# What scares you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594 "2008-11-01T17:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/61 "2008-11-04T00:24:52Z")
Brute strength has not equalled the ability to subjugate anyone you want to for a long, long time. Also, many societies have discovered that the more equality between men and women, the higher the quality of life for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/62 "2008-11-04T00:31:01Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > Seriously, I am not trying to start an argument, but if they REALLY wanted to, men, by virtue of being simply bigger and stronger, could bust us back to concubine/housekeeper/breeder roles if they really wanted. Yeah, there might be a war first; but if they really wanted to, they could. Oh, come ON. Let’s not stumble into that troll garden again. Last time someone brought up that argument, his only supporting evidence was his own heroin-induced S&M fantasy. You know, this kind of sexism really pisses me off. Those of us who own penises are not a hive mind with a barely-repressed secret desire to lock up women in cages as our sex slaves. It’s a heterosexist argument anyway, assuming that all men would even want their sex slaves to be female. In fact, I am deeply offended as a man that you would accuse me of ever even _possibly_ being liable to decide to go along with this. This sex-slave complex doesn’t sound healthy at all, anyway. > [@Creaky](#): > > Maybe somebody can tell me I’m wrong, and why Why? Gee, I don’t know, maybe because we’re not a hive mind that could suddenly decide en masse to subjugate all women? Maybe because we’re not an army of clones barely held in check by our human master David Duke? If you still don’t understand why this is incredibly offensive, try rereading your post, but substituting “blacks” for “men”. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/63 "2008-11-04T01:04:38Z")
The thought of an Obama assassination scares the bejeesus out of me. Almost as much as that clown doll in Poltergeist. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/64 "2008-11-04T02:01:22Z")
**you with the face** , check out [my analysis of the risk](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10398093&postcount=35), take two of these red pills, and call me in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/65 "2008-11-04T02:33:57Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > **you with the face** , check out [my analysis of the risk](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10398093&postcount=35), take two of these red pills, and call me in the morning. I found most of your arguments too poorly thought out to take seriously. Like this one: > [@you](#): > > First off, if so many people really wanted him dead for being a successful black man, he would be under a constant barrage of gunfire; he’s been a successful black man for most of his adult life. Sorry, but this “logic” is pure silliness. Please save these kinds of pills for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/66 "2008-11-04T02:35:00Z")
Women. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/67 "2008-11-04T03:56:34Z")
> [@EpicNonsense](#): > > Wait until you’ve been chased by a few hornets… I go into panic mode then. Surprisingly, they don’t make the worst roommates. Mine didn’t, anyway. And if they get uppity, you can suck them up with your vacuum’s hose attachment. Makes a satisfying “thwunk”, that. I wholeheartedly recommend killing as many as you can, however. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/68 "2008-11-04T06:33:23Z")
Going on forever without an end. This is a major part of why Feist’s the hallway between worlds gave me the holy heebies. Same for CJ Cherryh’s The Gates of Ivrel (?). A life should have a beginning and an ending, in my opinion. Suffering Alzheimer’s is no good fate either. ---
**Author:** ![Li\_l\_Pluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@Li\_l\_Pluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Li_l_Pluck)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/69 "2008-11-04T08:48:52Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Running out of money before I die. **Alzheimers. Any debilitating disease where I need to be taken care of without hope of recovery, especially one where I can’t off myself.** Yep, all of this, but especially the bolded part. [QUOTE=gallows fodder] Being in a horrible accident and not dying, but being paralyzed from the neck down and spending the rest of my life trapped in my own body. [/QUOTE] This, too. I’d hope that someone who knows my desire to not live like this would do me the favor of euthanizing me. (I am again reminded that I really ought to do something about drawing up a living will.) (Note: This is not to say that I think that people who \*are \*in this position should die, or should want to die–it’s just not the way that **I** would want to live.) And, and more immediately: President McCain, Vice President Palin, and President Palin. Not necessarily in that order. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/70 "2008-11-04T10:53:29Z")
I don’t watch scary movies, I find real life has enough horror in it without having to use it as entertainment. That being said, I was listening to the radio on Friday (Halloween) when this [song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLjwSpZ6Cs) came on. Fuck me. I was working in the garage and couldn’t get to the radio, I swear the hair on my head was standing up. Creepiest fucking song I have ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/71 "2008-11-04T15:43:28Z")
The collapse of the US auto industry, which I feel suffers partly from: \>A media/Hollywood propaganda machine that paints corporate America in a harsh light. \>An image problem unfairly leftover from the 70’s when gas prices and a low-point in quality reared their ugly heads \>An unwillingness to redefine their image via updated logos, branding, tag lines, mottos, etc. This is one of the most under-reported and important news stories in the the past two decades. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/72 "2008-11-04T17:27:51Z")
