We all have them. Those stupid little fears that are utter nonsense, yet you can't seem to shake them. Or maybe it's just me. That's highly possible. But that's not the point. Since this is October, I thought I'd make a post about dumbass stuff that makes me uncomfortable. I fully expect others to respond, either to ridicule me or share their own quirky annoyances.
Now I'm not talking about stuff that just annoys you. Like when someone uses the last of the butter and doesn't refill the dish, so you have to go to the fridge, get a new cube out and it's as hard as a brick (that really pisses me off). I'm talking about stuff that picks your 'fear' bar. Stuff that makes you squirm, even though you know it's irrational.
I have a few. I know they're stupid, but I can't help it. These situations just make my skin crawl and various levels.
1.) I don't like large, empty, public bathrooms. The bigger the bathroom, the more nervous I get. Like at the movie theater. There's like 30 stalls in the womens bathroom. I can't stand going in there when it's empty. It gives me the shivers. Not that I need anyone's hand to hold while I take a piss, I just don't like that utter silence only a bathroom that big has. I keep expecting all the doors to suddenly start opening and closeing or that guy from "Scream" to jump out and yell "Boo!" at me.
2.) Driving down dark, unlit highways at night. One reason is because I don't see well in the dark. Another reason, because I watch far to many horror movies where shit jumps out in front of someone's car while their driving on a secluded highway late at night. And where I live, there are a lot of dark roads in the middle of nowhere.
3.) Half open closet doors. They bug the hell out of me. I just have to shut them. I had a freaky experience with a closet once--not one I wish to talk about right now. Let's just say it scared the hell out of me and I cannot stand it if closet doors are partially open. It's either tightly shut or wide open for me (though I prefer shut).
Those are the only things that really give me the chills. I'm a freak. I know this. But I thought I'd spread the freakishness around a bit.
Anyone have some they'd like to share?
Posted by Zoso at October 14, 2005 12:01 AMI have such an irrational fear of spiders that when I walk by those giant ones in the pet store I start to cry. One time there was a spider in my shower and I didn't notice until halfway through the shower and I became paralyzed with fear I couldn't move and my mom had to rescue me, now I have to shower in the dark, or dim light so that, in case there is a spider, I won't see it. In fact, when I was looking for an apartment last year, I made a point of inspecting the awnings for webs and the building's closeness to shrubs. Even then, I wouldn't consider anything on ground level for that reason. It's also how I choose hotels when I have the option.
I'm also, understandably, afraid of fire. On the fourth of July I go to a resturaunt until it's all over. When I'm cooking things on the stove, all oven mits, rags... etc basically anything flamible has to be at least 2 feet from the burners.
LOL All of sudden I feel a little like Howard Hughes.
1. Fogged up mirrors
2. Passing open doors while I'm vacuuming
3. Creaky floorboards
4. 3 Words: Emergency Broadcast System
5. Large statues
6. That one mortgage/bank banner ad with the "jiggling" babies/peacock feathers/snakes
7. PUPPETS. I f**king HATE puppets
Oh, I almost forgot... nothing terrifies me more than "Hell Deer" (Shameless plug) which you can check out here:
http://www.decemberice.com/weblog/archives/2005/10/index.html#a000094
Posted by: J at October 14, 2005 12:13 AMI'm not a particularly fearful person, but... Ever since I was younger, when I would play in the front yard byself or sit on the steps or what have you, I could NOT stand to be in view when a car drove by. I didn't live anywhere near a "ghetto," but I just could not stand to be seen by passing cars. I often went inside until it passed, then went back outside. -___-
Posted by: Sharon at October 14, 2005 12:42 AMHere is an irrational fear for ya: The Dark. Yes, I am still afraid of the dark. I don't know why, but everytime I into a dark place, whether it be outside or in a room with the lights off, I start looking for someone to be waiting for me. Maybe its all those scary movies where there is someone dressed in black waiting to kill some unaware victim. Feeding the dogs at 11pm was hell. Oh! another one! I hate people walking behind me. HATE IT! I always have to turn around and see who it is. I don't know if I'm expecting it to be a creepy stalker guy or what, but it really bothers me.
