*Shiver*... my worst phobia

[tollbaby]

It wasn't necessarily your post Ree took offense to, EQ... but it can really diminish one's confidence to have one's fears trivialized, which even an innocuous comments such as, "Well hey, I'm not afraid of that, I love that!" can sound like. All in all, I took it as simply a request for a bit more sensitivity

[Evil Queen]

I'm terrified of cockroaches and spiders, yet others really like spiders so who am I to complain? Taking a subject lightly is generally done to lighten the mood, make the situation seem less scary, that sort of thing.

Well Ree, if I upset you I'm sorry.

[Ree]

My apologies if I upset you as well, EQ.

I was worried I hadn't worded things very well, and it appears that I didn't.

I can take a friendly ribbing, and I do understand that people might find my fear of snakes ridiculous.

I just didn't want a whole thread full of snake lovers trivializing my fears in an effort to have me face my phobia, so I was trying to nip it in the bud before it started.

[Evil Queen]

I do understand that people might find my fear of snakes ridiculous.

Are you nuts? Those things (I don't want to say the word ) are very dangerous and shouldn't be handled unless you are very familiar with the breed and/or are a professional critter-getter-ridder. Even the "harmless" ones can bite and tear the flesh, as a former friend (who is now badly scared from catching the critters) is well aware.

No harm done. But I'll be happy to remove them for you.

[XCashier]

Phobia of the creature aside, it was still a pretty gross situation to unknowingly have that dead creature decaying inside a pump one has handled repeatedly, and then be told about it as one is eating lunch.

Yeah, that was nasty, I agree, and setting it on your table and all, with no warning notes...!

I like snakes, but I won't force someone else to hold one who doesn't want to, and I sure wouldn't want a dead, decaying one dumped on my table!

[nomorecarts]

no one's saying mean things about it or you. Now, I certainly wouldn't give you any snake I found (they're mine, damn it!) but I'm not afraid of them so I can get rid of them if the need arises.

EQ, it was my post that was taken differently then it was intended. it reminded me of how funny it was the times my friend's 3 year old daughter tried to hand my 17 year old co-worker(not at work) my 2 foot ball python, so I made a joke

Ree, I make jokes, sorry I offended you, it was a joke. I believe anything can be joked about, anything I give people to make light of about me is fair game. I've even made fun of people for not making fun of me. I just forget that not everyone is as laid back about those things as I am sometimes.

[Evil Queen]

So, nomorecarts, what are you afraid of? I feel like being mean to someone.

[powerboy]

I am scared of spiders. and whenever I see one, I will freak out. And I am scared of heights. It is a good thing that I am not afraid of Ghosts.

[nomorecarts]

So, nomorecarts, what are you afraid of? I feel like being mean to someone.

well, I'm afraid of pumps that have been used for sewage

I don't have any phobias, I'm lucky. I don't like high places with nothing to keep me from falling, but even that's going away

[Difdi]

When I was 12, I once participated in an *ahem* unofficial contest with other kids at this one summer camp. The idea was, who could go out into the wilderness around the camp and bring back the most interesting wildlife. The betting pool was fairly sizable. Spiders give me the heebie-jeebies, but I've never had a problem with snakes...

I've always walked very quietly (most of my friends have, at one time or another, clutched at their chests in my presence and demanded that I start making a little noise, heh). So when I came into camp carrying that live rattlesnake I'd snuck up on, the counselors just FREAKED.

Paid my candy and soda bill for the rest of my time at the camp, with a little to spare...

[mharbourgirl]

Hey Ree, if you can handle spiders, we could go into business together. I'll deal with the snakes that get into peoples' houses/yards, you grab the spiders. I admire spiders tremendously for what they do, but I can't even look at a PICTURE of one without getting the shakes. And if one gets into my house (which they do, all the bloody time), I cannot, CANNOT do anything about it. Hell, I can't even chase one into a jar for purposes of transporting it outside, because then I'd have to touch the jar and I can't.

The Hubster used to tease me about my phobia (I threw his rubber spider in the stove after I couldn't take it anymore) until the day I nearly killed him. Was sitting at my computer which has a window beside it. Out of the corner of my eye I see something largish suddenly drop down from the top of the frame, brain goes 'spider!' and my chair goes flying as I teleport across the room. Unfortunately, the Hubster was walking behind my chair at that exact moment and got creamed. He doesn't laugh at me anymore.

I feel about spiders like you do about snakes, we'd make a good team.

[Becks]

Whoever left it on your desk really should have placed it in a baggie, left a pair of gloves and wrote a note.

I'd be having words right now.

[alogram]

As soon as I read the title, I thought OH NO, SNAKES!

UGH.

I can not deal with them AT ALL. Ugh, not even the little tiny ones...

I have to go think about something else now....

I am totally with you on this one, Ree.

think about something else, think about something else, THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. gah.


Just one question though.....do you think there is any way the customer didn't realize it?

[Ree]

I'm thinking they probably didn't know why it was seized up, but if I was the customer, and I was told that was the problem, I would not be demanding warranty for it.

[mscrybaby]

I'm thinking they probably didn't know why it was seized up, but if I was the customer, and I was told that was the problem, I would not be demanding warranty for it.

I really couldn't say it was the fault of the customer since they did not tell the snake to crawl in there to get killed. Depending on the price of the pumps I would be requesting warranty because there was enough room for a snake to crawl into it.