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[KevMan1815]

"I've never understood..." statements are funny to me. "I never understood how people can like that movie." "I've never understood how people can eat that stuff." "I've never understood how someone can act like that."

I guess to me it doesn't take a lot of imagination to really understand these sorts of things. Not to say that justifies certain behaviors, but at least you get why it happens.

On topic, I broke the analog stick to a N64 controller once. I was in middle school. I got mad at messing up in Star Fox 64 and spiked it into the ground. Everything worked except the analog stick, which was physically sound on the outside, so it must have broke inside somewhere. I wasn't mechanically inclined enough to figure out how to fix it. Never again have I thrown stuff, but my wife has laughed at my occasional "that's bullshit" comments.

 

[KorrZ]

I mean, yeah it's definitely immature behavior.

I broke a few controllers in my time, all in my teen years.

 

[Ishida]

Never done it, not even when I was a kid.

I've never thrown, punched or kicked anything when I was mad. I guess I wasn't into throwing tantrums. Also I've always valued my stuff.

 

[Trigonx]

i've punched my crt moniter back when i played CS 1.6 after getting headshot randomly across the map. Never broke anything yet.

 

[brennok]

I used to break controllers all the time when I played on console. They were cheap to replace so I had no issue with it.

I don't lose my temper other than when it comes to games. It is more an issue of the fact that the game doesn't do what I tell it to do when I use a controller. I have played fighting games where I couldn't beat the tutorial since the motion I was doing wasn't what the game counted so it would never complete the move. Meanwhile I never had an issue with it when playing arcade games.

 

[darscot]

I hucked the original Mario Kart into the wall, by into I mean through the drywall against the concrete inside. It completely detonated the plastic, fished it out with a coat hanger and it still worked it was just naked. The FIFA rage videos are the best, love them.

 

[BadAss2961]

I just punch something soft now. Shit is too expensive.

 

[Demoskinos]

I did it when I was a kid... more than 18 years ago.....

This. Which was real dumb since I rarely got any money to spend on games back then. Now as an adult I fucking penny pinch the shit out of my electronics. I've got a Turtle Beach head set that in reality should be replaced but I don't wanna spend the money on a new headset so I have that thing taped up so much that is literally all thats holding it together. >_>

 

[Vibed]

The thing about anger management is the key word "management". It's not like someone is angry, they perform a technique, and suddenly they are calm, and you certainly can't do that in the heat of a split second. Some people react more strongly and if they don't know how to keep a leash on the sudden jumps in emotional level or physical manifestations of that then shit happens. It's perfectly understandable if you can see that some people are different than you with different biology.

I guess I'm saying sometimes people slip up, even adults, and it's perfectly understandable although not always excusable.

 

[Slick Butter]

I don't really get this sort of thing either, only because it's not my natural reaction to frustration. I mostly feel like I got the wind knocked out of me and my mouth feels heavy and tight when I get frustrated.
If anything, I grip my controller firmly for a little bit. It's kind of like a dull pain, but I keep it in and it subsides quickly. I kind of wish I had a satisfying way to deal with frustration. I would have to actively think about throwing or snapping something, my reaction is to furrow my brow and clench my teeth.

 

[Vibed]

If anything, I grip my controller firmly for a little bit. It's kind of like a dull pain, but I keep it in and it subsides quickly. I kind of wish I had a satisfying way to deal with frustration. I would have to actively think about throwing or snapping something, my reaction is to furrow my brow and clench my teeth.

Thats the thing for me. I've had problems with anger and can deal with it pretty well, but once something gets to me I stew over it for hours. The anger doesn't go away very quickly because I tend to hold on to it. There's honestly no satisfying way to go about getting rid of frustration for me, I just have to deal with it.

 

[Evilisk]

I've thrown a controller once (at a couch, so it wouldn't break) but I've never snapped a disc out of anger. While I admittedly don't pay as much as I could be (because I'm stingy with my money), I still really dislike the idea of wasting money.

I also feel that waiting for a disc to eject in order to snap it would be less cathartic then just belting a controller that's within reach

My brother did break a disc indirectly (when we were younger). Actually, he picked up the whole PS2 and smacked it on the ground. Fortunately (well, unfortunately for me) only my Tekken Tag disc (that was inside the PS2 at the time) was what got damaged lol

 

[Tawney Bomb]

Games can send me into awful fits of rage, I've never broken anything but damn do I feel like it. As soon as I step away though I'm fine, or get past whatever I was stuck on. It's why I'm not super fond of playing games around other people.

 

[Slick Butter]

See and thats the thing for me. I've had problems with anger and can deal with it pretty well, but once something gets me I stew over it for hours. The anger doesn't go away very quickly because I tend to hold on to it.

