# Stupid things I'm afraid of anyway **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2000, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691 "2000-01-10T03:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/1 "2000-01-10T03:40:00Z")
There have been similar topics on phobias and such, but this one occured to me: Gavin DeBecker has written two fine books on modern fears. Basically, we take ridiculous risks with real dangers while worrying about remote risks. Okay. But some stuff in modern life scares the crap out of me anyway. I’m not talking about spiders, claustrophobia, etc.: - sidewalk grates: I’m sure the hinges will snap and I’ll get dumped into whatever mechanical stuff is down there. I’ll do almost anything to avoid walking over one. - putting air into car tires: the tire will explode and I’ll be decapitated by a piece of shrapnel from the rim. - escalators: it’ll break down, lurch and I’ll be the klutz who goes flying and levels everyone behind me, like a lofted bowling ball hitting human pins. Do others worry about this kind of stuff? (P.S. “no” is not the answer I’m hoping for. Comforting examples would be nice.) Muddling through life, Veb ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/2 "2000-01-10T03:53:00Z")
I once stepped on a crack, and me mother’s back didn’t break. Disappointed the hell outta me, since I was really mad at her at the time . . . . Seriously though, I can’t walk down a street in the city without wonderin’ what might be hurtlin’ down at me from the top of some gigantic building. I had a hunk of stone cornice miss me by a few feet about twenty years ago in Edinburgh, and I guess I never got over it. Dr. Watson “The only difference between a rut and a grave is depth.” ---
**Author:** ![Konrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Konrad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Konrad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/3 "2000-01-10T03:54:00Z")
OK everybody point and laugh now. ---
**Author:** ![N\_oR\_jVIaL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@N\_oR\_jVIaL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N_oR_jVIaL)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/4 "2000-01-10T03:56:00Z")
Whenever I’m having sex on the roof, Im always afraid that the antennae will break, and we’ll fall off. The falling isn’t really what scares me though. I’m afraid that when they find us, they wont realize that the cuffs were just a safety precaution… and someone might think that we were weird. … I wonder if they have a name for that phobia … ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/5 "2000-01-10T04:02:00Z")
::sighs:: Thanks, guys. Somehow I just knew you’d _be_ here for me. –\>looking for a neurosis BB, Veb ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/6 "2000-01-10T04:03:00Z")
I worry that there’ll be an earthquake when I’m on BART underneath the Bay. Then the tube would break and water would come rushing in and I would drown. Which reminds me that I am absolutely terrified of tsunamis. Tsunami is the way I would least like to die. I guess that doesn’t fit into the “everyday fears” category, huh? Basically, I worry that there’ll be an earthquake when I’m in some place that might not handle them all that well, or would be very scary to be shaking in. Like the Golden Gate Bridge. I’m not afraid that the bridge will collapse, but I sure don’t want to be up there swaying. * * * ~Kyla “Anger is what makes America great.” ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/7 "2000-01-10T04:06:00Z")
Geez, buncha jokers here. 🙂 I share your fear of sidewalk grates and inflating tires. Parts of the product at our plant are transported on “the overhead” – I have to walk under this stuff every single day and I just \*\*know[b/]that someday, a front panel of someone’s Kelvinator is gonna fall on my head. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/8 "2000-01-10T04:09:00Z")
Thought I had that bold code figured out. I was afraid that would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/9 "2000-01-10T04:37:00Z")
OK this is really dumb, but I’m afraid of balloons. I’m always afraid that they are going to pop. The noise scares me and I’m afraid that I’m going to get hurt by flying balloon pieces. I’m also afraid of sparklers. They make these little stingy burns when the sparks hit your skin. I may also be afraid of them because when I was little I picked up a just finished one by the wrong end and really got a bad burn on my hand. Before you make fun of me - try a couple of my friend’s phobias on for size… My one friend is afraid of birds (all birds, pets and wild ones). Because she is afraid that they will flap close to her head and get tangled in her hair. My other friend is afraid of squirrels. He’s afraid that they are going to attack him by jumping out of the trees and grabbing his neck. Then he will get rabies. Walking through the park with these two is a laugh riot. 🙂 * * * Princess of the Time and Space Continuum since 1969 (upgraded to Goddess 01/07/00)- OK, we have enough youth. How about a fountain of smart. =^…^= ---
**Author:** ![Christian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Christian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/10 "2000-01-10T04:48:00Z")
I’m terrified of moths…no kidding. The only way I will kill them is if I know that I would either have to co-exist with it or kill it. Usually I just run away. * * * “To everthing there is a season.”-Ecclesiastes ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/11 "2000-01-10T04:52:00Z")
Ladders. Specifically, coming down them. I don’t mind going up them if I have another way to get back down … but climbing down a ladder absolutely terrifies me. To the point of hyperventilation. Not crazy about airplanes, either, but I deal. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/12 "2000-01-10T05:04:00Z")
Amazing how having children can suddenly make the world seem such an unsafe place. I have too many everyday fears to mention. A few-the ocean (a love/hate relationship), trucks on interstates, stoplights on windy days. Back to the ocean or a lake or any body of water other than a pool- I absolutely will not enter the water without a pair of shoes on. When I was little I would wear jelly shoes. thank goodness for water shoes. I have a terrible fear of creatures touching my feet and/or possibly taking off with a toe. * * * so you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. what’s so amazing about really deep thoughts? Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/13 "2000-01-10T06:25:00Z")
