I was binge watching Season 1 of Alone last night.  For those who might not know it's a survival show.  They drop ten people off in some God forsaken location with ten survival items of their choosing.  Last  man standing gets a half a million dollars.  This episode features the northern edge of Vancouver Island.  A very soggy place
    One of the participants had been mauled by a German Shepherd as a child.  Consequently having wolves nearby unnerved him and he tapped out.  Another guy got freaked out by a Cougar.  And yet another had two bears rumble through his camp at night.  He tapped out the next day.  It made me consider what would make me tap out.  What am I afraid of?
    Though they can kill me under the right circumstances I'm not afraid of wolves.  Maybe I should be but I'm not.  Cougars are the same. I certainly respect them but  I just don't have an instinctive fear of them.  Sharks are something that many people are afraid of.  I have no fear of sharks.  I see a shark and I see food. I get hungry.  Can one kill me?  Yes, if I'm stupid I guess.  I respect their abilities but don't fear them.  I used to be afraid of snakes into my early teens but I got over that.  As many of you know I've owned some VERY  large snakes.  Spiders can give me the willies but in their own environment they're OK.
    Bears are another matter.  I do have an instinctive fear of bears.  Bears are huge, super intelligent, curious, and sometimes obnoxious.  I like to think of myself as big and formidable but I'd be completely helpless against a bear unless I had a large caliber gun.  Bears are friggin scary. If I was on Alone and bears claimed my camp at night I'd tap out too.
   So what scares you?

I don't like small bugs. I think it's probably the fact that I could conceivably anger a spider and it could bite me fatally, and it would have been a complete accident.

Bigger animals I feel like there are some shared body language and warning signals. The danger can be better managed. A funnelweb on the other hand? No thanks.

I get the whole bear thing. A charging brown or grizzly is like being run down by a semi that has claws and teeth.

I tried to post an mp4 of what scares me. But some how got my wifi internet banned from this site. Wtf. Lol. So anyways...

Shark.

(Not nearly as cool as the gif was.)

Morphy wrote on Sep 4^th, 2019 at 9:19pm:

I get the whole bear thing. A charging brown or grizzly is like being run down by a semi that has claws and teeth. I tried to post an mp4 of what scares me. But some how got my wifi internet banned from this site. Wtf. Lol. So anyways... Shark. (Not nearly as cool as the gif was.)

Here- https://imgur.com/gallery/wKPQAPf

I don't fear animals, why would you ?
I just don't get that.

Was phobic about spiders as a kid, but while I would never go nearer a tarantula than I had to, normal spiders are not an issue any more.

People have weird ideas about animals - particularly those larger or better equipped to fight than a human.
But animals will always run rather than fight. We are not on their menu.

A healthy respect of any animal in it's own environment - sure. But be scared of them ? No.

Can't think of anything in a survival situation that would cause me to 'tap out'.  Other than the obvious: pneumonia, frostbite, or any other serious injury.

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 5^th, 2019 at 7:35am:

I don't fear animals, why would you ? I just don't get that. Was phobic about spiders as a kid, but while I would never go nearer a tarantula than I had to, normal spiders are not an issue any more. People have weird ideas about animals - particularly those larger or better equipped to fight than a human. But animals will always run rather than fight. We are not on their menu. A healthy respect of any animal in it's own environment - sure. But be scared of them ? No. Can't think of anything in a survival situation that would cause me to 'tap out'.  Other than the obvious: pneumonia, frostbite, or any other serious injury.

LOL

I'm not afraid of any animals that I know of. The problem is sometimes you don't know what you're afraid of until you encounter it.
As for me, people scare me. They're worse than any animal. As I get older, I'm afraid of being  an invalid.

Alone is a really cool show. I just finished season 6 a couple weeks ago and like the unique skills / foibles that each contestant brings to the show / series. Have you ever considered being a contestant? It'd be great to see someone on the show who's good with a sling / can represent the slinging community. If I'm not mistaken, that's one of the survival skills that hasn't been featured on the show yet.

