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Manhattan Installs Public Punching Bags for Frustrated New Yorkers

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4 years ago

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Jun 03, 2019 07:27pm EDT

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Justine Chen

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donttakethisthewrongway, a design studio based in Savannah, installed punching bags in various parts of Manhattan.
The punchings bags serve as outlet for anger and frustration that people in cities like New York regularly experience
Around 55 percent of adults said they had experienced stress during “a lot of the day,” according to The New York Times.

Living in an energetic and electrifying city such as New York can be really stressful. Tempers regularly arise from busy commuters walking frantically on the crowded streets, as they navigate through traffic, noise, and pollution.

So a design studio based in Savannah, Georgia called donttakethisthewrongway installed punching bags where people can vent their frustrations in a safe and convenient way.

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A design concept for the public that explores designing common spaces for the frustrations we all face. Frustrations that go beyond designed systems and happen, well, because we are human. The public punching bag offers an outlet for these emotions as a means to maybe develop a healthier way to address personal and collective issues in a public setting. #nycdesignweek

A post shared by donttakethisthewrongway (@studio_dtttww) on May 16, 2019 at 12:54pm PDT

The initiative was part of the New York City Design Week 2019. The punching bags serve as a cathartic means for people to release their pent-up emotions in a communal space.

The bright yellow punching bags are easily visible and are installed in various locations around Manhattan.

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a public amenity that catered to emotions | nyc design week (may 15 -21, 2019) #nycdesignweek

A post shared by donttakethisthewrongway (@studio_dtttww) on May 21, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT

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LOL! You can find this at Greene and Broome streets if you want to vent (violently). #PublicPunchingBag

A post shared by Christopher Garcia (@cgbam4789) on May 18, 2019 at 5:53pm PDT

As donttakethisthewrongway explains their initiative:
“The concept explores designing common spaces for the frustrations we all face.
Frustrations that go beyond designed systems and happen, well, because we are human.
The public punching bag offers an outlet for these emotions as a means to maybe develop a healthier way to address personal and collective issues in a public setting.”

New Yorkers seem mighty pleased with the punching bags.

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This is AWESOME. I don't know who to thank for this – OH MY WORD – THANK YOU! We need more of this. A public punching bag! Currently on 11th Avenue and 37th (?) Street. For every crappy dog owner who doesn't pick up after their dog, for every gigantic rent payment, for every dingus who stops to check their phone directly in front of a subway station entrance, for the general lack of fresh air on this island… So much angst, so little time. 🤛😬👊 Sweeeeet release 😅😛 #nycadventures #newyork #manhattan #publicpunchingbag #bestinvention #iwanttostealit #AWESOME #happyactress #actressinny #annakyrahooton #persnicketyfox #happyfilmfox #nycactor #angst #newyorkproblems #relief #exhale #problemsolved

A post shared by Persnickety Fox (@persnicketyfox) on May 27, 2019 at 6:28pm PDT

This may be a brilliant idea, especially since an annual poll revealed that “Americans are among the most stressed people in the world, with the number of people reporting anger, stress and worry at a 10-year high.”

According to The New York Times report, “around 55 percent of adults said they had experienced stress during “a lot of the day” prior to the survey being conducted, compared with just 35 percent globally.”
“About 45 percent meanwhile said they had felt “a lot” of worry the day before, compared with a global average of 39 percent.”