NationStates Jolt Archive

I came across this conclusion earlier. Does this make sense to anyone?

#1 fear among human beings: public speaking.
#2 fear among human beings: death.

People would rather die than experience nevousness and stagefright from other people. Any thoughts?

That's actually well-documented. I don't know the inherent truth behind it, but it makes sense to me. How many times have you heard someone say they'd rather die than give a presentation to a class or a meeting or such?

That's actually well-documented. I don't know the inherent truth behind it, but it makes sense to me. How many times have you heard someone say they'd rather die than give a presentation to a class or a meeting or such?

You said it, man. I feel the same way. I know a bunch of people who don't get stagefright. None of them fear death really.


Proposition: maybe the real reason Americans are good at war is because of this fact. Americans like to talk a lot, therefore we have no fear, therefore we're unstoppable in combat!

Now what does that say about Vietnam?

Note to self: always debate with French, Germans, Russians, and Finlandians.

Public speaking has never been a problem. Why would I fear talking to people dumb enough to listen to me! ;)

Death? My views were best described with "Death is but a path we must all take...."

I guess the two are common fears, but by no means does everyone fear death or does everyone freeze holding presentations.
As for #2: It applies to most Christians. (though, if you've done everything right, why be afraid of death? Isn't paradise awaiting?)
Haven't you read the Harry Potter books? "to the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"? ;)
In Buddhism when you've fulfilled your life, when you've done everything right, then death is actually something positive, which will cut you out of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. So relatives celebrate peoples funerals, with loud music and tons of flowers and such.
And #1 comes from our cultural upbringing. This fear of public speaking is not equally strong in all countries. As a matter of fact I have found Americans to be quite self-confident in public speaking.
You might want to say that these generalizations apply to many people, but never to everyone.

Note to self: always debate with French, Germans, Russians, and Finlandians.

Eh? French and Russkies are unbeliveable motormouths. You are right about the Finns though. We are comfortable keeping out mouths shut... And we can do that in several languages!

I came across this conclusion earlier. Does this make sense to anyone?

#1 fear among human beings: public speaking.
#2 fear among human beings: death.

People would rather die than experience nevousness and stagefright from other people. Any thoughts?
Seem to me a lot of people have self-esteem problems

That's actually well-documented. I don't know the inherent truth behind it, but it makes sense to me. How many times have you heard someone say they'd rather die than give a presentation to a class or a meeting or such?

at least if you are dead nobody will think your presentation is stupid

It's just like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane in flight ... do it often enough and you don't *look* scared.

I guess the two are common fears, but by no means does everyone fear death or does everyone freeze holding presentations.
As for #2: It applies to most Christians. (though, if you've done everything right, why be afraid of death? Isn't paradise awaiting?)
Haven't you read the Harry Potter books? "to the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"? ;)
In Buddhism when you've fulfilled your life, when you've done everything right, then death is actually something positive, which will cut you out of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. So relatives celebrate peoples funerals, with loud music and tons of flowers and such.
And #1 comes from our cultural upbringing. This fear of public speaking is not equally strong in all countries. As a matter of fact I have found Americans to be quite self-confident in public speaking.
You might want to say that these generalizations apply to many people, but never to everyone.

Most Christians, or most of the Christians you happen to know?

I'm happy enough doing either.