OT: Is there anything worse then Mustard? (AKA The Phobia Thread)

[DeToxRox]

Okay. I just realized how much I detest mustard, to the point where I have asked a waitress at a resauraunt to move it off a table no one was at across from mine. I have NEVER been Col. Mustard in Clue, it's that bad.

I have no other what I would call "disorders". Everything else I can take in stride, but I swear, Mustard is the bane of my existence. How people can eat that is beyond me. It's so, so bad. Ugh.

So, I outed myself. What other "phobias" run amuck on FOFC?

[DeToxRox]

Okay. I just realized how much I detest mustard, to the point where I have asked a waitress at a resauraunt to move it off a table no one was at across from mine. I have NEVER been Col. Mustard in Clue, it's that bad.

I have no other what I would call "disorders". Everything else I can take in stride, but I swear, Mustard is the bane of my existence. How people can eat that is beyond me. It's so, so bad. Ugh.

So, I outed myself. What other "phobias" run amuck on FOFC?

Oh and since RadioFriendly confronted me about this calling me Rake Yohn from Jackass (Deathly afraid of mustard) I would probably say I am as bad. I refuse to eat White Castle burgers until someone else makes sure there is no mustard on them. It's that bad.

[Karlifornia]

When I was about 4 years old, my aunt babysat me and put on the shitty horror movie "Dolls", which, as you guessed, is about dolls that come to life and kill people. Well, after my viewing of this movie, and countless subsequent nightmares, I became paranoid of dolls. As a kid, I would watch any dolls in the room just to make sure they didn't move, blink, twitch, or brandish weapons. I made my mom pack up her doll collection until I was about 15, and even now I take second glances at them.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

I have a deathly fear of spiders, bees, and other creepy crawlies. Thats probably not very weird though. One quirk of mine involves my extrememe dislike for the sound and texture of popsicle sticks, they drive me crazy.

[DeToxRox]

I have a deathly fear of spiders, bees, and other creepy crawlies. Thats probably not very weird though. One quirk of mine involves my extrememe dislike for the sound and texture of popsicle sticks, they drive me crazy.

yeah I can see where the sound of those popsicle sticks would get annoying.

[judicial clerk]

My three year old will not go to sleep if there are any monkeys in the room, real or stuffed.

[AlexB]

Bees/wasps for me as well, as well as people waving things in front of my face: I'm a very calm, non-violent person, but if people start waving their hands or arms close to my face, even with no hint of violent intent, I become very aggressive.

[AlexB]

My three year old will not go to sleep if there are any monkeys in the room, real or stuffed.

There has been a case in his three years when there's been a real monkey in his room? :eek:

[Draft Dodger]

bananas

can't eat them, can't be around when someone else is eating them, can't handle them if they are rotten, nor can I handle discarded peels.

[DeToxRox]

bananas

can't eat them, can't be around when someone else is eating them, can't handle them if they are rotten, nor can I handle discarded peels.

I see someone in the vain of my mustard hate. I can't blame you.

[oliegirl]

Clowns...have always been terrified of them.

I also hate bananas, but more because of the smell/taste than a deep seeded phobia, but basically I feel like I am going to vomit if I smell anything banana-y...

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

Ive never understood how people can eat bananas. Ive tried on many occasions and their consistency seems to trigger my gag reflex.

[DeToxRox]

Ive never understood how people can eat bananas. Ive tried on many occasions and their consistency seems to trigger my gag reflex.

Pix plz, thx.

[TLK]

Tony George

[judicial clerk]

There has been a case in his three years when there's been a real monkey in his room?
Not yet, but she isn't taking any chances. She has a stuffed sock monkey named Carlos who she likes otherwise, but she will go as far as to verbally confirm with me that Carlos is downstairs in the playroom when she goes to sleep. All other monkeys are also down there.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Needles. For real. And I'm not talking about a run of the mill "I don't like needles", we're talking "You wanna stick me with that thing you better bring a lunch, a priest & some backup." They fully triggers my most basic flight-or-fight response, to the point of having decked several nurses in my life & once trying to go out a 3rd story window.

[judicial clerk]

Dola:

maybe she read that thread about the moneky who chewed off that guys foot and his nads.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

DeToxRoxDVHStyle thats disgusting lol

[Tigercat]

I am a very outdoors type person. I do a lot of hiking and camping. I've stepped over alligators, hidden from nearby bears, and been harassed by aggresive bobcats. I don't care about things like that(perhaps adding to my own stupidity), but I HATE spiders. Sure if I can see the spider beforehand and identify it its no big deal, but if I walk through a web I didn't see and feel its inhabitent on my neck I do a freaked out dance. I think its the whole idea that it could be poisoness and hurt me, and its just such a stupid and sucky way of getting hurt, being bitten by a little bug. Little bastards.

