I believe the primal fear instinct is still with us we just don't need it anymore. Darwin doesn't mention the adrenaline rush perhaps because we hadn't found out about that yet but most of the symptoms he describes are products of this phenomenon. We have attempted to copy this feeling with roller coasters, haunted houses, action/scary movies and extreme sports like skydiving or aggressive downhill skiing/snow boarding. As a former water skier, I can tell you the acceleration and speed you get coming out of a turn and zooming across the wake on slalom are exhilarating.
I have been truly frightened for my life only twice. First time was in the Gulf two days out on a fishing trip when a squall hit. Seas got really rough with maybe 12-15 foot waves and we were literally surrounded by water spouts. Got so dark we couldn't see through the driving rain. We just headed up into the wind on our little shrimp boat and rode it out. I thought for sure we were going to capsize. The other time was during a shoot out in the street in front of my former house. That was much scarier because I felt so helpless. dj On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 10:07 PM, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > How can we distinguish primal fear instinct from what we mostly > experience these days as anxiety, paranoia or just plain worry. I > haven't been struck with fear in such a long time I don't think I can > remember what it is all about. What I perceive as fear really isn't > fear at all but a concern that things may not be going well, as with > the governments of the world, the order of peace and civility. > > Darwin describes fear: > "Fear is often preceded by astonishment, and is so far akin to it, > that both lead to the senses of sight and hearing being instantly > aroused. In both cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened, and the > eyebrows raised. The frightened man at first stands like a statue > motionless and breathless, or crouches down as if instinctively to > escape observation. The heart beats quickly and violently, so that it > palpitates or knocks against the ribs... That the skin is much > affected under the sense of great fear, we see in the marvelous manner > in which perspiration immediately exudes from it... The hairs also on > the skin stand erect; and the superficial muscles shiver. In > connection with the disturbed action of the heart, the breathing is > hurried. The salivary glands act imperfectly; the mouth becomes dry, > and is often opened and shut." > > This kind of fear probably only occurs these days in specific > situations such as involvement in a major accident, an attack by a > wild animal or in a combat situation. But for the rest of us does > this type of fear even exist? > We are afforded many safety provisions that eliminate that type of > fear. > Has our primal fear instinct subsided, have we become a civilization > of mere worry? > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
