I fear heights, in that I don’t like standing near the edge of cliffs, buildings or other high places. Which is ironic, because I use to fly hang gliders up to 5,000 feet above the ground without feeling that fear. I also did cliff launches, where i just stepped off a cliff, harnessed to a glider. It was a freeing experience, to overcome that fear.
Nice post / username combo.
I picked acrophobia and glossophobia, but I don’t think either one is technically true, in that a psychologist would diagnose me as such. I don’t like looking down from a height and it makes me uneasy, but I think a true acrophobe would be literally unable to do it.
I don’t mind heights: I can look out of a high window, or down over a good bridge rail, or through the bottom of a glass-bottomed helicopter, no problem. What I’m afraid of is anything that the back of my head perceives as poor footing. This may be something that my rational mind also thinks is poor footing (say, an icy hillside) but it may be something that my rational mind thinks is perfectly safe (say, a non-icy paved walkway going down a steep slope; or a narrow, but plenty wide enough that there’s no real risk of falling, bridge with no handrail; or an entirely level wet parking lot on a cold day with a couple of patches of ice, but it’s easy to see what’s just wet and what’s icy; or a couple of steps higher up a properly set ladder.)
“I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of widths.”
-Steven Wright
–Mean Mr. Mustard
I fear I’m starting to get moustardaphobia…
When I was little, my brother tricked me into getting in a barrel, and I panicked and got stuck. Ever since then, I can’t stand to be anywhere I can’t move my arms freely (including really dense crowds, but it’s not the people, it’s the lack of space). Also as a young child, I had to have a series of shots when my family went to the tropics. Because I was so young, they had to administer the vaccines in smaller, multiple doses. And while we were living there, I was bitten by a rabid dog and had to have the rabies series. It’s no surprise that I’m afraid of needles.
I get vertigo on bridges and other high open places; I 'm always a little afraid I’m just going to send myself tumbling off the edge. Put a good sturdy pane of glass (or fuselage) around me, and I’m fine. Which means that’s probably not an actual phobia, but I do love checking boxes.
And finally, although I like birds well enough, and I even enjoy birdwatching, I can’t actually touch them. When I was younger, I had a phobia of all unpredictable flying creatures, but that’s improved. At a distance.
Assuming I have permission from the Roddenberry estate I’m pretty sure I could come up with some interesting and compelling Star Trek canon.
But assuming the word was meant to be “cannon,” and assuming raw ingredients are available nearby, the chemistry of gunpowder is fairly simple (and forgiving of miscalculations). However if one must actually produce saltpeter from guano or urine, you’re going to need a while, like 7-12 months. There is no time period specified, though, so if you can avoid combat with the Gorn for that long, at least the propellant for the cannon is totally possible.
A lathe is just mechanical. But you’re still going to need tools I assume you won’t have to construct either the lathe or construct a cannon out of something.
However if I’m presented with a full array of dry chemicals and steel tools, I can totally construct either. Given that it’s never explained what you do after constructing the rudimentary lathe, I’m going with the cannon. Though I’m sure a lathe would probably be very helpful in creating a primitive cannon.
well, I am pretty sure I could get my shirt off
As someone who always orders the whole grilled fish if it’s on the menu, I can’t imagine your fear. It’s dead and cannot harm you. Why be afraid?
Wait, what the fuck kind of combat requires me to make a lathe?
At first I thought you were replying to this post in the current snake thread, and I was prepared to defend it because AFAIK what @Chronos said was perfectly accurate:
It’s a Galaxy Quest reference, which is in turn a Star Trek reference.
It’s a phobia. It’s by definition not reasonable. A reasonable fear is not a phobia.
I don’t know how to do a tourniquet properly; but I know the basic theory, and in that drastic a situation I’d make a stab at it.
I, also, could produce a canon but not a cannon.
I seem to be in a non-voting mood.
You’d better build that rudimentary lathe before that Gorn kills Guy.
I voted I can produce a canon. I could probably produce a cannon, even though it might be potato quality.
I said no to the tourniquet. I might be able to make one, but I‘m not sure where to place it so that it’s effective.
What @thorny_locust said. It’s a phobia. Urk!
I’ve come so far that I can eat some fish flesh that doesn’t look like a fish so give me some credit for recognizing that the phobia is ridiculous. But phobias are just that and, uh, urk!
Re: Tourniquets. Know how, yes. Use, no. I carry Kotex pads to use as a pressure bandage.
For the lay rescuer, remember: always apply targeted, direct external pressure as the first line of care for bleeding. Only when this fails should a tourniquet be applied. Loss of life due to bleeding outweighs loss of limb due to complications with tourniquet use.
Cite.
I got both the ST and GQ references. Love 'em!
Been trained in CPR, but it’s been more than two years since my last refresher course.
Been skinny-dipping out in the woods several times, but it’s been a lonnnnng time.
I learned how to tie a tourniquet as part of my first aid training in Boy Scouts, back in the day, but I remember how much they emphasized that it should be a last resort and that the injured person would probably then lose that limb. But, as DesertDog notes, better that than dying!
you have to take a Spin class to learn that
The real rule for dealing with snakes is “If you see a snake, mind your own business and let it mind its”. Which doesn’t rhyme, but has the advantage of applying well to both the venomous and non-venomous ones.