[Draft Dodger]

I see someone in the vain of my mustard hate. I can't blame you.

I love mustard though...
:)

[Bearcat729]

I am a very outdoors type person. I do a lot of hiking and camping. I've stepped over alligators, hidden from nearby bears, and been harassed by aggresive bobcats. I don't care about things like that(perhaps adding to my own stupidity), but I HATE spiders. Sure if I can see the spider beforehand and identify it its no big deal, but if I walk through a web I didn't see and feel its inhabitent on my neck I do a freaked out dance. I think its the whole idea that it could be poisoness and hurt me, and its just such a stupid and sucky way of getting hurt, being bitten by a little bug. Little bastards.


I'm the same way about Spiders. Actually I was on a delivery one night and when I went to ring the door bell I saw this huge yellow and black spider over the doorbell. Luckily the family was watching for me near the door because I almost beat the spider to death with their pizzas.

[TargetPractice6]

Another vote for spiders. Last summer these huge spiders decided to camp out around my house. There were about 5 that were longer than an inch and half somewhere around my house. It was kind if interesting watching the one outside my window since there was a piece of glass separating us, but I got the they gave me the heebee jeebies when I went outside. But then something even more gastly happened.

This big, black burly spider crawled across my closet door. I caught it out of the corner of my eye and it ran into the closet. It took me quite awhile, slowly moving things out of the closet before I managed to catch it. However the very next night, another spider that looked just like it ran across my desk right under my monitor (clearly trying to eat me). Needless to say the spider ended up a little more squished than it was before. However, it took awhile for me to feel comfortable in my room after those two nights. Even now, about 10 months later I still think I see things out of the corner of my eye crawling across my closet door.

[LoneStarGirl]

Bologna and Brussel Sprouts. I will gag on command just by looking at either one.

[Neuqua]

Seeing snakes makes me go wierd.

[Buccaneer]

My food phobia is melons - all kinds. Just the smell of a cantalope or honey dew would start me gagging.

Sea Boogers and Whole Belly Clams are a close second.

[QuikSand]

Have a wander through this old list of same:

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=11964

And yes... I did search on the term "soup sandwich" to dig that up, if you must ask.

[Vince]

Brussel Sprouts are awesome.

Personally, I have yet to come accross anything remotely close to these types of 'phobias,' however I can't stand mushrooms once they are cooked. The texture of a cooked mushroom is horrible.

Raw white mushrooms in salad, however, and I'm fine. Once they are cooked...ugh.

[Buccaneer]

Brussel Sprouts are awesome.

Personally, I have yet to come accross anything remotely close to these types of 'phobias,' however I can't stand mushrooms once they are cooked. The texture of a cooked mushroom is horrible.

Raw white mushrooms in salad, however, and I'm fine. Once they are cooked...ugh.
That's what I love about diversity - some many opposite likes and dislikes. For example, I love spiders, snakes, mustard and cooked mushrooms.

[WSUCougar]

For example, I love spiders, snakes, mustard and cooked mushrooms.
...with some fava beans and a nice chianti?

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

I love brussel sprouts too, my mom made them taste so good with butter and salt. Kind of like mini cabbages.

[VPI97]

I will not eat tomatoes in their normal, disgusting, seedy form.


I love tomato soup and I enjoy my fries with some ketchup (and catsup, too), but I cannot fathom eating anything that resembles the texture of a raw tomato. Any salsa or spaghetti sauce I have cannot be 'chunky' or I will just have to do without. Tomatoes are freaking disgusting.

[DeToxRox]

I love mustard though...
:)

haha, well I eat bananas. so agree to disagree. :)

[DaddyTorgo]

I will not eat tomatoes in their normal, disgusting, seedy form.


I love tomato soup and I enjoy my fries with some ketchup (and catsup, too), but I cannot fathom eating anything that resembles the texture of a raw tomato. Any salsa or spaghetti sauce I have cannot be 'chunky' or I will just have to do without. Tomatoes are freaking disgusting.
i felt this way too for...24 years of my life. And then I went to Italy. And now I'll eat raw tomatoes like frikkin apples. They're good. In salads, in caprese/bruschetta style appetizers...awesome

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Mayo/Miracle Whip is Satan's condiment. It truly is the work of the devil.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'll agree though. mayo is GROSS. i refuse to go anywhere near it. If I know there's mayo in something I basically won't even eat it.

[clintl]

I'm with you two - mayo is one of the most vile substances in existence.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

i'll agree though. mayo is GROSS. i refuse to go anywhere near it. If I know there's mayo in something I basically won't even eat it.
Ditto. I don't even let it in the house. I also won't kiss Arlie if he's eaten Mayo at any point in the day. Even if he brushed his teeth.

[Vince]

I will not eat tomatoes in their normal, disgusting, seedy form.


