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Exactly, I'm not afraid of something when I feel that some woman enters my personal space against my will. I'm just not interested. I'm also not afraid of the

Exactly, I'm not afraid of something when I feel that some woman enters my personal space against my will. I'm just not interested. I'm also not afraid of the colleague entering my personal space, I'm just not interested in friendship with that particular person.

Jtsummers 11y ago
I find language interesting. The word "afraid" suggests some conscious level understanding of the fear you're feeling. A fear response doesn't require you to be conscious of it. When someone stands too close behind me, particularly if it's unexpected or a stranger, while I'm not afraid (I am not concerned about being assaulted in any form), my body still tenses up. That's a fear response. Something comes quickly at you, seen in your peripheral vision, you react by flinching, perhaps some adrenaline. A fear response, it may cause an emotional response of fear, or it may not. But it creates the physiological response to it.
- DominikR 11y ago
  I'm not a native english speaker so my use of the language is more basic than yours. But yes I agree, if a stranger is for some reason standing very close behind me in an unexpected situation (in public transportation it would be okay) then of course there would be a fear response directly leading to either moving away from that person or showing aggression. (fight or flight) But I don't believe that this fear is wrong on my part and that I should do something about it. It is unexpected and unwanted behaviour in our Western societies and this person should be aware of this and behave appropriately. If the person does not then he/she either doesn't know what our social rules are (can be dangerous) or something is wrong with that person (also dangerous) For example: I am at a party and go home at night through some lonely street, in front of me (10 meters or so) there is some unknown women going the same way. The appropriate thing to do is to keep more distance so she is not afraid, even though I don't have any intentions of harming anyone. (but she cannot know this, I'm a stranger) What do you propose how she should feel if for some reason a person would not keep a safe distance? Is she wrong if she is afraid in such a situation? I don't think so.
  - Jtsummers 11y ago
    > But I don't believe that this fear is wrong on my part and that I should do something about it. I agree. And I think the article is saying the same. Fear (the emotion) is an appropriate response to numerous things, including someone entering your personal space. My response, poorly worded, sorry, was intended to say that a fear response is different from fear (the emotion). Even a non-stranger could elicit a fear response from you, even a trusted person or lover, by entering your personal space. But it may not trigger the emotion of fear. That is, if I know you and trust you, you could be in my face during a conversation. I wouldn't fear you or the situation. But I may still experience the heightened senses, the increased heart rate, due to your proximity because of a physiological response (fear response).

Jtsummers 11y ago

I find language interesting. The word "afraid" suggests some conscious level understanding of the fear you're feeling. A fear response doesn't require you to be conscious of it. When someone stands too close behind me, particularly if it's unexpected or a stranger, while I'm not afraid (I am not concerned about being assaulted in any form), my body still tenses up. That's a fear response. Something comes quickly at you, seen in your peripheral vision, you react by flinching, perhaps some adrenaline. A fear response, it may cause an emotional response of fear, or it may not. But it creates the physiological response to it.

DominikR 11y ago
I'm not a native english speaker so my use of the language is more basic than yours. But yes I agree, if a stranger is for some reason standing very close behind me in an unexpected situation (in public transportation it would be okay) then of course there would be a fear response directly leading to either moving away from that person or showing aggression. (fight or flight) But I don't believe that this fear is wrong on my part and that I should do something about it. It is unexpected and unwanted behaviour in our Western societies and this person should be aware of this and behave appropriately. If the person does not then he/she either doesn't know what our social rules are (can be dangerous) or something is wrong with that person (also dangerous) For example: I am at a party and go home at night through some lonely street, in front of me (10 meters or so) there is some unknown women going the same way. The appropriate thing to do is to keep more distance so she is not afraid, even though I don't have any intentions of harming anyone. (but she cannot know this, I'm a stranger) What do you propose how she should feel if for some reason a person would not keep a safe distance? Is she wrong if she is afraid in such a situation? I don't think so.
- Jtsummers 11y ago
  > But I don't believe that this fear is wrong on my part and that I should do something about it. I agree. And I think the article is saying the same. Fear (the emotion) is an appropriate response to numerous things, including someone entering your personal space. My response, poorly worded, sorry, was intended to say that a fear response is different from fear (the emotion). Even a non-stranger could elicit a fear response from you, even a trusted person or lover, by entering your personal space. But it may not trigger the emotion of fear. That is, if I know you and trust you, you could be in my face during a conversation. I wouldn't fear you or the situation. But I may still experience the heightened senses, the increased heart rate, due to your proximity because of a physiological response (fear response).