h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Surely the fear of heights (acrophobia) has to be one of the most common fears? I mean, it must be! It's obvious innit?? Innit?

Absolutely!!!

A few years ago, even two meters were too much for me. Funny thing is, that since I have contact lences it's soo much more better. Maybe the one thing I was afarid of most, was losing my glasses? Or it's just that now I have also full peripher sight... I don't know.

Methos

And from that day w85 wished that he had been born with bad eyesight...

im not afraid of heights, they're absolutely fine. it's the DEPTHS im worried about.

Hah, I have to agree, depths can be disconcerting. While not so much afraid of them, I do get a bit nervous when I swim in natural waters where I can't touch the bottom. You never know what could be down there... snapping turtles, muskellunge (hah hah... there's something inherently funny about being attacked by a sport fish in a pond), giant squid, mutant sharks, US Navy S.E.A.L.S., etc. etc. etc.

Güthwinë.

i am scared of sharks, they're terrifying! i just finished a book about them, and now i dont wanna go in the sea!
and jellyfish 2, they freak me out. did you see the 'friends' episode where monica got stung by one? maybe it's just what cures the sting that scares me!
isn't it worse swimming where u can touch the bottom, and you might step on something? i suppose at least then you know that the thing you step on is small.
what's a muskellunge?!

the mad girl x

Well, I think even if bad eye-sight may have made my fear of heights a little better, I would rather be afarid again. Seriously! Without my glasses or my contact lences I don't see that much...

But hey, maybe if I would fall and think about my glasses hoping they won't crush... I'll fly?

Methos

But sometimes not being able to see the bottom makes it worse! I have good eyesight and seeing the floor a long long way away, often makes me feel a lot worse than if i couldnt see it.
It's worth a try, flying i mean. if you're ever falling try it, in that position you haven't really got that much to lose have you?!
Just don't concentrate on how big the ground is and how much it would hurt if it hit you! Mind you when you're falling at great speed, not many people have time for philosophical contemplation anyway BUT some ppl say everythings in slow motion when you're about to die so who knows?! If you were free falling from a high building would you really worry about your glasses?!

Muskellunge (more commonly "Musky") are large predatory fish, vaguely barracuda-shaped, that live in deep lakes in the northern Midwest and Canada. There has been a tiny number of cases of people being attacked by these fish, but they really can't do worse than make a few stitches necessary. It's just funny, really.

Güthwinë.

funny, i dont't think i'd laugh if one bit me. but u neva know do u! have u been bitten be4?

Hey lotte!

Well, you may see how deep it really is to the bottom. But because I can't see it, I'd imagine it to be as deep as the Grand Canyon or something. Not that i know how deep it is...

No, I prbably wouldn't think about my glasses while actually falling. But a few years ago, I feel from a horse and my first thought after hitting the ground was: Hopefully that damn horse didn't break my glasses.

You see, if you can't do anything without your glasses, they become really important to you.

Methos

Hah hah, I know exactly what you mean. When you're completely useless without your glasses, you tend to value them as if they were are part of you, which in a way, they are.

I remember the horror I once felt after losing my glasses in a concert mosh pit... luckily I was able to grab them immediately after they hit the floor, but they were already badly twisted... bad memories.

Güthwinë.

Oh, and no, I've never been attacked by a musky. Then again, I've never spent much time swimming in the smaller lakes around here, I'd rather swim in "the Lake", i.e. lake Michigan, even if it is a bit colder. It reminds me of the ocean (*sigh*). There's no muskies out there, too big, too cold, and not enough plant cover for them.

Güthwinë.

I am not too fond of swimming, that is, I actually enjoy swimming quite a bit, but I cannot let go of the thought of what might be under/above/in front of behind me. It might be nothing and I am not too pleased with that thought either. But I think the sense of depth is the worst part. When I swim I am never far from shallow water, but in a small boat it is infinitely worse! I never knew anyone who drowned or anything of the sort, but I panic in a small boat. On a great ferry I can more or less fool myself into forgetting that I am at sea, but in a small boat there are only a couple of centimeters between you and the depths.......what can be worse? Then add the moving of the boat and the vast uncontrolable great sea.....I mean, there is only one choice: stay on the shore!

Cissdur