I love tomato soup and I enjoy my fries with some ketchup (and catsup, too), but I cannot fathom eating anything that resembles the texture of a raw tomato. Any salsa or spaghetti sauce I have cannot be 'chunky' or I will just have to do without. Tomatoes are freaking disgusting.
I eat tomatoes raw, like apples, often. Sprinkle a little salt on them and they are amazing.

Pico de gallo, chunky salsa, caprese, ceviche, bruschetta -- the tomato is probably my favorite single item of food on the planet. I'm not as gung-ho about sundried tomatoes, but they are still good.

[Vince]

Mayo/Miracle Whip is Satan's condiment. It truly is the work of the devil.
Well there's your problem right there. Miracle Whip is gross. Best Foods (Helmanns) on the other hand...

[dawgfan]

It's fascinating to see how some people are completely grossed out by foods you yourself find integral. I love tomatoes (excepting sun-dried), I'm a mustard connoisseur, and mayo/miracle whip are essential condiments for me, especially for making both tuna salad and egg salad spreads for sandwiches.

Squash is a big turnoff for me, and while I was OK with beets as a kid, I've come to dislike them as an adult - I'll eat them, but I'm not a fan. I really don't like sweet potatoes either.

[Schmidty]

Mayo is an amazing food. I make mine from scratch (thanks to Alton Brown), and it's awesome.

[Schmidty]

Dola.

The only things that make me gag are the smell of old fish, the taste of smoked salmon, or any kind of seafood that isn't ABSOLUTELY fresh. Luckily, I live in Bellingham, which for all it's flaws, has some amazing seafood.

[DeToxRox]

Dola.

The only things that make me gag are the smell of old fish, the taste of smoked salmon, or any kind of seafood that isn't ABSOLUTELY fresh. Luckily, I live in Bellingham, which for all it's flaws, has some amazing seafood.

Fighting ... urge ... to .... say ... a ....... joke .... women .... will .... be ... offended ... by

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

speaking of the smell of old fish I recently had a bad experience with it.....ill keep the story to myself though, lets just say ill never go around her again

[DeToxRox]

speaking of the smell of old fish I recently had a bad experience with it.....ill keep the story to myself though, lets just say ill never go around her again

Tough being on set of Golden Girls eh?

[Draft Dodger]

Squash is a big turnoff for me, and while I was OK with beets as a kid, I've come to dislike them as an adult - I'll eat them, but I'm not a fan. I really don't like sweet potatoes either.

there's a lot of foods I wont eat - squash, beets and sweet potatoes are on that list (along with seafood, melons, most nuts, and baked beans to name a few). But none of them truly OFFEND my very existence like the sight or smell of a banana does...

[digamma]

Snakes and beets.

[Schmidty]

Tough being on set of Golden Girls eh?

Yes, Frankenstein.

[bbor]

Olives......justthe smell of them makes me wanna vomit.

[Sharpieman]

Clowns, which isn't really weird.

But Playdough is probably my weirdest one. I can't stand the smell, let alone touch or even get near it. Same goes to Brownies, they taste and smell like Playdough. I almost vomit the smell of both of these things. I HATE them.

[RPI-Fan]

Not really deathly afraid of anything (hate spiders but that's pretty normal, got over my dislike of bees when I got stung by a nest of yellowjackets).

[JeeberD]

The only good mustard is Spicy Mustard, either brown or Chinese.

I can only stand fried onions or French Onion Soup. Any other form of onion makes me want to vomit. And celery too. Celery is evil...

[st.cronin]

I echo the sentiments of those who feel mayonnaisse is POISONOUS, but I truly am afraid of Ketchup. It's chemically unstable, folks!

[DanGarion]

Okay. I just realized how much I detest mustard, to the point where I have asked a waitress at a resauraunt to move it off a table no one was at across from mine. I have NEVER been Col. Mustard in Clue, it's that bad.

I have no other what I would call "disorders". Everything else I can take in stride, but I swear, Mustard is the bane of my existence. How people can eat that is beyond me. It's so, so bad. Ugh.

So, I outed myself. What other "phobias" run amuck on FOFC?

What's wrong with mustard?

http://www.orderoftruewolves.com/albums/Dan-s-Album/mm_mike_original.jpg

[Suicane75]

I'm deathly afraid of Scandanavian Countries, it's too high up on the Earth for me.

[Danny]

I don't like straws. I generally dont use them myself, and dont like it when looking at people shooting spitwads through or chewing on them. When other people use them normally, I am fine with that.

For my spitwads I use an empy roll of toilet paper.

[JeeberD]

I echo the sentiments of those who feel mayonnaisse is POISONOUS, but I truly am afraid of Ketchup. It's chemically unstable, folks!

I don't understand you. Mayo and ketchup are wonderful items, and when they are mixed together on a hamburger (or even to dip your fries in) it's bliss!

