RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Not my favorite. Something to be battled, all your life. Most of the major mistakes I have made, professionally, family, socially, etc. have been because I let fear cloud my judgment. Don't know where I heard it, but I believe these great words, "but, fear will make idiots of us all. " Don't let it.

Fear is a good thing. It's what keeps us alive. Fear allows us to use discretion before we act. A fearless man doesn't live long.

Although I eagerly anticipate the day when humanity has nothing to fear, I too understand that fear can be a positive motivator. For example, it was my fear of severe weather that got me into weather--and has led my current career pursuit.

Fear is an interesting emotion and can come in various states. Fear can be a good thing because it warns you of danger and your body responds to it by releasing adrenaline throughout your body. This can give you the fight or flight response. Fear can also prevent you from doing stupid things eg you may see a violent 6ft 5 inch drunkard shouting abuse and full of muscle. Most people would fear that person, so they would avoid him. If someone didn't fear him, they would be exposing themselves to danger. Plus there is the fear which actually helps you to respect a particular person eg fear God. Fearing God doesn't mean be afraid or dread God, it means to have an intense respect for Him and realise that He has the power of life or death. There are so many types of fear. Funny enough, they all feel different eg the fear of an insect like a cockroach. This fear makes you feel disgusted and makes you want to kill it whlist avoiding touching it. Yet the fear in a nightmare feels different yet again. The fear in a nightmare feels monstrous, which is a sour yet very deeply disturbing feeling. The fear of a violent person feels different yet again. It is more of a disturbing, anxious feeling which you feel in the pit of your stomach.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, DADGUMMIT!

I am blessed to live in a nation where fear is at a minimum. UPDATE to IJR: I am talking about real fear. Fear for our lives and our families. I know that when I get up in the morning I will go to school. After that, I will go to work and when I get of work, I will go home and have dinner with my family. I know that while I am doing all these things there are people fighting for my right to do these things or to choose not to. I know that there are laws in place that protect my family and me from injustices. No, the U.S. is not a perfect place to live, but it is worlds better than other places. There are 26 nations in Africa alone with death rates double or more than double that of ours. I don't have to fear genocide, oppression, or persecution for my beliefs. I don't have to fear for my safety or that of my family. I don't have to worry if there will be enough food to eat or enough money to buy clothes. I sleep in a bed at night with a roof over my head and that ALONE makes me more privileged than a billion and a half world citizens. And, I am one of the first generations to have these privelages. I wont try to argue that the U.S. is any safer now than it was before the war in Iraq because that could go on for hours, but I will ask you this. If you fear a terrorist attack as you say, have you done anything to ensure the safety of yourself or your family? If I was scared, I would surely do something about it. Or, maybe you just continue to live your life just as before. Mabye I'm being obtuse, but that doesn't sound like fear to me.

Experiencing fear lets me know that I'm still human. Courage isn't being fearless; it's being afraid and acting against it, anyway.