In terms of fears, I'm afraid of cliffs, but not necessarily heights. Don't like bears either - before and after I saw The Revenant. Cubs are cute, but where there's a cub, there's usually a momma that's willing to split any real or imagined threats open like a ripe banana. I'm afraid of people who control nukes, but can't well control themselves.

*Meme from: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d9/e0/3e/d9e03ec973cd3f995505b828df8919f1.jpg

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I have a phobia of spiders, in that I'll sometimes look all around the room and quickly scan the walls and ceiling to see if I can spot any. Thankfully I live in an area where even the biggest ones are still small compared to most places.

Although I've never encountered a bear or a shark, the thought of them does scare me a bit, but not enough to keep me out of the woods or the ocean. Sharks probably scare me a bit more since you can't really see what's around you in the ocean.

But one of the few animals that I truly fear is the polar bear. They don't live anywhere close to where I've ever lived so I'm not looking over my shoulder for one, but they are one of the few (maybe even the only?) animals that actively hunts humans. Food is scarce where they live, so humans are on the menu.

perpetualstudent wrote on Sep 4^th, 2019 at 8:02pm:

I don't like small bugs. I think it's probably the fact that I could conceivably anger a spider and it could bite me fatally, and it would have been a complete accident. Bigger animals I feel like there are some shared body language and warning signals. The danger can be better managed. A funnelweb on the other hand? No thanks.

I could see small bugs making me tap out.  Having been bitten to hell by chiggers earlier this summer after a single walk through my little woods I couldn't imagine surviving there for any length of time.  Chiggers could make me tap out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7VMcMJBjD4

This.

JudoP wrote on Sep 9^th, 2019 at 4:33pm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7VMcMJBjD4 This.

Yikes! A Yellowjacket on steroids!

JudoP wrote on Sep 9^th, 2019 at 4:33pm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7VMcMJBjD4 This.

...That's a big bug! I would run away screaming if I saw one of those :-[ but there he is making one sting him!

big bugs are fine - you can see and hear them coming.

It's the little biting buggers that are the worst !

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 10^th, 2019 at 6:51am:

big bugs are fine - you can see and hear them coming. It's the little biting buggers that are the worst !

The asian giant hornet can fly at 40km/h. Good luck running away!

slingbadger wrote on Sep 7^th, 2019 at 6:34am:

I'm not afraid of any animals that I know of. The problem is sometimes you don't know what you're afraid of until you encounter it. As for me, people scare me. They're worse than any animal. As I get older, I'm afraid of being  an invalid.

Agreed. We hairless killer Chimps are the scariest creature on the planet. Hands down.

Slingky wrote on Sep 7^th, 2019 at 9:55pm:

Alone is a really cool show. I just finished season 6 a couple weeks ago and like the unique skills / foibles that each contestant brings to the show / series. Have you ever considered being a contestant? It'd be great to see someone on the show who's good with a sling / can represent the slinging community. If I'm not mistaken, that's one of the survival skills that hasn't been featured on the show yet. In terms of fears, I'm afraid of cliffs, but not necessarily heights. Don't like bears either - before and after I saw The Revenant. Cubs are cute, but where there's a cub, there's usually a momma that's willing to split any real or imagined threats open like a ripe banana. I'm afraid of people who control nukes, but can't well control themselves. *Meme from: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d9/e0/3e/d9e03ec973cd3f995505b828df8919f1.jpg

If I was younger I'd love to be on Alone.  Through a lot of my life I think I'd have been a formidable contestant.  I'm 65.  I doubt I'd have the energy for that sort of competition now.  Getting old blows.

    Civil war.  We Americans aren't immune to it.  This time around the reasons would be very similar to the last. It really could happen.

    One fear that's in the back of most peoples' minds as they grow old is becoming dependent.  I would hate to need to depend on someone.  After Dad died Mom lived to be 86 on her own.  She was quite proud that she needed no one.  She died in her own livingroom alone.  It's how she wanted it.  "I don't want to die in some God ******** hospital with tubes sticking out of me!"  Becoming so old and feeble that you have to depend on someone for your daily existence would be a miserable way to live.  I hope I go out like Mom.  Living that long would be nice too. 

