Topic: Rational and Irrational Fears (Read 11888 times)

Mongrel · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:36:55 AM »

Quote from: Doom on March 01, 2009, 11:34:05 AM

I had that fear, IM, until I started thinking of simple acts of charity in Butterfly Effect terms.

Or, you know, the "How could that little thing have affected the world for the infinitely better?" Maybe my simple journey through the planet Earth benefited Humanity in ways I can't imagine because I helped somebody.

I don't want to affect the world for the inifinitely better. I haven't been dumb enough to wish for that kind of thing since I was in shortpants.

I just want to get into the fucking positive column.

So far, my 'simple journey' has definitely not met that criteria.

Doom · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:39:07 AM »

Unless there's some sort of puppy-kicking you're not telling us about, being a decent, charitable person probably puts you there by default. Just saying that terrifying speculation can swing both ways.

Brentai · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:42:16 AM »

It sure can.

I'm pretty sure I've fucked up pretty much everything while not even consciously doing anything wrong.

Mongrel · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:50:02 AM »

Ahahaha.

Trust me. You can be a 'decent, charitable person' and be surrounded by people who lives steadily become worse with each passing day.

You can be a 'decent, charitable person' and watch your circle of contacts shrink with each day, since just about everyone who ever comes into regular contact with you feels better for getting the fuck away from you rather than continuing to put up with your inane prattle.

You can be a 'decent, charitable person' and earning the winning contract to twin the road to hell for all the increased traffic.

And that's entirely leaving aside the question of whether or not I qualify as a 'decent, charitable person'. I mean, all I'm doing right now is narcississtically whining on an internet message board. I mean this isn't even a fear.

Judgement has been passed on my presence on this earth and I have been found to be lacking in just about every regard. Winners never quit and quitters never win, but if you never win and never quit... you're an idiot. The ony reason I'm still here is damned fool stubbornness and endless curiosity.

Doom · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2009, 11:51:06 AM »

Guess I'm just a relentless optimist, then.

To contribute: Giant Insects! I find the Giant Ant Hives and Rad Scorpion ambushes of Fallout 3 to be far more terrifying than any derpy Deathclaws.

Bongo Bill · « **Reply #25 on:** March 01, 2009, 01:21:38 PM »

I guess I'm still kind of neurotic about driving but repeated exposure to it has reduced that fear to the level of "healthy respect for the inherent risks".

Friday · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:01:08 PM »

Probably my biggest rational fear is never finding my soul mate.

See, it's rational because soul mates don't exist.

Irrationally, besides the alone and cold after death thing, I continue to have dreams about my father trying to break into my house/room, and me being powerless to stop him.

Lady Duke · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:18:52 PM »

D: Friday

My biggest rational fear is pregnancy.

Catloaf · « **Reply #28 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:40:59 PM »

I would much prefer a ever-lasting consciousness after death to utter nothingness. Sometimes when my brain chemicals are just right, or wrong as the case may be, I can't stop imagining death, it's also always when I'm trying to get to sleep. Thinking of the moments of nothingness I've half-experienced when KO'd. I instinctively curl up into the fetal position and cower in fear trying to stop the monotonous drone of my own mind screaming without words. Yet I cannot end it. Despite my struggles to steer my mind into other thoughts, there is nothing I can do but wait for the torment to end on it's own in a few infinitely long minutes. So, to be frank. It's nothing that scares me the most.

Irrational fears (1=minor, 10=phobic): Any and all invertebrates(2-6). Confronting figures of authority(8). Stage fright(

). Strangers(1-4). Crowds(1-4).

Beat Bandit · « **Reply #29 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:50:32 PM »

I hate spiders.

However, I will never kill them because I whole-heartedly believe that its spider friends will find out that I killed one of their buddies and gang up on me.

Bongo Bill · « **Reply #30 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:57:28 PM »

Spiders don't have friends. That's what makes them so mean.

Mongrel · « **Reply #31 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:05:18 PM »

Quote from: Friday on March 01, 2009, 02:01:08 PM

Probably my biggest rational fear is never finding my soul mate.

See, it's rational because soul mates don't exist.

Irrationally, besides the alone and cold after death thing, I continue to have dreams about my father trying to break into my house/room, and me being powerless to stop him.

Regarding that first one. Don't try to look for one.

Soulmates do exist, but they are only the product of excellent communication and a true emotional and spiritual intimacy that has gown and matured over time. I.E. by being close with someone in a relationship of whatever kind.

Soulmates are made, not born.

Warning - while you were typing 2 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post.

Okay. I will.

I wub spiders. In fact there is not a living creature on this planet I don't have some affinity for. I may eat meat and squash the occasional bug (usually limited to ones who sting me or otherwise endanger me), but that is because I am a practical man. I cannot remove myself from the natural cycles or struggles of this earth, so I think it's foolish to try. Besides which, I see plants as equally valid lifeforms in the same way... and I'm pretty sure I can't give up eating plants or walking on the grass.

Live and let live can be more than just an interesting catchphrase if you recognise all forms of life.

Doom · « **Reply #32 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:07:01 PM »

That's my philosophy with bugs: Don't start none, won't be none.

François · « **Reply #33 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:20:49 PM »

I have a strange "reverse height" thing. If I'm high up somewhere, I can look down with no problems, but if I look upwards it fucks me up. I think it's a combination of the knowledge of being in a high place combined with the inability to see what I'm standing on.

Brentai · « **Reply #34 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:44:57 PM »

I panic slightly around ants, but I was sort of swarmed and hospitalized because of a fire ant hill when I was a kid. Other than a more-than-usually perverse interest in destroying the damn things I don't let it slow me down much.

Spiders I kill on sight, because I simply don't believe they should be allowed to live where I can see them.

Norondor · « **Reply #35 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:49:02 PM »

I have a truly amazing cobweb farm in my room. I don't mind spiders living near me as most of them just kill bugs that annoy me more (moths, mosquitoes, etc). The ones that are potentially harmful i just move outside.

Mongrel · « **Reply #36 on:** March 01, 2009, 04:56:29 PM »

A spider with a body more than an inch long was weaving a web outside our bedroom window this past fall. We even watched him take a wasp in a nasty fight. It was awesome.

As the weather grew colder, he snuck in through the air conditioner and wove himself a new home on the ceiling above my bed.

Then later he just disappeared somewhere in our apartment.

At no point did any of this bug me. In fact, we got quite worried about the fellow when it seemed like he wasn't getting enough to eat and thought about moving him to a more bug-rich area. Though, I'd kind of like to know where he went just to avoid any unpleasant accidents. I'm not dumb enough to think spiders won't sting.

Ted Belmont · « **Reply #37 on:** March 01, 2009, 05:04:18 PM »

Spiders don't sting.

THAD EDIT: Stupid spoiler tag joke removed; is not any funnier than the last time some jagoff used it.

Mongrel · « **Reply #38 on:** March 01, 2009, 05:07:40 PM »

Quote from: Ted Belmont on March 01, 2009, 05:04:18 PM

Spiders don't sting.

No, but they do bite when frightened.

THAD EDIT: Ditto.

Classic · « **Reply #39 on:** March 01, 2009, 05:14:37 PM »

To be honest, I used to be afraid that I would let someone down when it "really mattered".
I'm certain I've done that at this point, so now what I'm most afraid of is hurting someone (without meaning to).

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Author Topic: Rational and Irrational Fears (Read 11888 times)