# What are you afraid of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834 "2010-07-15T21:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acantha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Acantha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acantha)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/21 "2010-07-16T02:05:52Z")
Burning or drowning are fairly high on the list. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/22 "2010-07-16T02:08:00Z")
Spelunking gives me the willies. I’m not claustrophobic generally, but when I think about people crawling through some of those really tight passages, I think about the _first_ person to enter it, and what would they do if it was a dead end. And they’re just kind of stuck there and can’t turn around… We need a “queasy” smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/23 "2010-07-16T02:21:28Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I get no sympathy for one of my fears - rabbits. And before anyone asks, I was bit by one when I was in 1st grade, five years before I saw The Holy Grail. It took until a couple of years ago that I could pet one without being too nervous to, and now my dad’s bunny has bit me too, so I’m not so keen on petting them again… There was a humorous news bit on a radio show a while back that was about a teacher who had a phobia of rabbits (which her students of course used to torment her). Seemed weird, but you’d make two people I’ve heard of with it in the space of a few weeks, so maybe its less exotic then I would’ve thought. When I was a kid, I used to be really scared of basically everything in this thread and some not yet mentioned. I’d sleep with the lights on, would walk up ten flights of stairs because I was afraid the elevator would break and we’d all fall to our deaths, was convinced I or my parents were coming down with cancer, hated flying, forced myself to stay awake during long car trips because I was afraid my dad would fall asleep at the wheel, etc. It was kind of crippling, but around age 10 or 11, it just sort of went away, and now I don’t really have any irrational fears. Guess my andrenal system kinda gave up of being freaked out all the time and gave up. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/24 "2010-07-16T02:22:58Z")
The Dark. I’m very surprised only one other said that. Oh, I have some of the basic phobias - heights, spiders, nature. I completely just do not get some of the others - snakes, blood, enclosure. But for pure rational non-phobic fear, it’s the dark. You just do not know what’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/25 "2010-07-16T02:40:10Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > I’m claustrophobic and find that’s triggered by a wide range of circumstances, from being on a crowded subway train to watching a documentary about the ocean bottom (all that…black water…pressing on you…_shudder_). > > The other big thing is insects, primarily cockroaches and centipedes. It’s hard for me to even look at a picture of a centipede without tensing up. But really any insect with a crunchy exoskeleton or with little prickly legs that I could feel on my skin if it landed on me is on notice. When I’m having trouble breathing while sleeping I get ever increasing claustrophobic dreams. I’ve learned to wake up before they get out of control. I use to have to get dressed and go outside until the feelings subsided. As for bugs, whatever bug crawls under my tent when I’m in Florida. They’re huge. Probably palmetto bugs but I’m not getting out to check. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/26 "2010-07-16T02:44:18Z")
Of course injury, death, etc. Other than that, I’m not a very jumpy person. I’m the kind of guy you want to around when there’s a bee in the car or a kitchen fire. About 5 years ago, I started getting vertigo, so I’m extra cautious about looking down from high places without a railing. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/27 "2010-07-16T02:46:46Z")
Not much except getting hurt, dying, seeing people I care about get hurt or die, or accidentally causing pain and death myself. Heights make me nervous but I can handle it fine as long as there’s no real danger. I do feel a bit tense when I ride in cars - they are so fricking dangerous (I have never driven). Maggots (and any other pale grub that squirms) are one thing that is kinda gross and freaky to me, but I can still touch them and stuff. They’re bugs after all, I like to look at them. I actually enjoy lots of things many people I know are scared of. I love getting blood drawn, watch surgeries on tv for fun, am fascinated with gross diseases and deformities, like to touch dead things, and have always loved bugs, spiders and snakes even more than other animals and love to touch them too. I don’t believe in anything supernatural so I never get creeped out in the dark. I don’t worry much about the statistically improbable lurking murderers. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/28 "2010-07-16T03:06:31Z")
Social interaction. Didn’t used to be. I’m turning into a real hermit in my middle age. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/29 "2010-07-16T03:09:48Z")
Nothing. No really. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/30 "2010-07-16T03:13:44Z")
