City full of 'bus uncles' just waiting to explode: experts

He's as mad as hell and isn't going to take it anymore - and there are a lot more 'bus uncles' lurking out there, according to psychologists.

The cult video of the six-minute tirade unleashed by a middle-aged traveller on unsuspecting young 'Alvin' has become an internet classic, downloaded by millions not only in Hong Kong but around the world.

The vengeful Bus Uncle tirade has also spawned a line of merchandise - including underwear, mugs and rucksacks carrying his trademark phrase: 'I've got pressure!'

The video of Bus Uncle exploding, after being tapped on the shoulder by Alvin and told to tone it down while speaking on a mobile phone, has inspired six different versions, including karaoke and music videos, and fake newscasts. His words: 'You've got pressure! I've got pressure! Why are you provoking me?' and 'It's not over! It's not over! It's not over!' have been turned into mobile ring tones and become the latest catchphrases. As funny as some people find the video, medical and cultural experts say it is no laughing matter because Hong Kong is teeming with 'bus uncles' waiting to explode.

'Hong Kong's macroclimate is that everyone feels annoyed all the time and angry some of the time,' said Lee Sing, director of the Hong Kong Mood Centre at the Chinese University.

'People get yelled at by their boss or have a fight with their spouse but cannot yell back so they feel stress, anxiety and depression. The whole Bus Uncle phenomenon shows that society has reached a tipping point.'