I was thinking about the editorial page editors I have worked with over the years.

I believe there have been about a dozen, at different newspapers.

A few of them (not here) were world-class phone shouters, when provoked.

One would do a slow boil and then explode at the caller. He would stand up and lean into the call, to give his anger the proper body language.

Another was downright hostile right out of the chute. Peach of a guy.

I believe his attitude was that readers were a pain in the ass.

But screaming into the phone has become something of a lost newsroom art. For one thing, far fewer conversations take place over the telephone these days. And expressing unbridled rage has become less acceptable.

I wouldn't say I miss it. But there is no denying it was entertaining to witness.

How about you? Have you worked with some phone screamers?

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