Around us, we feel it clearly, there is a sort of latent anger, a dull, verbal and sometimes even physical violence, which we feel rising. I am not talking about a collective anger, but an almost rage, fundamentally individual, with no other target than the first person who “frustrates” the other.
There are these parents who “go crazy” in hockey arenas. Increasingly widespread acts of violence and intimidation in schools while children and teenagers are left to be terrorized by others.
There is this recent episode of a father who physically attacked the young person who was bullying his son while he was left unprotected at his school. Without condoning his action, he nevertheless testifies to the dismay of many parents faced with so much unbridled violence without intervention from the authorities.
Around us, daily incivilities are also increasing. Impossible not to see it. Here as elsewhere, psychologists note that the prolonged isolation of the pandemic fueled the phenomenon, but did not create it.
What was already called in the last century the “atomization” of society – extreme individualism – is now taking on alarming proportions.
In our bubbles, eyes glued to a screen with headphones firmly in our ears, we become less socialized little by little. On social media, the anonymous throwing of profanities and threats has become a global sport.
Lose consciousness
We quickly lose awareness of our environment and other humans. Not for everyone, of course. The fact remains that arbitrary episodes of anger and verbal or physical violence, even on public transport, are no longer the exception.
The other week, on my way home from the hospital, I experienced one of those shocking episodes of verbal abuse and physical threats.
Sitting quietly in the back seat of a taxi, because my street is icy and not cleared of snow, the driver parks in front of the entrance to the alley so that I can disembark without falling.
As there is then only one lane left in the street, the taxi stopping, the cars behind must do too. Nothing dramatic, really. Really?
By the time I take out my wallet to pay, just a few seconds, I hear horns blaring from behind several cars.
However, there was indeed a taxi dome on the car. Obviously, if he stopped, it was to drop off or pick up someone.
Berserk
Believing it to be a simple attack of impatience, I remain calm. What a mistake! In the car window on my side, I see the face of an angry man appear.
Purple with anger because his BMW SUV can’t pass the second he wants to, while banging on the window, he yells at me at the top of his lungs and repeatedly: “Get off, you crazy girl!”
He’s absolutely mad. His brain bubble has just burst. Staying calm, I roll down the window and raise my open hand to signal him to step back.
Nothing to do. He continues to shout and insult me. As a simple passenger, I suffered my first episode of road rage. I can hardly imagine how far this could have escalated if instead of keeping my cool, I had shouted so loudly at him.
I came away inevitably shaken, but not surprised. However, there comes a time when we come to the end of trying to understand all this rage that boils in so many human pots.
Our world is not okay. It’s certain. We greatly need love and kindness. To give and receive. And it’s pressing.