from:
http://www.xavius.com/010198.htm
"Angry Controllers
For whatever reasons, controllers honestly believe they each have the best controlling techniques. Most will gladly defend absolutely any decision they make about any instructions they ever give. Even if it results in a deal, many will stand before the investigative committee and say the deal was unavoidable, or it was somebody else's fault, because the actions taken were "obviously" the best possible at the time.
This arrogance can cause a great deal of tension between controllers, especially if it is ever implied that a decision was wrong or could have been done better. Controllers restrain themselves from physically attacking others over comments like "Couldn't get them 10 in trail, huh?", which may be said to friends, but never to others. Shoving and punching may ensue.
Why are controllers aggressive? Because aggressive, arrogant controllers are successful! They don't wonder if a proposed solution is the right solution, they know it is (because they thought of it) and they just do it! They don't mess around trying to vector someone left and right to get to his requested cruising altitude, they just tell him FL290 will be his final, and BOOM, that's his final. They keep traffic moving, getting aircraft up and out of their sectors. They sound professional, and even friendly, but it becomes obvious that there is no compromise, because they have decided on an action, and that action is taking place. They have no time to wonder: maybe there is a better way? Because their plan is the absolute best, and damn it, they will make their plan work.
They move traffic quickly, and there are no deals because they have a firm grip on everything that is going on. They grind their teeth, twirl their pencils and bounce their knees, impatiently waiting to see their perfect plan fall into place. Move this guy here, this guy down to 25, this guy over here, and BOOM, everybody's separated. DO IT!!! DO IT NOW!!! Can't wait to see this!!!! <twirling pencil>. If somebody suggests: just climb him to 27, that'll work too... the controller snaps: TOO BAD!!! HE'S GOING TO 25!!!
This arrogant, "Type A" personality is successful because the job demands quick, unhesitating decisions with little time to ponder alternatives. Come up with a solution, and do it! is the credo of the successful controller. Don't listen to alternatives, don't confer with others about what to do, just key up the damned microphone and do it! They work best in busy, congested facilities, and busy, congested facilities love having them as controllers. They may not come up with the best solutions, but whatever solutions they do come up with will happen, and everybody else can kiss their a##.
The ideal controllers, though, don't need to be rude. They may be just as arrogant and aggressive, but they hide it well. There is no need to externalize their intensity; they simply know their solution is the best, so it is just a matter of efficiently relaying it to the pilots and smugly watching it fall into place. Another controller may suggest an alternative, which the ideal controller may acknowledge is a good plan. But I am going to do it my way, he ultimately says, with a smile! [Ok, a sarcastic smile.] END"