# What is your greatest fear aside from death? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301 "2012-02-19T03:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/61 "2012-02-26T12:32:28Z")
That I will fail my soon-to-be son or daughter. And spiders. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/62 "2012-02-26T13:29:50Z")
Lots of things to fear in this thread, but I guess I’ll go with panic attacks. I have learned some techniques to keep them at bay and I have medication I can take if those fail, but when I’m very stressed, I can feel an attack hovering and my heart skips a beat. It’s terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/63 "2012-02-26T14:06:23Z")
[The chocolate virus](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/5119145/Diseases-hurting-chocolate-crop.html), which is ravaging the world’s cocoa crops. BBC said there was even a chance that chocolate could become extinct. ☹ That and being buried alive. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/64 "2012-02-27T14:08:11Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > Getting old. I know that this thread is not about rational answers, but wouldn’t NOT getting old be more of a problem? What is it about being old that scares you? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/65 "2012-02-27T14:43:08Z")
I’m fine with death , but I’m afraid I won’t be around to experience it. Failing that, not living up to my potential, I guess. I don’t really have a big pressing oogy-boogy fear. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/66 "2012-02-27T19:53:28Z")
Having to be put in a nursing home. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/67 "2012-02-27T20:50:43Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Being stuck in a cave with my arms pinned to my sides. Alone. Sure, death is a real possibility, but even if there is a rescue in 72 hours, those would be a horrifying 72 hours. > > I guess that’s why I don’t go caving alone very often. I’m guessing 127 Hours isn’t your favourite movie?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StrawberryDaquiri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StrawberryDaquiri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrawberryDaquiri)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/68 "2012-02-28T00:12:34Z")
Hearing things that aren’t really there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/69 "2012-02-28T03:57:29Z")
> [@StrawberryDaquiri](#): > > Hearing things that aren’t really there. And then realizing they really are there! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/70 "2012-02-28T05:08:45Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I know that this thread is not about rational answers, but wouldn’t NOT getting old be more of a problem? > > What is it about being old that scares you? Before finishing reading the thread I just want to add: really, **Runs with Scissors,** getting old feels good, like unbuckling your belt after Thanksgiving dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/71 "2012-02-28T12:16:57Z")
I fear becoming homeless. Because I’m not a successful person, either socially or financially, I feel sure that one day I will lose my job and never be able to get another. That scenario becomes much more likely - as I age I become less employable - I am now 50. And hanging on to my current job is like riding a tiger - it won’t last forever. I seriously do envisage a day when I am living under a bridge. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301/72 "2012-02-28T13:50:34Z")
Snakes! On planes or otherwise. I can’t believe I’m the first to say this. Surely I am not the only snake-fearer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-greatest-fear-aside-from-death/613301.md?page=3)