|
Post by bixaorellana on May 23, 2009 14:13:37 GMT
I guess it's not really funny, considering what could have happened, but the description of your pulling the lever off while you & your mother were yelling in fear as you hurtled down the highway cracked me up, Jazz. ...Finally,I came out of the thick fog and saw a flock of Pelicans overhead. I like to think they were watching over me guiding me to safety. More likely they were crapping all over the top of the new car as they laughed themselves silly at your plight.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 11:35:57 GMT
What about tunnels? In order to get into Manhattan it's either a tunnel or a bridge. Given the choice I think I opt for a tunnel. Mid town tunnel isn't too bad.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 14:01:29 GMT
Really long tunnels can be somewhat oppressive, like driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel (11.6 km) or the Saint-Gothard tunnel (17 km).
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on May 24, 2009 16:18:26 GMT
I've never seen bridges like those! I love the curves on the Sunshine Highway. I guess it would be frightening to drive over them during a storm or foggy conditions.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 16:30:33 GMT
I like big bridges, although I probably would not want to be stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of one. My two favorite bridges in France are the viaduc de Millau that spans a valley and the pont de Normandie, which crosses the mouth of the Seine. The viaduc de Millau is the tallest bridge in the world, with a central pillar taller than the Eiffel Tower (about 75 storeys high). The pont de Normandie was briefly the longest single span suspension bridge in the world, but it has already been surpassed several times since it was built. Frankly, I am not sure if I am in favor of single span bridges. Viaduc de Millau Pont de Normandie
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 16:38:50 GMT
Beautiful structures! I would have to be HEAVILY sedated to go across .
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on May 24, 2009 16:59:15 GMT
Those photos are gorgeous -- bridges in heaven! Here's another for bridge aficionados. It's the crossing from Port Isabel, Texas, where I used to live, over to South Padre Island: A sad note about that bridge ........ I used to work here in Oaxaca with a woman who'd moved here from Brownsville, Texas -- quite close to Port Isabel. On September 11, 2001 she came in late to work saying that as she left the house she'd heard something about a plane hitting a building in New York. Our workplace was deserted that day, & it wasn't until a few hours later that we found out what had happened. Then, a few days later the same woman told me the awful news about the S. Padre Island causeway tragedy, which occurred Sept. 15. One of the people who was killed was the fire marshall of Port Isabel. He was a really nice, jolly and friendly man who was quite overweight. When we built the dock so we could live on the boat in Port Isabel, he and the building inspector had to inspect the boat to declare it legal for habitation. When Bob, the fire marshall, stepped onto the boat he was totally disconcerted by the fact that it rocked. The building inspector looked over the boat, then we all stood in the galley yakking until Bob blurted, "Let the fat guy out of this claustrophobic moving space!". We looked at him and he was white-faced and sweating. So, thinking of that poor guy dying trapped in a car under water was really painful. Another person who was killed was the one-legged surfer. He's the guy who re-did (& messed up) my little tattoo.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on May 24, 2009 18:15:11 GMT
|
|
|
Post by rikita on May 24, 2009 19:06:55 GMT
i only realized today that my dad has a problem with heights. we were on a bridge in a park in berlin, small footbridge, but high enough above the water: my dad made a remark to his wife about a strange feeling in his stomach and i asked her what he meant, and she said "didn't you know he is scared of heights?"... i hadn't known...
|
|
|
Post by tillystar on May 24, 2009 19:10:45 GMT
I have got a fear of heights and I am pretty sure it developed from being with my Mum on a motorway footbridge when I as about 4 and she was pushing my brother in the buggy. She completely freaked out and froze and wouldn't move I had to convince her to get to the other side. My fear of heights didn't devleop unti later in life and it gets worse and worse, but I really think that day did it for me!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 19:32:22 GMT
Yes, I saw that article, too.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on May 27, 2009 6:47:09 GMT
Really long tunnels can be somewhat oppressive, like driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel (11.6 km) or the Saint-Gothard tunnel (17 km). I drive through the Gothard tunnel several times a year and yeah it is not my most favourite thing to do. But you get used to it. Last year we were stuck inside the tunnel as a car in front of us broke down. It was amazing how quickly the situation was cleared. Once the cars from the opposite side were through I got out of the car and was pleasantly surprised how well the ventilation works. 15 mins later we were driving again.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2011 12:56:56 GMT
They are still retrofitting all of the tunnels of France to makes sure there are enough pressurised cabins and/or escape hatches. It takes a really long time!
|
|
|
Post by thill25 on Apr 8, 2011 13:45:09 GMT
My wife is terrified of frogs. She doesn't even like looking at k2's avatar.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 9, 2011 21:46:56 GMT
I didn't think I had any phobias till my shoulder started hurting and I had an MRI. The technician said I could either keep my eyes closed or open them, so naturally, being curious, I opened them once I'd been rolled into the magnet. I was stunned to find that although the tunnel starts out about a yard wide, it narrows down to only a few inches over your eyes. A totally unexpected attack of claustrophobia descended upon me, though I managed to survive the 30 minute exam.
Since then I've had a couple other "attacks" of claustrophobia, once on a small 19-seat commuter plane when they shut the door and disconnected from power so the airconditioning shut down, and once when Mr. Kimby and I were exploring a cave in Utah. We had only one flashlight and once we made our way around a corner so daylight disappeared I began to fret about the battery going dead and being stuck in that stuffy cave in the dark. Mr. Kimby didn't make fun of me, and led me out of the cave.