If I get frustrated with a person and feel like we both hit a wall in an argument then yeah I get that. I tend to think about it for a good while and have a little grudge.
But it helps to remind myself that pretty much anything I get into arguments about is nerdy, unimportant little things.

With games, I will just Alt + F4, forget about it shortly, then come back fairly soon to try again. Which is what I've been doing with my weird network problem in Dark Souls 3 for a couple of days now.

 

[ViciousDS]

My cousin is 30 and still breaks at least 1 controller every souls release. I have now seen 3 PS3 controllers snapped in half and at least 4 DS4s lol.

Dude has bought more controllers then I have since I was born

 

[DirtyLarry]

Been gaming since I am 5 years old.
36 years later at 41, I just have never done it once.
My parents made huge sacrifices for me to even have the consoles I did. I never took it for granted.

The one and only time I did something comparable was back when I skateboarded I purposely stepped down on my deck and snapped it. I had to wait until the end of the month to get a new one. I also noticed that we did not have our traditional pizza night on Friday night for 3 weeks like we usually did. But I did eventually get my new deck.

So simply put, I was never a little shit.
And now that I pay for my own consoles, I value them just as I did when I was younger.

So I cannot help but reach the conclusion that people that do break their shit were either A) spoiled rich kids B) have anger management issues C) are not very bright.

I am none of the above so yeah, never broke my shit.

 

[ShirAhava]

I've been gaming for almost 25 years only time I broke a controller was this year playing SFV....PS4 launch controller cumbled up in my hand playing as Chun-Li...cheap as fuck

 

[HyperCroutons]

I was always good at controlling my anger and I never broke a controller or anything, usually would break out into muttering and swearing instead if I'm really upset from a difficult boss or cheap game moment. I would only do this though if I was alone, I never do it if people are around. Now my brother on the other hand, oh boy, did he have some doosies, he once snapped a PS2 controller in half while playing a game once.

 

[ThomasAnderson]

Broke Madden in half for 360, the one with Shaun Alexander on the cover. Before that I broke 2k on Dreamcast. And one time in 2006 my roommate was kicking my ass so bad in NBA Live I removed the disc and scrubbed it on the carpet rendering the disc unplayable, lmao. Thats the past though. Now I just turn off the console and go outside.

 

[Slick Butter]

My cousin is 30 and still breaks at least 1 controller every souls release. I have now seen 3 PS3 controllers snapped in half and at least 4 DS4s lol.

Dude has bought more controllers then I have since I was born

the fuck

How?

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

When i was young, i stabbed my smash bros melee case because of the event with dr mario and peach.

Ive thrown controllers onto soft things recently. But neber more than that.

 

[ChrisD]

Been gaming since I am 5 years old.
36 years later at 41, I just have never done it once.
My parents made huge sacrifices for me to even have the consoles I did. I never took it for granted.

The one and only time I did something comparable was back when I skateboarded I purposely stepped down on my deck and snapped it. I had to wait until the end of the month to get a new one. I also noticed that we did not have our traditional pizza night on Friday night for 3 weeks like we usually did. But I did eventually get my new deck.

So simply put, I was never a little shit.
And now that I pay for my own consoles, I value them just as I did when I was younger.

So I cannot help but reach the conclusion that people that do break their shit were either A) spoiled rich kids B) have anger management issues C) are not very bright.

I am none of the above so yeah, never broke my shit.

I was B. Broke three GameCube controllers when I was 14/15. Punched stuff a lot.

I'm still B, but I let out anger through yelling or crying now, rather than destruction (this goes for all things in life, not just games). I wonder sometimes if I'll ever get a complete hold of my temper. :/

 

[BoxManLocke]

I don't remember ever breaking anything, but I punch my desk and yell pretty regularly. I also throw the controller on my desk, but not too hard because I don't want it to hit my screen. It mostly happens when I play competitive games.

People react to stuff differently. Pretty easy thing to understand, but I guess it's easier to post a smug-ass judgey response like so many others in this thread.

 

[GoaThief]

. And one time in 2006 my roommate was kicking my ass so bad in NBA Live I removed the disc and scrubbed it on the carpet rendering the disc unplayable

Lordy...

Worst I've ever done was thump my fist on a solid desk or work surface accompanied by a slightly raised, "Fuck it!"... Competitive scene though so bit more emotional than just chilling out on my own. Never been anywhere near angry enough from video games to damage anything.

I do know someone who smashed an N64 controller into a friend's back after they one hit killed (IIRC) them in goldeneye though!

 

[dk2399]

I dont understand it either OP.

I had a few friends who were like that during the teenage years. Now that I'm an adult, I dont associate with them anymore. One beats his girlfriends, the other just like to fight.

Frankly people who exhibit that kind of behavior makes me nervous. They are ticking time bombs.

