What are You Afraid Of?

Matthew Preston | April 14, 2002
While having a deep conversation a few nights ago, I asked my roommate Kevin, "what are you afraid of?" We chatted about it for a while, but it was a question that I couldn't answer myself at the time without some thought..... I have been thinking about it for a while now and I think I have come up with a few things.

When I was younger, I was terrified of the dark. It took me until I was a senior in high school that I slept in a room without a nightlight. Although, I think the last few years of that was more out of habit than fear. Nowadays I can't get a good night sleep unless it is pitch black. I was also afraid of spiders and bugs for a while when I was younger... but I have since outgrown that fear also.

So, after long reflective thought (2 beers, an episode of "Three's Company," and some HTML programming) I found two things that I am genuinely afraid of:

The first is a rampant fear of running someone down with my car. It was something that didn't really show up until I moved to Las Vegas. No matter what time of day, there is always someone walking the streets. The worst part is that no one is this town obeys traffic signals and signs. The main exit of my apartment complex is a dangerous right turn as a couple of times I haven't noticed people walking by while checking traffic and nearly hit someone. Every time I get in my car I am terrified that this will be the time that I spread someone across the pavement.

The second is a fear of aksing someone for a date. It's not a fear of rejection, more as a fear of having the person I asked like me less, or not like me at all anymore. I don't frequent bars or night clubs, so anyone that I would get the nerve to ask out would be someone that I already know on some level. I really enjoy my time with friends and I hate breaking something up like that. There have been times in the past where I finally got the guts to ask someone out and the person didn't want to have anything to do with me. It made for uncomfortable social situations and I felt really bad for making someone afraid. I am a big guy and some people are intimidated by me (a mother once grabbed her child in a grocery store and ran away from me) but I am as gentle as a lamb. I don't want to make others uncomfortable... really I just want to have a good time.

So, if any one out there cares to share... "What Are You Afraid Of?"

Jackie Mason | April 15, 2002
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | April 15, 2002
There's a spider on the wall as I write this. Is that a good sign? :-)

I have this minor neurosis about things touching my neck, particularly the front of my neck. I can't stand it. If you ever see me with my collar tucked up over my chin, that's the reason. I don't know if it's a fear, since I'm not especially scared of being strangled, but I often think of it as one.

I'm scared of being laughed at. That really drives me crazy - I lose control of myself when people are laughing at me. I don't mind it if I disagree with them (like if I don't think I'm doing anything wrong), but it happens a lot if I say something foolish and didn't stop to think about it first. Or if I pretend to be Jackie Chan and drop a heavy phone on my head. Or if my pants fall down, something arbitrary like that.

I'm also scared of Rugrats, especially that bald one in the diaper. Edgar Allen Poe devised no more horrific visage.

Anna Gregoline | April 15, 2002
Sorry to get heavy, but I am afraid of being raped. I don't think I'm more afraid of anyting but that. I think I'd rather get murdered.

Milder fears: Death, disease, car accidents, never getting married/being a spinster, never being published/wasting my life.

Brannan Conrad | April 28, 2002
Well, I'm not really afraid of much, but I've been having dreams about insects burrowing into my legs, and that, in my oppinion, is raher frigtening. So, I'm not really scared of insects, but the act of them burrowing in my legs...