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

Why haven't I got a job yet?

what is blogging?

why do people not understand that I'm afraid of dogs I don't know?

(even if I do have a golden retriever)

I can answer question two

Blogging is "web-logging", as I understand it, and is basically an open journal. Kind of like this one, I guess. An e-diary.

Don't worry about the job front, it seems to be difficult for everyone. Just keep searching

And sadly, I know nothing about dogs. At all. Apart from that generally they have 4 legs and tend to bark.

(1) The right job for you is out there somewhere. Keep positive and it will turn up, probably unexpectedly.

(2) See posting above

(3) You have a Golden Retriever, one of the loveliest natured dogs I know. All dogs are not so lovely. Does your fear stem from something that happened in your childhood? Many people react like that to anyone who has a fear of anything, rational or otherwise, so you are not alone.

When I was about 4 or 5, I was just about to go out with my parents, when a Chow, foamingat the mouth and crazy, attacked another dog in our front garden. I was very frightened.

It took me a long time to trust dogs again, and I still regard them with a healthy respect.

Websailor

Thanks you two for your answers

1) I've received a temping job

2) your definition has helped me to understand the talk I heard over the holiday weekend ..... was unsure at the time whether they meant that or not and found I have two sides to me one that was desperate to say something and the other was saying you silly woman you are wrong and they are going to laugh at you thankfully I was not laughed at when I received the microphone

3) I believe I can trust her and have built up a bond with her although even she can be naughty sometimes. Unless I built up a bond with other dogs then I guess I'm not going to overcome the fear I have. Which may have stemmed from being made to stay with the dog under by parents rule, friends letting their dog jump up when i was little or seeing my sister tease a dog and nearly have her nose taken off. Whatever the core of the problem it irritates me that people let their dogs jump up at you and they don't understand why I'm frightened when I've got a dog of my own.

Thanks for listening love opti

1) I graduated over a year ago, and I still haven't got a proper job. It's difficult, believe me, unless you know exactly what you want to do.

2) has been well and truly answered

3) Having been around dogs since getting home from the hospital after being born, I'm from the other side of a camp. I hold no fear for dogs, but that is not to say I don't have a respect for the power they have at their disposal. When meeting someone new who owns a dog, I often find that they apologise profusely when their dog jumps up at me. I find this difficult to understand, as I'm usually down on the floor with the dog in a heartbeat, rolling around and generally making a fool of myself.
When a dog jumps up at you, it's saying 'hi'. It's simply trying to get to know you and, on a basic level, work out if you're a friend or a foe. If the owner attempts to hold their dog back from meeting and greeting you, the dog often gets frustrated and, in turn, more determined to say hi. It's usually for the best to get the introductions out of the way as soon as possible, especiallly with people who are scared of dogs. You'll usually find that they calm down after just a few seconds (so long as you say hi back- give them a stroke or a pat), and then they'll either leave you alone or become your new best friend. If you attempt to ignore them, chances are they'll keep trying to grab your attention.

Also, showing that you're afraid is a bad thing. A dog will tune into this fear and act in one of two ways: Either it'll attempt to dominate you (either by intimidating you or trying to mate with you), or it'll pay you extra attention- dogs are very good at reading emotion.

TK[1]

I think I'll have to try saying hello next time to a dog I guess the owners wouldn't have it free if they thought it was going to harm right? although i do think the opposite is true too. Thinks of the rottveiler on the beach in cornwall.

As for mating yep had two little fat bull dogs or something like that trying to mate with me and i completely froze. My bf tried to get rid of them for me but in the end it was their owner that had to step in and deal with the situation.

Q3 has not been answered directly. Why do people not understand your fear is more interesting than the fear itself. Being phobic of dogs I have come to the conclusion that it's because people want to watch other people suffer. I am tempted to run up to people who seem unable to control their dogs and bark, snarl and growl at them biting the air by their throat wildly before offering a "Oh don't worry, I don't bite" with that silly little smile they use when poochies trying to tear your head off. Only these people have dogs so I don't want to get close enough to do that :S

/rant

On another note: Long time no see :P

There's a biiiiig difference between "people let[ting] their dogs jump up at you" and "poochies trying to tear your head off".

The latter, if literally true, are dangerous and the owners should be taken in hand as they've obviously been mistreating their dogs. Or you're trying to break in somewhere/ beat up their owner/ beat up them, in which case you deserve to have your head torn off.

A tell- tale sign is the tail: If it's wagging, the last thing they're thinking of is tearing your head off, regardless of what the head's doing.

Dogs are far less malicious than, say (picking a species out of the air), humans.

TK[1]

Hi TK, Acid Override and others I think I've started some good debate here.

I think Acid is right about there being an interesting element to why people do not understand a fear (something I'd like to know more about) but I also believe that the fear itself is just as significant. I don't believe all dogs will bite your head off but they'll probabably nip you if you dont stay away from them.

TK is right about the fact that

"There's a biiiiig difference between "people let[ting] their dogs jump up at you" and "poochies trying to tear your head off".

and I am led to believe that humans have a big responsibility over their posessions but I think they can be equally malicious depending on dog, person etc. Oh yes and whether they are a mother or teacher