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View Full Version : Irrational fear that I had for almost nine years- THAT I FINALLY FACED!



OceanWhisper
06-07-2015, 08:19 AM
So here goes! -read on if you don't get freaked out easily.-
When I was a little eight-year-old, I was youtube surfing, looking at mermaid videos. (Here comes the fear part) I clicked on one that said "mermaid found" and it had creepy music playing, and there was a very realistic, mummified-looking 'dead mermaid' laying on it's' back on the seaweed, looking straight at the camera. I showed my mum, and she thought it was pretty creepy too. (Anyway, I guess the whole time I knew it was fake, but it still scared the sh*t outta me. I'm pretty sure this is the reason I didn't think about mermaids positively until a few years ago.) I tried to face the fear and look at it about three years ago, but when I saw it it just brought back the nightmares and terror. I just couldn't do it.

Happy part now! - a few days ago I managed to get enough courage to track down the artist that made the sculpture, (without having to look at a photo of it) and sent him an email explaining that one of his works freaked me out for ages. (I apologised a heap of times, coz if someone said that about my artwork I'd get pretty angry) and he replied back today, being totally cool with it. He said about some of the materials that he used to make the sculptures, and talked about them as if they once were gentle creatures. This put my mind to rest a bit, and I eventually got enough courage to look at a picture of it properly. After almost nine years of having a stupid, irrational fear, I finally did it. I CONQUERED MY FEAR AND IT FEELS AWESOME.
I finally can look on youtube now without having to cover the side with the pictures of the videos, because the thing doesn't scare me anymore. The human mind is incredibly dumb sometimes.

Thanks for reading! I don't know why I had to say this, but I accomplished a long-time goal, and I wanted to share it. Peace out! Xx

Merman Dan
06-07-2015, 08:53 AM
Those mummified mermaids, most likely inspired by Feejee Mermaids (http://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/the_feejee_mermaid), have quite a history!

http://hoaxdata.s3.amazonaws.com/1842real_feejee.jpg

Now its the Jenny Hanivers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Haniver), fake sea creatures made from the bodies of stingrays, that I find both creepy and cool!

Ashe
06-07-2015, 12:35 PM
Aye good for you! I can understand a bit, some videos are just insanely creepy *shudders*

Talia
06-08-2015, 09:14 AM
Funny that I stumble upon this today! A while ago I was researching the Fiji Mermaid for a project that I am doing. Nothing creepy, I swear!

OceanWhisper
06-08-2015, 09:23 AM
Lol all good. Doesn't scare me anymore haha. If anyone wants to see stuff by the artist, here is the website. http://www.thefeejeemermaid.com some of the stuff is pretty freaky though haha

Sherielle
06-08-2015, 09:25 AM
That is fantastic!!! I used to work in a haunted house and we had some people who worked it get sort of freaked out by some of the props and masks there. I used to tell them to give them names like Bob or Shelly. Then it's not just SCARYOBJECTOMG!!! it's Bob.

OceanWhisper
06-08-2015, 09:25 AM
The one that I was terrified of is called 'O cruel sea'. I don't know why it scared me lol, there are much creepier things to be seen >.<

OceanWhisper
06-08-2015, 09:27 AM
That is fantastic!!! I used to work in a haunted house and we had some people who worked it get sort of freaked out by some of the props and masks there. I used to tell them to give them names like Bob or Shelly. Then it's not just SCARYOBJECTOMG!!! it's Bob.
Haha what XD but this was a serious fear, I legitimately had nightmares and everything.

Sherielle
06-08-2015, 09:31 AM
Haha what XD but this was a serious fear, I legitimately had nightmares and everything.Oh, I understand. And what you did with the artist is sort of the same thing. You broke it down to something familiar. Trust me, I TOTALLY get having irrational fears like this. I am applauding you!!!!
:yay:
:cheerleader:

Talia
06-08-2015, 09:40 AM
Thanks for the link, OceanWhisper! I actually enjoyed looking at them. I am weird, I know ;)

Even though some are indeed creepy, they are also kind of amazing. I mean, the craftsmanship and the imagination put into them... "O cruel sea" is indeed terrifying, with the bones adhered to the skin.

OceanWhisper
06-08-2015, 10:02 AM
Thanks for your kind words everyone :) :group hug: and Sherielle, yeah! I thought that by talking with the guy it might help, and it did :D

Talia- I get that too- the amount of realism and craftsmanship in those things is amazing! They're kinda cool when looking from a sculptors point of view. (Still freaky as hell tho haha) lol I wouldn't buy one >.<

Merman Dan
06-08-2015, 09:44 PM
Thanks for the link, OceanWhisper! I actually enjoyed looking at them. I am weird, I know

I had Noadi's Art (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Noadi) make a miniature feejee mermaid for me, a couple of years ago. :)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8582974638_ec1432e26d_z.jpg

Mermaid Jaffa
06-08-2015, 11:43 PM
I had Noadi's Art (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Noadi) make a miniature feejee mermaid for me, a couple of years ago. :)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8582974638_ec1432e26d_z.jpg

This one looks cute! The other one is super ugly!

OceanWhisper
06-09-2015, 01:33 AM
That actually does look cute >.< haha

but it's pretty cool tbh