 

[Pizza]

The most I've ever done is nonchalantly toss a controller onto a padded surface like a bed, pillow, or couch. Like idk I'd never be mad enough as a game to even consider taking out my own shortcomings on a foreign object

 

[MillionStabs]

When i was young, i stabbed my smash bros melee case because of the event with dr mario and peach.

Ive thrown controllers onto soft things recently. But neber more than that.

Real talk fuck that event. That and the invisible Fox and Falco one were designed to make you break something

 

[MagnesD3]

To Op and others who don't get it you clearly don't have anger management issues then or poor emotional health. I've done it when I was younger before and don't do it anymore but I'm not going to shame someone and act like I'm better than them somehow because they do it. It usually means that there's something going on more than just getting mad at a video game.

 

[wilflare]

my brother punched his monitor when he got frightened
- it was one of those apps where they play nice cheery music as you play PAC-man before a horrific picture of a ghost takes over the screen with a scream

i hate those.

 

[OfTheOverflow]

I get irrationally angry when something particularly objectionable happens when I'm playing online and used to have a bit of a whinge and Chuck my PS controller at the couch or something.

On that note I really should stop playing R6 Siege because I can feel my heart pounding in particularly tense situations but the payoff is either glorious or absolutely bitter.

 

[spazchicken]

Something immediately has to pay when an injustice has occurred. Usually the closest thing to you is what's already in your hand.

Look, people get angry and sometimes they need to direct that frustration on something in order to work through it. If you're human then you should understand at least that much, even if you don't break things yourself.

As you get older, hopefully you take more value in your belongings and the money you spent on them and have a little more maturity and self control. I feel like most adults do.

 

[Inspector Q]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is89F9odJoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vip704CK0uo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vyuPhSelZA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpJmlt5FP0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JIMMbVt5sY

I don't really see the big deal. Some people take competitive sports really seriously and just release their anger by breaking whatever object is closest to them at the time.

These vids contain some of the best athletes at their respective sports and no one is calling them psychopaths or in need of "help". They just hate losing that much that they end up venting their anger.

This may sound silly, but some of us take videogames just as seriously as a real sport. Or we are just really competitive people that absolutely loathe losing.

Now, I am not saying it's a great quality to have or that losing your shit and breaking something should be encouraged, but people need to chill out with this whole talk of people needing help if they break a controller.

Like, even for the people like me who admit to having broken some of my equipment, it is probably a rare occurrence. It's not like I am breaking things everytime I get angry about something. It needs to be a combination of factors. Probably a shit day at work, money problems, and just a terrible string of bad matches in some online game where nothing is going right. Then all of a sudden, broken controller, lol.

This is something that happens to me once every few years. It's not something that is really common. And I am assuming that is the case for most people that have these temper problems. It's rare, but it happens.

 

[nillah]

Sore losers, I feast on them.

 

[Mass Effect]

You do realize "acting out" or "immature" rage behavior are in fact probably brought on by very real issues with anger management and coping skills correct? Your dismissive attitude about a very real issue that many people struggle with is pretty gross.

Many people with mental and behavioral issues lack the necessary income and/or opportunity to seek professional help, which is nothing to say of the environment they may be willingly subjecting themselves to wherein nobody is there to support a decision to get professional help. Having issues with anger/rage is a vicious cycle that's extremely difficult to break and self-monitor. Throwing a controller across the room or snapping a disc in-half is a tiny symptom in ocean of other potential issues.

This is the best post in this thread.

 

[User 479360]

I don't think I've ever done it. I can't think of a single time when I threw one of my controllers at a wall, and I definitely know I didn't snap any discs in half.

I've had OCD since I was eight, and I've ALWAYS taken good care of my stuff. So much so, that when I go to sell something or trade something in, I'm always told it looks like new. "Wow, the next owner will be so lucky" - type of thing.

I've gotten mad, but I've never broken my controller or a disc. They're too expensive, and it bugs me if I get anything on either, like dust or dry skin.

There was an asshole I knew in high school who would do it. He rented Stuntman for PS2 and ended up ripping it out of his PS2, then throwing it at a wall as hard as he could. He was a piece of shit, though. (Not saying people who do this are. I just hate the guy. I don't understand the mentality, though.)

 

[goldenpp72]

Sometimes I shake the controller but I don't break stuff since I'm not an idiot.

 

[tengiants]

I had problems with videogames when I was younger. Into adulthood the anger sadly transferred to other parts of my life. Part of it was my male role models growing up, and part of it was a medical condition. I was lucky and finally got good health insurance and found a good doctor. We finally figured out largely what was wrong with me (problems in my intestines) and haven't really had anger problems since.

If you know anyone who struggles here, try to help them with eating well and exercising. Nutrition makes all the difference with stuff like this.

 

[bj00rn_]

Sure there is. One of those things costs money to replace.

