I don't know if this is something that I alone have experienced or not. I find that the things I'm most disgusted or frightened by are also the things that I find myself most drawn to in non-threatening situations.

For instance - I really, really hate both scorpions and eels. Spiders too, but not so much. And yet whenever a documentary appears on them, or whenever they have their own exhibit at a zoo or a nature park, I seem unable to tear myself away.

It goes beyond that, too. I was brought up in a Christian environment, and anything involving the supernatural scared the wits out of me for a very long time. And yet I'd still actively search out articles or books concerning it, despite being frightened as hell (no pun intended).

Do you guys find the same thing?

I have a fear of mice since one came in my room one night. Does that count? D=

It's interesting how they manage to avoid all the traps I set up for them...

I am not really frightened by anything. I feel threatened sometimes, but I am not genuinely scared of anything, so I don't really know what you situation is like. I can imagine though. It would be sort of like not having a religion but being interested in religion and other peoples beliefs, right?

Yeah, sort of. It's not really an interest though, because you're actually quite repulsed by them - it's more of a fixation. More like hating your ex-girlfriend and yet not being able to stop thinking about her.

Oh I see. I hate Jamie Oliver, and I hate killing animals, but I will certainly be watching his special that is on this week. (It was on earlier in the year in the UK, and I think there is a Loungin' thread on the topic.) So yes, I suppose I sort of understand where you are coming from. Scorpions are cool though. they glow when you put a blue light on them.

Lol. It's not quite the same... I think you're watching the Jamie Oliver thing in spite of its being presented by Jamie Oliver. In my case, I'm watching them because they're on scorpions, spiders etc.

I didn't know that about scorpions. The more you know.

I am watching it because it is killing chickens. I don't like killing chickens.

Ah, ok. Yeah, I guess that would be similar if you've got a real aversion to animal slaughter or something.

I think it is the sense of adventure and discovery that draws us into learning things about the stuff that scares us. I just couldn't peel my eyes away from this one documentary that I saw about black widows. It was just really interesting. Of course, now I won't die if they bite. I'll just be in a hell of a lot of pain for a while.

I honestly think that it goes to show that the best way to overcome a fear of something is to become as familiar as you can with it. Many phobias are fears of the unknown, so it only makes sense that we become less scared of something when we find more out about it.

The odd thing is, I'm not any more or less scared of scorpions than I used to be, but I'm still fascinated by them in a disturbed way.

I understand what you're saying, that's the same way for me. It might not be just disgusting, but things that scare me as well. They're always the most interesting because you don't want to get to close to them, or hear to much about it, but at the same time you do. You do dam it D=.


~FFXFREAK

I think Rome hit the nail on the head with what he said. I think it's because we want to know more about why we're scared of what we're frightened of and maybe in your situation you were watching to validate your fear, to find out reasons why their so scary, e.g. they bite and posion etc.

Holy Girls Girls Girls.


Honestly, and with no humor intended, it's the females. For all their subtleties and charm, I can't get my head around them. They treat me kind of like psychedelic drugs, and make about as much sense. And I'd like to think it's less of a problem I have and more of a problem they have.

But come the day's end; love 'em.