Start Complaining
by Phillip Day
'Who is General Failure, and why is he
reading my hard disk?' - Steve Wright

Complain when something isn't right. A few decades ago, they would never have got away with it. Today, with good service and fairmindedness out of the window, they make an art out of getting away with it.

· Not all outrage is negative
· You have indignation, annoyance, offence, high dudgeon, huff, puff, gall, pique, rankling and Basil Fawlty
· The great (and infamous) names of history were all agitators, so you've got company
· Anger without action is impotence (unhealthy)
· Righteous anger with action, while possibly earning you four-to-five in minimum security at HM's pleasure with a cell-mate by the name of Bubba, might also get you a 187-foot statue erected in your honour in Trafalgar Square with pigeons doing their business on top of your hat
· Depends what you mean about righteous

For twenty years I've campaigned against the medical system, corrupt politicians, bad justice, the EU, and stickers in the backs of cars saying Pull Back, Give My Child a Chance (like I wouldn't if they weren't). The lawful approach, I find, is best, not least to avoid speaking to your mother through reinforced glass plate using a phone screwed to the wall so you won't nick it.

The world is not a perfect place but there are bits of it I'd like to change. The Campaign for Truth in Medicine was founded to educate the public on public-domain information they weren't being told about - information that has, quite literally, saved lives. In addition, I complain about bad service. I steam at injustice. I don't like the 'Strawberry Surprise' to be because I can't have any. I don't appreciate the extractor fan in my hotel bathroom sounding like a bloody Luftwaffe raid over Croydon. Do I smoulder in silence? Not this suffering servant.

I am a veteran complainer. A whingeing Pom. The Ayatollah of Outrage. A stern stirrer of passions. I care about the world enough to want to help it so my motives are pure. I'm wise with my time. If I'm piqued enough to lumber up on my high horse about something, then I want it changed and right now would do better than sometime next week.

· If I'm not happy, I do something about it (take action)
· I try to be fair
· Legal
· Moral
· Explain why I'm upset
· I can't and won't try to change everything - they'll be nothing left for Ben Elton to be wrong about
· Sudden anger is something else (See Manage Your Anger)
· When I've finished complaining, I revert to the previous chapter and enjoy silence
· After that, I start complaining again

Extracted with permission from Phillip Day's, Simple Changes: Your 100 Ways to a Happier, Healthier Life. In this book, see also:

Attack Political Correctness
There is Danger in Excess, Moderation in All Things
Manage Your Anger
Don't Lose Your Joy
Be an Overcomer
Think Good Thoughts, Don't Dwell on Evil
Strive For Excellence
Have a Point to it All