Going postal

Going postal is an American English slang phrase referring to becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment.

"[3] As a result of two shootings on the same day on May 6, 1993, in 1993 the USPS created 85 Workplace Environment Analysts for domicile at its 85 postal districts.

[4][5] On August 20, 1986, postman Patrick Sherrill shot and killed 14 employees and wounded six at the Edmond, Oklahoma, post office.

The Office of Senator Carl Levin investigated Royal Oak, the results of which were summarized in a September 10, 1991, staff memorandum.

The memorandum documented "patterns of harassment, intimidation, cruelty and allegations of favoritism in promotions and demotions ... [and] testimony relating to wide-ranging delivery and service problems" before the McIlvane shooting.

[17] In the 1996 simulation game Afterlife, one of Wrath's punishments involves putting two groups of sinful souls in a post office, one in line to send a package and another working in the mail room, expecting both to get frustrated and grab rifles to initiate shootouts.

[18] In the 1995 film Clueless, Cher Horowitz, played by Alicia Silverstone, frets, "I had an overwhelming sense of ickiness... like Josh thinking I was mean was making me postal.

The 2004 Discworld novel Going Postal by Terry Pratchett centers around Moist von Lipwig, a con artist and criminal, who as punishment is made the Postmaster General of Ankh-Morpork and forced to revive the Post Office.

In the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode "USPIS", self-righteous United States Postal Inspection Service agent Jack Danger (pronounced Donger), who is passionate about his job, is adamant that "going postal" is the term most associated with bringing goodness into people's lives, which is a view shared by his co-workers, though not the NYPD Detectives.