This thread is about fears. Let me start with my fear first. I have a fear of heights. If i stare down from a tall building, i would develop a feeling that i am falling down even though it might be safe. That is why i have never bungee jumped or sky dived and i don't intend to for the foreseeable future.
Sharks. I hate those fuckers. I wish we could wipe them all out, other than the ones they use in fish and chips. It's not like we would miss them, we can't even see them until they bite through surfers.
Earthquakes. I lived in California for six months and just couldn't get used to them. There's something about the world moving around me like that that terrifies me. I moved back to Maryland a couple of years ago (due more to financial reasons than earthquakes) to find out they have them there too. It takes me awhile to relax after an earthquake, like another one will go off any second.
Crowds. I used to go to a West Indian parade when I was a child. One day, I was sitting on the blue police barricade and there was an incident that sent the crowd stampeding. They ran right over me. My mother had to grab me up quickly before I was trampled. Now, I'm always on edge in a crowd.
Any spider bigger than a quarter. Me too, but a weird one. I am totally fine with heights provided I am "protected" from a fall. Glass will do, or a tall railing...but if the railing height is below my "pivot point" I can't go near it.
The tipping point that makes me like spiders is that they eat everything I don't like. If I see a spider in my home, I'd leave it be. It'll either eat insects nearby or leave when it can't find any.
For me, it's flying. I absolutely cannot stand having 30,000 feet separating myself and solid ground, so I tend to grip the armrests for dear life until the plane actually touches the ground. This is unfortunate, because I travel across the country rather frequently for work.
That's not weird, Tosk. I'm pretty much the same way: afraid of exposed heights. Tall buildings and most bridges are fine; cliffs and ladders are not. My new fear since I was attacked in 2010 is knives and other bladed/pointed implements like swords and metal skewers for kebabs. Table knives are okay. I can use other knives myself, as long as I put them away as soon as I'm done with them. But just lying around, or if someone standing too close to me is holding/using one… <shudder>. And no bat'leths, please!
I have a terrible fear of anonymous people on the internet who go around collecting other people's fears.
Having an ex-girlfriend getting chummy with my current girlfriend. This scares out of me, the Living Daylights!