Do You Have A Phobia?
January 4th 2008 22:16
Do you have a phobia?
While I've never been fond of reptiles - I wouldn't say I have a phobia (or perhaps I do).
Sure I'm happy to pick up spiders, catch rodents and even frequent the company of Mrs Nice Guys friends - but snakes, frogs, goanna's and large reptiles - well they leave me just a little cold.
On the other hand, Nos. 1 daughter has a fervant fear of birds. So much so that trips to the beach, park, even the city - where the chance of large numbers of our feathered friends would care to gather - were often put on hold while we summons the courage to journey out - even if it meant strenuously clinging to dad's trouser leg for fear of being attacked by a rampant pigeon or seagull.
Where these phobia's develop is anyone's guess - and I suspect Orblers with more of a background in this area could explain - but with so many recognised conditions out there including a few of the more bizarre I've uncovered:
Arrhenphobia: fear of men
Enochlophobia: fear of crowds
Judeophobia: fear of Jews
Kathisophobia: fear of sitting down
Lygophobia: fear of darkness
Methyphobia: fear of alcohol
Myrmecophobia: fear of ants
Oneirophobia: fear of dreams
Ouranophobia: fear of heaven
Ranidaphobia: fear of frogs
Technophobia: fear of technology
Zemmiphobia: fear the great mole rat
Thought I'd throw out the question - "Do You Have A Phobia?"
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by secretwritersbusiness
Thanks for your list of fears - fascinating, isn't it? The human mind is just a playground for irrational phobias. It's given me some great ideas for my own writing, so thanks for posting this.
Cheers,
Jo
Comment by Justicia
A Word From The Wise
Celebwise
I also don't like to be in a huge crowd or an enclosed space but this does not stop me from catching elevators.
Comment by katyzzz
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Intersting thoughts and I was so pleased when you said MrsNG's FRIENDS, I was rather alarmed when I thought you were going to stop at Mrs. NG's. interesting stuff altho looking at your reptilian friend did rather put me "off"
Thanks for joining in the Orble, "spread the goodwill around" I just hope a lot of others will get to play.
katyzzz
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Isn't it strange - the whole phobia thing? Would love to know how some of these things come to pass. The obvious question would be 'why' - but I guess in most cases we have no idea.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
The human mind certainly is a fascinating playground - and like any playground there's always rides that are fun and some that are simply scary if we're not ready for them.
Yeap - talk about psychological swings and roundabouts.
Thanks for dropping on by.
Hope you NY resolution is successful - keep us all posted - you're amongst friends.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I can sorta understand the whole spider thing, I guess.
They don't worry me though - in fact rather stupidly I pick most up with my hand if I see any in the house and put them outside to do the job nature intended - to catch other bugs.
As for enclosed spaces et al - I've come to understand this a little - having seen first hand first hand the courage some people have summons just to get into a lift - or an aircraft for that matter - it can be absolutely terrifying for some.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I guess it would be justified if a snake had bitten you or you'd been 'creeped out' via some first hand experience - but in essence I guess 'just the thought' of snakes (or whatever the phobia is) is hardly rational.
Despite no.1 daughters fear of birds (she's never been attacked or even swooped on) - she has absolutely has no fear of reptiles - even as a very young child. In fact she was always picking up Blue tongue lizards, skinks etc and bringing them up to show me - ouch.
It wasn't until we went to a reptile park and she volunteerd to have a handler put a damn python around her shoulders - that the whole 'what's with that' thing started to surface with me.
Like you - snakes give me the willy's. I've patted one (thanks to my daughter's public show of indifference) and one of her friends owns one - which is allowed out each day to 'exercise'.
Give me a labrador any day.
Thanks for dropping in.
. . . and by the way - great idea about sharing around the goodwill!
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Julia Moore
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It probably didn't help reading a book once where the main character had their bed filled with jellyfish as a revenge prank from a disgruntled housemate... eeek, I'm cringing now just thinking about it!!
I don't think it would be classed as a phobia though, because I gradually got over it, not through handling jellyfish or anything icky like that, but simply through time. I'm curious also as to how phobias come about, and feel really bad for people who are afraid of everyday things (like sitting down - that made me look twice!) Good post.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Jellyfish? That's a new one on me.
Had to do a triathlon in Sydney Harbour once (well a couple of times actually) - but there was one event when we all had to tread water for about 4 or 5 minutes and start the swim leg directly under the Harbour Bridge.
The weather was gloomy and you really couldn't see any more than about a metre in front of you. What you could make out were the jellyfish though as they either brushed up against you or as you proceeded to make your way around the course.
Urghhh.
Thanks for joining in and sharing.
MNG
Comment by Miswanderlust
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Sometimes I suffer from
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedali ophobia
HA!
Mis
LYW
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Did you just make yourself laugh?
Right back at ya!
MNG
Comment by Lynn Smythe
The Pagan Path
Freelance Online Work
I Love Herbs
There is a trail at one of our favorite mountain bike parks called Spider Kingdom. It's out in the back of the park and doesn't get ridden as often as some of the other trails. Gets a tad covered with spider webs.
We send the newbies (AKA never ridden in this park before) to this trail. "Go ahead and lead the bikers out, you're looking strong - why don't you go first." Then they learn the true meaning of why the trail is called Spider Kingdom as they sweep away all the cobwebs for the rest of the ridders. It works best with tall riders, shorter ones don't make efficient trail clearers.
Mountain bike hazing anyone!?!