Pent up anger can be unhealthy so let's admit it, we all need some valve to release our anger before it kills us.
Introducing the Abuse Me Doll. With mood-sensitive camera eyes and other detectors, it will obligingly invite you to abuse it when it senses that you need the therapy. Before each session, you can set a new identity for it (e.g. your neighbour) and the doll will respond to that name.
This ultra-durable doll (3-month warranty) will respond to all manners of physical abuse and insults you throw at it.
Programmed responses include: whining for mercy, kowtowing in submission, agonized screams, abject misery, shameful confessions ("it's all MY fault!"), begging for forgiveness, and general grovelling.
(There's already a similar idea about a doll that explodes, but this one responds in much more satisfactory ways.)-- baboo, Apr 10 2002 Bobo http://www.criminol...mtheory/bandura.htm [mrthingy, Apr 10 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004] The Slam Man http://www.cybercit...straining.asp?sid=1 [dag, Apr 10 2002] Is this so you can hone your child abuse skills, baboo?-- mcscotland, Apr 10 2002 Please tell me you mean this in some crazy, post-modern ironic way, and not as it sounds.
I think you might need help.-- salachair, Apr 10 2002 make it 6ft tall, 200 lbs, muscular and male with blue eyes and you're on to a winner.-- po, Apr 10 2002 He'd also be on to an idea we've done before Po.-- mcscotland, Apr 10 2002 perhaps you could just email UnaBubba, po?-- sappho, Apr 10 2002 Isn't this just an elaborate punching clown?-- waugsqueke, Apr 10 2002 I'l go for it if it has the right to fight back, having a doll beat you up might be more of a stress reliever and a good reality check.-- rbl, Apr 10 2002 You already have the doll's name worked out I see.-- bristolz, Apr 10 2002 The idea that working out your aggressions against inanimate objects is somehow therapeutic has been discredited among psychologists.-- mrthingy, Apr 10 2002 Try playing the drums instead. It's an inanimate object that is actually designed to be hit, and you can pretend you're being a creative musician type at the same time. I don't know about psychologists, but I find going at the set for an hour or two to be very relaxing.-- timservo, Apr 10 2002 Start with the "Slam Man" [link]. It needs some upgrades, but it should work.-- dag, Apr 10 2002 random, halfbakery