This question is asked in different ways for different reasons. Sometimes it’s asked by someone in an arch manner, a manner that challenges “Hey, Sissy…what are you afraid of?” Or a shrink asks softly, “What are you afraid of?” to find out why you’re not taking a certain step, such as confronting someone who has wronged you or getting yourself out of a rut. There can be something compelling or even a little creepy about these five words, no?

For our purposes, I’m just interested in what people are actually afraid of. In part because Fears can be so different, just like the kinds of Lucks people have. And in part because I have developed three very real fears worth fretting about. These three since the disastrous Ukraine invasion (only one year ago), when I hadn’t felt strongly such imminence of danger other than in the early months of the pandemic when we didn’t know anything. People forget how terrifying that was. It seems long ago, no? Now I feel ascared anew.

Off to others’ fears!  This honest and at times comical list was contributed by the usual suspects: the nutters I call friends. And whomever on my author email list* answered the question, “What Are You Afraid Of?” Here we go, in no particular order: 

Snakes and Scorpions • Heights • Bats • Cats • Wind • Disappointing the people I love • Snakes…hate snakes! • Strangers • Public speaking • Cooking shows • My own anger • Riptides • Bugs with many, many legs • Getting poked in the eye with a fork • Not living my life to the fullest before I die • Exploding peonies • Our health • Disease or an accident • Global warming • Further division in the US • World war • Birds.

Some went longer: We are going on a cruise soon – what if I was to walk alone on the upper deck at night and some deranged person pushed me over the edge; that would be something to be afraid of! • I’m afraid we’re going to destroy this planet and take all innocent life with us (plants, animals, insects); we have the tools and understanding to avoid it but that may not be enough…scares the hell out of me • Suffering, with regards to physical health; seems like turning 60 amped this shit UP! • Anything bad happening to my kids is what I would be most afraid of • Fear of my child never launching • I fear developing a disease that will change my life for the worse. • Losing my husband • I put return address labels on small objects when I fly so if the plane blows to smithereens, people will know I was on the plane. • Because I live alone, I’m afraid of choking on a sandwich and dying. I did start choking on one once, and thought to run into the street waving my arms, but what if no one saw me? • I am afraid of getting run over by a messenger bike while crossing the street in NYC. • I end with this cheering one:  Seems I am afraid of less and less as I age.

Thank you, nutters! What am I afraid of? I don’t like bugs with many, many legs or dead mice, but I don’t fear those or even, particularly, death. Mostly, I’m afraid of three uncontrollable things: people being hurt by other people (esp. despots and lone gunmen), ticks, and Artificial Intelligence. When killer A.I. robots start walking down the street, I’m heading directly for the next level. Who wants to see that?

No, really. As widely reported, more than 1,000 tech leaders signed an open letter in March about A.I.’s “profound risks to society and humanity.” When those who invented something are telling you it’s extremely dangerous, head for the hills.

There was a brilliant cartoon in the New Yorker where an older man is depicted from high above, reading the paper at home. He cries to no one something like, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?! CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!”

If anyone can tell me what the hell is going on here, please report in as able. Good tick-checking, good despot/killer robot avoidance, and good day.

*Join my email list at annaikens.com to get asked my next question.