"Wrap Rage" - It's a Thing. For People Confounded by Modern Packaging

What's with packaging these days? Am I the only one who veers dangerously close to committing violence when confronted with anything that is wrapped, boxed, zip-tied and otherwise bound up in packaging? Evidently not! Wikipedia refers to this condition as "wrap rage" or "package rage". Bah, ha, ha! I relate to this in a big way, how about you?

pic from simplyfantasticbooks.wordpress.com

I don't remember packaging being an issue in "the good old days." I remember bags of potato chips that one could easily open with one's bare hands, without requiring the use of complex tools or the utterance of profanity.

I remember Christmas toys that I was able to gleefully tear out of the packaging on my own, as child. Now, not only are the kids unable to remove their own gifts from the boxes they arrive in, but parents can't do it either!

I'm not sure what happened with the packaging industry, but I feel like a joke is being played and it's on us. A mother shouldn't have to wrestle with a simple bag of snacks just to offer her child a little sustenance in the car. A person should not have to stand there at the kitchen counter, slowly starving to death while unsuccessfully trying to peel the protective inner layer of plastic wrap off their container of hummus. An Amazon box should not have to end up utterly mangled in order for its recipient to access the mail-ordered goodies inside.

In order to combat the unnecessary overzealous packaging of modern goods, I've actually had to employ a few preemptive strategies in my life.

Purchase multi-packs of kitchen shears and stash them all over the house. Two in the kitchen, on in the coffee table in the livingroom, one upstairs in the hall closet, one in the basement by the washer. This way, no matter what room you're in, you'll always have the option to wield your trusty instrument and deftly slice open whatever package is currently causing a problem for you. Except of course, for the wrapping that the shears themselves arrive in. You'll have to grapple with that for a while before you can actually utilize these handy helpers.

Open up packages well in advance of needing the items inside. This works especially well for when you're having guests over to your house. I for one have no patience for tricky packages of crackers that have been sealed with super-grip adhesive that you end up yanking every which way and breaking all the crackers inside while trying to accomplish the simple task of arranging a plate of party snacks.

Buy your husband one of those man tools. I forget what it's called, but he can put it on his belt or keep it in his pocket. It has basic handy things like a small knife, can opener, nail file and stuff like that. Whenever my husband is around and happens to see me fumbling around with a wrapped box or other packaged item, he comes through with his handy man tool and all is well in a matter of seconds.

Keep matches and lighters at the ready. This works well if you must "burn your way" through a sealed package as a last resort. Actually, I'm just kidding – I've never had to set anything on fire while attempting to procure the contents inside. But one never knows what may become of the packages of the future, so probably best to have that blowtorch waiting in the wings.

Are you confounded by modern packaged goods? What types of items do you have trouble opening, and what have you done about it?