freshbusinessthinking.comFresh Business Thinking |accessdate = 2015-11-03}}</ref> but other research has argued that it is the [[self-efficacy]] beliefs about computers that are predictive of computer frustration, not the amount of computer experience or use.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|title = Computer anxiety and anger: the impact of computer use, computer experience, and self-efficacy beliefs|url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563204000664|journal = Computers in Human Behavior|date = 2006-11-01|pages = 1001–1011|volume = 22|issue = 6|doi = 10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.020|first = Jeffery D.|last = Wilfong}}</ref>

In 1999 Professor Robert J. Edelmann, a Chartered Clinical, Forensic and Health Psychologist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, was offering a special helpline in the UK for those suffering from technology related anger.<ref name="Ipsos">{{cite web | url=https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/employees-get-it-out-their-systems | title=Employees Get 'It' Out Of Their Systems. Frustration levels with technology soar, according to new survey | publisher=[[Ipsos]] | date=27 May 1999 | accessdate=March 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="People Management"/>

== Causes ==