“Insane Office Worker,” what happened?

“Going Postal” has never been so well illustrated than in the recent “Insane Office Worker” video that’s making the rounds on YouTube. I found the official explanation for the event in a Russian newspaper and translated it using Google translator, viewable here. The video depicts an ad sales rep in a Russian yellow pages office. According to the article, he was sent over the edge when his colleague made a comment about him not receiving his sales commission and joked that he would now have to spend his vacation in the less-than-enticing Krym (Russia) instead of in Thailand. The article goes on to say that no-one attempted to stop him, despite a number of men present in the office until he was tasered several minutes later by a security guard. It did point out that plenty of the men quickly whipped out their camera phones.

I’ve heard it said recently that bringing more emotional expression to the office is a good thing. On first glance you might say that this is an example of bring a little too much emotion to the office. But it’s clear that this guy had it pent up…and I’d argue that when we don’t express how we’re feeling in the moment, it can build up in dangerous ways and eventually finds its way out…like in turning you into a real-life version of the Hulk. So, if you’re pissed off that you didn’t get your commission…tell someone right then and there, it will save you jail time…and a tasering.