fear

[splendra]

What do you believe is the biggest fear of mankind?

[bikewench]

to run out of gas.. ;o)

[Dan]

World peace.
And running out of gas.

[splendra]

I found this to be an interesting link on fear...http://www.qjmail.com/articles/courage.html

[Ann]

That's a great article, Splendra, a keeper for me. Fear is the lack of faith, in God or in ourselves, and I've lived in that dark place too often in my life. No more.

Hugs
Ann

[historyteach]

"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."
FDR
I agree.

Hmmm...I clicked on the link AFTER I wrote that quote.

Shalom!

[emmanuel2012]

mankinds biggest fear is its acceptance of itself. we fear as a species that there are too many of us and that we dont have the resources to support all of us and that we thus can't love everyone, only select ones, and only select humans can survive, those that have the resoruces.. if we could get past the scarcity-of-love/scarcity-of-resources fear, humankind will surely evolve.

[equus]

Try looking at one of the world's most effective tortures - isolation.

I believe fear is also genetic - particularly the level of fear needed to set off the adrenaline system. I agree with the article that courage is our reaction to fear not the lack of it though.

Fear is also behavioural, the nervousness of a beaten dog, or the learned helplessness of a battered wife. I think our BELIEF that we can escape pain effects our reaction to fear too, our confidence that we can cope.

[splendra]

I believe fear of death or not being able to survive is the most primal fear and out of that comes many phobias....

another link...

http://www.truestarhealth.com/member...10ML3P1A7.html

[equus]

If death is the most primal fear then why do people willingly put their lives in danger? Look atthe actions in war, or the protective nature of a mother.

I would argue that our bond to each other as humans is right up their with food, water and shelter - the fear may be isolation but can be displayed as a fear of rejection, non-conformity, disapproval etc. If you remove from a person (or any group animal) their confidence in their interactions with others you can provide all the 'life giving' stuff but you will have one distressed and fearful individual.

Take for example the recognition in more recent years that emotional abuse can be as damaging as physical abuse - WHY would that be the case if fear of death was THE biggest fear? People feel differently (and are less damaged) by a potentially life threating car crash that lead to a broken bone than a less life threatening conflict with another individual that gets physical resulting in the same injury.

Look at the distress of a horse seperated from it's herd - but the same horse if protecting it's young would fight to the death.

[splendra]

Well I believe if I were not afraid to die I would not try to survive....

[equus]

Originally Posted by splendra

Well I believe if I were not afraid to die I would not try to survive....

But wouldn't that logic equally apply to the efforts given to communication? Relationships? All human contact? Evidently you try at that too - just as I do, just as most people do.

Did you know solitary confinment is the world's most globally used torture/sanction for an inmate? To isolate is used as a punishment across countries and culture - the death sentence isn't, that is only used in some places.

[BigSis]

I think the longer we live, the less we fear death.... it's an "acceptance" thing, in part. Coupled with a "I'm getting tired" thing. IMO.

I fear the unknown... so I fear death today, but maybe I won't in another 30 years or so.

I love people ...some more than myself. So yes, I would sacrifice for my children... possibly even my life. But I still fear death, I just love my children more.

But I fear what I can NOT touch... what I can NOT control.

I fear evil. True evil. I have since I was a small child.

Some tell me that true evil is just a manifestation of humanity's pain... but I am not certain. So I fear it.

[splendra]

...If I were not afraid to die I would not try to survive...

Of course people need people to survive. Babies will die if they are not touched. I guess they could be raised by wolves but they would still need to be touched. If you knew you were going to be deprived of all touch and communication do you not feel that you would be afraid that you would die without it? I know I would be afaid of that... and I would be afraid I would die.

Mothers protect their babies out of instinct so that the species can survive not necessarily out of bravery or because the do not fear death they do fear death which is why they fight.

If I am afraid to go outside or work too much and aquire much am I not fearing a lack of security? Security means safety right? what do I need to be safe from? If I do not have food and am hungry do I not fear I may starve and die if I do not eat? If I do not have shelter do not not try and seek shelter so that I will not die from over exposure to the elements? If I am very lonely do I not fear I will die of loneliness?

Oh ((((equus)))

[KelKel]

"What are fears but voices airy?
Whispering harm where harm is not.
And deluding the unwary
Till the fatal bolt is shot!"
---- Wordsworth

[unspun]

I fear that Damn Travelocity Gnome that talks to me in the back of my head!!

aka, My addiction

[MNGirlyGirl]

LOL -- Unspun.

I'm not sure I exactly fear death itself, it's how I'm going to die is what I fear.

[babeekj]

I am scared of paper cutters...I made them take the one out of my part of the office...I refuse to use it and I don't want to see anyone else cut their finger off with the thing

[Brookie]

Try looking at one of the world's most effective tortures - isolation.

Clearly not the words of an introvert. I think I'd make a damned good hermit on a desert island, although it would be nice to have an internet connection when I go.

I fear those great big cockroaches we have down here in Houston. Also head cheese and Scottish cooking in general. Dirty bombs. Fundamentalists of every strip. Drout. I don't really fear death, but I fear dying. Environmental catastrophe, for which I fear we've long ago passed the point of no return. Buskers on unicycles. Incontinence. Famine. Tooth decay. Hell, though I don't believe in it. Crowds. Paper cutters and garbage disposals. Betrayal from unexpected corners. Betrayal from expected corners. Mimes. I fear for the world we're leaving our kids. Chihuahuas. Standard poodles, but not the toy ones. Gas tanks that erupt in rear-impact collisions. That "Free Money to Pay Your Bills" guy. Pat Robertson. I could keep on going for a long time.

Shoot, now that I think of it, I could spend the rest of the day making a very long list. Probably not a healthy thing for me to do.

[Brookie]

Oops. Forgot clowns. Also John Wayne Gacey.

[babeekj]

Originally Posted by Brookie

Oops. Forgot clowns. Also John Wayne Gacey.

OMG I forgot about clowns !!!!

I have this story about a clown..I have this serious clown phobia for real.
Anyways one year at the fair this stupid clown kept following down the sidewalk honking his stupid horn. I turn around and give him a dirty look ....still he keeps following me honking the horn....I start ignoring him hoping he will go away..well I am standing in line with my oldest son who was like 7 or 8 at the time and the clown catches me off guard and honks the horn and I turn around and before I know it I just lay him out.....right there in front of all the little kiddies I had busted the dumb clown in the mouth...I felt sooooo bad !!!!!!!!
I just HATE clowns for real I do

[Brookie]

Definitely had it coming. Hope you glared menacingly and said something like: "And let that be a lesson to the rest of you clowns, seeee."

[Jackson]

The Truth

[FaeryQueen]

seperation from God......

[babeekj]

Originally Posted by Brookie

Definitely had it coming. Hope you glared menacingly and said something like: "And let that be a lesson to the rest of you clowns, seeee."

:Lmao nope I just took off outa there hoping I wouldn't get arrested