Shannon's Journal Discussion

[Shannon]

Just read the post I linked wrote by shannon, it begins with "All fears are unhealthy and unnecessary."
http://subliminal-talk.com/thread-5838-p...l#pid89452

With respect I disagree with him then. The fear that stops you walking off the edge of a cliff, or stepping into traffic or putting your hand in a fire are very healthy. Millions of years of evolution created fear to avoid danger, it stopped you fighting a sabre-toothed tiger or a much bigger human adversary. Or, if you had to fight, fear made you produce the adrenaline and other hormones to be able to fight effectively. Trouble is, it can feed on itself and become irrational, inappropriate, or excessive, and inappropriate fear can even be transmitted to you when very young by those around you.

It may take 1000 years before the general population realize what Shannon just explained in this post. Fear is not useful anymore if you are able to think for yourself and avoid danger by being smart. Fear is useful for animals because they can't think for themselves.

That would be true if you could avoid all danger with rational thought, but you can't. If a mad dog or crazy human attacked you in a completely unpredictable way, for example, the fear would produce hormones that could save your life. They would give you much greater strength and energy to fight or run away. Without fear you would be at a great disadvantage in that situation.

Hormone production, distribution and chemical uptake/response would likely be happening while you were dead if a dog attacked you. They're not instantaneous, as is the rational awareness that "Hey, this hurts, and I don't want it to happen" or "Hey, that dog might kill me, better do something about it."

Without fear, you would be in the same situation, and likely able to function better because you would be rational and not be shaming like a leaf.