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

[hallan.livejournal.com]

I grew up with both dogs and cats, and enjoy the company of both. I've also studied the body language of wolves so I could write more believable canine characters, and then did the same for felines for the same reason. That's my advice to you: Investigate and learn, rather than fear in ignorance.

You have been given some -bad- advice by Explodingbat:
-If you meet an aggressive dog (not a scared one- make sure you can tell the difference!), acting like you're the top dog may get you bit.

-ANY dog can be psychotic if it isn't trained properly, or if it was bred by a careless breeder focusing on appearance rather than temperament. ANY DOG. On the flip side of the coin, a well-trained, well-mannered dog can easily come in -any- size.

Hallan

[explodingbat.livejournal.com]

I thought he meant he was irrationally afraid of friendly dogs.
Thanks for the correction!

[packbat.livejournal.com]

I am, actually, but part of the problem is that I have no confidence in my ability to tell how safe a dog is.

Very rough rules of thumb

[hallan.livejournal.com]

Watch the tail and the ears. Tail wagging, ears forward: happy. Tail under, ears back: scared. Tail straight, ears down to the side, direct confronting stare: be careful.

Hallan

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Oh. Right - I'll go back to "be cautious", then, and interpret explodingbat's comments as relating to well-mannered, well-trained dogs specifically.

-ANY dog can be psychotic if it isn't trained properly, or if it was bred by a careless breeder focusing on appearance rather than temperament. ANY DOG. On the flip side of the coin, a well-trained, well-mannered dog can easily come in -any- size.

I'll believe it - I've met nice dogs of several different breeds. It's best to judge on a case-by-case basis anyway.

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Right, and "investigate and learn" - I know there are plenty of friendly dogs, cats, etc. out there, so I'll try to be aware.

[hallan.livejournal.com]

Allow me to clarify: The library has many, many books on animal behavior, dogs and cats especially. That is where I would investigate first, were I in your position.

Hallan