Phunny Phobias
If you met someone who was afraid of paper or wax statues, wouldn't you tell them to stop being so ridiculous and get over it? Every Monday, Null editor Hayley hand-picks another bizarre phobia and tries to work out whether it's real or rubbish.
This week:
Linonophobia: fear of string
What's so scary about it?
Woah, watch out for that string! According to Ashing International (an online phobia treatment company, that, bizarrely, also offers golf coaching), linonophobia can cause panic attacks, nausea and irregular heartbeats. It can also "keep people apart from loved ones" - not good, what with Valentine's Day approaching and all.
What do the scientists say about it?
I think they might have a bone to pick with Ashing International, who appear to have copy and pasted about a million different phobia names into the same treatment blurb on their website. Hence, fear of string can be dealt with simply by "training the mind to feel differently about string". The same can be said for beards, pins, chopsticks, gold, witches...
Hayley says:
"Who do they think they're kidding? Rubbish."
So far: Real 15 Rubbish 18
Find phunny phobias from other weeks here.
Null's other regular features:
Tuesday: Nutty Nomenclature
Wednesday: Doctor Doctor
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Friday: End of week timewasters
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