Nah not really. There’s a bunch of names that were given just for the sake of inventing a names and getting attention. From Wikipedia: >>> Many -phobia lists circulate on the Internet, with words collected from indiscriminate sources, often copying each other. Also, a number of psychiatric websites exist that at the first glance cover a huge number of phobias, but in fact use a standard text to fit any phobia and reuse it for all unusual phobias by merely changing the name. Sometimes it leads to bizarre results, such as suggestions to cure “prostitute phobia”.[2] Such practice is known as content spamming and is used to attract search engines.
An article published in 1897 in American Journal of Psychology noted “the absurd tendency to give Greek names to objects feared (which, as Arndt says, would give us such terms as klopsophobia – fear of thieves, triakaidekaphobia – fear of the number 13…)”.[3]
Anatidaephobia is the phobia of being watched by a duck. The phobia even specifies that the fear is not that the duck will attack, but that it will simply spy on you and it hides from you. Funny enough there is a game by the same name that literally surrounds around hiding from ducks.
Some of them are a bit oversimplified. For example, the so-called “fear of long words” is actually specifically supposed to be referring to an anxiety about misspelling or mispronouncing long words, which is a slightly more sensible and relatable phenomenon. Then there apparently some that are just made up, like apparently the palindrome ones.
Are these kinds of phobias legit stuff people have? As phobias?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t phobias supposed to be irrationally terrifying fears?
Nah not really. There’s a bunch of names that were given just for the sake of inventing a names and getting attention. From Wikipedia: >>> Many -phobia lists circulate on the Internet, with words collected from indiscriminate sources, often copying each other. Also, a number of psychiatric websites exist that at the first glance cover a huge number of phobias, but in fact use a standard text to fit any phobia and reuse it for all unusual phobias by merely changing the name. Sometimes it leads to bizarre results, such as suggestions to cure “prostitute phobia”.[2] Such practice is known as content spamming and is used to attract search engines.
An article published in 1897 in American Journal of Psychology noted “the absurd tendency to give Greek names to objects feared (which, as Arndt says, would give us such terms as klopsophobia – fear of thieves, triakaidekaphobia – fear of the number 13…)”.[3]
Anatidaephobia is the phobia of being watched by a duck. The phobia even specifies that the fear is not that the duck will attack, but that it will simply spy on you and it hides from you. Funny enough there is a game by the same name that literally surrounds around hiding from ducks.
Removed by mod
Not sure if it’s from far side, but it was made in a comic strip
Interesting. So basically a race to invent as many dumbass names to put against your name, huh?
We’re also using phobia to refer to irrational hatred now, apparently, so that could be more common.
This confused me even more. Homophobia and transphobia don’t make any sense unless the hatred comes from irrational fear.
Some of them are a bit oversimplified. For example, the so-called “fear of long words” is actually specifically supposed to be referring to an anxiety about misspelling or mispronouncing long words, which is a slightly more sensible and relatable phenomenon. Then there apparently some that are just made up, like apparently the palindrome ones.
I see…
Isn’t the existence of the names just easy bait for impressionable people to go around thinking they have that?