The weird thing here is that what we are objecting to, tailgating, rude people, stupid anti-service service at shops etc is illogical or irrational behaviour. Yet my reaction could be far more irrational.
The problem is the rational approach is appealing when we are feeling rational, but if we were feeling rational we would not act irrationally so we wouldn’t need the adivce! :o)

Once something triggers us and the red light goes on “sticks and stones” advice is just irritating. We already “know” that stuff!

The REBT approach is to examine what we feel the instant we begin to feel it ( hell, you’d have to be quick!) quickly decide to have a different reaction. (All our reactions/ actions are “decided” by us)

Event: Man jumps in front of me in queue
Conclusion: This is terrible!!! This man is a moron and it’s lucky I’m here to deck him
Action: Decked! That’ll learn ya!.

Alternative
Event: Man jumps in front of me in queue
Conclusion: this man is rude and I really object to his actions
(He should/ought not act like this.)
But, the world does not owe me anything so my shoulds and oughts don’t help except to make me miserable.
Conclusion: this is NOT terrible. It is just irritating and unfortunate and I wish it hadn’t happened but I will not let his rudeness bring me down.

Working with a REBT therapist or diligently working with a good REBT book can gradually teach us to dispute the oughtas and shouldas and to dispute the automatic reactions and replace them with rational ones. It is just one approach but is used widely and apparently bears real fruit with practice.
cheers all,