What are the most terrifying ways to die?

[El Hombre Invisible]

...
21. being castrated;
22. being castrated with a spoon;
23. being castrated with a tea towel;
24. my teeth falling out;
25. finishing up on my visit to the red light district, opening my wallet and... there's nothing in it, then looking up as some big bald dude holding a truncheon opens the door;
26. talking monkeys;
27. sarcastic talking monkeys;
28. courgettes;
29. biting into a clove;
30. opening a can of peaches but instead it's just fill of maggots and lies;
31. premature ejaculation (hasn't happened thus far, touch wood... wait... oh, the shame);
32. being worthless;
33. being worth a lot... DEAD;
34. death by paper cuts;
35. going to kiss my girlfriend and she turns into a green, rotting corpse (I've watched The Shining too many times late at night);
36. sitting down to write a best-selling novel but as I look at what I've written every sentence is like: "100,000 seconds to live. 99,995 seconds to live. 99,990 seconds to live..." [shiver]
37. calling my boss 'mummy';
38. calling my girlfriend 'mummy';
39. men whose eyes point in different directions;
40. the ending of Don't Look Now...

 

[Kerrie]

i fear most any kind of snake, being up high (especially on a ladder), and my car breaking down in the middle of nowhere.

 

[BobG]

...
21. being castrated;
22. being castrated with a spoon;
23. being castrated with a tea towel;
24. my teeth falling out;
25. finishing up on my visit to the red light district, opening my wallet and... there's nothing in it, then looking up as some big bald dude holding a truncheon opens the door;
26. talking monkeys;
27. sarcastic talking monkeys;
28. courgettes;
29. biting into a clove;
30. opening a can of peaches but instead it's just fill of maggots and lies;
31. premature ejaculation (hasn't happened thus far, touch wood... wait... oh, the shame);
32. being worthless;
33. being worth a lot... DEAD;
34. death by paper cuts;
35. going to kiss my girlfriend and she turns into a green, rotting corpse (I've watched The Shining too many times late at night);
36. sitting down to write a best-selling novel but as I look at what I've written every sentence is like: "100,000 seconds to live. 99,995 seconds to live. 99,990 seconds to live..." [shiver]
37. calling my boss 'mummy';
38. calling my girlfriend 'mummy';
39. men whose eyes point in different directions;
40. the ending of Don't Look Now...

I would have put courgettes much higher up the list - right behind heights (especially high things that sway in the wind), rocks (especially the submerged ones that you don't see coming), skunks looking for a warm comfy place to sleep (in your sleeping bag ... while you're in it!), being out in the open during a lightning storm, and getting my tie caught in a paper shredder.

 

[neurocomp2003]

that suicide would hurt your loved ones

 

[Ivan Seeking]

As for dogs, I have never been afraid of dogs having much less body weight than I. But when they weigh 160 - 200 LBs or more... That could be a problem.

One time I was nearly killed or seriously injured by three Great Danes. I was at a neighbor's who had a momma dane, and her two now full grown offspring. I would imagine that they each weighed between 120 - 180 Lbs. with one of the males being very large - possibly in the 200 Lb range. Everyone had gone inside or left while I continued to rough house with the dogs, which had all in good fun, but when the dogs saw that we were alone, all three suddenly became very aggressive. It reached a point that I was literally fighting for my life. I called for help but no one heard my call. They had me backing up and trying to avoid getting cornered, deflecting one attack after another while sustaining cuts and bites, when the owners finally came back out and broke things up. Looking back now, I should have insisted that they have the dogs destroyed. At the time I was in peak condition as an athlete. Anyone with less strength may not have been able to sustain the attacks. I have never trusted any dog since; not as I once did anyway. And there is no doubt in my mind that any pack of large dogs is a disaster waiting to happen. They can revert to a [wild] pack mentality at the flick of switch.

 

[yourdadonapogostick]

Really?
Somehow, I don't think so...

why?

