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:
Meteorophobia: fear of meteors
What's so scary about them?
Er, big ball of rock and flame travelling at 26 miles per second. Yep, got it.
What do the scientists say about it?
Nothing. Silence. Absolutely appalling for something so terrifying.
Hayley says:
"I don't care what anyone says. Surely if it's rational to be scared of clowns, as we concluded last week, it's perfectly rational to be scared of a ruddy great ball of fire hurtling your way. There seems to be a blatant disregard for people with this very legitimate fear and a lack of treatment options. So, if you’re in need of counselling for your meteorophobia, I suggest you take note of the following, which I have adapted from Cambridge University’s arachnophobia coping hierarchy.
1. Reading about meteors.
2. Looking at and then touching a photograph of a meteor.
3. Looking at/touching a plastic model of a meteor.
4. Looking at/touching a jar with a small meteor in (could be tricky).
5. Picking the meteor out of the jar.
6. Picking up a large meteor (perhaps over ambitious).
Oh yeah. Real."
So far: Real 5 Rubbish 3
Find phunny phobias from other weeks here.
Null's other regular features (more coming soon):
Tuesday: Nutty Nomenclature
Thursday: Peculiar Periodicals
Erratically: The World in Brief
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