I had a surprising online experience that just stopped me in my tracks. First, I thought it was funny. Then, I realized it was brilliant.*
I was having problems with some email software that I pay for and, like many of us, found the FAQs in the Help section to be totally useless. So, I selected the Contact Us option and dutifully filled in my name, email, and complaint. Then, came the surprise.
I was asked “How do you feel?
My choices were
A) Mildly Annoyed
B) Frustrated
C) Angry
Well, A) didn’t quite say it and C) was stronger than I felt (after all, it wasn’t as if my computer had crashed), so, yes, darn it, I was B) Frustrated!
It felt so good to be able to let them know that.
Feelings Complete the Picture
Venting is cathartic. It doesn’t eliminate the emotion, but, if negative, it reduces its intensity substantially, and, if positive increases it. The Emotion question allowed me to be heard, and
