The phrase “going postal” burrowed its way into our language after a series of tragic workplace incidents involving U.S. Postal Service employees. The most infamous event occurred in 1986, when Patrick Sherrill tragically killed 14 people and injured six before taking his own life. As similar events followed, “going postal” became shorthand for a violent, uncontrollable rage.
Thankfully, today, the term is mostly used to describe someone exceptionally angry over something that might seem minor to others, rather than signaling an imminent violent spree. Get ready to witness 10 moments where people truly let their frustrations boil over in public. (Heads up: some videos contain strong language.)
10. Airport Alarm: Satan Is Not My God
Air travel is a modern marvel, allowing us to cross vast distances in mere hours. For some, flying high above the clouds might even feel like a spiritual experience. However, the reality of airport security lines and cramped airplane cabins can also brew a potent cocktail of stress. For individuals already on edge, it can be a tipping point.
This video captures one such moment. While the exact trigger remains unclear, a middle-aged woman erupts, shouting about God, Satan, and allegedly stolen ancient birds from Mexico. The discomfort of onlookers is palpable, but the resounding applause as she’s escorted away speaks volumes about how most people react to such public displays of inability to maintain composure.
9. Neighborly Nightmare: Answer Your Door!
Introducing yourself to new neighbors can be a bit awkward. Imagine, then, if that first meeting involves them already simmering with anger. That’s precisely the scenario here.
The audio reveals a homeowner trying to stay calm as her neighbor repeatedly insists she owns a cat and that this cat is frequently entering the neighbor’s house. The neighbor’s reasons for not wanting the cat inside—her home, her child’s allergy—are perfectly understandable. However, screaming through a Ring camera probably isn’t the most effective conflict resolution strategy. Keep an eye out for the alleged feline culprit casually strolling by in the background!
8. Retail Rampage: Storemageddon
Losing a job is never pleasant. Apparently, getting fired from Walmart can be particularly upsetting, at least for this individual. The video shows a clearly agitated ex-employee storming through the aisles, systematically sending merchandise crashing to the floor. His shouts, muffled but forceful, likely included some choice words.
The sheer scale of the destruction is noteworthy—entire displays of cans, toilet paper, and sodas are strewn about. While a job might not remember your positive contributions, especially if you weren’t the best worker (it’s possible to be a good person but not great at your job), they will certainly remember how you made your exit. In this instance, the internet remembers too.
7. Fast Food Fury: Someone Come Get Their Kid
Children can be delightful, but they are also prone to temper tantrums and meltdowns, often stemming from a lack of learned emotional regulation. Take, for example, this young customer at McDonald’s, who seemingly received the wrong milkshake and decided to express his dissatisfaction dramatically.
Instead of a typical childhood fit of crying or foot-stomping, he ventures behind the counter. He hurls his milkshake at an employee and then stands barefoot on the counter. This level of disruptive behavior doesn’t develop overnight. Fortunately, once his father noticed him standing barefoot on the counter (yes, after the milkshake toss), he quickly intervened. One can only speculate about the aftermath, but perhaps poor emotional control runs in the family.
6. Bookstore Bafflement: You Don’t Know Paul Sheldon
While the video labels her a “crazy Karen,” this woman’s particular brand of agitation stems from her fandom of Paul Sheldon. The crucial, and rather amusing, detail is that Paul Sheldon is a fictional character created by Stephen King, an author within King’s novels, much like David Copperfield is a character in a Charles Dickens book.
This misunderstanding makes the video particularly cringeworthy. The bookstore clerk handles the situation admirably, searching for Paul Sheldon, remaining calm during the woman’s increasingly agitated demands, and offering the standard solution of ordering the book. However, the woman persists, seemingly believing her desperate need for the book to complete her collection will magically make it appear. She even turns to other customers, expressing disbelief that no one has heard of Paul Sheldon. Had she asked for Stephen King’s Misery, which features Paul Sheldon, she might have had better luck. Perhaps some misunderstandings are best left uncorrected.
