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:
Enetophobia: fear of pins
What's so scary about it?
Now I can see why people would be scared of needles - in the medical sense that is (trypanophobia). But I'm actually quite fond of drawing pins and those cute little coloured pins you stick on notice boards and in pin cushions. Perhaps that comes from being a bit of a stationery lover... Yep, it's silver pens and flexi-rulers that really do it for me. Ahem.
What do the scientists say about it?
There are a couple of books written on the subject of phobias and manias that use the term "enetophobia", but I imagine you'll be hard pushed to find a serious doctor who regards enetophobia as a genuine fear.
Hayley says:
"Anyone who has been listening to Russell Brand's BBC radio show of late will be aware of the current craze for "pin pinning" now sweeping the UK's schools. It all started after Brand's long suffering co-host, Matt Morgan, complained of having been mocked as a child by a boy called Darren French, who had decided it would be funny to stick pins in people to the high pitched cry of "pin pin". As a result there is probably an abnormally large and growing population of enetophobes right here in the UK that can't be ignored. By this reasoning I have to say: Real."
So far: Real 15 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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