# Trypophobia, i.e., Fear of Clustered Holes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498 "2008-12-17T01:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/61 "2010-03-31T12:29:03Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > I contain multitudes. You know what else contains multitudes? (No, not Hitler. Well, maybe Hitler.) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/62 "2010-03-31T14:15:04Z")
> [@torie](#): > > Lotus Boob has no effect on me. I am immune to lotus boob. > > However, my biggest nightmare, ever since I was a kid, is opening a chicken egg to find a chicken fetus inside. I think fetuses are creepy. Even though I know that the eggs aren’t fertilized, I have this horror of cracking one open to find a fertilized one accidentally slipped through. There’s a tiny little voice in the back of my mind telling me to brace myself every time I crack one open. > > So when my friend discovered there was such a thing as [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_%28egg%29), (could only glance at the page long enough to grab the link and bleach my eyes.) and that it’s actually a delicacy in some countries, much hilarity was had. By him. Only him. Him=Hilarity, Me=Omygodwhatthefuckisthatyoucan’tbefuckingseriousaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! > > How’s that for a weird fear? I was just in the Philippines, where balut is a delicacy, and no, I did not try it, but I did get to see it up close and personal. It is really, really, really disgusting-looking. (Apparently, a lot of people don’t eat the duck fetus, though. The broth inside the egg is supposed to be the best part.) ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/63 "2010-03-31T14:47:46Z")
I can understand this phobia, though I don’t have it. The things like lotus pods are slightly creepy. I wonder if it has something to do with a natural fear of insect infestation or that something alive is in there? One of the creepier things ever IMO is [biscuit beetle](http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/12805/wm/pd1737009.jpg)–don’t click if you don’t like these things. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/64 "2010-03-31T14:48:07Z")
There was a thread on this just about [two months ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550917&highlight=trypophobia). That’s where I realized that I wasn’t alone in this. I don’t have a problem so much with seeds. I can handle tomatoes, berries, and to a certain degree pomegranates (I usually have my husband scrape the seeds out of the membrane, but I can handle a bowlful of the seeds). Even just reading this thread makes me all itchy, and I haven’t even looked at any of the pictures. Like I said in the last thread on this topic, it’s not really a fear. I don’t think they’re going to get me or anything. It’s more of a revulsion. I am totally disgusted by them. Made sick by them. ---
**Author:** ![nofloyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nofloyd/32/2870_2.png) [@nofloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nofloyd)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/65 "2010-03-31T15:17:44Z")
I find pod cases, honeycombs, and symmetrical holes beautiful and a wonder of nature. Is there some speculation about why the phobia develops? Many of the phobias I can think of have a logical basis that is taken to extremes. Fear of heights - falling can hurt/kill you Fear of enclosed spaces - you could be trapped Fear of germs - germs can kill you Is it the likelihood of insect infestation mentioned by dangermom? Any other possibilities? Little holes are everywhere in nature. Stare at a slice of bread closely, is that squicky too? This is a fascinating phobia but I’m glad I don’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/66 "2010-03-31T15:34:22Z")
> [@nofloyd](#): > > I find pod cases, honeycombs, and symmetrical holes beautiful and a wonder of nature. Is there some speculation about why the phobia develops? Many of the phobias I can think of have a logical basis that is taken to extremes. > > Fear of heights - falling can hurt/kill you > Fear of enclosed spaces - you could be trapped > Fear of germs - germs can kill you > > Is it the likelihood of insect infestation mentioned by dangermom? Any other possibilities? > > Little holes are everywhere in nature. Stare at a slice of bread closely, is that squicky too? This is a fascinating phobia but I’m glad I don’t have it. I think it is connected to the infestation/infection fear. For me, lotus makes me feel queasy/lightheaded (although I don’t think I have an extreme version of this fear as honeycombs and spongy things don’t bother me). It brings about a feeling of many things lurking just out of sight, or under the surface, that could come out. Holes that look ‘clean’ or man-made to me don’t bother me. But lotus-boob is like the epitome of the worst possible scenario - it looks like a deformity on a sensitive area of the body, it has dark, sick looking holes, and it suggests that something has infested in there and could come emerging out. I also have a fear of heights, but that feeling is different. I feel more panicky/dizzy when I am up high and I can’t stop thinking about falling, but just thinking about being up high or picturing myself up high is ok. Whereas the mental image of the lotus is enough to bring about queasy feelings. So it is interesting to me that 2 fears bring about different kinds of emotions. Although I am able to usually ‘talk myself down’ with either of these fears to the point where my life isn’t really affected so I don’t think I have as extreme phobias as some others do. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/67 "2010-03-31T15:46:12Z")
Can I ask a favor of someone who does not have this phobia to google and find some article or info without images that explains the cause or treatment of this? I started looking but so many things I clicked on included photos or ‘tests’ to see if you have this condition that I had to stop! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/68 "2010-03-31T16:21:40Z")
