For this years A-Z challenge I have chosen to explore obscure fears from A-Z. All of the fears I have chosen to discuss were the ones for each letter that I found the most fascinating, or interesting that would be fun to mess around with Laughing at Life 2 style. To kick this challenge off I am starting with ablutophobia, the fear of bathing. It is fitting that the fear of bathing would get to launch my list of crazy fears because this is the one that blew me away the most. When I found this fear online I was sure that there was no way that this could actually be a real fear but upon further research I discovered that yes, as unbelievable as it may seem, there are really people that are terrified of washing themselves.
Once I accepted that ablutophobia was actually a real fear that people suffer from I started to think about it, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't understand it. Now, I know that fears are not logical but, I love to take showers. Love it. If I oversleep for work and don't have time to take a shower I am miserable all day. But, I know that all people aren't as worried about hygiene as me. As a matter of fact, I used to work in customer service, and some people came in from time to time that smelled so bad that the odor coming off of them came straight across the counter and punched me repeatedly right in the face. And while I stood there trapped as their body odor firmly held me in a stench headlock I had no idea that they might be terrified of soap and wash cloths instead of just gross and unhygienic.
Fears are so profound and necessary.
ReplyDeleteAlso at the A to Z Garden of Eden Blog
I find them very interesting. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIt's strange what we get scared about, but its worth remembering that we all get frightened at times. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeletehttp://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: WriterBizWoman
Your welcome!
DeleteHello! I'm stopping by from the A-Z Challenge. Nice to meet you. :) As a writer, I love exploring people's fears. Great post!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you as well. If you like fears check back often during the challenge. I'll be doing a new one each day.
DeleteHeehee, my horses have this fear. I'll have to remember the term next time someone shakes their head at the Arabian water dance!
ReplyDeleteMarlene at On Writing and Riding
I am so glad you commented on my blog! I'd never have routed this gem out of the other 2,000 bloggers. I'll be checking back daily Shawn.
ReplyDeleteAs for a fear of washing? An aversion too it, I can understand. That's quite common with people who are depressed and whatnot. But a fear? I just don't get it.... I'm with you on this one.
Thank you so much! I have worked really hard on this little blog and I am so flattered that you enjoy it.
DeleteInteresting topic. I've seen the fears one done once before but there are so many out there that work with any of the letters. I will have to check back and see which ones you pick. Out of curiosity, is there a fear of the letter Q? I might end up with that one this year. lol
ReplyDeleteA to Z commenter
From the blog, Reading at Dawn
This challenge itself might just create a fear of the letter Q. We could call it drawingablankaphobia maybe.
DeleteOr be meaner and make it start with the letter Q. hehehe
DeleteThis was awesome--love your theme and this starter. I remember reading something about ancient warriors not washing because they felt that somehow, it would wash away their powers, manliness... who knows?
ReplyDeleteI guess being filthy in battle could be helpful because strong b.o. is very debilitating. But, if wreaking is manly I'll just be a sissy.
DeleteI once didn't shower for seven months. But it had more to do with the fact that I was in Desert Storm and less to do with the fact that I have a fear of soap. Although I do have the occasional fear that as soon as I get soap in my eyes, serial killers teleport into my bathroom.
ReplyDeleteNow I have that fear as well. I have always thought that is a very vulnerable time.
DeleteI still love your theme :) I knew someone once who had a fear of buttons. That kind of blew my mind.
ReplyDeleteThe human mind is a strange, strange thing.
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Tales of Colors
MopDog - The crazy thing about Hungarian
It certainly is. It reminds me of one of my favorite lines from a Fiona Apple song, "He said it's all in my head and I said so is everything but he didn't get it." We all got our lil ticks.
DeleteWell, who would have known? When I saw the word 'ablutophobia' I thought it may mean 'abluting' as in going to the loo - this is what I sometimes say when off to the bathroom - am going to do my ablutions. (not to all and sundry I must add).
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting Shawn thank you so much. I love soap and water, lying in the bath washing off the day to prepare for the night. And sort of imagined that 'most' people who had access to a bath or shower would enjoy it. Just shows how wrong I can be.
Garden of Eden Blog
I agree with you, I love to feel clean and had no idea that people would be afraid of that. Very odd.
DeleteI don't know. This fear sounds all 'washed up.' :) Keep up the blogging!
ReplyDeleteVery funny! Thank you and come back soon!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteVery good. You got me laughing this morning. Didn't know that that was the reason some people here in our good old western culture refused to bathe. There are countries that lack water but in the good old west culture there is no excuse. At least that is what I always thought until I read about ablutophobia.
Ciao,
Patricia
I am so glad I got you laughing. That is what I love to do so I am very glad you enjoyed it. Make sure to check out the rest of the wild fears this month.
DeleteThat is pretty wild...to be afraid of washing. Made me laugh thinking of all the folks that happen to be down wind of these folks. LOL
ReplyDelete