Opinion

Fear vs. Phobia

/ cyrakitty / 2 Comments

I have been fascinated by this topic for some time now.  So I thought I would get some feedback from readers.

Let’s start with the basics.  What makes a fear a phobia?  The technical difference between a fear and a phobia is that a fear has a legitimate or rational basis while a phobia is irrational.  So someone who has a fear of ax wielding madmen has just that – a fear – as it is perfectly rational to be afraid.  But someone who has a fear of ladybugs (also known as ladybirds) has a phobia – Coccinellidaephobia, as a matter of fact.  And the reason it is a phobia – or irrational fear – is that ladybugs are actually considered a very beneficial beetle, especially to gardeners and rarely cause problems for humans.  Another example I have heard is that a fear of flying (Pteromerhanophobia) is irrational but a fear of crashing is rational.

But then why are some phobias not fears?  For example, there are some phobias that I believe to be completely rational.  For example: fear of rape (Virginitiphobia), fear of sharks (Selachophobia – I’m guilty of this one), fear of pain (Agliophobia), fear of nuclear weapons (Nucleomituphobia) and the fear of disease (Pathophobia).  These all seem like legitimate reasons for fear.  Or are they considered phobias because the likelihood of experiencing or encountering these events is sufficiently rare that they are no longer rational?  And if this is the case, what system – if any – do they base it on?

Then there are the natural phenomenon that have the potential for death and destruction.  There is the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes (Lilapsophobia), fear of water (Hydrophobia – another one of mine – *sigh*), fear of floods (Antlophobia) and fear of fire (Pyrophobia).

If anyone is interested there are many sites devoted to phobias.  However, my personal favorite is List Of Phobias.  It seems to have a good list and an in depth page when you click on the phobia.

I would like to share a few more that I thought were interesting and/or unusual.  There are fears of books (Bibliophobia), ugliness (Cacophobia), knees and chins (Genuphobia and Geniophobia), step-mother/father (Novercaphobia and Vitricophobia) and beautiful women (Venuatraphobia).

Sadly, I do not have answers to any of the questions I posed.  So I would like to ask my readers to tell me their opinions.

And as a final note, I find this just plain mean (in a funny sort of way): Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – a fear of long words.

Christmas email already. . .

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I just received an email entitled “Your First Christmas Card” and I admit it was the first time I had ever seen it – although a friend has said this particular email has been in circulation for quite a long time.  But it contained a poem based upon “A Visit from St. Nicholas” or more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas” which was originally published in 1823 by an anonymous author (who I imagine is spinning in their grave at this particular adaptation).

Here is the text of that email:

 Twas the Month before Christmas 

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday’.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd! 

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears

You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

 

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!

Pretty harsh words coming from “Christians”, right?

The world over uses this time of year (December/Christmas, etc) for religious festivities.  It does not belong exclusively to the Christians.  From the Winter Solstice to, yes, Kwanzaa (Ramadan isn’t even currently celebrated around Christmas) many countries use this time for celebration.  So why is it wrong to say Happy Holidays and include all cultures, as opposed to saying Merry Christmas and including just one?  And if these people have been sharing holidays for eons of time why is it now “taking away” the day from Christians?  What happened to the element of Christian charity?  Why is it not extended to anyone but other Christians?

As some of you may know, I have been studying Buddhism for many years now.  I may not be a good Buddhist, but it is my chosen path.  Yet, I still celebrate Christmas more out of habit or tradition rather than actual belief.  “This is the time of year, though, when those of us who aren’t Christian, or who don’t celebrate Christmas, most feel our minority status.”¹ December is when Buddhists celebrate Rohatsu or the enlightenment of the Buddha.  But I do not ask why there are so few meditating Buddhas or Bodhi trees among the reindeer and Christmas trees.

“But there is an ugly, bullying aspect to this [Anti-Christmas] dispute, in which the pro-Christmas forces are not only asking, reasonably, that their religion be treated with equal status and respect but in which they are attacking legitimate efforts at inclusivity. It’s this sense of aggrieved victimhood that confuses me: What, exactly, is so threatening about calling the school holiday a winter break rather than Christmas vacation?” [¹ and this were excerpts from Ruth Marcus’ excellent article What ‘War On Christmas’?]

I look at everything I do not understand as gravity.  It sounds odd, but there is valid reasoning.  I am not a physicist so basically I do not grasp the nature of gravity to any real degree.   I may not comprehend it but I sure respect it enough to not try jumping off a bridge.  So the same goes for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or others.  I may not understand it but I respect it and I respect your right to celebrate it.  I mean, my birthday is frequently shared with Memorial Day.  I don’t like war.  But I am not on top of a skyscraper shouting that my birthday was “stolen” from me.

Our planet has just reached 7 billion people.  I think it is way past the time when we should have been respecting each other.  This lump of dirt and water may not be perfect but it is all we have.  It is up to each one of us to make it a nice place to live.

Hump Day Hottie – Special Request

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Our Hump Day Hottie this week is a special request.  According to the Daily Mail in England, our special hottie is “the pop star turned pin-up professor”, while the Telegraph calls him the man “who made science sexy”.   That’s right – we’re talking about Professor Brian Cox!

November 2009 - Photo by Paul Clarke

I can sum up the professor in one word : WOW!  Cox started out in Hulme Grammar School where he even received a D for A-Level Mathematics.  So don’t worry kids, if you get a few bad grades that will not stop you from obtaining awesome heights!