No that rather tells us something about outcome . The amount of frustration is most likely the same. The delta is how you are programmed to follow social norms and how you value the objects that the frustration is offloaded to. This will vary from person to person and can't really be used to quantify a person's amount of issues or immaturity. You'd have to normalize all data before being able to describe how "well" a person is handling frustration, or whether a possible issue lies with "lack of control" or "lack of respect" for social norms, items or value ..

 

[Nostremitus]

Yeah sorry but you and Nostremitus suggesting that because someone snaps discs when they get frustrated will lead to someone shaking their baby or slapping their spouse is a bit ridiculous and over the top. Oh yeah and just to clear things up i have never broken a controller or snapped a disc in frustration/anger.

Care to explain how impulse control disorders aren't linked?

http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-are-impulse-control-disorders/

And yes, getting satisfaction from destroying things when you are angry is an impulse control disorder.

I am saying it is foolish to judge someone before getting to know them. These can be great people who will sometimes lose their cool and throw a box at work, for example. Breaking an inanimate object is very different from attacking a living thing.

Seriously, just get to know someone before you completely write them off as psychopaths. Hell, everyone who has these angry, controller breaking outbursts admits that it is not an intelligent response or are regretful immediately afterwards. That doesn't mean they should be ridiculed as children. That is going too far, in my opinion.

Our ability to control our impulses is a sign of maturity. So not controlling them is a sign of immaturity. They could have an underlying mental or emotional disorder causing the behavior but that doesn't change the fact that it is a childish behavior. If they don't have a mental/emotional disorder and are choosing not to regulate their behaviors as an adult, then they are just being childish.

 

[Morgan Blackhand]

I've beaten a keyboard when I was a kid but I have never broke anything.

 

[Dekuboy]

Well I never broke one, but recently I wanted to break something. Bayonetta 1 tear #77 with the alfheim thing was really really frustating. Sometimes the character didn´t respond correctly soo...I was tempted to throw it against the wall.

 

[Rei_Toei]

I have this one PS4 controller with some bite marks..

 

[Raiden]

Never. I get mad at the game itself and just start yelling blaming lazy game developers.

 

[Freeman76]

So from reading GAF this seems to be a semi common occurrence yet I've never understood it and always found it an immature emotional reaction. I mean why the hell would you destroy something? are you really getting that mad about anything especially games? It's not normal behaviour at all right?

My buddies brother recently snapped 2 or 3 keyboard playing football manager? I can't even comprehend being that mad at anything let alone football manager.

Even done it GAF?

Can anyone offer an explanation that isn't "I've got serious anger problems"

How do the breakers cope with actually problems?

Some people have troubled upbringings, with so much emotional distress that hasnt been addressed that it comes out in negative ways that dont seem at all linked.

Take a young person who saw his parents being physically abusive to each other, and feels the only reaction is to lash out when frustrated, for example.

Think before you judge. Some of those people who you describe deal very well with "actually problems" as you put it.

I work in the mental health field and come across this all the time, and the amount of ignorant teachers, parents etc i come across is astounding, all because they cant see a bigger picture because the behaviour they see is unnacceptable to them, similar to the tone of the OP here actually.

This viewpoint is a huge problem, creates a "im better than you" mentality when what people with these issues need is for someone to help them understand what is going on in them and therefore take control in order to make better choices.

 

[Dark-VIII]

Never did it, maybe once but i don't know if it counts, became angry while playing tekken with my friend and left the controller to hit the ground from 5 or maybe 8 cm hight
I do get angry sometime though

 

[Yoshichan]

My cousin is 30 and still breaks at least 1 controller every souls release. I have now seen 3 PS3 controllers snapped in half and at least 4 DS4s lol.

Dude has bought more controllers then I have since I was born

I like it

 

[SuperSah]

My brother was an odd one. He would buy Fifa games, get bored and snap them only to stop playing. He'd then buy the next game and the cycle continued.

He's a bit of a practical joker anyways!

 

[Terrifyer]

I kinda feel like smashing stuff is your subconscious stepping in to say "we're really not enjoying this. Here, let me break this for you so we can go do something fun."

The real answer is probably just plain old immaturity though.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

I never broke a controller. When I am really mad I do a throw motion or grab the controller really hard. Fifa does that to me.

I broke a mous once, when I was smashing it on the mouspad.


I have a friend who literally bites his controller when he's mad.

 

[WITHE1982]

I remember back in the day my Sega Master System controllers all had teeth marks in them where I would bite them in frustration. If i remember right this trend stopped with my Mega Drive.

Now if I lose my rag at a game I normally just throw the controller vertically toward the ceiling then catch it. Does no harm and blows off a little steam.

The only time gaming frustration has cost me actual money was while playing TLOU factions I threw my PS3 controller on the bed. Forgetting that I'd just put my phone on there. An £80 mistake which I'll not repeat in a hurry.

I have a friend who literally bites his controller when he's mad.

Ha! Is he me aged 8?