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:
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: fear of long words
What's so scary about it?
I don't know... perhaps the fact that anyone would go to the trouble to make it up... or explain how to pronounce it (oh, they have - check out MiniMama).
What do the scientists say about it?
Funnily enough, not a lot. Nothing, in fact.
Hayley says:
"I have no doubt that there are people who are frightened of long words but probably because they're dyslexic, not because they have some sort of morbid linguistic fear. Yet again, the online population duped by some smartass with a Greek dictionary. Rubbish."
So far: Real 14 Rubbish 16
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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