Why we rage. As we are jostled and bumped by herds of high school students too busy updating their Facebook statuses to see who they’re about to veer into, it would seem that anger is not only natural but utterly inescapable. Yet there are those who find this type of rage laughable; those select few who maneuver sidewalks like masters of all things Zen. Why is that, we wonder. It isn't a parlor trick nor are they using Jedi mindpowers to suppress their momentary hatred for the elderly women in summer hats who abruptly stop their leisurely stroll to ferret about their purses. Simply put, those with rigid ideas and expectations about 'sidewalk etiquette' are more likely to experience rage. It is the 'should' mentality that readies us for the irritation that follows disappointment at our fellow walkers' 'lack of courtesy.'.
It is also important to note that sidewalk rage may a symptom in and of itself. Some research suggests that the volatile nature of Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome may herald more serious thought disorders, such as Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
Some coping strategies. Researchers studying sidewalk rage are using their findings to develop more effective anger-management techniques, and while one might prefer a quick-fix (such as a dozen Valium crop-dusters, as suggested by one netizen), it is unrealistic (and very illegal). The following are some tried-and-true techniques to finding your sidewalk Zen:
1. Take a detour when possible: We do the same when the highway is congested with backlog; try taking an alternate route that is less crowded.
2. Choose a less hectic time of day when possible: If you're hoofing it, you may not have a choice, but you can avoid crowds by carefully sceduling other excursions.
3. Change your thinking: Instead of viewing someone's errors as a personal attack, consider they may be lost or distracted; maybe their puppy was hit by a car and they'rejust having a bad day.
4. Accept diversity: Once you realize that everyone won't walk the same pace as you and that there's no law that dictates people must pass on the left, it's easier to move on; go around, not over.
5. Seek Help: If you can't seem to shake that monkey on your back, the one demanding you punch a woman in front of you who insists on strutting in the middle of the walkway, you may want to get professional help.
Takeshita-dori is a famous tourist hotspot in Japan; during peak travel seasons an estimated 110,00o people navigate the intensely narrow street everyday.
And should all of the above fail, there is always cute, cuddly, wholesome 'kitten therapy'—because thinking of small, fluffy animals tends to reduce stress and bloodlust. Or so I've been told.