I’ve found, much to my chagrin, that anger seems to be a much better way to achieve what you want than being pleasant and diplomatic. Cases in point: ecommerce

I’ve found, much to my chagrin, that anger seems to be a much better way to achieve what you want than being pleasant and diplomatic. Cases in point: ecommerce retailer offers next day shipping, but nothing arrives. I chase. “Oh it’s out of stock”. “It said in stock on your site... i’ll have X instead”. A week later, still nothing. “Oh it’s in the post”. A week later, still nothing, still “in the post”. I ask for a refund. “Our policy forbids it.” So I find the email addresses of the company directors and send them a blistering email full of threats and insults. I get a refund 20 minutes later. Other case: company installs satellite dish on roof. Stops working very next day. Ask them to come back. “Thursday.”. Three months on they’re still saying “Thursday”, so I threaten court action in a blindingly rude phone call in which I call him names and belittle him. He turns up an hour later and fixes it, apologises. When I ran my own business, I would always end up giving the shoutiest nastiest motherfuckers the most attention, to the detriment of the people who asked nicely - the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and most people will act to avoid conflict. I certainly do. I’m just as guilty. I loathe this aspect of human nature, as it just generates unnecessary grief for all parties involved. A society that refuses the carrot is doomed to the rod.