Heights
Yes, I know it's a common one, but mine is 'special'.

I have no problem with height when I'm in an aeroplane. In fact, I love flying. I've been in everything from a two-seater Cessna to a 747-400 without problem. I also like being up tall buildings and have stood on the glass floor of the CN Tower in Toronto and also the Calgary Tower (guess where?) without feeling like I'm going to die.

But on Sunday I was fitting a light to the outside of my house, and only eight rungs up a ladder I was shaking like a shitting dog. I could have jumped off and (apart perhaps from sore feet) been perfectly intact. But I was gripping that ladder for Britain.

I was very pleased when it was all done and worked perfectly.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 14:48, 6 replies)

I know EXACTLY what you mean
I have that, I think its coz I trust the people who designed those buildings, and can make 200 tons of metal fly, but I know that I am stupid enough to fall off the ladder and break my neck.
(bobman500 enjoys a grope as much as the next fella, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 14:55, closed)

likewise
I think it's a fear of falling, not heights. You can't 'fall off' a plane or a tall building (if you are inside it anyway). My fear kicks in when there are no railings, or on anything I could fall off if I suddenly slipped or spacked out.

My advice: Don't block-book lessons on an Introduction to Climbing course, no matter what discount they offer! :(
(pootermunky unlurked on, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 15:03, closed)

@Pootermunky
Actually, that's spot on. I was at Indian Heads on Fraser Island in Australia last year. It's a rock outcrop overlooking the ocean, with no handrails or anything, just a cliff and a sheer drop into the water (complete with GBFO sharks) below. I couldn't go within a couple of metres of the edge without feeling nauseous.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 15:13, closed)

i think its...
the inherrant not knowing how strong it is that causes it, iim fine on the outside of a building but the edge of a cliff freaks me out, doesnt even have to be me thats near it. the real annoyance is that i love looking over the edges of cliffs, so when confronted with a cliff i end up belly crawling to the edge and looking over, which if you think about it is stupid, if its going to give way being on your feet at least gives you the chance to tyr and jump clear. a puzzler
(pogo_it, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 16:41, closed)

Ditto
I kinda of have the same thing, I did kind of get over it in a face my fear type thing when I was 14 though, had to go abseiling on a school trip. That and one of the school bullies was mocking me for being me, so I showed the fat cunt by abseiling like a pro while he was dicking around being confused about 2 foot down from the top.

Planes arn't a problem, been on glass floors in high towers (Sky Tower, Auckland ,New Zealand), leaning over railings give me the fear though, same as going up the ladder into the loft (however, using furniture and climbing/ninja'ing doesn't).

I reckon it stems from when my brothers used to dangle me over the staircase from our landing (there's a foot wide gap between the stairs and the hallway ceiling, big enough to fall down when you're between 1-5). Bastards, I used to be shit scared of them dropping me.
(buzzmong procrastinating since 1987, Thu 10 Apr 2008, 17:10, closed)

Diving boards..
..fuck them. That's all I have to say on that matter.
(djm, Sat 12 Apr 2008, 22:36, closed)