Writer's Block: Scaredy cat

[packbat]

What animal frightens you most, and why? View other answers

Not-quite-copout answer: human beings.
Backup answer: dogs.

Why human beings? In general, most animals which are dangerous to me personally I can avoid simply by (a) living in town and (b) using a bear bag in the woods. (Sure, there's a little complexity in (a) with respect to mice et al., but that's only a little complexity.) However, there are human beings everywhere, and if there aren't, they can get there. Worse, human beings have all sorts of death-machines running all over the place (cf. cars), plus when they decide to hurt you they have tools and can get mad creative.

Why dogs? Because (1) they run up to you, (2) they're usually either large, crazy, or both, and (3) they're "friendly" in this really weird way - it puts pressure on you. A cat can chill out on its own - sure, it might enjoy being petting, it might rub against your legs if you happen to be convenient, but there's a real sense that if you simply left it could do its own thing and be fine. Dogs don't give that impression. Plus, there's the whole thing with the humans, where they will play with the dogs, throw stuff, talk at them, as if normal people would all do the same. Dogs aren't people - how are you supposed to talk to them?

Anyway, wrapup: humans are most dangerous to me personally, dogs are most creepy to me personally, and the other creatures which might qualify are safely far away.

Comments

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Mmm, okay - I'll try to think about it that way. To some extent I was exaggerating my feelings (I don't freak out or anything), but a little operational understanding helps. (That said, I'm none too good with human two-year-olds either - no experience. :P )

As for cats: I may have simply had good luck with respect to the cats I meet. Although I can see how people might be creeped out by them - I remember the time my piano teacher's cat walked right over me stepping on ... areas. Definitely not dogs, are cats.

[kirabug.livejournal.com]

Having grown up speaking fluent dog (we were raised together) cats confuse the heck out of me. Cats wag their tails when they're *upset* - what's up with that? I've been bitten by more cats than dogs in my life because I speak lousy cat.

On the other hand, I'm about to litter train two dogs, so they do have some things in common.

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Ah. Closest I was to growing up with an animal was the guinea pig we used to have. And I've been fortunate enough not to be bit by anything much smarter than a mosquito.