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:
Pogonophobia: fear of beards
What's so scary about it?
I don't think it's the beard per se, more the extent of the hairiness. Perhaps only other women can relate to me here, but someone with an all-consuming beard, the sort that strays up almost as far as the eye sockets, is unquestionably a little bit scary.
What do the scientists say about it?
That old classic, A Lexicon of Lunacy, mentioned here before, has something to say about it, but nothing very useful. Dr Andy Field of the University of Sussex has also vouched for its existence.
Hayley says:
"I can't believe we haven't had this before. Of course beards are scary. Real."
So far: Real 16 Rubbish 17
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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