Another of life's mysterys (mysteries?)

C

Cliff Hatton 2

Guest
Sorry, Guys....nothing to do with fishing.....Why is it that no matter how slowly and stealthily you make your way across a darkened room (middle of night pee / black-out / whatever) the slightest contact with your head sends you reeling and feels like a viciously-wielded baseball-bat? And you were being SO careful...... I ask this purely because I've never seen the question posed before and I like the idea of being a pioneer; nonetheless, the question is a valid one.
 
B

BAZ (Angel of the North)

Guest
It's probably an in built fear of the dark, and not knowing what is there. I suppose that because it is dark and you can't see anything, then that message relays to your brain that there is nothing in front of you. And then something or other proves it wrong.

Another one of lifes mysteries is why do some people limp when they have a headache or trap their fingers?
 
captain carrott

captain carrott

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2003
Messages
12,698
Reaction score
4
i sympathise with this entirely.

it was only the other week i stood up out of bed in the dark and walked straight into the bedroom door end on, the part where the lock sticks out of.

it hurt like hell.
 
Dicky (Angling Trust PAC)

Dicky (Angling Trust PAC)

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Messages
2,437
Reaction score
1
Location
The West
I think it is the shock Cliff,

In even the fastest moving accident in daylight you have time to brace/ expect the incident, in the dark the surprise adds a massive boost of adrenalin to any unexpected collision which makes it more disturbing/ painful.

Just a thought...

Baz,

Those limpers are just drama queens /forum/smilies/wink_smiley.gif
 
W

Wolfman Woody

Guest
Cliff,

You should take out Personal Accident Insurance so next time you bang your head you'll get a lump sum.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Woody has left the building!/forum/smilies/i_dont_know_smiley.gif
 
Graham Whatmore

Graham Whatmore

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Messages
9,147
Reaction score
9
Location
Lydney, in the Forest of Dean
The darkness is just another version of the unknown and we are frightened of the unknown, the shock of bumping into something makes us think it hurts more than it actually does because of this fear. Next time you walk in the dark think to yourself that you expect to bump into something and you willfind it is a different experience.
 
paraman the pre-hospital care qualified blanker

paraman the pre-hospital care qualified blanker

New member
Joined
Nov 4, 2004
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Location
Burton upon Trent
Physiologically speaking it is because it is an unexpected event, as you didn't see it coming and therefore didn't have brain time to anticipate what was going to happen and then moderate your reaction.

An unexpected contact results in a sequence of events where the nerve impulses travel to the spinal column, but instead of heading to the brain, it arcs across the spinal column and sends out a quick 'move you silly pudding' message before the brain can say 'hey, it's only a door'!

In the same way, if you're not looking but someone touches you with a hot plate, you will jump a mile. However, if you're carrying the plate with a freshly mademeal on it, your hands will be telling you to drop it and your brain will be yelling 'don't be stupid -that's your dinner!' What wins is a matter of pain threshold!
 
C

Cliff Hatton 2

Guest
Blimey! Didn't expect that lot! What a marvellous response! I'll bear in mind all those rational explanations the next time I drive my little toe against the edge of a door....
 
M

Matty C

New member
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
in the spirit of asking questions that dont get asked... you can turn a light on, and you can turn a light off, and you can turn a light out, so can you turn a light in ?
 
C

Cliff Hatton 2

Guest
Matty....just as an aside.....ever thought why we 'turn' a light on - even though it's a switch? It must come from the days when we turned the little wheel on oil lamps....
 
D

david bruce 1

Guest
Cliff

I to specialise in catching my little toe on the door edge. Jezzz but it hurts. I split mine in half this way when in a rented house on holiday. Had to stay in the bathroom for hours so as not to bleed all over thebeige carpets.

Reminder - Must get a pair of slippers AND put them on /forum/smilies/smile_smiley.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top