I understand the spider fear. My roomate is scared to death of spiders. She doesn't freeze though, she screams at the top of her lungs. There's a story about that one, but needless to say I try to keep our room spider free.
Posted by: Mia Hoshifaia at October 14, 2005 05:28 AMOh sis, you've definitely got the sane end of the deal. lol
things I'm afraid of:
1. escalators
2. licking envelopes. I have a fear of papercutting my tongue so I have to use one of those office envelope wetter things.
3. Public bathrooms in general make me feel germophobic
4. Driving in the dark ( I can't see well at night either)
5. Going outside when my neighbors are out. They always want to talk to me, and hint about how they never see us, etc. I am always afraid they'll "catch me" and I won't get away. So I only get my mail before work, or when no one is outside. lol
I'm melissophobic. I also have an irrational fear of loss, failure, lorries (or trucks as you call 'em) and being in a fast car, mainly because I have a fear of car crashes. Actually, I have a fear of crashes in general. I remember on a school trip, we got up insanely early to get the Eurostar to Paris - everyone fell asleep on that train except for me, because I can't sleep during travel. It might crash!
Posted by: DR at October 14, 2005 09:26 AMOh, j00kster, how could I miss 'dolls/puppets'. I hate them too. I cannot sleep in the same room with a doll. Clowns either. They wierd me out. Stuffed animals are okay, but anything with a human semblance, I cannot tolerate it. I think I forgot because I've managed to make my life doll free.
Sis--escalators! Ha ha! I was the one who had my pants leg sucked into the escalator! I should be scared of them! They don't bother me, but when I ride one, I always think about that day I nearly got eaten by one.
I hate spiders too, but I'm not paralyised with fear. If one lands on me, I'll freak out, but then go on a killing spree. Except a few weeks ago when there was a big ass one on my toothbrush. Hunter had to kill it for me. He's such a good boy!
The dark doesn't bug me much, except for the fact I can't see in it. I don't like wide open spaces when it's pitch black, but I'm not really 'fearful' of it. I'm more worried I'll fall over something and bust my noggin.
Posted by: Zoso at October 14, 2005 09:53 AMJ--you and DW share a similar fear! You forgot to mention trains! :P
Posted by: Zoso at October 14, 2005 10:02 AMAh yes, I did forget trains. I never have to go near train tracks anymore so I don't really think much about them these days. I used to purposely plot my travel around train tracks. When I see those commercials about not trying to beat the trains across the tracks my heart starts beating insanely fast.
Zoso forgot to mention her fear of wind. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned planes. I thought that was the most common fear. That's the one I don't have. I fear me some trains but put me a mile up in the air and all the sudden I'm fine because I know I'll pass out long before we hit the ground in a crash and I won't feel a thing!
Posted by: J at October 14, 2005 10:29 AMI love trains. They are so fun to ride. I wouldn't want to be hit by one though. lol
The escalator thing. I remember people telling me that happened to you. And I rememebr a story about some little boy getting his shoe laces stuck...and then there was the X-files episode where they killed the monster with the escalator...but mostly, I'm afraid I'm going to mis step and fall. Which would hurt and be super embarassing.
I think I'm sort of scared of stairs in general. I always watch my feet when I walk down them.
J should move to Seattle. I haven't see a spider since I moved here. At least not in a house or building...
Posted by: sarah at October 14, 2005 11:08 AMZoso, a spider on your toothbrush?! Did you use it? I must be partially germophobic because there is no way I would use a toothbrush that had a spider crawling on it. Course, here we have cockroaches that are, I'm not joking, 3 inches long. They arn't in the dorms, but they are outside and in the lecture halls. I've only seen three of them but I still freak out about leaving food out in my room. I also forgot puppets, dolls, and clowns. They don't freak me out, but I would definately be anywhere but around them. That might be from all those "Chucky" movies, I don't know.