[JeeberD]

Dola-

I don't like straws. I generally dont use them myself, and dont like it when looking at people shooting spitwads through or chewing on them. When other people use them normally, I am fine with that.

For my spitwads I use an empy roll of toilet paper.

Straws are for women.

[st.cronin]

I don't understand you. Mayo and ketchup are wonderful items, and when they are mixed together on a hamburger (or even to dip your fries in) it's bliss!

See, it's people like you that keep me from going out to restaurants.

[duckman]

I cannot eat lima beans. The very smell of them cooking on the stove makes my stomach go into knots. I even had occassions of actually vomiting from the smelling them.

[Wolfpack]

I don't think I've got any sort of critter-phobia, except when they show up unexpectedly (which is normal, I suppose). I think I have a slight fear of heights, though it's not terribly consistent. For instance, at CN Tower in Toronto there is one place where they've glassed the floor so you can look straight down. I could not bring myself to even look, much less walk over it. Most other times, though, it's not that bothersome as long as I have some security that I'm safe unless I just absolutely want to commit suicide. I'm also not bothered by riding in airplanes (aside from turbulence when I'm absolutely sure a "Lost"-esque event is going to happen and chunks of plane are going to start disappearing).

As for food, I'm in the "hate raw tomatoes" camp. Processed or cooked is something else, but raw I cannot stand. I'm also that way about baked potatoes. I love potato chips, fries, and lots of other derivatives, but just a plain baked potato is a non-starter for me (much to the dismay of my wife, who loves them). I'm also not that fond of mayo, which I'm guessing is a reaction to having eaten so many sandwiches with mayo on them at school as a kid. It's not that I hate it, really, it just doesn't appeal to me that much.

[QuikSand]

Seems to me there's a difference between the people answering with their irrational, morbid fear or hatred of something (even a food product) and others talking about foods they just don't like. But to each his own.

[st.cronin]

Seems to me there's a difference between the people answering with their irrational, morbid fear or hatred of something (even a food product) and others talking about foods they just don't like. But to each his own.

Yes - I tried to differentiate between how I feel about mayonnaise (it's essentially poison) and ketchup (I am afraid of it - won't touch it, won't have it in the house, get all sweaty and neurotic if a ketchup bottle is on the table).

By the way, my issues with Ketchup in no way affected my vote in the most recent presidential race. I swear.

[vex]

I have a deathly fear of spiders, bees, and other creepy crawlies. Thats probably not very weird though. One quirk of mine involves my extrememe dislike for the sound and texture of popsicle sticks, they drive me crazy.
What sound does a popsicle stick make exactly?

[Suicane75]

What sound does a popsicle stick make exactly?
Depends on what you're using it for.

[korme]

anything with the word cream in it, i will refuse to eat. cream cheese, sour cream, no way in hell i am touching it.

[korme]

My three year old will not go to sleep if there are any monkeys in the room, real or stuffed.
http://www.allthingschristie.com/archives/family-guy--evil-monkey_large.jpg

[Franklinnoble]

anything with the word cream in it, i will refuse to eat. cream cheese, sour cream, no way in hell i am touching it.
Ice Cream?

[vex]

Snakes are by far my worst fear, then spiders.

[DeToxRox]

lol Dangarion is a bastard. I refuse to scroll back up to even quote that.

[Yellow5]

Clowns.

There is a local "performer" named JP Patches that had a show on TV when I was a kid. It was supposed to be funny to children.. it terrified me. Because my mother hated me, she decided that it would be FUN to take me to a live JP Patches appearance....

This is what he looks like:

http://yellow5.org/images/doh.jpg

Thanks for the memories mom!

[Karlifornia]

http://www.badgerart.com/MustardMan/MM_FranksterNose_s.jpg


We're coming for YOUUUUU Detox!

[dawgfan]

A good buddy of mine bought a sailboat a few years ago. He refused to let anyone bring bananas on board - according to him, bananas are bad luck on boats. I'm not sure how he feels about bananas on land, but he was dead serious about not letting any on his boat.

Myself, I love bananas and almost never follow superstitions, so if I ever have a boat I'll be sure to eat lots of bananas on board in front of my buddy.

[Franklinnoble]

How can bananas be bad luck on a boat?

http://www.masune.com/images/products/46620Ml.jpg

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

Popsicle sticks make noise when they rub against each other, which stems from an arts and crafts project I had to do in elementary school when we had to buy a big box of them.

[mhass]

Dola-



Straws are for women.
So true. It is positively impossible to look masculine while drinking from a straw.

[mhass]

And I'm not so much afraid as blinded with rage at the blinking red light on my phone that indicates a voicemail message. I covered it with tape but that let too much light through so I colored the tape with black marker. I do this because my employer was angry when I gouged the light on my first phone out with a pair of scissors.