In 1993, while studying physics at the University of Manchester, he joined the band D:Ream as the keyboard player.  Even while working with the band, Brian was able to complete an undergraduate first class honours degree and a M.Phil – both in physics.  To round things off, in 1997 he received his Ph.D. in high energy particle physics.

Brian has been the host of numerous British programs on radio as well as television.  Some of Cox’s other achievements include:

  1. 2006 – received the British Association’s Lord Kelvin Award
  2. 2006 – elected as a University Research Fellow of The Royal Society
  3. 2010 – won the Institute of Physics Kelvin Prize
  4. 2010 – was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
  5. 2011 – won Best Presenter by the Royal Television Society for Wonders of the Solar System

So am I right?  WOW!!  Below is the first part of an episode of the British Panel Show, Would I Lie To You? Brian and his team-mates try to out-lie the other guys.  Hope you enjoy it!  Also, follow Brian Cox on Twitter (if you’re into that).

I was asked to connect to the second part as it was unclear as to which was the correct one from YouTube – so here is part 2 of Brian’s appearance on Would I Lie To You?

Cheer up

/ cyrakitty / 3 Comments

To those of you who know me know I have been having a rough time of it lately.  So, I thought I would take a small poll.

In my experience, people have a “go to” item when they need cheering up.  Some may rely on a pet, a certain book, song or movie.

My first line of defense is my youngest cat, Beau.  A good cuddle with him will set me right for a while and calm my mind enough to get an untroubled sleep.  If Beau is unavailable (I’m out of town, perhaps) or not in the mood to deal with my churlish attitude, then my “go to” guy is the one, the only  –  Eddie Izzard.

I have noticed over the years that when I am feeling low, the first thing I look for in the DVD rack is his performance Dress to Kill.  His use of history combined with an almost innocent nature lead to, for me, captivating and entertaining shows.  Add an amazing voice and British accent and you have the charming creature that is Eddie Izzard.

So now I pose the question to you.  What is your “go to” item when you need cheering up?

Pathetic. . . or is it just depressing?

/ cyrakitty / 1 Comment

Going to the doctor is bad enough.  But then their endless penchant for running late and forcing you to listen to a television at top volume is pushing it, in my opinion.  However, I would like to share with you something that was said on this intrusive waiting room TV.  The station playing was our local news station, Bay News 9.  By the way, I am utterly thankful that it was not FOX “right-wing – it is news because we say so – even though we are lying” News.  But I digress.

Now, Bay News 9 seems half way decent.  They cover mostly local news and offer weather every ten minutes – “on the 9’s”.  Prior to one of these weather reports the meteorologist said – and I quote, “Klystron 9 – The most colorful television radar.”  Um, really?  Have we sunk so low as a society that we no longer care about content or accuracy as long as it is “colorful”?  Have we dissolved into a nation with ADD (or ADHD) mentality, needing to have a kaleidoscopic and quick moving world to keep our attention?

Sadly, I think the answer is yes.  Our education rates close to the bottom in all the areas of reading, math and science (33, 27 and 22 respectively – out of 33 by the way).  Who is ranked the highest?  Finland with scores of 2, 1 and 1 – Korea beat them out for the number 1 spot in reading.  Ok, lets bring it closer to home, how about our Canadian brothers and sisters?  Canada ranks 3, 5 and 2.  But those socialist commies have no clue what they are doing, or so we are told.  (By the way, all these lists and many more can be found here.)

Maybe I am overreacting.  Why not now look at some other scores?  Let’s do it, I have not reached the correct stage of inadequacy yet.  Adult literacy ranking according to the OECD – #9.  Health Care Quality – #37.  Women’s Rights – #17.  Life Expectancy – #29.  Journalistic Press Freedom – #32 and that is with Finland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands being tied for 1st place.  Political Corruption Index – #17 (no surprise there).  And I will finally stop with the Environmental Sustainability Index – #45.

People, especially right-wing politicians, try to whip the population into a patriotic fervor – “America is the best!!  Woo-hoo!!”  Well, the above statistics tend to poke a few holes in this argument, but then, when do fact ever stand in their way?  We may still be a world power but it is simply due to our size and our busy-body attitude of having to stick our nose in everyone else’s business.  We have our hands in cookie jars globally and most of which are out of simple self-interest.  We have become the bumbling bully, the Bluto of the cosmos.  We want to help South Africa for diamonds and the Middle East for oil.  Our government couldn’t give a rats ass for the people of these nations or the governments they instill.  That is what upsets me about the whole Egypt situation.  The US Government doesn’t really care whether they develop a “democracy” – especially since Bush proved even that can be bought.  I feel we can deplore the violence and offer guidance, sure.  But when the people themselves are shouting “We hate America”, then maybe our presence and especially our prominent pushing is causing more harm than good.

I am not saying Mubarak isn’t an asshole – maybe he is – but so was Bush and we were unable to uproot him from his 8 years squatting in the White House.  But then we didn’t think about throwing Molotov cocktails.

This has been a long and winding post – for which I apologize.  The point I am making is that we have not made progress or enjoyed world respect since the time of Kennedy.  In fact we have slipped rapidly downhill.  This does not have to lead to the bleak and dreadful existence I have alluded to, but it will require a lot of hard work and innovation.  We have to stop thinking only of ourselves and our instant gratification, our gas-guzzling SUVs and our HD TVs.  We have to pull ourselves out of this self made rut, respect one another and show a little courtesy.