Posted by: Mia Hoshifaia at October 14, 2005 11:17 AMYeah, that crappy thing was right on the handle of my toothbrush. I almost grabbed it! It was a big one too! The size of a nickle! Yeah, I used it afterwards since it was the only toothbrush I have. Germs don't bug me much (thanks to a microbiology class I took in college). However, I did throw out a toothbrush before when I found an earwig hiding in the bristles. I draw the line at them touching the part that goes in my mouth. Earwigs are nasty (like cockroaches in a way).
My fear of wind...I haven't forgotten. I've gotten better about it. Having a job that where you have to work outside has sort of made me deal with it. I still don't like dust devils (got sucked up by a rather large one when I was a wee thing). Strong wind still bothers me, but I don't make a break for the door the minute I exit my car.
Sis, yeah, that stupid escalator grabbed my bellbottom jeans (hey, I was just a little kid in the late 70's early 80's). It was scary.
Posted by: Zoso at October 14, 2005 01:33 PMCome to think of it, I'm also afraid of bell-bottom jeans.
Posted by: J at October 14, 2005 02:18 PMI think that is a universal fear J...
Posted by: Sarah at October 14, 2005 04:03 PMWhy do I get the feeling you two are seceretly making fun of me?
Posted by: Zoso at October 14, 2005 05:54 PM I have a great fear of wet floors; and those troll dolls; and Fabio; and otaku.
About dolls and clowns. I absolutely hate dolls whose eyers move when you tilt them. I also have a great hatred of porcelain dolls. And the clowns. Don't get me started on the clowns.
the bathrooms on planes and buses. they scare me so much, after an experience i had on a school trip, i'm making sure i go before i leave on a trip from now on. and turkeys. turkeys scare the hell out of me.
Posted by: Black Snow at October 14, 2005 07:49 PMTurkeys look like dinosaurs! When I used to work with Zoso I had to go to this customer's house about once a month and they had two Turkeys. One of them built a nest in a tree and it looked like some kid had built a tree-house it was SO HUGE. and they stand like 4' tall!
Posted by: J at October 14, 2005 09:32 PMNo kidding about the turkeys. I have a great loathing for birds of all kinds (except raptors). Turkeys, chickens, but especially ducks, geese, and swans. I'm not afraid of them though, I just hate thier feathery little guts. Ha ha!
I remember those people J. They treated their turkeys like dogs. And everytime you went there, the turkeys would follow you around the yard. It was creepy.
Posted by: Zoso at October 15, 2005 12:15 AMI wear bell-bottom jeans..... *hides*
(and I'm only 18! Not a seventies kid!)
(I've never had trouble with escalators, though.)
Posted by: DR at October 15, 2005 01:52 AMO.k. I agree with the turkey thing. But I'm probably the only person who has been in a car and got hit by a turkey. It flew across the road, hit the windshield, went through, and landed on my neighbors lap. Glad I wasn't driving!
Posted by: Mia Hoshifaia at October 20, 2005 07:05 AMThat is the best friggen story I've ever heard! Why doesn't shit like that happen to me!?
Posted by: Zoso at October 20, 2005 07:13 PMI have to stupidest fear of all and really bugs me... I have a fear of not seeing my feet, especially when I'm barefoot in deep water. I really don't know why, I wasn't scared as a kid. Maybe it's because my friend got her toe cut open by a zebra clam before...*chill*
I'm also terrified of the dark- especially when there's lightning outside. I HATE LIGHTNING! I wqas scarred for life when my dad made me watch lightning when I was younger. I also just plane hate thunderstorms and tornadoes.
I also get chills from those emergency broadcast signal test things on the radio, the unknown, flying on airplanes, clowns, ventriliquist dummies, dolls (my grandma collects them), being outside when my neighbors are out, and some other things. I'm just a scared person in general. Plus I'm scared of getting in trouble, which is the worst curse you could ask for, seeing as it almost always ruins my fun!
I'm scared of being embarassed or laughed at, being alone, and hearing things that I can't see or don't know what they are. I'm a real freak.
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Posted by: An at August 18, 2009 03:32 AM