...
21. being castrated;
22. being castrated with a spoon;
23. being castrated with a tea towel;

do you know they can do it with a rubberband and a plastic spork?

 

[brewnog]

My one true fear is going down with a terminal illness and suffering a lot of pain, and being so incapacitated that I couldn't even end my own life. That's what I'm scared of.

 

[Moonbear]

You can't escape if you are sleeping. Your smoke alarm might wake you up. Or not.
http://www.poynter.org/dg.lts/id.2/aid.9596/column.htm

--
"With Lt. Ingram pointing out that fires can spread to an inferno in four minutes or less, parents were unnerved by their children's inability to wake up to the alarm. In every case, smoke detectors rang in the house for at least six minutes, with the children never waking up. Parents then attempted to wake their children by other means.

"With mom shouting, Emily Carlson woke, but was still unaware of the potential danger. Surprisingly, even shouting didn't wake two other children in our (KXAS) tests.

"'I assumed the kids would wake up in two to three minutes. If nothing else, because it's such an irritating sound. I never dreamed it would take the kids so long to respond to that,' Ingram said.

That's something that does worry me. I have slept through fire alarms, and loud ones at that, though fortunately, only a drill (when I lived in dorms). I have an amazing ability to sleep through all sorts of noise (can't get to sleep with noise, but once I'm asleep, it's very hard to wake me). I got smoke detectors for my house that have lights on them (they're supposed to be for lighting stairwells or exits, but I got them hoping the bright light will wake me if the sound doesn't).

Though, I can't say it's my greatest fear; if I never woke up, it wouldn't be a painful death.

I worry more about things like falling down the stairs and being too badly injured to get up and get help, and nobody else being around to know until it's too late.

 

[BobG]

I worry more about things like falling down the stairs and being too badly injured to get up and get help, and nobody else being around to know until it's too late.

Or like that poor hiker who had his arm pinned under a large rock and had to cut his own arm off with a pocket knife. That could be a pretty tough situation if you hadn't sharpened your pocket knife in a while (I forgot about that fear - a dull pocket knife).

I have a pretty good fear of dentist's as well. I seem to have a section where the nerves take a detour and they won't go numb. Once it took shot after shot with the dentist finally assuring me, "This one will work for sure. It's the long lasting novocaine and you've got enough of it to leave your entire jaw numb for the rest of the day." Gee, thanks. And a double thanks when he starts drilling and the tooth still isn't numb! Of course, the silver lining was that, with a hole drilled in my tooth, he could shoot the novocaine directly into the tooth - that one worked.

The novocaine did last a long time. Fortunately, the only thing I had to do was stop at the gas station. I wouldn't even have to talk. I'd just hand her money. Unfortunately, there was a gas leak or something, so the pumps shut off and we all had to walk across the street and stare longingly at our cars sitting in the gas station. After a long wait, we finally had the all clear to get our cars, but no more gas and no one could go in the store. The gas station attendent was pretty helpful, "If you have exact change, you can pay for your gas and go." My pump stopped at $13.57 - who carries exactly $13.57 in their pocket - and no one could even understand me when I complained - they just stared at me! Finally, after a long struggle, I was able to communicate and was able to just give my credit card number and the price to the gas station attendent so I could leave, go home, lay down, and feel miserably violated by having had so many sharp objects stuck in my mouth.

 

[JamesU]

...
40. the ending of Don't Look Now...

what was don't look now? was it that one where the little girl was killed wearing that red raincoat, and there are a bunch of murders around the town? if so, that's a really weird ending.

 

[Evo]

I'm renting from my mom now, so I can't change much. When my symptoms improve, I can hopefully live by myself again. :!) My house will be very safe.
Okay, the ceiling is just like the interior walls- drywall (or possibly plaster) -> wooden joists & isulation -> attic. I'm pretty sure the house was built in the 1970's.