5. Drive-Thru Dissatisfaction: I’m Not Loving It!
Just another chaotic evening at McDonald’s it seems! The reason for this woman’s extreme reaction isn’t clear, but it’s evident she overreacted. She first leans into the drive-thru window, grabs something from the counter, and throws it at the employees. Then, Escalating quickly, she leans in again, seizes their garbage can, hurls that too, and finally rips the iced tea dispenser from the counter and throws it at them.
It’s baffling that people think such behavior is acceptable. Do they not realize they could face assault charges? The employees promptly called the police and provided her license plate number. Rumor has it she’s now comparing notes with the milkshake-throwing kid.
4. Parking Lot Provocation: You’re Making Me Upset
Imagine seeing someone enjoying a rather fancy tailgate lobster dinner in an empty parking area. Most might inquire about the delicious smell or simply wish them a good day. Unfortunately, not everyone reacts so pleasantly. In this video, two men are preparing to eat their meal when an older woman approaches, aggressively ordering them to “Pack it up!” Wanting to avoid confrontation, they comply.
One of the men calmly tries to understand her objection to their presence, but she responds defensively and ineffectively. She eventually walks away, but not before reaching into their truck and callously throwing their carefully prepared meal onto the ground. Kudos to these men for maintaining their composure in the face of such unprovoked aggression.
3. Subway Sermon: A Conversation About Our Lord and Savior
Connecticut highways feature billboards bluntly asking, “Where are you going, heaven or hell?” If those billboards manifested as a person, this might be him. While respecting diverse beliefs and the act of sharing faith is important, there’s a generally accepted time and place for everything. A subway car full of commuters might not be the ideal venue for an unsolicited sermon; demonstrating goodwill through actions often speaks louder than words.
Unsurprisingly, few, if any, passengers were receptive to his message, with some explicitly stating their disinterest. Yet, he persisted, expressing anger about societal desensitization to evil. Another passenger eventually engaged, pointing out the preacher’s selfishness in imposing his views on a captive audience. Many commuters likely shared a simpler sentiment: they just wanted to get home.
2. Wedding Woes: You Will Not Say That About My Son
Wedding vows offer a chance for couples to express their love, dedication, and share lighthearted observations about each other. They are deeply personal moments. In this instance, the mother of the groom took issue with the bride’s characterization of her son.
The bride referred to him as “flawed”—a sentiment most would understand as an affectionate acknowledgment of human imperfection. The mother-in-law, however, interjected loudly, “You will not say that about my son!” The bride attempted to clarify that his flaws were part of why she loved him, but the mother-in-law was not appeased. Her subsequent outburst effectively shifted the wedding’s focus to her, perhaps an subconscious or conscious desire for recognition during a moment signifying her son’s new chapter with another woman.
1. Sidewalk Standoff: This Is My Sidewalk
One moment you’re enjoying a peaceful dog walk, and the next, you’re confronted by an irate individual. This was the reality for a couple on a sunny morning. An older woman, clad in a fuchsia bathrobe, emerged from her house, accusing their dog of urinating on her plants and alleging they weren’t cleaning up after their pet.
The couple denied her accusations, professing confusion. The woman then escalated dramatically, stepping off her stoop to declare the sidewalk as her property and, with a sweeping hand gesture, claiming ownership of everything surrounding her house. Her behavior is so exaggeratedly territorial that the video almost seems staged. Yet, considering the other incidents on this list, an encounter with a bathrobe-clad stranger eager for a morning dispute isn’t entirely unbelievable.
These instances remind us that public spaces can sometimes become stages for private frustrations. While often uncomfortable or even shocking to witness, these viral moments offer a glimpse into the meltdowns that happen when emotions spiral out of control.
What’s the most unbelievable public outburst you’ve ever witnessed or heard about? Share your stories in the comments below!