1. That there is no afterlife, that all that matters is the here and now, and then when I’m dead and gone there is nothing more. 2. That I’ve chosen the wrong religion and that I’ll spend eternity in whatever the right religion’s version of hell is. 3. That my retirement years will be spent in poverty. 4. Mice. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/73 "2008-11-04T21:41:43Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Because subjugating people takes a whole lot of work and the men of today aren’t vigilant enough to hold the sisters down. There exist too many distractions like porn and video games. Thank you, I can accept that, seriously. Thank God, it probably would be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to keep all women down. I need to remember that. It really is something that really scares me when I think about it. I appreciate your willingness to give me a straight answer and have a sense of humor as well. 🙂 **Hostile Dialect** , it’s a shame that you’re annoyed by my opinion, but it’s how I really feel. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/74 "2008-11-05T01:31:29Z")
Going places I’ve never been before, especially by myself. So much so that most likely I won’t go. Large buildings like malls, Costco, Wal-Mart…I hate going into them. I can’t remember the last time I was in the mall. Last time I went into Wal-Mart I almost fainted about 30 seconds after entering. Thankfully I went with **Suburban Plankton** and he caught me. I persisted, but later in line it happened again and dropped the plants I was waiting to purchase and dirt went everywhere. The girl was really nice, but it was awful. So those are the two things that scare me the most. Other less scary things that I really hate are clowns and snails. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/75 "2008-11-05T04:25:27Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Going places I’ve never been before, especially by myself. So much so that most likely I won’t go. > > Large buildings like malls, Costco, Wal-Mart…I hate going into them. I can’t remember the last time I was in the mall. Last time I went into Wal-Mart I almost fainted about 30 seconds after entering. Thankfully I went with **Suburban Plankton** and he caught me. I persisted, but later in line it happened again and dropped the plants I was waiting to purchase and dirt went everywhere. The girl was really nice, but it was awful. > > So those are the two things that scare me the most. Other less scary things that I really hate are clowns and snails. Serious Q- are you getting help? Agoraphobia? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/76 "2008-11-05T04:52:54Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > PS: _The Handmaid’s Tale_ is very scary indeed. Also Farenheit however-many, the one about burning books. Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- the book AND the movie are both classics! ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/77 "2008-11-05T11:12:14Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > Hostile Dialect, it’s a shame that you’re annoyed by my opinion, but it’s how I really feel. It’s also a shame that you’ve rationalized overt sexism as a “feeling”. I’m glad you’re comforted, though, by the fact that we men wouldn’t turn all women into sex slaves–because we’re too lazy. Do the men in your life know that you think of them as mindless automatons who, if they were to receive the worldwide order to begin Subjugation Plan C, would be compelled to band together as one to lock women in cages as sex slaves, regardless of their strength, personal beliefs, and sexual orientation? This line of thinking truly sickens me. You would think that otherwise-intelligent women wouldn’t so easily fall for such blatant sexism. Don’t you experience sexism in your daily life? It truly boggles the mind. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/78 "2008-11-06T12:47:26Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > As far as I’m concerned, you hit the nail on the head. > > I often think that we women enjoy our “liberated” status precisely because men allow us to do so. > > Seriously, I am not trying to start an argument, but if they REALLY wanted to, men, by virtue of being simply bigger and stronger, could bust us back to concubine/housekeeper/breeder roles if they really wanted. Yeah, there might be a war first; but if they really wanted to, they could. > > Unlikely, but it scares me bigtime if I think about it. > > Maybe somebody can tell me I’m wrong, and why, and make me feel better?? > [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > It’s also a shame that you’ve rationalized overt sexism as a “feeling”. I’m glad you’re comforted, though, by the fact that we men wouldn’t turn all women into sex slaves–because we’re too lazy. Do the men in your life know that you think of them as mindless automatons who, if they were to receive the worldwide order to begin Subjugation Plan C, would be compelled to band together as one to lock women in cages as sex slaves, regardless of their strength, personal beliefs, and sexual orientation? This line of thinking truly sickens me. You would think that otherwise-intelligent women wouldn’t so easily fall for such blatant sexism. Don’t you experience sexism in your daily life? It truly boggles the mind. **Hostile Dialect** , why are you berating **creaky** so? The topic is “What scares you?” 99% of the posts are irrational fears. **Creaky** has acknowledged hers is unlikely and actually wants to try to get over that fear. The simple fact is she is technically correct, if the “bomb” hit and anarchy reigned, men could subjugate not just women, but weaker men to their will. It’s unlikely, but it could happen. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/79 "2008-11-06T18:17:01Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Butterflies - yes, butterflies. My cousin has this fear as well. I don’t like the fluttering. It’s not like I go running and screaming but I’d rather they not land on me. They do look pretty when they are just sitting down on something other than me. You’re not alone. I’m afraid of all arthropods large enough to cast a shadow. Waterbugs. Spiders. Lobsters. Centipedes. My family tried to drag me into a greenhouse filled with butterflies, and I had to tell them: I’m serious. Me and bugs are like Indiana Jones and snakes. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594/80 "2008-11-06T20:23:22Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > Had a conversation yesterday about exploring underwater caves and how fascinating that would be. Ah, no. That’s something you couldn’t pay me to do. Gotta echo this one. Seriously. Claustrophobia, fear of the dark, fear of drowning, fear of getting disoriented, fear of getting lost, fear of getting stuck in a tight place, fear of the line breaking, fears upon fears all balled up into one insane activity. Aaaaaaaaah! Who knows, there might even be water spiders in there. Besides, I hear the death rate is fairly high, even for experienced hydrospelunkers (made that up). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-scares-you/470594.md?page=5)