# Irrational fears **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218 "2013-07-11T11:44:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/21 "2013-07-11T19:23:15Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > The square root of 2 scares the shit out of me. When come back, bring pi. šŸ˜‰ Iā€™m afraid someone is going to run me down with their car, probably while theyā€™re texting. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/22 "2013-07-11T19:24:44Z")
I donā€™t like driving anywhere near tandem trailer trucks. I donā€™t care what reports say, I donā€™t think they are safe. Iā€™d rather pull off at an exit, drink a cup of coffee and be a few minutes late than be on the road next to one. I donā€™t trust pick-up truck drivers. The single worst drivers in my state are pick-up trucks on highways jockeying in and out of lanes to get to their next construction job. Iā€™ve always had the suspicion that if cops pulled them over, 9 out of 10 of them would have cancelled ā€œnon-payā€ insurance. I donā€™t trust anyone wearing a gun in public who isnā€™t in full uniform. Those ā€œshields on chainsā€ to me just look like the gold chains around the necks of old men playing bocce or shuffleboard. I donā€™t like clowns. I guess it goes back to a bachelor party I was at many years ago. A clown in full gear showed up and started doing shots. He then started hitting on the girl dancing with the standard clown birthday party tricks (the squirting flower, the phony hand, the wand that turns into a bouquet). It was literally So Wrong that it scarred me for life. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/23 "2013-07-11T19:26:05Z")
Dying in a submarine accident. I am not, not will I ever be, in the navy or any other submarine-owning industry. It just seems terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/24 "2013-07-11T19:31:23Z")
A few months ago, the local paper had a vote to determine which of two comic strips would stay and which would be eliminated. The one I liked had a comfortable 94% to 6% margin all along, but I was still afraid that the other strip would inch its way back into contention. I even had a nightmare about this happening! Fortunately the comeback never materialized. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/25 "2013-07-11T19:34:40Z")
> [@nancarrow](#): > > the square root of 2 scares the shit out of me. 1.4142!1.4142! 1.4142! 1.4142! 1.4142! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/26 "2013-07-11T19:35:25Z")
Oh yeah, and a fifth - hitting a pedestrian with my car. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/27 "2013-07-11T19:39:44Z")
Being in a surging crowd freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/28 "2013-07-11T19:40:31Z")
Finding an aborted fetus in a public toilet. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/29 "2013-07-11T19:50:05Z")
Finding a dead body anywhere would blow my mind! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/30 "2013-07-11T20:30:40Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Iā€™m wary of garbage disposals even at the best of times, but no way Iā€™m sticking my hand down there. There could be a power surge, and it would suddenly roar to life! Or, I could have one hand in the disposal and have an overwhelming urge to flip the switch with the other. \*Shudder \* Oh man, the other day I was wiping down the counters in my kitchen. All the sudden I could hear what sounded like a bottle cap rattling away in the garbage disposal. I initially thought the cap was rattling from the near by dishwasher that was on. Like a dumbass, I went to stick my hand down there and get the bottle cap. Just before I did, I stopped and looked at the disposal switch to make sure it was turned off. Turns out it wasnā€™t! I must of accidentally turn it on when I was wiping the counters down. But man, what a close call! My hand was literally inches away from the disposal before I thought twice about it. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/31 "2013-07-11T21:25:02Z")
Each night before I go to bed, I check to make sure all doors and windows downstairs are closed and locked. Typical dad security detail. I also have to check to make sure the garage doors are closed, 'cause I am afraid someone left them open and my bike will be taken. I have even gotten out of bed to go downstairs and check. Edit: I should add - the number of times the doors were not closed = 0. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/32 "2013-07-11T21:30:38Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > A few months ago, the local paper had a vote to determine which of two comic strips would stay and which would be eliminated. The one I liked had a comfortable 94% to 6% margin all along, but I was still afraid that the other strip would inch its way back into contention. I even had a nightmare about this happening! Fortunately the comeback never materialized. What were the strips? Mine is being trapped underwater in my car. You canā€™t get manual roll-downs for windows any more, either. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/33 "2013-07-11T21:32:37Z")
Thereā€™s a narrow pedestrian bridge right by me. It has a normal-size railing and thatā€™s it. Itā€™s about the distance of two stories up from a busy highway. When I walk over it and someone else is too, I canā€™t help but think how easy it would be for them to just push me over the side. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/34 "2013-07-11T21:44:32Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > What were the strips? > > Mine is being trapped underwater in my car. You canā€™t get manual roll-downs for windows any more, either. True, but you can still [roll the windows down](http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/windows-do-not-automatically-lower-under-water-honda-says/), although they will not go down automatically. I would still fear that, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/35 "2013-07-11T22:01:24Z")
Iā€™m afraid of flying. I donā€™t have any particular reason to be afraid of it; my first experience with air travel wasā€¦unpleasant, but I was already phobic about it before that. I suspect it may be control issues. With a couple of hours of meditation and mental preparation before boarding, I can handle it okay. Without thatā€¦well, I can still get on the plane, but other passengers could be forgiven for worrying that they were traveling with a zombie. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Donā€™t read Stephen Kingā€™s novel _Firestarter_. Every time I see a disposal, the phrase ā€œsharpened like a living pencilā€ suddenly springs to mind. I think sharing that phrase may have defeated the purpose of your warning. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/36 "2013-07-11T22:46:56Z")
When I was working at Disney in their burger restaurant, I had an irrational fear of falling into the deep fryer ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/37 "2013-07-11T23:20:53Z")
Harmless spiders. People. And my heart stopping. I have a heart condition. I know itā€™s mild, and not life-threatening. It doesnā€™t even hurt. It happens that sometimes my heart misses a beat, beats a little harder on the next beat, and then goes on normally. Every time it misses a beat, I get a little scared that itā€™ll never beat again. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/38 "2013-07-11T23:41:42Z")
Havenā€™t seen this one yet, curious if anyone else shares it (or if there is a name for it)ā€¦ I always put off haircuts because Iā€™m afraid that the hair dresser/barber will nick my ears. I literally sit in the chair with white knuckles and a rapid heartbeat until its over. ---
**Author:** ![Longshanks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/39 "2013-07-12T00:00:12Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > Havenā€™t seen this one yet, curious if anyone else shares it (or if there is a name for it)ā€¦ > > I always put off haircuts because Iā€™m afraid that the hair dresser/barber will nick my ears. I literally sit in the chair with white knuckles and a rapid heartbeat until its over. Nickanearophobic. ---
**Author:** ![Tikkimouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikkimouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikkimouse)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218/40 "2013-07-12T01:11:15Z")
When Iā€™m bending to get clothes out of the dryer, my eyes are level with the upper edge of the opening and about an inch away. I always worry about a static shock leaping from that edge and zapping me right on the eyeball. Silly me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irrational-fears/663218.md?page=3)