Loren Terveen

But again, whether expressing anger in a workplace is *effective* is a separate question. I'll say (again) maybe there are contexts in which expressing anger is necessary -- otherwise, people won't pay attention, won't consider it urgent. But in other contexts...

Expressing the anger (that one feels) just may not be an effective way to get heard and create change. At least that's how I feel.

If people have spent months, years, centuries trying to be heard and create change, to no avail, then it's the systems that are not effective rather than that expressions of anger are not effective.

I do understand and generally agree that in workplace communication, many kinds of communication don't require or benefit from anger. But it may be harmful to silence it from people who have a right to be angry.

Yes, these things are not in conflict! I'm not saying you should "silence people who have a right to be angry". I'm saying -- and you generally agree -- that "many kinds of communication don't require or benefit from anger"....

So, if I *were* to give advice to people who "have a right to be angry" (and I won't), it would include that "While you have a right to be angry, expressing anger may not be effective or productive"...

If a colleague/student is angry because they've been harmed, I personally will hear them and try to support them rather than signal that that isn't effective. You're right, it may not be effective for others or in general and so that may be important advice to give.