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:
Pluviophobia: fear of rain or being rained on
What's so scary about it?
I have to confess to a little pluviophobia, especially when I've just washed my hair. Although the ultimate evil, in my opinion, is the umbrella. A street full of people carrying big flappy, pokey, pointy things, all liable to flip out and jab you in the face at any given moment? My idea of hell.
What do the scientists say about it?
Nothing, although I did bump into some "energy psychologists" over at holistic-wellbeing.com who seemed convinced it was possible to cure pluviophobia using acupuncture. Only their sort of acupuncture doesn't involve needles. It involves spending many hours on the phone finding "emotional freedom". Right.
Hayley says:
"Oh I don't know. Real? Rubbish? Just pick one. Er... Rubbish."
So far: Real 11½ Rubbish 13½
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
Image: Stacy Braswell
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