Atypical fears!

[Lythium]

Link to original post: [drupal=2932]Atypical fears![/drupal]



I have a lot of fears of animals. I’m not sure why, but in general I am more afraid of the natural world than most people. Sometimes I think this is sensible. Yes, it keeps me from traveling (Australia: giant spiders; Africa: giant insects; South America: **** I ain’t never HEARD of) and from visiting some areas of zoos, but I’m certain that one day I’ll be on a trip and all my friends will say to me, ‘Kate, why don’t we go into these woods here? It is so lovely!’ and I will say ‘No, Neil Patrick Harris, I believe there are bugs in there.’ They will laugh, and they will mock, and then they will be eaten by scorpions. CASE CLOSED. Here are the things I am most afraid of:

All cephalopods, but especially the vampire squid.

Horses.

NOT PICTURED because I was too scared to Google Image Search them:

* Spiders
* Leeches
* Most insects, especially up close
* Eels
* Bush babies
* Hyenas

Animals just freak me out! Ask me any time about why I’m afraid of cephalopods. I can go on for days. Did you know they’re freakishly intelligent? Here are some quotes to keep you up at night:

‘Octopuses often break out of their aquariums and sometimes into others in search of food. They have even boarded fishing boats and opened holds to eat crabs.’

‘When under attack, some octopuses can perform arm autotomy, in a similar manner to the way skinks and other lizards detach their tails. The crawling arm serves as a distraction to would-be predators.’

‘Though octopuses can be difficult to keep in captivity, some people keep them as pets. Octopuses often escape even from supposedly secure tanks, due to their problem solving skills, mobility and lack of rigid structure.’ (The picture linked to is PRETTY SCARY. I could not look directly at it while attaining the link. Oh god! The night terrors!)

‘The mouth of the squid is equipped with a sharp horny beak mainly made of chitin and cross-linked proteins, and is used to kill and tear prey into manageable pieces.’

‘…However, a more sophisticated behaviour has been observed, in which the cephalopod releases a cloud, with a greater mucus content, that approximately resembles the cephalopod that released it (this decoy is referred to as a pseudomorph). This strategy often results in the predator attacking the pseudomorph, rather than its rapidly departing prey.’

Basically, what I am saying to you is that if you are ever attacked by an octopus, I will not attempt to save your life. Also, they say the only thing keeping octopuses (apparently more correct than octopi) from attaining intelligence greater than most other creatures is its short lifespan. The day they tell me that cephalopods are living longer is the day I start writing my will.

It is good to know your enemies.

 

[#HBC | ZoZo]

Great job Lyth, now I dislike octopuses : (

:O LYTH!

An anonymous user recently changed the caption on this picture from "An octopus escaping an aquarium through a thin crack" to "The reflection in the glass gives the illusion of an octopus escaping through a crack." Another user changed it back. I looked closely at the picture and I think the anonymous user is correct.

On the left side of the image, there are what appear to be two horizontal gray bars with a crack in between through which the octopus is passing. If you look at the leftmost edge of the "crack", I think you can see the image of the bottom "bar" superimposed on the octopus. I think this is because the bottom "bar" is actually a reflection of the top "bar" in the outside of the glass. Notice that although the top "bar" continues all the way to the right-hand side of the picture, the bottom "bar" vanishes partway across.

Also notice that the octopus has its ventral side facing the glass, as you would expect it to if it were inside the tank. If it were escaping the tank, you would expect to see the dorsal surface outside the tank.

I interpret the picture this way: The octopus is entirely inside the glass-walled tank, with part of its body attached to the wall and the rest occluded by the visible part. The viewer is outside the tank. The top gray "bar" is not a vertical surface but a horizontal one, perhaps a ceiling of some sort, extending away from the glass, toward the viewer. The bottom "bar" is an illusion, a reflection of the top "bar", whatever it is, in the outside of the glass. I wish I understood the top bar better.

include that next time D:

 

[bobson]

‘Octopuses often break out of their aquariums and sometimes into others in search of food. They have even boarded fishing boats and opened holds to eat crabs.’