Come to think of it, I don't care for the telephone in general. That Bell guy can rot in hell.

[Schmidty]

And I'm not so much afraid as blinded with rage at the blinking red light on my phone that indicates a voicemail message. I covered it with tape but that let too much light through so I colored the tape with black marker. I do this because my employer was angry when I gouged the light on my first phone out with a pair of scissors.

Come to think of it, I don't care for the telephone in general. That Bell guy can rot in hell.

Wow. I thought I had issues. OCD is a bitch.

[mrsimperless]

Pig vomit. And giblets.

[Ksyrup]

A good buddy of mine bought a sailboat a few years ago. He refused to let anyone bring bananas on board - according to him, bananas are bad luck on boats. I'm not sure how he feels about bananas on land, but he was dead serious about not letting any on his boat.

Myself, I love bananas and almost never follow superstitions, so if I ever have a boat I'll be sure to eat lots of bananas on board in front of my buddy.
OK, it's official: anything can be found on the internet. First google link, too:

http://www.azinet.com/captjim/bananas.htm





One visitor to our Home Page (Mr. James Coppage) has a bit of a different story. Of course, we received his permission to print it here. If you have another story, please send it to us (along with your permission to publish it)! First I would like to say I love you web page. I read your reports regularly. I hope to fish with you this coming season. I would however like to take issue with the story of the Bananas and being bad luck. While spending time in Hawaii fishing I spoke with some "native" Hawaiians who clued me in to the origins of Bananas and bad luck. Back before fiberglass and powered boats the Hawaiian men would go out in dugout canoes and fish for weeks at a time. They would always take Bananas. Well it happens that the Bananas would rot about the same time they would get to far out to really catch any fish. So they associated bananas as bad luck. I learned this the hard way when I took banana boat sun screen out fishing. We were not catching anything and I was baking in the hot sun. I was putting the sunscreen on when the 1st mate saw it was banana boat. He immediately grabbed it from my hands and threw it overboard. Not 5 min later we hooked into a 950# marlin. So I am a true believer in the banana superstition and will not allow anything to do with bananas on my boat at any time. I look forward to possibly fishing with you this year.

Thanks


Jim Coppage <HR>
There are many stories why bananas have been thought of as bad luck on boats. This is only one of the nautical superstitions that I know of and is particularly prevalent amongst watermen. Many stories have banana oil rubbing off on ones hands and “spooking" the fish; therefore the fish don't bite. There is always the story of a crew member slipping on the banana peel left on the deck. Some say that bananas give you the runs so you are always in the marine head and can't catch fish because you are busy "draining the pipes". Many other stories are told about bad luck and bananas, however the one that I find most plausible is a historical one.

Back in the days of the transatlantic crossings by wooden sailing ships many hazards would befall the captains, crew and passengers. Disease, pirates, shipwrecks, storms, etc., claimed the lives of a good percentage of the captains, crew and passengers attempting the dangerous voyage. Needless to say, a transatlantic crossing in the 17th and 18th centuries was a very risky endeavor. Often the vessels would stop along the way in tropical islands to gather provisions such as food and water. There the passengers and crew would often purchase wooden crates of bananas from the locals and bring them aboard the ship. These crates would have all manner of critters in them such as bugs, spiders, vermin and snakes.


These critters would make their way into the bilges of the ships, multiply, and then find their way into the captain's quarters. The captains circulated the rumor that bananas were bad luck in an attempt to keep the critters off the ship and out of their cabin. The crew and
passengers were more than eager to follow suit because of the inherent risk of the crossing. So, if the captain announced prior to the voyage that bananas were bad luck and not allowed aboard the vessel, everyone complied. You must remember that these were the days of burning witches and the like, so superstitions were taken very seriously. Watermen are a mysterious lot. While we are known for our simple pragmatism, we also have many odd quirks. Superstitions have been prevalent on almost every vessel I have worked on. I feel that this is due to the nature of a waterman in that he sees the randomness of the world around him juxtaposed with the rhythmic, seasonal flows of nature and then tries to reconcile these observations into some sort of personal and/or environmental order. As Stevie Wonder (a blind man) pointed out so eloquently: "When you believe in things you can't


understand, that's superstition". This was a funny story I ran across while surfing the web. I pilfered it from this site: http://www.striper-csba.com/story6.htm (http://www.striper-csba.com/story6.htm)

<HR>

The Case
Against Bananas



Bringing a banana aboard a fishing boat won't win you any friends among anglers-but it might score you a wedgie.

