IN April, Chris Rock was slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars ceremony; a few months later, legendary comic Dave Chappelle was attacked whilst performing a Netflix special at the Hollywood Bowl. In that instance, the attacker didn't walk away unscathed, having been left with a suspected broken arm.
The reason I mention this is that I'm back on the road in a few weeks and it seems to be open season on comics.
Not that I'm overly worried, for while my wife loves reminding me I now possess a free bus pass, I'm not your typical OAP.
A combination of good genes, a youth spent lifting weights and years working in some of Belfast's toughest pubs has left me somewhat ambivalent regarding any potential physical confrontation.
Not that I'm proud of my aggressive tendencies; indeed, I've worked hard to control them. I suppose in today's terminology I'd be defined as an example of toxic masculinity, though I'd argue my aggression is the result of having been raised in a violent environment.
As a child I was beaten not only by my teachers, but worse, by my schoolmates. I was mercilessly bullied through most of my early school years for the sins of being ginger and shy.
Then, one day, the worm turned, and I experienced a blackout rage, surprising and terrifying for both me and the boy who'd attacked me.
I carried the hurt and anger of being bullied for years, remaining hyper-vigilant to any sign of physical intimidation. Decades before anger management, I was diagnosed by friends and family as having a bad temper due to, of all things, my ginger hair.
I now see that choosing weightlifting as my sport was like pouring petrol on an open fire as it involved training for explosive bursts of aggression to lift weights on the edge of my physical capabilities.
At 19, my years in the gym had left me 15 stones of pure power, coupled to a hair-trigger temper which I found impossible to control.
At 27, I came to the realisation that unless I did something about my anger, my future was bleak.
Visits to the dentist and casualty units had become a common occurrence but it wasn't the physical toll which was my main concern; mentally and emotionally I was tired of the violence.
For while I'd the body of a brute, I remained both shy, sensitive, and empathetic. After every physical altercation I was racked with guilt; I simply wasn't suited to the life of a 'hard man' as the collision of my true temperament and temper was intolerable.
So, I made dramatic changes in my lifestyle, altering who and where I socialised, along with recognising and dealing with my temper triggers.
It wasn't easy, but I realised that unless I dealt with my anger, my anger would have continued to deal with me. I'm convinced Maghaberry prison is full of men just like me who either never had the opportunity or refused to recognise the dangers of their unchecked aggression.
One of my major triggers was road rage and it's something I've worked very hard on. Simple tricks like giving myself plenty of time for my journey, not reacting when other drivers misbehave and being considerate and giving way to other road users have all helped; though I admit when a driver I've let out of a side road fails to blink their indicators in appreciation, my pulse rises in indignation.
I'd love to say my anger has disappeared, but that would be a lie. What I can say is the gaps between outbursts has greatly extended to the point where I sometime think it may be gone.
But then, through no real fault of mine, other triggers such as tiredness or stress creep up unnoticed and I have an 'incident'.
I remain grateful, however, that while I've shook a few idiots, I haven't hit anyone in over 30 years. I realise to most people this will sound ridiculous but to those also tormented with aggressive tendencies, it will sound almost impossible.
I will need to forever remain vigilant - losing my temper is a luxury I simply cannot afford, as to do so could result in me losing my liberty or even my life.
So, if you happen to be reading this in a prison cell, take heart. If I can do it, so can you. It will involve ego deflation and continuous self-discipline and effort, but the reward is a peaceful, contented life.