‘When under attack, some octopuses can perform arm autotomy, in a similar manner to the way skinks and other lizards detach their tails. The crawling arm serves as a distraction to would-be predators.’

‘Though octopuses can be difficult to keep in captivity, some people keep them as pets. Octopuses often escape even from supposedly secure tanks, due to their problem solving skills, mobility and lack of rigid structure.’ (The picture linked to is PRETTY SCARY. I could not look directly at it while attaining the link. Oh god! The night terrors!)

‘…However, a more sophisticated behaviour has been observed, in which the cephalopod releases a cloud, with a greater mucus content, that approximately resembles the cephalopod that released it (this decoy is referred to as a pseudomorph). This strategy often results in the predator attacking the pseudomorph, rather than its rapidly departing prey.’

That is awesome. I've always liked cephalopods, and now I like them even more.

When the octopi rise up, you will have nowhere to run.

 

[Jupz]

I agree with Bobson. I found that info pretty interesting lol.

Also wtf. Giant Spiders in Australia are harmless. There called huntsmen spiders. There not poisonous. The only things you have to worry about in aus are snakes in the outback and if you go swimming theres a lot of poisonous **** that can kill you.

 

[Teran]

I love Australian wildlife so much, haha.

 

[Morrigan]

That octopus picture is gross.
Underwater creatures are way more "weird" and scary than ground creatures, bur probably because we're not that much in touch with them, so they're like unknown. And how can you be scared of HORSES?!

Link to original post: [drupal=2932]Atypical fears![/drupal]
Yes, it keeps me from traveling (Australia: giant spiders; Africa: giant insects; South America: **** I ain’t never HEARD of)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you only find the wacky stuff if you go to like, jungly places or not so populated areas. You could still travel to a nice city and never worry about stuff like that

Regarding atypical fears, I don't like ovens. I think they're dangerous and that they'll explode in my face if I open them (like a flamethrower), especially the ones that aren't electric and use gas.

 

[mountain_tiger]

I'm scared of knives, even not so sharp ones that you use for dinner...

Oh, and wasps, but that's with good reason.

 

[Lythium]

include that next time D:

I didn't look that closely at the image. D:

When the octopi rise up, you will have nowhere to run.

I KNOW.

Also wtf. Giant Spiders in Australia are harmless. There called huntsmen spiders. There not poisonous. The only things you have to worry about in aus are snakes in the outback and if you go swimming theres a lot of poisonous **** that can kill you.

Harmless =/= freakin' scary.

That octopus picture is gross.
Underwater creatures are way more "weird" and scary than ground creatures, bur probably because we're not that much in touch with them, so they're like unknown. And how can you be scared of HORSES?!

Regarding atypical fears, I don't like ovens. I think they're dangerous and that they'll explode in my face if I open them (like a flamethrower), especially the ones that aren't electric and use gas.

Horses are so big and scary and they could kick my face in. Also, LOL ovens.

 

[#HBC | ZoZo]

I think all scifi is now gonna be octopuses instead of robots

Which is bad, really bad.

Also I'm scared of... pretty much nothing atypical. I guess clowns are scary xd

 

[Morrigan]

Horses are so big and scary and they could kick my face in. Also, LOL ovens.

I prefer a horse kick rather than a burned face

 

[Frown]

I'm scared of high volume. I rarely have higher volume than 40% on my iPod, and I always stand at the back at concerts.

At my prom three years ago, I actually moved a stroller with a 3 month old baby from the dance floor to the corridor because I thought the music would damage his ears. Luckily, I knew his father (it was my science teacher). I told him about the whereabouts of his son and then proceeded to stand in the corner and look at the people who were dancing.

 

[Jimnymebob]

Guess you never watched Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus then ?

But yeah, there are some pretty dangerous animals out there.

 

[Sephiroths Masamune]

Ok now that I see how you hate Octopi Why don't you like horses?