This article was taken from Boating World Magazine

The mere mention of a banana muffin on board was enough to send legendary south Florida fishing guide "Bouncer" Smith scrambling toward the cooler that held the offending item. With his face flushed and a vein bulging from his forehead, he hurled the hapless muffin overboard, much to the objection of its rightful owner. Was this the act of an isolated bananaphobe? Well you can forget about black cats crossing your path or broken mirrors, because to many fishermen around the world, there is nothing unluckier than a banana on board a boat.
Having been cultivated in the Indus Valley as far back as 2000 B.C. , the banana's nickname is "the fruit of the wise" Somewhat ironic when you consider that it is technically classified as an herb (although clearly a member of the "hand-fruit" genus) and is a favorite food of monkeys, whose major leisure activities include hurling bodily waste products and offending sexually uptight visitors at the zoo.
The origin of this superstition is uncertain, but many believe that it began in olden times, when bananas were transported by rickety, overcrowded, top-heavy boats plying the tropics (now known as cruise ships). These boats would frequently sink, leaving behind a residue of floating yellow commas, thus leading witnesses to deduce that hauling bananas was unlucky. A more scientific explanation is that since bananas give off ethylene gas when they ripen, it causes other perishable foodstuffs to spoil more quickly. This expended-gas theory could be why it's also considered unlucky to have a politician on board. Yet another theory suggests that crates of bananas would also contain unwanted pests, such as spiders, snakes, flies, mice and Beanie Babies.
Although the banana superstition is worldwide, nowhere is it taken more seriously than in Hawaii. Some believe the Aloha State's anti-banana sentiment has its roots in legend when the god Pele (apparently before his soccer career) brought his brother to the islands to be the deity in charge of sport fishing. Rumor has it that he was deficient in, how shall we say, the male hydraulics department, giving him a severe case of banana envy. A clue to how Hawaiians feel about the subject can be found on the Kona Fishing Charter website. Although fairly ambiguously written, it states "Absolutely positively, no ifs, ands ,or buts, do not bring bananas on board". Let's just say if questioned by a Large Samoan deckhand folding a filet knife, it might be better NOT to reveal the fact that you had a Bananas Foster for breakfast.
In Florida, charter boat crews have extended the prohibition beyond bananas and related food products to include objects that merely have the word banana on it, such as Banana Boat sunscreen, or items from Banana Republic, During fishing tournaments, anti-banana feelings run high. Not leaving any stone unturned, each person on board is quizzed as to what brand of underwear they are wearing. Should some clueless individual mention they are wearing Fruit of the Loom, a rather unpleasant operation is performed on them. First, they are seized by a couple of stout deckhands and given a punitive "wedgie" to prepare the surgical field. A razor-sharp filet knife is then used to excise the label, which curiously doesn't even have a banana on it. Experts recommend not struggling during this procedure, particularly if after a hard night of carousing the underwear is on backwards.
Some bold individuals spit in the eye of this superstition such as the Banana Lure Co., which features trolling lures that look like half a Chiquita. Attempts to inquire about how business is going have gone unanswered…..

Could Eric Whul have been right about the banana superstition??????

[MJ4H]

SPIDERS. GOD. I HATE THOSE. I've actually gotten to where I can kill the little ones. I don't like doing it, but I can do it. If it is a big one, keep that fucker away from me. You want to see someone freak out? Bring a big fucking hairy-ass spider into my field of view. I will scream like a little girl.

Please note, I do not usually swear. Spiders bring out my primitiveness.

Those of you with the food phobias, I have one I can share. I cannot stand the sight of SHRIMP. That is the most disgusting looking crap I can even IMAGINE. I have never actually witnessed someone eating shrimp, because I always pass out when I see the shrimp itself. Seeing someone eating shrimp would probably kill me. There are no exaggerations in this paragraph, by the way.

[Sublime 2]

Another vote for Clowns...my sister made me watch IT with her when i was like 7 and she was 17. Damn that movie to hell!

[Logan]

Rollercoasters.

Big, Fuckin Rollercoasters.

[FrogMan]

SPIDERS. GOD. I HATE THOSE. I've actually gotten to where I can kill the little ones. I don't like doing it, but I can do it. If it is a big one, keep that fucker away from me. You want to see someone freak out? Bring a big fucking hairy-ass spider into my field of view. I will scream like a little girl.

Please note, I do not usually swear. Spiders bring out my primitiveness.

Those of you with the food phobias, I have one I can share. I cannot stand the sight of SHRIMP. That is the most disgusting looking crap I can even IMAGINE. I have never actually witnessed someone eating shrimp, because I always pass out when I see the shrimp itself. Seeing someone eating shrimp would probably kill me. There are no exaggerations in this paragraph, by the way.
err, are you my wife posting under an alias??? :D

Seriously, spiders bring out the little girl in her, it's almost funny. I'm on the second floor and all of a sudden I hear this piercing scream and I know I'm supposed to report to wherever the scream came from and there's spider to kill and then to flush in the toilet. No, we won't throw the kleenex in the garbage, it need to be FLUSHED AWAY!!!