You'd like my mom's house, it is steel framed and brick. The interior walls are sheetrock, the floors are stone over concrete (one floor ranch, no basement due to water tables), the roof is some non-flammable material, covered with crushed marble. There is no wood, no carpets, no drapes (metal blinds). I guess you could set fire to the furniture.

My friend in Italy designed the perfect home for me...all concrete, floors, walls, etc... There will be a drain in the middle of the concrete floor. All of the furniture is attached to chains hanging from the ceiling, when I'm ready to clean, I hit a button and all of the furniture lifts up off the floor, I get out my large hose and hose everything down (water and dirt washes down the drain), blowers turn on and dry everything, then the furniture is lowered back to the floor. House spotless in less than 5 minutes. Perfect for the busy executive lifestyle.

 

[hitssquad]

That is basically how those kiosk automatic-bathrooms on Market Street in San Francisco work, Evo, minus the furniture on chains.

 

[hypatia]

But they do sell furniture with chains in San Francisco..lol

 

[honestrosewater]

Wow, you guys have some good fears.

I've almost slept through a fire drill in a dorm too. I woke up wondering what the heck that loud noise was but figured it out when I went to ask and couldn't find anyone. Heh.
Ivan,
Have you ever seen the show The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel? It helped me feel more prepared to deal with loose dogs. There's also special dog spray (like pepper spray for dogs) that you can carry for emergencies. I've never tried it but probably will; The alternative, a dog whistle, just doesn't seem to cut it.

 

[Townsend]

Having my throat cut out...it scares the crap out of me. Well, most ways of dying scare the crap out me. I don't want the last thing on my mind to be, oh sh!t this is really it.

Townsend (shivers)

 

[honestrosewater]

Having my throat cut out...it scares the crap out of me. Well, most ways of dying scare the crap out me. I don't want the last thing on my mind to be, oh sh!t this is really it.

Townsend (shivers)

I happen to know someone who had their throat slit and survived. She sustained other serious injuries too. She has said she didn't feel pain and was able to still think rationally. In fact, even though she was attacked in her sleep and was seriously injured, she even thought about which way was safer to run for help (the intruder had cut the phone lines). I've heard many other stories like this, the hiker BobG mentioned, and it amazes me how well people manage to cope with disaster. - If that is any comfort to you.

 

[Townsend]

I happen to know someone who had their throat slit and survived. She sustained other serious injuries too. She has said she didn't feel pain and was able to still think rationally. In fact, even though she was attacked in her sleep and was seriously injured, she even thought about which way was safer to run for help (the intruder had cut the phone lines). I've heard many other stories like this, the hiker BobG mentioned, and it amazes me how well people manage to cope with disaster. - If that is any comfort to you.

I don't know...have you ever watched that Nick Berg video? I saw that and I was like

<----not for me man, no way...

 

[honestrosewater]

I don't know...have you ever watched that Nick Berg video? I saw that and I was like

<----not for me man, no way...

No, in fact we had a discussion here about whether or not to watch it, and I decided not to. His and others circumstances are certainly heart-wrenching. I can't really say anything comforting about situations where shock and panic are not as prominent; I think it depends more on the character of the individual.

 

[hitssquad]

His and others circumstances are certainly heart-wrenching.

They are also head-wrenching.

 

[Townsend]

They are also head-wrenching.

 

[Jelfish]

What about stinging or biting insects? Jungles have some really nasty ant species.

I don't think I'd care too much about ground bugs outside. I can either walk away from them or just.. step on them. I think it's more a matter of them being in my apartment. This is especially true for mosquittos. If I see a mosquitto in my apartment, I will literally hunt it down. I refuse the idea of going to sleep and being an easy target. And yes, I've spent hours hunting a mosquitto when I should be sleeping. I realize now that I should probably seek professional help.

 

[honestrosewater]

They are also head-wrenching.

Dexter, get off of hitssquad's computer! Shame on you.

 

[honestrosewater]

I don't think I'd care too much about ground bugs outside. I can either walk away from them or just.. step on them.