Ever since I read _Basketball Diaries_ I have been afraid of some sniper on the top of a building was going to pick me off for no reason. I always try to walk close to the sides of the buildings so they can’t shoot directly down at me. Weird huh? * * * “Teaching without words and work without doing are understood by very few.” -Tao Te Ching ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/14 "2000-01-10T06:52:00Z")
\<\* sidewalk grates: I’m sure the hinges will snap and I’ll get dumped into whatever mechanical stuff is down there. I’ll do almost anything to avoid walking over one.\> Yepyepyep. Also riserless stairs, espescially the once that are a metal grill that you can see thru…are stairs really what you want to make look like they could snap at any moment? Glass floors. (Sensing a theme?) On a different vein - all insects, arachnids and other asorted creepy crawlies _except_ Earthworms, Dragonflies, and Butterflies. ::Shrug:: * * * _Eschew Obfuscation_ ---
**Author:** ![Zulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@Zulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/15 "2000-01-10T07:18:00Z")
I, too, am terrified of sparklers. One year when we went out for dinner on my birthday, my family forgot to ask them to use a candle instead of a sparkler in the carrot cake that restaurants give. It was all I could do to keep myself from getting up and running away. I can’t sit too close to campfires, either, because of sparks. I did get burned by a spark from a fire once, so maybe that’s why. I’m afraid of climbing down ladders, too. And the metal riserless stairs. I’m not afraid of all heights, just some. I’m also terrified of making phone calls. I can only phone my parents and my best friend Sarah without nearly having a nervous breakdown. I’m fine if people call me, but I can’t initiate the phone call. I break into a cold sweat, my palms get sweaty, and I start to feel like I might vomit. Fun, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Sentinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sentinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sentinel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/16 "2000-01-10T07:51:00Z")
Dark water. Here we have many small bridges made of cement or wood which cross these great drainage canals full of nasty looking, fresh, murky dark water. I dislike lingering on them very long when driving or walking because here in Florida one NEVER KNOWS WHAT LURKS BELOW the surface. Two types of poisonous water snakes, alligators (they should all become ladies purses) snapping turtles – which grow damn big – various forms of sharp snags, broken glass and so on. In the local river, people often walk in the shallow areas which extend quite far out – like a block or so but the water is dark. The river is brackish so it is loaded with nasty things like sting rays, sharks, razor sharp oyster shells, scorpion fish, and – in some instances – the occasional brave alligator. I figure such people are nuts. I want to see what is down there BEFORE it bites me. I like to go boating but I won’t step out of the boat in deep, murky, dark water and I think skiers, who tend to fall off of skies, are nuts. THINGS could be down there waiting on them. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2000, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/17 "2000-01-10T08:16:00Z")
i have a fear of eels, and the sort… and that they’ll jump down my throat. i also dread walking down bleachers for the fear of falling on my face in front of all those people. i’m also always paranoid that i’m going to poke myself in the eye. hm, semi’s scare the crap out of me, but i have a good reason for that one. * * * “human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust; we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” - albert einstein ---
**Author:** ![Dizzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@Dizzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dizzy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/18 "2000-01-10T09:43:00Z")
I don’t like to be under overpasses. Even though I live in a state that has no earthquakes, I fear that if a freak earthquake happens, I’ll be under an overpass. That, and I imagine cars or trucks flying off and hitting me. Wind freaks me out. Even on a clear day, if it’s windy, I can panic. I hate to fly. My dad is a pilot, and because of stories he has told me, I feel justified in my fears. A couple of years ago, my brother-in-law was getting married, and we had to fly to the wedding. I was very upset that I had to fly, but what could I do? Well, the trip there was OK; I got drunk for it. But the flight home, I was sober. I freaked-out at every bump and then when the plane started its desent, I thought we were crashing. I started screaming and and clutching my husband (who flys a lot for his job). He kept saying, “We’re just landing! This is normal!”. Most of the passengers were looking over at me, and the flight attendants were smirking, but I didn’t care. I was so happy to have lived through that flight! This fear really sucks, because I want to travel. I am trying to figure out a way to drive to Europe. * * * Dizzy _You people have been holding me back long enough! I’m going to clown college!_ ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/19 "2000-01-10T11:09:00Z")
I hate being behind those automobile transport trucks. I always fear that the rearmost car is going to come loose and fall through the windshield of my car. I also fear high places and I define those as any height greater than ten feet. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691/20 "2000-01-10T12:52:00Z")
I don’t fear for myself, but for children. I went on a cruise and got nervous seeing how easily a child could climb over the railing and fall into the ocean. Mind you, I had no children at the time, but I still worried. A cabby in S.F. told me how a child slipped through the Golden Gate Bridge several years ago. The slats were meant to stop an adult from slipping through. The father was stepping backward to take a picture, and the child slipped and fell through. I swear, that little bit of information nearly ruined my whole trip. Of course, I cursed the father because if the child hadn’t fell through, I could easily imagine him climbing the barrier onto the freaking highway! Then we have the grand canyon, and seeing how easily an eager child could run to the edge, and then aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh! I can imagine a parent calling after the child, “Slow down! Slow down!” I know, I know, I need major help. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-things-im-afraid-of-anyway/12691.md?page=2)