Online anger-release "stores" have become extremely popular with young netizens, as shop owners are paid to listen to complaints, confidential secrets and even scoldings from customers.

"I was inspired by my female friends who like to confide their troubles about family, study and work. I prefer to call my store a 'recycle station' for pressure and annoyance," said Wang Ping, a female owner of an anger-release store in Shanghai.

More than 400 online stores are offering anger-release services, according to a keyword search on Taobao, the major domestic online market in China.

Depending on the price, the service offers a customer the chance to complain to the worker within a limited period without any boundaries as a way of releasing anger or stress.

Customers typically pay with a debit or credit card and store owners guarantee anonymity.

Different stores offer a price list categorized either by time or requirements.

Normally, it costs about 1 yuan (15 cents) for a 10-minute period, in which the customers are allowed to say and complain about anything they want, even saying curse words.

The advertisements for the online stores highlight "Get rid of high pressure", "Enjoy scolding", "Best way to relax" and so on to attract netizens as a new way to deal with the stresses of the daily life.

"I was so curious how it would work that I paid 1 yuan for the service," said 20-year-old Guo Qing, a second-year university student from Guangzhou.

She explained that she prefers talking to strangers about her troubles.

"I'm scared to tell my anxieties to my good friends as there is possibility that they would use that against me in the future," she said.

Guo said she expressed frustrations about her stressful university study life to the store owner, who responded by making suggestions. Guo said she would like to try it again.

According to Wang, the generation born after 1980 forms the majority of customers at her store.

They are suffering troubles on careers and families - two of the most essential components in daily life. The troubles include problems between couples and their relationships, work pressures, and family relations between newlyweds and in- laws.

"I think it is a good way for me to express my anger and frustration. Sometimes my supervisor blames me for trifles and I cannot lose my temper easily in front of a girlfriend or close friends," said Lang Lihan, a 25-year-old male white collar worker.

Store owners say they are glad to help young netizens deal with their increasingly stressful lives.

"To comfort them, I always give out my own opinions and suggestions by the end of their talking, complaining or even angry scolding. Hopefully my service can help them resolve their troubles, " said Wang.

(China Daily August 23, 2010)