# Anyone else have mini-phobias? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674 "2000-12-02T02:40:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/1 "2000-12-02T02:40:04Z")
Mini-phobias being irrational fears that aren’t really strong enough to affect your life. One of my (many and sad) mini-phobias is the fear that in equalizing the pressure in my ear by swallowing or blowing my nose, I’ll pop my eardrum right out of my ear. Another is the fear that those rubber advertising mats on the counters of convenience stores have magnetic cores and will erase all of the information on the black band on my ATM card/credit card. Anyone else have mini-phobias? ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/2 "2000-12-02T02:41:45Z")
I’m slightly afraid of walking up stairs (that I’ll fall) and escalators (I’m afraid that my shoelaces will get stuck in the top and it will grind my feet or something). ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/3 "2000-12-02T04:51:09Z")
Welfy, I’ve gotten my shoelaces stuck before, it’s really not a big deal, nothing really happens, you just yank them out. Ummm… as my soon to be boyfriend can attest to I’m terrified of roller coasters. It’s nothing serious, I’ll ride them without having panic attacks I just don’t trust them at all. I’m scared the safety stuff is going to break or something. When I’m with a guy I just hold his hand really really tight and whimper. But they’re fun anyway. Does that count? Kitty ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/4 "2000-12-02T04:58:30Z")
I have this stupid fear that loaches and eels want to jump down my throat. Not snakes though. Snakes are cool. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/5 "2000-12-02T05:19:36Z")
I fear worms. I work in an entomology department. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/6 "2000-12-02T05:21:39Z")
I’m afraid to walk down stairs holding a large object that obstructs my view of my feet. I’m afraid that if I can’t see my feet, I will miss the step and go tumbling down. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/7 "2000-12-02T06:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mega the roo \* > \*\*I have this stupid fear that loaches and eels want to jump down my throat. > > \*\* Hey wait, that one about the eels is MY phobia … give it back! ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/8 "2000-12-02T06:36:11Z")
I’m scared of height. Scared? Heck, I’m TERRIFIED. Visited the Eiffel Tower once, looked down, got dizzy, puked all over. Never more. Heights scare the pants off me. But not when I’m on a plane. On a plane, I feel safe. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/9 "2000-12-02T06:55:46Z")
Ladders–specifically, getting back onto the top of one from a roof. Heights don’t faze me–I can look straight down 10,000 foot gulfs with mild interest. Nevertheless, I just _know_ that I’m going to miss that top rung and plunge 10 feet to my death (or at least severe pain). I think it’s the ignominy of it that bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/10 "2000-12-02T07:08:33Z")
When I was a little kit, I used to have a paralyzing, nerve-wracking fear of spiders. But over the past 10 years or so, it’s slowly gone from the ‘fear’ column over to the ‘hate’ column. Now, any unlucky spider to happen into my field of vision is usually dead before I blink. (literally!) If I have nothing in my hands to strike it with, I use my bare hands. (If it’s dead–it can’t bite them!) A mini-phobia, I guess. I don’t have a real -reason- to be so arachnocidal about them. -Ashley ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/11 "2000-12-02T07:16:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Welfy \* > \*\*I’m slightly afraid of walking up stairs (that I’ll fall) and escalators (I’m afraid that my shoelaces will get stuck in the top and it will grind my feet or something). \*\* When I worked in the elevator biz we had one guy who is a big vertical transportation safety guru and he always had some “After” pictures that you wouldn’t want to see. I have a problem with glass. Especially glass tabletops. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/12 "2000-12-02T07:48:46Z")
I don’t like having an open door behind me. It’s really because of my hearing… most times I won’t hear people come in. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/13 "2000-12-02T07:57:49Z")
I don’t like being in a dark room with a mirror. There’s something very creepy about it. I think part of it may be the “Mary Worth” factor. Also, someone once told me that if you stare at your reflection in a dark room long enough, it will disappear. I tried it- it worked. After a couple of minutes of staring, I could see nothing but a dark silouhette. It’s a very unnerving thing to see. Try it sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/14 "2000-12-02T08:38:05Z")
**Also, someone once told me that if you stare at your reflection in a dark room long enough, it will disappear. I tried it- it worked. After a couple of minutes of staring, I could see nothing but a dark silouhette.** I tried. Nothing happened, but maybe that’s because I do have a very good night vision. But my sister tried and she saw the same thing, a dark silhouette. Now she’s spooked out of her 13-year old mind. Thank you very much, ma’m! ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/15 "2000-12-02T09:07:52Z")
i used to be terrified of lightning and thunder. i was 15 years old, cowering in my mom’s bed because I was scared to death. It just kinda went away though…I don’t mind it nearly as much now. ---
**Author:** ![stifferd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@stifferd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stifferd)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/16 "2000-12-02T11:06:51Z")
Any time I’m up high, I’m afraid I’ll jump. I’m not afraid of the height but of myself. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/17 "2000-12-02T11:25:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*Anyone else have mini-phobias? > > \*\* I fear Verne Troyer. Sir ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/18 "2000-12-02T12:18:13Z")
I do not like balloons. I hate sudden loud noises, and where there’s a balloon, there is always some smart-alec who thinks it’s funny to burst one and watch me jump. Almost as bad was the squeaky noises when someone rubbed them. Brrrrrr. I hated to go to birthday parties when I was a kid because of them. (former)Roommate would always take a seat in a restaurant facing and in view of the front door, never where he had his back to the door. [Former cop, so I can understand, but sometimes it was really annoying, like when we had to wait an extra 20 minutes for a table where he could see the door.] ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/19 "2000-12-02T13:24:05Z")
That we’ll get stuck together like dogs if we fuck in water. Experience says we won’t ;), but it does cross my mind. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674/20 "2000-12-02T14:32:35Z")
I feel very uncomfortable in cinema queues. No idea why. And Sir Rhosis: 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-have-mini-phobias/43674.md?page=2)