A kid made national news recently because someone stuck a butter knife in his head. Available x- rays and pictures made it perfect for our world of 24 hour news reporting. Anything unusual on video is automatically newsworthy.

I can't explain how a butter knife penetrates the skin on a skull, the angles and skin tautness present problems for even a veteran knife tosser. Most butter knifes won't cut anything but warm butter.

All the father suggested was anger management for his kid's assailant. Very surprising since the second person hired in cases like this, after the media consultant, is usually a lawyer.

In ancient times like the 50s, kids ironed out their differences, and the parents worked out restitution. Meredith Vierra wasn't necessary. Neither was anger management.

Back then, parents had a different approach to controlling anger. If you had issues with your temper, an adult would assist you. He might seem angry while he was explaining things, but he was doing what was best for you. Anyone behaving like that today risks permanent damage to a child's self esteem and probably has anger management issues as well.

The scenario is familiar. Someone comes up with an idea that sounds good on paper and will allow them to provide a service to humanity that no one knew we needed before. Television popularizes the idea, and an industry is born. Some people are helped by such things, but it isn't successful for everyone. It's not like we discovered the key to human behavior. We still operate by trial and error.

Anger management is a relatively new fad. Like most things these days, it solves problems from a feminine prospective. Not a bad thing; it's just that a lot of guys are either uncomfortable getting in touch with their feelings, have no desire to share them with a group, or will con the whole bunch just because they can. Do we have stats to support the idea we all can benefit from brainstorming what pisses us off and making a plan to do better? Has anyone ever prevented a fight using role play?

The anger management industry has books, quotes, quizzes, courses, and even music. Soothing background sounds, classical tunes, or nature music work best. There was even an Adam Sandler movie on the subject; a guarantee of success.

I realize I'm not as qualified as Dr. Phil. I don't have writers to supply me with homespun sayings; most of the ones I use can't be repeated on TV. Heck, I've never even sold Amway.

But it seems like the idea of using a one size fits all approach is not only naive but dangerous. And it bothers me that people are making money off this. Most people who handle their problems successfully rely on a close knit circle of friends for support. It works and the price is right.

Running to a psychiatrist or druggist every time we encounter a bump in life's highway is unnecessary. Most adults should be able to solve their own problems without paying some stranger to do it. At least that's what my Life Coach says.