# Are you afraid of the dark? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820 "2005-04-30T02:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/1 "2005-04-30T02:46:13Z")
No. Not the old time Nick TV show. I mean, are you actually afraid of the dark? I am…sometimes. I mean, I know there’s nothing to be afraid of, exactly. But I can’t really help it. I think it’s only made worse by the fact that I live alone. So yeah, I kinda keep the kitchen light on all the time. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/2 "2005-04-30T02:52:51Z")
Only in that I’m afraid of bumping into something, tripping, stubbing my toe, etc. Other than that…no. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/3 "2005-04-30T03:15:47Z")
Not at all. I find it hard to sleep unless I’m in total darkness, even the light from a digital alarm clock can annoy. Should I be? Is there something you’re not telling us? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/4 "2005-04-30T03:31:45Z")
I like the dark, which is good since I work at night. But I was very afraid of it when I was a kid. I got over fear of the dark in a somewhat odd manner when I was about 13 or so and it’s not bothered me since. Except… every once in a very long while, in the middle of the night, I sort of have a flashback to childhood I guess and get the ghost-in-the-dark-monster-in-the-closet creeps. I hide under the bedcovers until they go away much like I did long ago. Sans teddy though. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/5 "2005-04-30T04:02:46Z")
I think the reason is in your OP. Alone. With a bunch of people I know, the dark isn’t scary at all. But alone-a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/6 "2005-04-30T04:09:09Z")
Sometimes. Once in a while, for no apparent reason, I’ll freak myself out and have to leave a light on. But since I really can’t sleep with a light on, I doze. And end up freaking myself out more when a half-heard sound jolts me awake. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/7 "2005-04-30T04:12:56Z")
Is that a Riddick quote? But yeah… while I’m alone, I definitely am. The imagination conjures up some pretty cool shit late at night. But I still like to stay up from midnight till dawn, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/8 "2005-04-30T07:55:39Z")
Yeah I am sometimes. Usually if I’ve been reading a ghost story or seen something similar on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/9 "2005-04-30T09:58:32Z")
I have to admit that I find it impossible to sleep if my room’s jet-black dark. I like to at least see the _outlines_ of objects in the room, so if I haven’t fallen asleep while reading in bed and thus left the reading light on, I draw the blinds a bit so moonlight/streetlight gets in. This is the case even if I’m sharing the bed with someone else. (Which is highly unlikely since I currently live at home, ya know?) Annoying, I know, but it’s habit now. If my parents are away and the dog and I are all by ourselves at night, I leave the hall-light on and have the dog sleep in my room because I’m somewhat prone to oh-my-God-there’s-a-burglar-downstairs freakouts. :o ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/10 "2005-04-30T10:34:24Z")
I don’t like the dark or the quiet. I’m a big old wussy. I either need a light on somewhere (hallway) and noise (radio) or light and noise (tv) all night. It’s not like I can’t sleep without light and sound. I just sleep better that way ( I can’t hear the boogy monster just outside the window that way :D) Feel free to call me a doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/11 "2005-04-30T11:09:15Z")
Honey, I _am_ the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Sgt.Pepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sgt.Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sgt.Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/12 "2005-04-30T12:16:19Z")
I suppose one could say I am, but I’ve never tried it. I sleep with the lights on in my room. I keep a bedside lamp and another across the room on all night. Growing up I tired to sleep with them off, but my imagination would cause too much trouble so since the light never bothered me, I kept it on. I’ve never thought to try sleeping with them off since. I have slept elsewhere in the dark with no problems. Giving it some thought, I would say that I am. But it’s not a big fear, just one that’s easily countered. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/13 "2005-04-30T13:32:07Z")
No, not really. I find the dark quite peaceful and I find that I sleep better the darker it is. I love to sit in the hot tub in the dark. Of course, it isn’t quite dark then, since the moon gives off plenty of light, but it is very relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/14 "2005-04-30T13:44:55Z")
I’m not afraid of the dark at all. All those things crawling and slithering around that you can’t see, now, that’s another story. ---
**Author:** ![Dinaroozie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Dinaroozie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinaroozie)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/15 "2005-04-30T15:15:12Z")
I must confess to being at least a little afraid of the dark. When I’m trying to fall asleep, I’m usually okay, but occasionally I’ll be walking around at night in pitch darkness and think “hey, someone could be standing right in front of me right now, and I wouldn’t know it”… and I usually have to turn on a light shortly after that. I would just like to add that if you haven’t lived in the country at some stage in your life, you’re probably not quite familiar with proper darkness. When I moved to the city it amazed me how light it is at all times. I guess that could vary with location, though. ~ Isaac ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/16 "2005-05-01T05:12:50Z")
I’m out in the country and I hate lights. Right now the only light anywhere near me is from my computer screen. Some neighbors have outside lights and I would love to shoot all of them out. The only time it gets to me is when an animal knocks something over on our porches, which isn’t all that uncommon. I also hate to watch horror movies. Never could understand the desire to get scared to death. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/17 "2005-05-01T05:21:15Z")
Nope, not afraid. The secret for those who are is counterintuitive - close your eyes. That way you give yourself the illusion of control over the darkness, because hey, it’s just you closing your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![furthur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@furthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furthur)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/18 "2005-05-02T05:03:48Z")
As Stephen King once said, “I’m not afraid of the dark. I’m afraid of what’s IN the dark with me.” Okay, so that might not for sure be from him. But it’s definitely how I feel. Mrs. Furthur ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/19 "2005-05-02T05:30:11Z")
Nope. For me, it’s been one of the nice side benefits to adulthood. When I was younger, I was afraid to sleep alone in the house/apartment, but after my early 20’s, that just kind of disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820/20 "2005-05-02T07:39:21Z")
Only when my contact lenses are out and my brother in law has turned off. Every. Goddamned. Light. In the house. And it’s a new moon on top of it. And then it’s not a gripping fear, it’s just that I know, sooner or later, I’m going to brain myself on the way as I try to grope my way to the bathroom. I think I fancy a high-candlepower flashlight. Preferably something with the power to blind people as they sleep. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/301820.md?page=2)