Afraid of me

[breakinglight11]

Tonight I was told, not for the first time, that people are afraid of me. Unsure of what to make of this, I wrote in my Honesty Box on Facebook asking if anyone found this to be true. Not ten minutes later, I recieved this response:

"jesus phoebe. you're gorgeous, smart, judgmental, and don't need anything. any minute you're going to decide that i'm worthless. i'm terrified of you."

I... know even less what to think.

Comments

[morethings5.livejournal.com]

Well, Phoebe, I will provide you with an honest response sans anonymity. I also think you're gorgeous, smart, and judgmental. I'm not so sure about the "don't need anything" part, because I think everyone needs something. And I *might* be afraid of you if I thought you were so wanton and cruel as to decide that I'm worthless on a whim. But I don't think you'll do that, because I respect you and trust you. So I don't think this person knows you well enough, though I can see why those with fearful personalities might find you to be someone worth fearing.

[darkoni]

I didn't realize people were afraid of you.

Regarding the response you got, I'd say that the person is more afraid of the situation than anything and not actually you. The fear is just getting attached to you in that case.

If that person's fear is not justified, then it might be worth saying something. Knowledge of a situation can help reduce its fear of it.

[hanasaseru.livejournal.com]

You're a pretty, strong, and confident woman. That's easily intimidating to a lot of people, I think.

[londo.livejournal.com]

I'm not afraid of you on any level, but I'm a fellow member of the "sometimes people are afraid of me" club, so perhaps this is not surprising.

We should go around terrifying people some time.

[bronzite.livejournal.com]

At least people tell you these things. I've spent a big chunk of my post-college life being feared by one segment of the population or another, and I think people might fear you for the same reason they feared me for a while; I had enough social clout at the time that if I decided that somebody wasn't worth my time, or actively deserving of my ire, not only would I be against them, but my opinion would influence the opinions of my others around me, and they might find themselves cast out of an entire group. So it may not be your intrinsic attributes they fear, but the power over others that you wield, perhaps without ever really thinking about it.

[flyingstalins.livejournal.com]

well, just think of it this way, keeps your options open and smooth for turning heel and becoming a super-villainesse, if you so choose. That's the way I've decided to keep an upside on people's irrational fears of me.

(though honestly, honesty box can be pretty frightening itself)

[laurion]

Maybe I'm too ignorant to be terrified, or maybe you're just too cool. Maybe I don't want or need anything from you, so I don't need you to want or need anything from me.

Yes, you're gorgeous, smart, and judgmental. And perfectly capable of judging that yo don't want to hang out with me any more. I'd be sad yes, but ultimately it's no skin off my nose, so the prospect inspires no fears.