Their so lovable!

 

[Morrigan]

and then proceeded to stand in the corner and look at the people who were dancing.

That's one funny image

 

[PK-ow!]

I'm scared of fire, and stupid kids. Stupid kids under .... 11, I guess. 'cause I can't hit them.

If you're 12 and can't act decent, I'm hitting you. I'm slapping you till I put the fear of Ganon in your $30 bootsies.



The pseudomorph bit blew my mind.

 

[Jim Morrison]

and then proceeded to stand in the corner and look at the people who were dancing.

Story of our lives :o

 

[Sucumbio]

All cephalopods, but especially the vampire squid.
Horses.

* Spiders
* Leeches
* Most insects, especially up close
* Eels
* Bush babies
* Hyenas

Awwww, haha you poor thing, it's kinda cute tho Wait does this mean you don't have any stuffed animals????

Horses! My wife is terrified of them too for some reason, it's the eyes she says, they just ... have a way of looking at you that tells you they really are far more intelligent than they let on, and are daring you to go near them. I like them myself, but they do tend to poop and pee too much, and wherever they want, lol

I had to read further before I even knew what Cephalopod meant lol, but now that you mention it, there was this sick episode of Dr Who (tom baker) where he had to save people from a giant squid, and I mean GIANT, like, a mile or 2 long >< Being Chinese I've been exposed to various ... culinary peculiarities, lol including squid and octopus... good eats, but best when served in nondescript pieces rather than whole...

You'll get no argument from me on spiders, I hate all bugs with a passion, even the "necessary" ones like Bees and whatnot, if I had my way, they'd all be made totally extinct, but I guess if that were to happen the planet would die or something ********.

The -idea- of leeches disturbs me, but I've literally never encountered one. If I did I'd lump it as a water bug, and so automatically detest it, but it IS useful in some medical treatments apparently, so ... I guess they aite.

Eels are like, water snakes and I don't fear snakes, so I don't fear eels, though when swimming in gulf of Mexico I prefer it to be an enclosed beach area where there is no water life, cause I've been attacked by schools of fish before, not piranha, Mullets, harmless but gross feeling. "I think they were trying to mate with you" my wife, just now ><

Bush babies... ... ... o.o wtf ARE those, ROFL they look kinda like koala bears? but tiny? I dunno, never heard of em but this one I did have to look up, lol and they appear to be mammals and I don't fear mammals so Hyenas are cool too, scavenger cats, better they scavenge than say, a lion who just, eats whatever comes near.

Gosh, Lythium just be glad you were born in the digital age rather than say, the frontier age, lol! You'd have had a hell of a time. Just living here in swampy Mississippi we get the occaisional "wood roach" ... >.> they're HUGE, like 2 inches sometimes >< GROSS.

 

[spookyskeptic]

Now, see, unless it's a seemingly intelligent animal like those of the canine or equine persuasion, I'm not afraid of animals. I'm from Mississippi. I've learned that if it bleeds, you can kill it and if you can kill it, you can eat it, therefore humans win. Now, little tiny things give me the creeps, but it's not fear, per se. Not like Sucumbio anyway, who upon seeing a bug in the shower, will run screaming while wet and naked from the house until I kill the bug. Bugs don't really bleed, so no eating. I'm wary of spiders and snakes, but the only thing I'm really afraid is rednecks and the zombie apocalypse.

 

[k/mh]

Gosh, Lythium just be glad you were born in the digital age rather than say, the frontier age, lol! You'd have had a hell of a time.

Most likely, Lythium would have gotten so used to handle those animals, he would be way more relaxed

Anyway, I share your fear as far as spiders are concerned, but for me it's just the erratic way of moving.
And to be honest I never thought of "dangers" of octopi or whatever the plural is...maybe it would help if you just forget about it.
Or do you somehow encounter them regularly? 'Cause it looks like you have to think about it a lot.

Btw, Frown you are awesome, I despise loud music/noise just as much. Ever thought of using earplugs?

