Porthole

Hatred, fear and phobias

Phobia, an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something, is a word that showed up just before 1900. Apparently we were just fearful before then. New century ... poof ... new way to diagnose our fears. Now since 2001, we just tremble in "terror".

Robert Waltz brings up the distinction between hatred and fear.

I hated pineapple.

30DBC: "Write about a fear you experienced as a child that you have since overcome."

I still do. But it's not a fear. I'll eat fresh pineapple in Costa Rica but picked early and shipped? Nah... And canned? Fergitaboutit.

But it's not a fear.

I fear Trump. But it's not a phobia. I fear what he says and does. It's based on my personal value of ALL of humanity. When leaders despise their people and set them fighting each other I have major issues. And IMHO, Trump is a fear-monger worthy of opposition.

I phobia (verb form?) ... being in the water. I float but don't swim. Now, I love a hot bath, but any water deeper than a meter is no-no-no. Add waves and currents trying to suck me in ... well you get the picture, or at least I can! Got caught in a riptide when I was 22. But the phobia goes back long before then. It's irrational because I could learn to swim ... and I've never drowned.

　 ∆/)/) 　 ∧,,∧
.／・　 ﾐ(●__●)
(＿ノ＼　ﾐ⊂　)
　　　(　 .しﾉ⌒)～
　　　 .Ｕ ~ Ｕ

No great news today. Did see a friend who was in the hospital. She looks better than she feels but she got out and actually ate! Some days small victories matter.

I didn't write a flash fiction yesterday; that's what I want to do next.

220