Rat Man wrote on Dec 9^th, 2019 at 1:05pm:

One fear that's in the back of most peoples' minds as they grow old is becoming dependent.  I would hate to need to depend on someone.  After Dad died Mom lived to be 86 on her own.  She was quite proud that she needed no one.  She died in her own livingroom alone.  It's how she wanted it.  "I don't want to die in some God ******** hospital with tubes sticking out of me!"  Becoming so old and feeble that you have to depend on someone for your daily existence would be a miserable way to live.  I hope I go out like Mom.  Living that long would be nice too.

I work in an old people's home and the people that live there are usually not in the best shape. A lot are entirely bed bound. I, of course, do my absolute best to make them as comfortable, happy and fulfilled as possible (as do all my colleagues) but there have been times I've come back from holiday and been a little sad that some of them are still there and haven't "moved on". There is one person in particular that I've been looking after for 5 years now. They haven't been able to walk for 4 and a half of those 5 years. They haven't been truly aware of where they are or what is happening around them for more than 5 years. They haven't spoken intelligibly for more than 5 years. They can't feed themselves or clean themselves and barely react when their family visit. They spend most of their time sleeping and when they are awake they are nervous and stare off into the distance. It feels like they are really only technically alive.

One of the saddest things I've ever heard was about one old man that was living there. One of the nurses said to me "Yeah he doesn't have any family... well he does, but they don't visit..." That was tough but then this same guy was upset one day and I asked what was wrong and he said that his parents were dead. This guy was pretty old so that wasn't a surprise but then he said "...and I can't go and put flowers on their graves." I had to take a moment to myself after hearing that because that was soul-crushing. I don't think I'll ever forget him saying that. He has now died and I wonder sometimes how many people remember him.

Just another anecdote on the same topic.  I remember when my paternal grandfather was nearing the end.  He ended up in a hospital, and during one of our visits I remember him saying he was afraid he was never going to get to go home.  It turned out he was correct, and he passed away not long after.  To this day I wish I had known for sure it was the end for him.  I would have stolen him out of that hospital and taken him back home to spend his last hours there.  Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. :'(

I completely agree with you Rat Man.  It would be great if we could all spend our final days in the place of our choosing.

      If I somehow knew the hour I was going to die I'd drive out to the Jersey Pine Barrens. I love The Pines.  My parents started taking me there when I was a baby.  I'd park myself by a nice cedar water river among the wildlife and meet my maker there. Yes, it would be nice if we could choose.

A lot of older philosophy (and theology) talks about dying well. I feel we've forgotten that and don't even think about it. My wife's grandfather passed. Great guy. I still think of him a lot. He died well. Before the deterioration got too bad. My maternal grandfather on the other hand? He is not dying well. What he has...you can't call it living and he is becoming a burden.

I hope to be more like my wife's grandfather (God rest his soul) and not be a burden on my daughters. I hope to die well.

Dying quickly would be nice.  To just keel over without really knowing what hit you or to just pass quietly in my sleep would be preferable.  Several (too many) of my family members died slow deaths from cancer.  My wife battled it for eight years.  Those who pass quickly are fortunate.  I guess my best death would be to bowl a perfect game then become so excited that I croak right there on the spot.  Good way to go.

My grandfather was trying to get the dog inside, tripped, couldn't catch himself (he was losing most of the movement in his arms and hands) and landed face first on the ground. Broke his neck and was brain dead instantly. He was kept alive on a ventilator for a bit so some of the family got to say goodbye but really he was long gone before that. I truly hope I go like that. Lights out.