 

[_umbra_]

Going down a hill backwards freaks me the **** out. When you're in a car, and you slip on ice or something and start going backwards... or even if you're just backing up down a hill... idk I can't handle that **** LOL

I also hate spiders, but not as much as going downhill backwards.

 

[Requiem]

So you probably dislike seadevils?

 

[Sephiroths Masamune]

I'm not really scared of any animals the only thing I'm scared of is someone coming into my house and killing me and my entire family. If that's not scary I don't know what is?

 

[Morrigan]

the only thing I'm scared of is someone coming into my house and killing me and my entire family.

Why do you think about such things, that's horrible <_<

 

[Sephiroths Masamune]

Why do you think about such things, that's horrible <_<

see it is scary!

 

[Jim Morrison]

I'm not really scared of any animals the only thing I'm scared of is someone coming into my house and killing me and my entire family. If that's not scary I don't know what is?

Reminds me of when I was 12-13. I was scared of something every other thing. Terrorists, Iran, Russia, nuclear war, murderers, global warming, robot invasion (I heard a beeping sound in my room and didn't sleep that night) and way more. Then I went to my mom and could sleep in her bed and felt better.

 

[Frown]

Reminds me of when I was 12-13. I was scared of something every other thing. Terrorists, Iran, Russia, nuclear war, murderers, global warming, robot invasion (I heard a beeping sound in my room and didn't sleep that night) and way more. Then I went to my mom and could sleep in her bed and felt better.

May I say, you were one scared fellow
Scared of killers, climate and war
Cowardly, paranoid, wimpy and yellow
I hope you're not like that anymore

 

[CRASHiC]

Octopus is very tasty.

 

[highfive]

Octopus is very tasty.

Why you gotta say that?

 

[#HBC | ZoZo]

High tentacle!

 

[CRASHiC]

Why you gotta say that?

I eat you raw. And one day, I will go to Japan and eat you LIVE and raw.

 

[Omnicron's Baklava Enterprises]

Harmless =/= freakin' scary.

Tarantulas/Goliath Bird-Eating Spiders/Huntsman Spiders = Gentle giants...

 

[Smoom77]

ANTS. I can't walk in grass without some sort of shoes on. I like to look at them, but the thought that they might be under my feet...

UGH!

And I watched this real show about how ants were trying to take over the world. ;_;

 

[highfive]

High tentacle!

High!

I eat you raw. And one day, I will go to Japan and eat you LIVE and raw.

>.>
<.<

I'm now daftly scared of CRASHiC.

 

[finalark]

Any bug that is bigger than my index finger. Those thing scare the **** out of me, and the fact that I know the reason why is even more frightening.

That, and being alone. I was considering checking out Silent Hill 2, but then I heard that the game makes you feel alone. Comepleately and abselutely alone, desolately so. I am never going to even look at that game now...

I think I'm going to make a movie about killer octopi now...

 

[altairian]

I sell whole octopi at my job XD

I guess I don't really have any atypical fears. I've gotten over most of my wildlife fears (you won't see me playing with bugs any time soon but I don't have a small internal freakout when I see one anymore ) since I've gotten out of high school. I can definitely understand being afraid of being kicked by a horse...they can flat out kill you if they catch you in the chest or head. That's really unlikely though unless you provoke it.

 

[The Cunning Weasel]

Centipedes and Millipedes are frightening. Other than that, I like seeing stuff about wild animals on Discovery channel and whatnot.

 

[Sephiroths Masamune]

what about praying mantis? they look harmless and they're pretty big.

 

[Jim Morrison]

May I say, you were one scared fellow
Scared of killers, climate and war
Cowardly, paranoid, wimpy and yellow
I hope you're not like that anymore

I just can't go into my mom's bed anymore :\

 

[VodkaHaze]

I am extremely scared of the candiru fish, big bugs and horses! My biggest fear is insects buzzing. It makes me panic.

 

[BurningSoul]

My abnormal fears include rejection and being alone ._.;