Losing it. As in going insane. It runs in the family, especially on my mothers side and this is the first year that she is showing some warning signs of mental instability. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/31 "2010-07-16T03:30:19Z")
Lots of things. Death, sudden death, long drawn out death, the dark, spiders, birds, swimming in the ocean, accidentally killing someone with my car, burning the house down, burning to death, people appearing at the end of my bed like that guy in Twin Peaks, roaches, wasps, bees, trucks with logs on the back, giant fields, low flying aircraft, being drafted, train derailment, skin disease, the lotus boob, people with too many eyes, people with too few eyes, screamer videos and the thought that Madonna might die before I get to see her in concert. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/32 "2010-07-16T03:57:11Z")
Spiders, being poor again. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/33 "2010-07-16T04:06:48Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Dying old, alone, and un-loved in a crappy one room apartment at a ‘Y’ somewhere. You nailed it,\*\* Count\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/34 "2010-07-16T12:44:57Z")
My table saw scares the shit out of me. I use it a lot to do woodworking other stuff, but I live in fear of kickbacks or accidentally putting my fingers in the blade. I suppose my fear is good here, in that it motivates me to be careful, but I often go into it with the mentality of a bomb technician: all you can do is prep up front and be careful as you go, because if something goes wrong, it’s going to go wrong so goddam fast there won’t be a thing you can do about it. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/35 "2010-07-16T13:39:14Z")
I’m afraid everyone will discover I don’t really deserve anything I have because I’m a big fake and I’m not as smart as they think. I’m afraid of spiders and most bugs, especially when they’re on me. If a bug flies down my shirt in public, it will take a massive force of willpower not to whip my shirt off to get it off me **get it off me**! My fear of heights is getting a little better but I still don’t like open stairs because I’m convinced I’ll stick my foot through the open back and fall through and hurt myself. Never mind that the angle I’d need to twist my leg at to manage such a feat would likely break my foot off at the ankle before I could even get to the open space. I am so sure I will put my foot in there. Part of my fear of heights is that I’m not sure I won’t fling myself off. I’m not suicidal at all, so I don’t know where that comes from. Also afraid of dying. Terrified. I try not to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/36 "2010-07-16T13:41:37Z")
Mirrors, but only in dark rooms. I haven’t a clue why they scare me under that circumstance, but it does. Elevators. Partly due to my fear of small spaces, but awhile back it was worsened due to being on elevators that malfunctioned and fell before the emergency brakes kicked in. Now I won’t get into one at all unless my knees are acting up, or I’m being escorted by law enforcement. Hospitals, doctors, and nurses. Just setting foot into a hospital or doctors office will shoot my blood pressure through the roof, and jump my pulse from 70 beats per minute to between 150 and 190. Even being in the room with a doctor or nurse will do the same, whether I’m at a medical facility or not. Cops that I don’t personally know. To much experience with ones that abuse their power. There’s probably others, but those are the major ones. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/37 "2010-07-16T13:44:56Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Part of my fear of heights is that I’m not sure I won’t fling myself off. I’m not suicidal at all, so I don’t know where that comes from. I do that, too. Or I’ll imagine deliberately driving into a bridge or the like. It’s weird because I’m not suicidal at all. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/38 "2010-07-16T13:49:49Z")
I can’t believe no one has mentioned what is supposed to be the number one fear - public speaking. Going to prison would be pretty high on my list. Being near the ledge at high elevations (although I love flying in my small glider and skydiving wasn’t that scary). ---
**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 16, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/39 "2010-07-16T13:58:43Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Being burned to death. This. Also, torture. Particularly impalement, surgical instruments, or just a good old hacking to death with a knife. Just the fact that torture exists in this world freaks me the fuck out. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834/40 "2010-07-16T14:04:35Z")
Dead animals. I have no idea why, but if I’m walking in my yard and I suddenly encounter a dead bird or chipmunk or something, I jump ten feet, and I can’t look at it. I remember once years ago there was a dead baby bird in my yard that I had to do something about. I got a shovel and somehow managed to scoop the poor thing onto it without ever looking directly at it. I carried the shovel behind me as I took it to a dirt area along a fence, and proceeded to dig a hole and bury it without ever once looking at it. Extreme, I know, but there’s just something about “the face of death” on anything that was once living that creeps me out bigtime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-afraid-of/546834.md?page=3)