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Turbulence
How many of you are or know someone who is afraid of flying?
I've never really paid much attention to why or how some people could be afraid of flying. After all, the statistics of dying while you fly are much less than those of you dying while driving a car; yet most people drive on a daily basis.
It doesn't make sense does it? Being the cynical human beings that we are, we have a tendency to focus on the most negative things that can happen to us. This would explain why people develop a fear for flying.
A little bit ago I had to take a flight from Miami back to New York and this is one of the planes I had to take.
This plane only sits twelve people and if you are afraid of flying, never ever take one of these planes. The plane is so small that there is about 6 to 10 inches between you and the passenger next to you. Additionally, I was seated in the very first seat so I was about three feet away from the cockpit.
As we taxi off the runway I see both pilots struggling to keep the plane straight. Additionally it looked like the co-pilot was in training which didn't help my nerves at all. As the engines rev harder you feel every single bump on the road and it's at this time that you start thinking the worst. You almost keep your head down all the way till the plane finally takes off the runway. Once in the air, you still feel a sense of danger because the engines are extremely loud and the plane isn't like your average 747 airplane.
I do remember at one point thinking of what Richie Valens went through during his last moments. I remember saying to myself, "what if". Luckily for you and me, nothing happened and of course I'm still here.
When was the last time you'd think that these tiny steps were the one thing you longed to see? I know that once I got off the plane I was again glad to be alive. Not because of a fear of dying, but because life is too short to worry about what is not in our control.
What scares the hell out of you?
I've never really paid much attention to why or how some people could be afraid of flying. After all, the statistics of dying while you fly are much less than those of you dying while driving a car; yet most people drive on a daily basis.
It doesn't make sense does it? Being the cynical human beings that we are, we have a tendency to focus on the most negative things that can happen to us. This would explain why people develop a fear for flying.
A little bit ago I had to take a flight from Miami back to New York and this is one of the planes I had to take.
This plane only sits twelve people and if you are afraid of flying, never ever take one of these planes. The plane is so small that there is about 6 to 10 inches between you and the passenger next to you. Additionally, I was seated in the very first seat so I was about three feet away from the cockpit.
As we taxi off the runway I see both pilots struggling to keep the plane straight. Additionally it looked like the co-pilot was in training which didn't help my nerves at all. As the engines rev harder you feel every single bump on the road and it's at this time that you start thinking the worst. You almost keep your head down all the way till the plane finally takes off the runway. Once in the air, you still feel a sense of danger because the engines are extremely loud and the plane isn't like your average 747 airplane.
I do remember at one point thinking of what Richie Valens went through during his last moments. I remember saying to myself, "what if". Luckily for you and me, nothing happened and of course I'm still here.
When was the last time you'd think that these tiny steps were the one thing you longed to see? I know that once I got off the plane I was again glad to be alive. Not because of a fear of dying, but because life is too short to worry about what is not in our control.
What scares the hell out of you?
Labels: paranoia
posted by Jeff at Tuesday, January 22, 2008
6 Comments:
I'm not scared of flying, but I think the experience would be much difference in a smaller plane as compared to a huge jet.
I really dislike mice and rats. But I'm most afraid of being in a situation where I have no control over my person (e.g., rape). The idea of being forced in that way terrifies me.
eeek, that's a really small plane.
I think most of my fears involve the unknown. I fear the sea for various reasons, but it never stops me from going on a boat or swimming in it.
and like cindy, i also fear things i have no control over. the human psyche has many times freaked me out. . .there's so many bad people out there. but it also helps to appreciate the good, ya know?
That plane scares the hell outta me. So do trains and my mother in law.
No. Seriously. You should see that bitch.
Cindy:
The kind of situation you mentioned never even crossed my mind. But you're 100% right.
Claudia:
I think that's basically what we fear the most: the unknown. I think that's why we tend to make up things in order to explain the unknown.
Anna:
LOL@ Your mom in law...
I like flying in small planes...seems you are more connected to the wind (or maybe I'm just nuts).
What Cindy said scares me the most too & I won't have even had the guts to say that if she didn't first.
Cruelty of any kind scares me to no end.
1. Roller coasters
2. Ingrown toenails, seriously
3. Lockjaw (I have no idea why..)
4. Kidney stones, I had them once, but even before that I was scared to death of them...
random, I know.
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