Could someone describe what a biscuit beetle is? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/69 "2010-03-31T16:28:42Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Could someone describe what a biscuit beetle is? Thanks. You beat me to it. I have learned through experience not to click any links in this thread. **nofloyd** , I have no idea what caused this for me. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember, and it wasn’t caused by any traumatic event or anything like that. I’m not particularly horrified/disgusted by insects, unless they are all clustered together. (God, that grossed me out just typing it.) Single maggot = no problem. Several maggots, close to each other but not swarming = no problem. Swarming mass of maggots = I want to set the inside of my brain on fire to remove the mental image. GAH. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/70 "2010-03-31T16:36:59Z")
Here’s the [wikipedia article on biscuit beetles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugstore_beetle), also known as drugstore beetles. **It only has images of single beetles.** They’re just brown beetles that commonly infest places they’re allowed to. A really dirty pantry might get them. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/71 "2010-03-31T17:32:39Z")
What I find weird is that as grossed out as I am by holes, I’m fascinated by extrusion. My favorite toy as a kid was my [Fuzzy Pumper Barber Shop](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OoNty2lrzv8/Rcvxbp7MJ0I/AAAAAAAAADc/Eog2U0zmB4I/s320/playdoh.JPG). Oddly enough, my second favorite toy was [Lite-brite](http://www.portable-essentials.com/uploaded_images/lite-brite-712020.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/72 "2010-03-31T17:48:40Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > What I find weird is that as grossed out as I am by holes, I’m fascinated by extrusion. My favorite toy as a kid was my [Fuzzy Pumper Barber Shop](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OoNty2lrzv8/Rcvxbp7MJ0I/AAAAAAAAADc/Eog2U0zmB4I/s320/playdoh.JPG). Oddly enough, my second favorite toy was [Lite-brite](http://www.portable-essentials.com/uploaded_images/lite-brite-712020.JPG) The Lite-brite looks clean and man-made to me, so it doesn’t bother me in the least. The playdoh barber shop could potentially bother me if I see a big image of the head with the holes, but that picture you linked to is ok There was an SNL episode a few years ago with Paris Hilton hosting, and in one of the sketches her and Amy Poehler were playing a sort of old barbie vs. new barbie where Amy was the old. She took off her hat and showed her hair was falling out and I had to look away. Her hair follicles clumped into bunches and looked like holes in her head, uttery disgusted. It makes my head itch just thinking about it ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/73 "2010-03-31T17:59:10Z")
Zombie lotusboob? ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/74 "2010-03-31T18:49:07Z")
I was reading this thread earlier this morning and I’m still squicked out. I’m still all itchy and squicky about it. Yick. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/75 "2010-03-31T19:13:05Z")
Lotusboob still remains the only picture on the interwebs that squicks me out. I’d rather use binoculars to stare at the sun. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/76 "2010-03-31T19:50:15Z")
Oh! So I assume, Dangermom, that the pic you linked shows a whole bunch of the beetles all clumped up together. I see. > [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Lotusboob still remains the only picture on the interwebs that squicks me out. So you are just fine and dandy with that sumarian toad thing, then? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/77 "2010-03-31T19:58:56Z")
How do trypophobes feel about fishnet stockings? I expect to be appropriately thanked for providing such an obvious straight line. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/78 "2010-03-31T20:48:14Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Oh! So I assume, Dangermom, that the pic you linked shows a whole bunch of the beetles all clumped up together. I see. The first picture I linked to shows them in bread or something; they eat holes and tunnels into the food. It’s squicky even if you don’t have this particular trigger. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/79 "2010-03-31T22:16:41Z")
Oh, this thread brings back memories. The linked thread in the OP was hilarious. It was a huge long pit thread about something entirely different with a link to the Snopes article containing that lotus boob pic posted in it near the beginning (by me, I’ll admit, and I’ve forgotten why), and every once in a while, even pages and pages later, someone would pop in to post their (horrified) reaction to it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498/80 "2010-04-01T01:05:55Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > I think it might have roots in a fear of bugs/maggots/creepy-crawlies. For me, at least, I didn’t think much of lotus pods one way or another until I saw Lotus Boob. After that, ALL lotus seeds look like bugs to me, is intractably associated with bugs chewing their way out of my body, and are therefore anywhere from mildly to deeply unsettling. Creeeeepy. (Eating sliced lotus in stir fry/salad doesn’t bother me at all, though… it’s definitely pod + seeds peeking out.) > > The only other “cluster of holes” thing that freaks me out that I can think of is the Surinam toad. They basically absorb their own eggs into the skin on their back, and after a time tiny baby toadlets hatch from these… well they LOOK like pus pockets. And then there are holes on the parent toad’s back. EEEUUUAAAGGGHHH. I’m not normally squeamish, but I can NOT look at a photo of that damn toad. > > Yeah, I think it’s a parasite phobia. I think that’s the ultimate root of my phobia. As mentioned in my OP, I also have problems with ant hills, which aren’t an obvious trigger unless you get in, really close, and I do have problems with swarms of anything small and wriggling. Once, about a year ago, I kicked a GIGANTIC ant hill after it had been raining, and instead of dirt spraying everywhere, roughly half the top of the anthill flew off in one large clump, and landed about five feet away, its tunnels obvious from the moisture and facing me. I watched in absolute revulsion as a horde of ants poured from it a moment later, and had to leave immediately. It was one of the grossest things I have ever seen. I also have problems with severe skin problems, which neatly ties it all together as disease, decay, and death. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trypophobia-i-e-fear-of-clustered-holes/477498.md?page=5)