Arrggghhhh! Armer Farmer!
"I'm always terrified that when I swim in a lake and I can't see the bottom, because it's more than 20 feet deep I flip-out, because I think some sort of monster is gonna get me."

I have this exact same fear - but I, at least, have an excuse.

When I was very young, I fell into a boating lake. Swimming (clutching in dear life more like!!) to the surface, I could just about make out the shape of a giant alligator on the surface, wating to eat me, so I stayed underwater. Seconds later, my Dad dragged me out of the water by my hair (literally).

The 'alligator' was actually a tethered railway sleeper, used to prevent the boats bashing into the sides. Suffice to say, this irrational fear of 'dark water' has stayed with me to this day! (Oh! The shame!!)
(Xodiak Gangrene is at work :(, Tue 27 Jan 2004, 15:40, Reply)