When Adults Forget the Rules
Working in a rage room is unpredictable.
People come in to let off steam, but sometimes they forget that rules still apply.
That night, a group of adults ignored my instructions entirely. I had told them their time was up. I made eye contact, warned them, and walked away.
They slammed their weapons against the metal anyway.
It was infuriating—but it taught me a critical lesson: how to handle adults who can act like overgrown children.
And when this happens, you need a method to reclaim control.
Using Controlled Force
In a noisy environment like the rage room, yelling doesn’t always work. So I used controlled force: I firmly pounded my fist against the door to reinforce my presence, signaling they needed to pay attention, then entered the room.
When I asked them again if they were done, and they said yes, I moved them out of the room.
Simple, firm, non-negotiable.
It wasn’t aggression, not in a visceral sense—it was clarity, presence, and boundaries in action.
If you’re like me and are learning to set boundaries and be firm as an adult, then know it will feel uncomfortable at first, but it is a necessary muscle that needs exercising.
Lessons You Can Apply
- Be clear with your instructions: People often ignore rules because they think someone else will enforce them.
- Use presence over physical force: You don’t need to tap anyone’s shoulder to be taken seriously. Body position, gestures, and a calm, firm voice go a long way.
- Assert your boundaries: You don’t need to explain, apologize, or justify. Enforcement is the signal people respond to.
- Learn from one-off experiences: That night was a one-off, but they are bound to repeat. Learning now equips you for similar situations.
These are skills I practiced in real time—calm authority, controlled force, and follow-through—and they can apply anywhere you face disregard.
Take Action Today
Next time someone ignores your instructions or crosses boundaries, try controlled presence:
- Stand in a visible position.
- Use deliberate gestures to signal attention.
- Speak clearly and firmly.
- Follow through without apologizing or overexplaining.
This works in high-stress jobs, meetings, or even day-to-day interactions where people try to push you around.
Apply This Now
Have you ever had to assert control when someone ignored the rules?
Try using controlled force method, share your story in the comments below. If you found this post helpful, feel free to like it, share it, or hit the wave button to support the archives!
Want To Explore More Rage Room Takes?
Below you can explore with me how rage rooms can be an essential tool to our mental health and how they become a place where people leave their mark in plain sight.
- The Writings on the (Rage Room) Walls — Are We Striving to Leave Something Behind?
- The Writings on the (Rage Room) Walls — Are We Striving to Leave Something Behind?
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