And then, there's her problem with shrimps. Probably not has sever as yours, but she keeps telling me of that one time when she went on vacation in Cuba or Mexico and her cousin was eating shrimps, big ones, and they were LOOKING AT HER :D Okay, I've freaked you out enough for today :)

FM

[Logan]

err, are you my wife posting under an alias??? :D

Seriously, spiders bring out the little girl in her, it's almost funny. I'm on the second floor and all of a sudden I hear this piercing scream and I know I'm supposed to report to wherever the scream came from and there's spider to kill and then to flush in the toilet. No, we won't throw the kleenex in the garbage, it need to be FLUSHED AWAY!!!

And then, there's her problem with shrimps. Probably not has sever as yours, but she keeps telling me of that one time when she went on vacation in Cuba or Mexico and her cousin was eating shrimps, big ones, and they were LOOKING AT HER :D Okay, I've freaked you out enough for today :)

FM

I have never seen or heard anyone pluralize "shrimp."

That doesn't make you a bad person, though.

[FrogMan]

I have never seen or heard anyone pluralize "shrimp."

That doesn't make you a bad person, though.
huh?

[Logan]

huh?

Shrimp is a collective word. No "s" needed.

[FrogMan]

Shrimp is a collective word. No "s" needed.
ahh, in any case, Merriam-Webster would probably beg to differ ;):
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>Main Entry: <SUP>1</SUP>shrimp http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?shrimp01.wav=shrimp'))
Pronunciation: <TT>'shrimp, esp Southern 'srimp</TT>
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural shrimps or shrimp
Etymology: Middle English shrimpe; akin to Middle Low German schrempen to contract, wrinkle, Old Norse skorpna to shrivel up
1 : any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum; also : a small crustacean (as an amphipod or a branchiopod) resembling the true shrimps (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=shrimps)
2 : a very small or puny person or thing
- shrimp·like http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?shrimp02.wav=shrimplike')) /<TT>-"lIk</TT>/ adjective
- shrimpy http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?shrimp03.wav=shrimpy')) /<TT>'shrim-pE, 'srim-</TT>/ adjective </TD><TD>http://www.m-w.com/images/pixt.gif</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=shrimps&x=12&y=12

I could have written it in French, where we say "des crevettes" but I doubt it would have made any sense... :D

FM

[Passacaglia]

Seems to me there's a difference between the people answering with their irrational, morbid fear or hatred of something (even a food product) and others talking about foods they just don't like. But to each his own.

I think the idea is to include both, an idea which is tailor made for lurker. She hates mustard, and miracle whip (but not mayo even though they're exactly the same), and any kind of red berry.

But it's not JUST that she hates them. She can't stand the sight of them. It's not enough to just take the marascino cherry off the sundae -- the sundae must be thoroughly examined so that no little bit of redness remains. There's more examples that escape me at the moment, but it's not just a dislike of the food, it's a fear of it.

[JeeberD]

She hates...miracle whip (but not mayo even though they're exactly the same)

Not true at all...

[ice4277]

Phobia-wise, I cannot stand moths. I have no idea why this is, I just know I woke up one morning when I was a kid, saw one, and freaked out. I'm now to the point that I can generally handle their presence when I'm outside, but if one gets into the house, I freeze up and panic.

Food-wise there isn't much, although I gag when I try to eat eggs. I'm not afraid of them or anything though.

And Jeeber is right, ketchup/mayo mix is heavenly.

[superbama]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.

[Anthony]

http://www.hometownfavorites.com/images/items/Large/hfst145.jpg

[Karlifornia]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.


We have a winner.

[mhass]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.
I have a similar reaction sometimes when driving. I have the urge to swerve into oncoming traffic. I'm not in the least suicidal, just have to really fight the urge to go Princess Di on other drivers.

[rkmsuf]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.

Yes I'm with you. Seriously. I know what you mean. I stay away from the railings for that very reason. Or the fear I get pushed.

[rkmsuf]

I have a similar reaction sometimes when driving. I have the urge to swerve into oncoming traffic. I'm not in the least suicidal, just have to really fight the urge to go Princess Di on other drivers.

Yes that too like "what if I just cut the wheel right now hard...I'd roll over" and a slight inclination to do just that.

[mhass]

Yes that too like "what if I just cut the wheel right now hard...I'd roll over" and a slight inclination to do just that.
Almost word-for-word my thoughts. We should stay away from each other.

[Logan]

Can you guys do me a favor and call me before you get on the road?

TIA.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

I haven't seen this one yet so I'll throw it in there - The King from the Burger King commercials. It is the creepiest spokesthing I've ever seen. The commercial where the guy opens his blinds in the morning, and the King is standing right there is the makings of a horror flick. I've seriously had nightmares about the giant plastic head with that evil smile.
I won't ever eat at Burger King again.

[JasonC23]

I won't ever eat at Burger King again.
Coming from a pregnant woman, that's saying something.

