3 ms·

I didn't know what submechanophobia was , Is it really common to have a word for itself ?

yreg 3y ago
I don't suppose that too many people are terrified of these things, but many (including me) find them mildly unsettling. I imagine trypophobia is similar in that sense.
- EmuAGR 3y ago
  I agree with you, that would be the exact word I would've used to describe it. Also, since I was a child, I've been scared of pool drains for the treatment system.
IlliOnato 3y ago
Submechanophobia has a wikipedia page, which also indicates that there is some scientific research into this phobia (which does not have a good explanation). So it's not a one-person problem.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- kossTKR 3y ago
  I have a theory that this, like fear of heights, claustrophobia, agoraphobia etc. are actually "extremely natural" because they're all good for survival ie. instincts unlearned somehow culturally, but would be the baseline if you teleported a Palaeolithic, Sumerian, Viking or whatever into our modern complex and somewhat claustrophobic technological life.
  - rrr_oh_man 3y ago
    > like fear of heights, claustrophobia, agoraphobia etc. are actually "extremely natural" That’s a lot of copium, frankly
    - kossTKR 3y ago
      I don't have any of those "irrational" fears so it's not a cope but a theory.
itishappy 3y ago
There's a series of popular subreddits with similar names that I think made the terms more common. https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/thalassophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/thalassophobia/
arbitrarywords 3y ago
I hadn't heard of the word either but I sure do have the condition! I was a triathlete at one point, but I would take a very large swing around the marker buoys just in case one might touch me... and the grandparents comment of "big spooky tubes" sent a surge of adrenaline through my body. I feel so seen:)
- jonhohle 3y ago
  Same. I also have megalophobia specifically related to ducting and that picture set of my panic response. I hadn’t really thought too much of it, but I wonder if Thr Empire Strikes Back is to blame.
- scanny 3y ago
  likewise, learning to sail as a kid and having to go around these large partially submerged objects just kicked off some irrational fear in me (and stil does today, though to a lesser degree).
IvyMike 3y ago
You should check out the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/

yreg 3y ago

I don't suppose that too many people are terrified of these things, but many (including me) find them mildly unsettling. I imagine trypophobia is similar in that sense.

EmuAGR 3y ago
I agree with you, that would be the exact word I would've used to describe it. Also, since I was a child, I've been scared of pool drains for the treatment system.

IlliOnato 3y ago

Submechanophobia has a wikipedia page, which also indicates that there is some scientific research into this phobia (which does not have a good explanation). So it's not a one-person problem.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
kossTKR 3y ago
I have a theory that this, like fear of heights, claustrophobia, agoraphobia etc. are actually "extremely natural" because they're all good for survival ie. instincts unlearned somehow culturally, but would be the baseline if you teleported a Palaeolithic, Sumerian, Viking or whatever into our modern complex and somewhat claustrophobic technological life.
- rrr_oh_man 3y ago
  > like fear of heights, claustrophobia, agoraphobia etc. are actually "extremely natural" That’s a lot of copium, frankly
  - kossTKR 3y ago
    I don't have any of those "irrational" fears so it's not a cope but a theory.

itishappy 3y ago

There's a series of popular subreddits with similar names that I think made the terms more common. https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/thalassophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/thalassophobia/

arbitrarywords 3y ago

I hadn't heard of the word either but I sure do have the condition! I was a triathlete at one point, but I would take a very large swing around the marker buoys just in case one might touch me... and the grandparents comment of "big spooky tubes" sent a surge of adrenaline through my body. I feel so seen:)

jonhohle 3y ago
Same. I also have megalophobia specifically related to ducting and that picture set of my panic response. I hadn’t really thought too much of it, but I wonder if Thr Empire Strikes Back is to blame.
scanny 3y ago
likewise, learning to sail as a kid and having to go around these large partially submerged objects just kicked off some irrational fear in me (and stil does today, though to a lesser degree).

IvyMike 3y ago

You should check out the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/ https://www.reddit.com/r/submechanophobia/