[betenoire]

both "screwed up" and "perfect" are judgements calls/perspectives, and panicking isn't going to change things (panic doesn't necessarily make something worse either)

[bigstrat2003]

I think panic almost always makes things worse. There's a reason that in an emergency, the first piece of advice to people is "don't panic".

[betenoire]

almost is the key term here, yes, it depends on the situation causing the panic.

[tekla]

Panic always makes things worse

[betenoire]

you can't think of an example where it doesn't? I can. I'm not saying there is any virtue to it, but panic can subside without having had negative side effects on anything other than your mood