My partner just brought me three pop-open dough cans. They absolutely cannot stand the surprise from opening them. Basically the same hatred for the Jack-in-the-box toys. It’s such a strange thing to me that I’ll never understand.
My partner just brought me three pop-open dough cans. They absolutely cannot stand the surprise from opening them. Basically the same hatred for the Jack-in-the-box toys. It’s such a strange thing to me that I’ll never understand.
I’m the same way though I’ve learned to tolerate it over the years. I just don’t like to be startled, it’s uncomfortable and feels like getting electrocuted.
Semi-topical rant:
I don’t watch horror movies unless they’re the sort that doesn’t rely on jump-scares, for the same reason. Being startled is not being scared – it’s simply being alarmed. True fear for me resides in foreboding, strangeness, breakdown of reality, inexorable consuming darkness, alien minds.
We talked at length about it this morning. Similar response too. Ever since I’ve known them, they’ve hated balloons, for instance. POP!
I think I’m just realizing how differently people’s bodies react to being startled. For some, it must be more extreme than I realize. I’m not saying I don’t startle, but my body simply doesn’t react as harshly. And I think that’s the key. 💜
I’m glad you posted about it, because I hadn’t really thought about it properly in the opposite direction myself.