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After you have been around the blogosphere for a bit you begin to develop what we might call “the simmering anger syndrome.” Regardless how upbeat, positive and otherwise “cheery” one may enter this domain, eventually requires a good deal of fortitude and depending on the individual and inundation, downright godliness. I have seen everyone from Michael Arrington to a host of less influential bloggers succumb to the pressure of these forces. The bottom line is, it is hard to feel pretty when the world turns ugly.

In Michael’s case he received an undue raking over to speak, when through no fault of his own the details were not hammered out. Michael reacted (not just to this - but many such indignities) by announcing he would essentially not speak any more. Though I understand and support his decision, this is more the less symptomatic of SAS. Recently the editor of Wired Magazine - Chris Anderson succumbed to SAS after having too much PR news delivered to his email. Chris went off the edge and published the emails of the offending forces (though the magazine is about news) for the world to see. Evidently Chris had been under the foggy influence of SAS for some time - or he was drunk.

Taking the discourse down to the tarmac, where most of us live, my personal SAS index threshold has been reached several times over, but fortunately for me and my readers I am not the editor or Wired Magazine - I would probably have posted pictures of the PR people and cast them into hell. Just the other day I was beaten to a pulp over whether or not a post was Web 2.0 fodder, and this of course added to my SAS index.

Just as an illustration, the very nicest and sweetest person I know Miahela Lica rose of her own accord in defense of a decent post (and me too I suspect). The ensuing comment debacle is demonstrative of the dire effects of SAS exacted upon an otherwise angelic creature. A series of comment slashes and parries took place between Cyndy Allero Carriera, her husband (aka Grendel) and Mihaela. Right before my eyes I witnessed SAS manifested from two divergent origins - fairplay on Mihaela’s part and cynicism on the part of the former couple.

In the end it was not the duty of another author on Profy to criticize a fellow author’s work even via a spouse, as this has never been a practice there to my knowledge. On most blogs authors take the high road in unduly supporting one another, as appropriately outlined by Lorelle VanFossen of the Blog Herald. For my part, and that of Mihaela too, leaving negative or inflammatory comments on any blog is quite outside both our attitudes and ideology, so this can only be explained as SAS.

Most of the scenarios involving SAS come about in a similar way. We are all unduly criticized, attacked, mineralized or otherwise affronted by forces that run counter to our own thinking - every single damned day. Even a positive and kind person soon reaches a point where dignity and intelligence appear to be assailed - this is when SAS manifests. The aggregated simmering frustration of trying to do the right thing under difficult circumstances surfaces in the face of the next most appropriate target or circumstance. This happened to Michael, Chris, Mihaela and I know it has happened to you.

I suppose the short answer to this SAS dilemma is to simply blow off all the circumstances and call our reactions “fed up” and leave it at that. However, there remain two forces divergently opposed to one another here, regardless of whether they come from within or from outside influences the impact is still the same - negativity and uncharacteristic behavior. The behavior on the part of the assailed people mentioned here is indicative of the problematic issue at hand - what happens when the best do not feel pretty?

I am famous for going “the long way around the barn” I guess, but weaving truth with personality and human frailty cannot be approached simplistically. On a personal level I simply cannot deal with my own shortcomings and I usually see other people as far more capable than I of demonstrating good. So, (and I know many of you are like this) I am often over analytical and supremely non-indulgent of seeing the best people reduced to primitive reactionary response at the hands of the ignorant and/or mean. It happens I know - but it does not have to.

And now for some uplifting cures at the onset of SAS - anyone can benefit greatly from one or more of these remedies I k now.

The crowing rooster - If you feel the need to strike back at the world at large - step outside, face your nearest neighbor’s house (this can also be applied in an office environment) and crow like a rooster as loud as you can.

Throw Stuff - There is nothing quite so rewarding as flinging objects. Whether it is a stone skipping across a lake or a dish smashing through a mountain of Walmart collectables, something about the airborne nature of flying objects - the applied randomness of the act - that retards SAS.

Write 1000 words - If you have the capacity and the inclination, philosophizing about the fate of mankind and the world can alleviate the massive pressures of SAS. This is particularly true if you are good at social networking and you have friends on StumbleUpon who will identify.

Comment on Digg - It is wholly appropriate to comment negatively on Digg as this is the one place where feeling does not enter into the equation - I think everyone at Digg hates everyone else sometimes.

Go fishing - Trying to catch slimey creatures lurking in the watery depths is fairly boring and somewhat illogical. The mundane and methodical nature of the act can easily transfer inherent SAS feelings to the fish themselves.

Laugh - Though sometimes only a temporary anesthetic laughter however derived can fend off a spell.

Sing “I feel pretty!” There are dozens more alleviating remedies that fall into these various categories, but perhaps the most uplifting is to follow the path illustrated in the video that follows from the movie “Anger Management.” (somehow I see Michael actually doing this)

Conclusion
It should be obvious to the reader that I sympathize with their pain and also that my SAS quotient has nearly been reached. In the end we are more than the post we wrote yesterday and certainly due credit should be awarded by all when 90 percent of hundreds of writings are taken into consideration. Michael and the others mentioned have certainly exhibited far more excellence than mediocrity as have most of you. So, given a choice ( and we have this choice every moment of every day) try choosing a higher path.

Thanks to Mig for always having my back, Michael for showing us that even the best of the best can have SAS ,and to Chris for showing us that SAS taken to the extreme can lead to email Armageddon. As for Cyndy and her resident collaborator I can only suggest that we all live or die at the hands of those around us. Mig and I share a desk too, but literally days separate our literal SAS lapses - I know this is indicative of at least intent. For those of you caught in the clutches of the syndrome - watch the video NOW.