    Trees or branches falling on me is something I don't give much thought to.  I mean, what are the odds that you'll be standing in just the wrong spot when that old dead branch finally falls. Or so I thought.
    The day before yesterday I was walking Pandora through the neighborhood after a big thunderstorm blew through.  Odd February weather.  Anyway it was windy as hell afterward. 
    She stopped to smell a neighbors trash and without warning a tree branch landed right on top of us.  Fortunately the branch wasn't big enough to do serious damage but it was definitely big enough to get our attention.  We were more surprised than injured. 
   Maybe I'll pay more attention to "widow makers" in the future.

Rat Man wrote on Feb 9^th, 2020 at 12:30pm:

Trees or branches falling on me is something I don't give much thought to.  I mean, what are the odds that you'll be standing in just the wrong spot when that old dead branch finally falls. Or so I thought.     The day before yesterday I was walking Pandora through the neighborhood after a big thunderstorm blew through.  Odd February weather.  Anyway it was windy as hell afterward.      She stopped to smell a neighbors trash and without warning a tree branch landed right on top of us.  Fortunately the branch wasn't big enough to do serious damage but it was definitely big enough to get our attention.  We were more surprised than injured.     Maybe I'll pay more attention to "widow makers" in the future.

I was walking my girlfriend's family's dogs on a really windy day and thought I might go along a path that went through a patch of woodland. The wind was really thrashing about but I still hadn't made the connection that a woodland walk in high winds wasn't a good plan, until I was about to walk in and saw up the path a tree blocking the path. A whole tree. It obviously had just fallen. If we had been a couple of minutes earlier, I don't think we would be walking out. Nature will F you up.

Bracing a new bow for the first time always makes me a bit nervous :-/

walter wrote on Feb 9^th, 2020 at 3:13pm:

Bracing a new bow for the first time always makes me a bit nervous :-/

I actually just received my full set of bowyers bible. 1-4. And a full bow making kit. Tillering board, stringer, rasp, and scrapers.

vetryan15 wrote on Feb 10^th, 2020 at 5:52pm:

walter wrote on Feb 9th, 2020 at 3:13pm: Bracing a new bow for the first time always makes me a bit nervous :-/ I actually just received my full set of bowyers bible. 1-4. And a full bow making kit. Tillering board, stringer, rasp, and scrapers.

:thumb:

Fear is a reaction I experience far too often. There are many things and situations that would have my nerves all jacked up. Out in the wild, most animals would be fine but if an apex predator or bull moose or something became aggressive I think we'd all try and get the hell outta that situation.

A more realistic fear for me, is not succeeding or not succeeding in time to live the life I strive for.
Success of course being financial, spiritual, social and family.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DgNW4FYjxqM

Apparently the audio is not authentic, yet still produces primal fear. Here is an interesting article.

http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/Tim_Treadwell.html

I didn't listen to the audio but I read a fair bit of the report.
Creepyyyyyy and sad.
Lesson learned, bears are not your friends.

Bears are nothing to **** with.

Looks like this thread circled back around. Yes, easy to say one doesn’t fear something like bears, wolves etc until you are actually in a situation to be threatened by one. The thing is when a bear charges at you there is a very real moment where you realize you might be about to die and there is literally nothing you can do to stop it. It’s that feeling of helplessness that I think is one of the worst parts.

Tomas wrote on Feb 11^th, 2020 at 5:30am:

Out in the wild, most animals would be fine but if an apex predator or bull moose or something became aggressive I think we'd all try and get the hell outta that situation.

Coming back to this thread, I noticed you mentioned bull moose and it reminded me of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GEhM2Byk7w

Moose (or elk as the Brits call them) are terrifying. Galloping at full speed in snow up to those people's waists. Very strong prey animals are scary because they can get scared of you.

This and a not dying cockroach are my most intense interactions with the animal kingdom. thankfully there was no contact with the dog .

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Jesus. I would definitely be glad of the stick in a situation like that.

   Exactly why I always walk with a stout stick.  Three times over the years I've actually had to bash a stray dog to save one of mine. Currently my walking stick is a shovel handle.

   The nice thing about a staff is that dogs understand what it is.  Raise your staff over your head and they clearly get the message.