I recently had a 2nd MRI of the shoulder. The first time I wasn't aware that the back end of the tunnel is open to air and daylight, and if I had been, perhaps it wouldn't have been so scary. This time, they put a towel across my eyes and gave me a heated blanket as I was cold. As the tech rolled me in however, I got very hot (nerves? a hot flash? the heated blanket?) and had to get rid of the blanket and my shoes before we could continue the test. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I managed.
I think it's been said before on this thread, but many phobias have genuine evolutionary reasons for existing. Avoiding a situation that could suffocate you might allow you to live long enough to reproduce, passing along genes for claustrophobia.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Apr 9, 2011 22:13:23 GMT
Kimby, I find that last paragraph very interesting. I read a book about genealogy that claimed such things as a love of gardening were inherited. Even though I found it a charming idea, I couldn't accept it. However, thinking about what you just said, it makes sense that even non-physical things, such as patience, could be hereditary.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 11, 2011 12:05:21 GMT
Gosh you were very brave Kimby, it sounds jolly unpleasant.
I'm frightened of deep water (can't swim) and heights (don't have wings).
I thought that I'd be terrified of flying in an aeroplane but once I realised that it was all out of my hands I relaxed and quite enjoyed the experience.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 11, 2011 12:07:32 GMT
ooh I also have an irrational fear of spiders...I quite like them but respond to one charging across my path by squealing and running away like a wuss.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 12:54:46 GMT
I have no fear of insects, but if a mouse runs at me, I get the hell away. I think the main fear is of it running up my leg.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 11, 2011 19:27:39 GMT
Losing your nuts to a rodent bite might impair your ability to pass your genes to the next generation. ;D
|
|
|
Post by foreverman on Apr 12, 2011 2:11:31 GMT
I think I have acquired the phobia of fear of heights in my old age, its silly, I never used to have this........I used to be the opposite in my teens. Now I cannot stand on a clifftop or top of a tall building without my knees turning to jelly and a funny weak feeling in my stomach. Even walking along the pier in my hometown is difficult now as only one side has a safety rail, the other is about a 30 foot drop into the ocean............... what caused this I havnt a clue................
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Apr 12, 2011 16:51:51 GMT
just watched my little brother's swimming course. one girl was new (she was sick during the first weeks) and thus quite scared. they don't like parents being all around the kids in such a case though, and generally let the kids go to the side if they don't want to participate, but if they participate they have to do so completely, with getting water splashed in the face and all (no going ankle-deep but no deeper or anything like that). it's difficult to see, because every instinct tells me to go sooth that girl and all - but i would think such an approach probably has good reasons. i suppose it helps the kids loose their fear faster than if they feel the parents agree with them being scared... at least my little brother, who is usually scared of a lot of things, for example water, seemed to have no problem going into the water there.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2011 17:11:40 GMT
It is easier to get over phobias when there are no witnesses who know what your phobias are.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2011 18:50:27 GMT
I am terribly phobic of swimming in water where I cannot see the bottom,therefore,many lakes or ponds,swimming holes,make for a terribly unpleasant recreational outing around here. If I can't see the bottom, or, the water isn't moving as in the ocean,I imagine my feet touching all manner of unpleasant, dreaded underwater creatures,refrigerators,rusted out cars,dead bodies...
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Apr 12, 2011 19:22:14 GMT
i don't feel comfortable about invisible, slimy ground either, though i wouldn't say i am phobic about it... i prefer clear nice sandy ground, but if need be i can swim in dark water too...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2011 19:36:49 GMT
When I went to Mauritius and went swimming the in the middle of the night (the warm gentle ocean was calling out to me in my room on the beach, and on top of that it was glowing violet with phosphorescence -- how to resist?). But when I stepped on an unexpected sea cucumber in total darkness, I went flying up like a performing dolphin.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 18:51:26 GMT
If anybody is interested, I have been able to observe that all phobias disappear with senility (not my own senility yet, just what I have been observing).
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 25, 2013 20:28:04 GMT
I have a crippling fear of driving on interstates,freeways,highways with more than two lanes. It has only intensified with time. I used to be able to drive from here to NY and back by myself. This would be me exactly, plus the high bridge aversion. It's really aggravating and I don't understand it. I used to drive the interstate all the time: Gainesville to Houston; Atlanta to Detroit at night. Just watching your video of the bridge, bixa, gave me the heebie jeebies. So, Kerouac, if phobias diminish with dementia, would the fact that someone has a phobia or two also mean they don't have dementia? That could be the bright side of being phobic.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 28, 2013 1:47:43 GMT
I went flying up like a performing dolphin. ;D ;D ;D I have been able to observe that all phobias disappear with senility I'd say that's an accurate observation. Several people have commented on how their phobias suddenly came on in adulthood. I've seen that happen to one of my brothers (fear of heights) & to my son (fear of flying). This is anecdotal, so not evidence, but in my dad's dementia, it was obvious that he thought he was much, much younger than he really was. So if your self-perceived age is younger than whatever age you were when you developed a phobia, the phobia, ipso facto, does not exist.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 28, 2013 15:05:31 GMT
I agree that dementia may cause one to believe they are younger, but I would be surprised if that were the cause of the cessation of gut-reaction phobias. Yes, they may forget that they are scared of spiders or heights, but I can't buy that it's because they think they are younger than the onset of the phobia.
The demented brain is more of a jumble than a clean reboot, IMO.
|
|