I'd like to see you step on a swarm of a million army ants! Eh, okay, no I wouldn't, and there probably aren't many in NY anyway.

I think it's more a matter of them being in my apartment. This is especially true for mosquittos. If I see a mosquitto in my apartment, I will literally hunt it down. I refuse the idea of going to sleep and being an easy target. And yes, I've spent hours hunting a mosquitto when I should be sleeping. I realize now that I should probably seek professional help.

Hours does seem excessive. Does it really upset you that much, or are you more just being stubborn?

 

[hitssquad]

Dexter, get off of hitssquad's computer!

Please don't lose your head, Rose.

 

[honestrosewater]

Please don't lose your head, Rose.

What's that? You're also afraid of castration? Well, I know one way to solve that problem...

 

[loseyourname]

I don't think I have any kind of antisocial disorder - I'm not generally very impulsive or malevolent or anything, but I do seem to have a lot of social apathy. I'm not fearless by any means, but I have always had a problem with not having enough fear. Punishment hardly works on me at all. I consider the consequences of my actions, but I'm very aloof about it. I just assume that since I've been able to live happily in every situation I've been in, that will continue to be the case, so I'm not afraid of any great change. Ground me? Take away a possession of mine? Hit me? So what? I've always had the belief that there is nothing another person could do to me short of permanently disabling me that would really hurt me. I have the normal fight-or-flight response to impending physical pain, but it doesn't scare me. I'm almost never willing to admit that I'm in any real danger, even if I am. It's always made me wonder what I'd be like in combat - I always picture a less eccentric Captain Kilgore.

Anyway, I don't want to give the impression that I have no fear. I experience every emotion that any other human does, including fear, but I ask myself this same question quite frequently and I can never seem to come up with an answer. There doesn't seem to be any specific thing or event I can think of that truly scares me, and honestly, I find it silly when other people are scared. The lack of a strong emotional response to things that my peers take quite seriously seems to frustrate them to no end. Is there a disorder for that, hits? I seem to function perfectly well, aside from pissing off girlfriends by laughing at all the threats that women make to control men (it's amazing how angry people can get when they realize they don't have any power over you). The only one that actually bothers me is when someone threatens to destroy something I've created. I wouldn't say I get scared, but I can have a rather violent response.

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

I would have put courgettes much higher up the list - right behind heights (especially high things that sway in the wind), rocks (especially the submerged ones that you don't see coming), skunks looking for a warm comfy place to sleep (in your sleeping bag ... while you're in it!), being out in the open during a lightning storm, and getting my tie caught in a paper shredder.

All hail, fellow courgette-hater. Where did your aversion come from? Myself, I was a cucucumber addict from a very young age and, when I was about 5 or 6, I serruptitiously went into the fridge as I was wont, pulled out my favorite salad vegetable, bit into it, chewed, and... it was a courgette. That moment has stayed with me for the rest of my life. It may be the last thing I think of as I embrace death in my last moments. They should be banned.

do you know they can do it with a rubberband and a plastic spork?

Jesus, I came here to talk about my existing phobias for theraputic reasons... now you're giving me new ones!

what was don't look now? was it that one where the little girl was killed wearing that red raincoat, and there are a bunch of murders around the town? if so, that's a really weird ending.

That's the one. Freaky midget murderers.

 

[Jelfish]

I'd like to see you step on a swarm of a million army ants! Eh, okay, no I wouldn't, and there probably aren't many in NY anyway.
Hours does seem excessive. Does it really upset you that much, or are you more just being stubborn?

I think it's paranoia.

 

[JamesU]

my fear is ending up in those traps they had in the monie 'saw'. that was pretty much one of the only movies that's ever scared me.

