PC rage hits UK
Saturday,
29 January, 2000, 09:54 GMT
BBC ©
As
the reliance on computers in the workplace continues to grow,
people in the UK are resorting to violence when their PCs
break down, say researchers.
When faced with technical problems, most
people shouted at colleagues, hit the PC or even threw parts
of the computers.
The most frustrating hitch was when people
lost their work after their computer crashed or froze.
The problems seem to be widespread with more
than a quarter of those working with computers experience
problems with their PC on a weekly basis.
"Over half of all working days lost to
sickness in the UK are related to workplace stress," said
Fiona Dennis, a stress management trainer with Priory
Healthcare.
"Being heavily reliant on IT to speed
up our lives means that performance is hampered greatly when
it fails, causing an over-reaction and stress."
70% swear at PCs
The
study by the National Opinion Poll and the software company
Symantec, found that nearly half of all computer users had
become angry at some time.
Almost a third of people had physically
attacked a computer, 67% experienced frustration, exasperation
and anger and more than 70% swore at their machines.
Technology rage is the latest rage to emerge
in Britain and follows road rage, trolley rage and air rage.
There was a dramatic rise in air rage
incidents last year, with 174 people detained at Heathrow and
Gatwick alone. In 1998 the number of air rage arrests for the
whole country was 98.
