# Innocent things that freaked you out when you were a kid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 31, 2014, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038 "2014-08-31T11:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/161 "2016-10-09T05:31:25Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > And the ‘70s precursor to E.T. was _Darby O’Gill and the Little People_. Who the hell thought this would make a great kids’ movie? The banshee flying through the sky in her carriage scarred me for life. But this thread is about innocent things. The banshee was SUPPOSED TO BE scary. It scared me, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Oh\_boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Oh\_boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oh_boy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/162 "2016-10-09T05:40:03Z")
Grocery store managers. My mom used to leave me in the cart when I was young, and freaking out because she wouldn’t buy what I wanted. She would tell me she was going to get the grocery store manager and that he throws out crying kids. She would leave me in the cart and walk away. Part of my 45 year old self thinks this was genius. ---
**Author:** ![HaikuDaWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/67e7ee/32.png) [@HaikuDaWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HaikuDaWombat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/163 "2016-10-11T04:46:57Z")
When I was a little kid, plant roots would give me the creeps. I always had the fear in the back of my mind that if I touched them, they would suddenly grow and entangle me. At the time I knew it was ridiculous, but I would always get a chill down my spine when I touched them. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/164 "2016-10-11T20:25:49Z")
> [@HaikuDaWombat](#): > > When I was a little kid, plant roots would give me the creeps. This reminded me of what I was afraid of when I was very little: dandelion leaves. The round ones were okay but I was terrified of the pointy ones. They looked scary and like they would cut me. Come to think of it, to this day I have never touched a pointy dandelion leaf with my bare hands. ---
**Author:** ![Shockaholics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Shockaholics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shockaholics)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/165 "2016-10-21T00:21:34Z")
Those moments when I remembered TOM has no eyes ---
**Author:** ![Shockaholics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Shockaholics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shockaholics)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/166 "2016-12-11T01:39:09Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > The toll booth for the Mississippi Bridge. We’d read the book about a troll living under a bridge and when dad stopped the car at the “toll bridge” my sister and I gasped and held each other in our arms! This probably lasted for 3 or 4 years, but we didn’t cross it that often three or four times a year, just when we made a trip to our cousins’ house. I guess you’re trolling now, because you’re banned. > [@picunurse](#): > > Clowns and elephants. When I was maybe 4, my grandfather took me to the circus. Outside the tent, elephants were chained by their legs right next to the path. As we walked in, one stamped its foot right next to me. > Then, once inside, as we were suffling to our seats a clown ran by and picked me up and ran into the center ring. He then threw me to another clown. They both smelled funny. Why didn’t you call the cops? Who KNOWS what they could’ve done to you… > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The Toilet Monster? Sounds like a Rugrats episode. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m also scared of balloons and have been since I was a kid but there is _nothing innocent_ about balloons. [BALLOONS!!!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS9otcbp3tI) ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/167 "2016-12-12T01:31:29Z")
Going through the car wash. I don’t get my car washed ever because I don’t care if my car is dirty, but I definitely did not like the experience as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038/168 "2016-12-12T04:52:15Z")
There ARE car washes where you get out of your car… Come to think of it, at all the professional ones 'round here you leave your keys in the car, they vacuum and then point your car into ‘the gaping maw of fear’. While you can safely compare cherry vanilla air fresheners in the waiting area. In a fetal position, whimpering, if need be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/innocent-things-that-freaked-you-out-when-you-were-a-kid/697038.md?page=8)