 

[fileen]

sharks are seriously my only fear, which is strange because I think they are beautiful and I have a lot of respect for a species that has survived for so long. I think its more the idea of being hunted underwater. to say that I have a fear of sharks is not quite correct, but I believe its more a fear of ocean. perhaps because it is so large and open... and mysterious. there's so much we don't know. anything grabbing me from underneath the water with a mind to rip me to bits and swallow me up. that's my one and only fear. sometimes I have rational fears, but its more like, if my horse hits that stone wall we are going to die. I can turn that kind of fear off. I think we need to remember that its fear that keeps us alive. I am afraid of bugs too I guess. I think I am more so just creeped out. too many legs..skeletons on the outside...its just not natural. bats and snakes are my friends. I have to admit I enjoy killing bugs. but I have nightmares about being eaten alive in the ocen by sharks. I've never even been in the ocean...

 

[honestrosewater]

I think it's paranoia.

How do you mean? You're afraid of what might happen? Paranoia, as I've seen it used, involves delusions, and knowing that you're delusional doesn't make much sense to me. But whatever, I'll let it go if you want.
BTW, identifying how it makes you feel (angry, threatened, anxious, disgusted) and what specifically triggers your feelings (seeing a real bug, a picture of a bug, thinking of the possibility of a bug being in your apartment) can give you some insight into what's going on.

 

[Jelfish]

How do you mean? You're afraid of what might happen? Paranoia, as I've seen it used, involves delusions, and knowing that you're delusional doesn't make much sense to me. But whatever, I'll let it go if you want.
BTW, identifying how it makes you feel (angry, threatened, anxious, disgusted) and what specifically triggers your feelings (seeing a real bug, a picture of a bug, thinking of the possibility of a bug being in your apartment) can give you some insight into what's going on.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "what's going on." I care the most when it's in the same room that I'll be sleeping in. The thing that goes through my mind is "hunt or be hunted" (I realize this sounds ridiculously melodramatic). Does that count as a delusion? And really, it's just mosquitos. I think I may have had a traumatic childhood experience or something.

 

[honestrosewater]

I'm not an expert on this or anything; I've just learned a few things in dealing with my own disorder (I'm not suggesting you even have a problem, BTW).

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "what's going on."

I just mean the cause of your behavior.

I care the most when it's in the same room that I'll be sleeping in. The thing that goes through my mind is "hunt or be hunted" (I realize this sounds ridiculously melodramatic). Does that count as a delusion?

I don't really know. Believing that mosquitos were hunting you specifically, without having any evidence to justify your belief, would probably be considered a delusion. But just believing a mosquito could bite you is rational; It happens all the time.
It's just that a mosquito doesn't seem to pose much of a threat, other than transmitting disease. But you didn't say it was disease that bothered you. It's not a big deal, and I don't mean to push it; It just kind of interested me- how mosquitos were singled out.

 

[Jelfish]

Don't worry. I don't mind.

One time when I was very young, a mosquito sucked some of my blood and started flying away clumsily(very full, mind you). It landed on a wall and my father killed it and it left a very noticable streak of blood on the wall. Also, the sound of mosquitos flying near my ear really annoys me. I can usually tell that it's a mosquito too because the timbre of the mosquito buzz. I'm not even sure it's the getting bitten part that bothers me because bug bites don't bother me that much past being itchy. It probably has more to do with the fact that they suck my blood. I'm not really affraid of blood though (I volunteer for an ambulence service).

 

[honestrosewater]

Don't worry. I don't mind.

One time when I was very young, a mosquito sucked some of my blood and started flying away clumsily(very full, mind you). It landed on a wall and my father killed it and it left a very noticable streak of blood on the wall. Also, the sound of mosquitos flying near my ear really annoys me. I can usually tell that it's a mosquito too because the timbre of the mosquito buzz. I'm not even sure it's the getting bitten part that bothers me because bug bites don't bother me that much past being itchy. It probably has more to do with the fact that they suck my blood. I'm not really affraid of blood though (I volunteer for an ambulence service).

Do you other blood-suckers bother you? Or getting your blood drawn in general?