But I completely agree...I don't know WTF they were thinking when they came up with the king. I'd really have loved to have been sitting in on the pitch the ad agency gave for the king.

[Logan]

Coming from a pregnant woman, that's saying something.

But I completely agree...I don't know WTF they were thinking when they came up with the king. I'd really have loved to have been sitting in on the pitch the ad agency gave for the king.

As long as you remember it, and you identify it with Burger King, the group that made that pitch will make a lot of money.

Very few people would actually stay away from a fast food place simply because they're freaked out by the commercial.

[Franklinnoble]

I haven't seen this one yet so I'll throw it in there - The King from the Burger King commercials. It is the creepiest spokesthing I've ever seen. The commercial where the guy opens his blinds in the morning, and the King is standing right there is the makings of a horror flick. I've seriously had nightmares about the giant plastic head with that evil smile.
I won't ever eat at Burger King again.
I agree... to a point. That King creeps me out... I'd grab my 12 gauge if that fucker ever showed up in my window.

But I'll probably still eat at Burger King at some point...

[Franklinnoble]

Yes that too like "what if I just cut the wheel right now hard...I'd roll over" and a slight inclination to do just that.
You and mhass should play chicken sometime...

[judicial clerk]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.

I think this phobia is less uncommon than you think.

I like the Burger King commercials for the same reason you hate them. they are freaky. This freaking Mardi gras reject just shows up in your bedroom like a killer from a slasher movie, except he hands out food instead of stabbing you to death. it seems disturbingly brilliant to me. In fact, I think my favorite would be if the BK guy showed up at Franklin's house and Franklin gave him both barrels right in the mask, then pried a whopper with chease from the kings still convulsing hands and started to eat it as he moseyed into the other room.

[mhass]

I think this phobia is less uncommon than you think.

I like the Burger King commercials for the same reason you hate them. they are freaky. This freaking Mardi gras reject just shows up in your bedroom like a killer from a slasher movie, except he hands out food instead of stabbing you to death. it seems disturbingly brilliant to me. In fact, I think my favorite would be if the BK guy showed up at Franklin's house and Franklin gave him both barrels right in the mask, then pried a whopper with chease from the kings still convulsing hands and started to eat it as he moseyed into the other room.
You may have wandered into another disorder there, jc.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

I agree... to a point. That King creeps me out... I'd grab my 12 gauge if that fucker ever showed up in my window.

But I'll probably still eat at Burger King at some point... I didn't really like their food in the first place. The creepy King just pushed me over the edge.

They shoulda stuck with the Subservient Chicken.

[Draft Dodger]

I have no creature or food phobia...but I do have a fairly weird one. I'm afraid of hieghts but not in the usual way. I'm not afraid of falling, not at all. I'm compelled to jump...seriously. When I go to ballgames and i'm on the upperdeck first row....it takes almost an hour to be ok with not grabbing the rail and jumping over. It is so damn strange because i would never consider suicide and i'm very happy in life...just heights ..I dunno. I've never met anyone else with this compulsion.

I have this, as does my wife. I bet you'll find that it's much more common than you think.

[st.cronin]

I haven't seen this one yet so I'll throw it in there - The King from the Burger King commercials. It is the creepiest spokesthing I've ever seen. The commercial where the guy opens his blinds in the morning, and the King is standing right there is the makings of a horror flick. I've seriously had nightmares about the giant plastic head with that evil smile.
I won't ever eat at Burger King again.

I know my fiancee has had at least one nightmare about that guy. It really is the most bizarre thing ever.

[Schmidty]

I know my fiancee has had at least one nightmare about that guy. It really is the most bizarre thing ever.

The commercial with the King and Vader breathing at each other is piss-my-pants funny.

[rkmsuf]

I have this, as does my wife. I bet you'll find that it's much more common than you think.

Well it's up to 4 in this little universe.

[Wolfpack]

I'm not sure you could call that a fear so much as an urge to do something incredibly stupid (or just so staggeringly out of the ordinary) to see what would happen, similar to trying to pull into oncoming traffic as posted by others. It's not really a "death wish" since I don't believe any of you are interested in dying during one of these stunts, just that you have the curious urge to do something to see what would happen. I also think it is a rather prevalent thing. I can't really say if I have similar thoughts, but I wouldn't be surprised if it manifests itself in other ways to other people as very subtle whispers of thought when doing rather ordinary things.

[mrsimperless]

If I ever feel from an extreme height and knew that my death were imminent I would use the last of my strength and will to perform the coolest flips and aerial acrobatics that I could manage. At least I would go out in style. And I wouldn't just scream in the normal sense (or at least I'd attempt not to...) but I'd yell out some catchy fad phrase like "You're my boy blue!!"

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well it's up to 4 in this little universe.
A good friend of mine has the same thing.