The notion that it is a good thing for people to release their pent-up frustrations by acting out in an aggressive manner seems to have become a generally accepted part of our popular culture. The 1970 Gregory Benford short story Nobody Lives on Burton Street...which appears in the anthology World's Best Science Fiction 1971 (Ace Books)...bears this out. It is at some point in the future and we're seeing a dystopian society where the economy sucks and the state has not only perfected autocratic ways of controlling dissent and protest, but also can manipulate the disaffected masses into channeling their discontent into carefully-directed areas: Burton Street is one such set-up...a completely artificial place. When the government's Force encounters rioters entering this street, which is lined up on both sides by businesses (or fake businesses), we see just how manipulative a controlling power can be with its people...as well as the implementing of this idea that if folks can let out some steam over their miserable lives then they will become more submissive and content in the long run. Guess what? I disagree...
It has been my life experience with others...as well as with myself...that the more people behave and think in an aggressive and hostile manner, the worse they become in this regard, not better. That's because they are reinforcing the negativity underlying their behavior, as well as that behavior. What I think has confused some well-intentioned people about this is that intense physical activity, such as competitive sports, will tire out the participants to where they cannot...at least temporarily...engage in aggressive behavior while they rest and recover. Children who get outside the home to play or, while at school, have a time allotted to go out on the playground and run around, are more likely to be attentive and respectful to others...deprivation of this can make Johnny a rowdy little boy. But here we're talking about physical activity, not hostility and anger...big difference! Screaming behind the wheel at the other drivers bugging you is no "release"...it just builds and reinforces upon itself...curiously, the mind will find itself seeking out imaginary offenses to continue the established behavior. So yes, get out and do sports...but don't confuse that with aggressive and hurtful actions and speech, in spite of commonly promoted beliefs...reinforced by our plague of reality TV and our overly reactive and touchy president...
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