Valid arguments about fear. I suppose there could be a difference between a little bit of knowledge and common sense versus openly fearing something. It’s interesting the different fears that people have, for instance, mice. I had mice as pets as a child but many people are terrified if they see one running in the open. Or, I’m terrified of tornadoes but there are people that chase them down in the name of science and adrenaline! I don’t know that anyone can completely eradicate their fears, but learning to move forward in spite of them is an enviable ambition!

I still don’t like spiders though…

I think we tend to rationalize it by saying as you do, that it prevents certain things from happening (like spider bites, or jumping from airplanes). I think we can safely avoid all of those things without fearing the actions that would cause them. For instance, I can avoid a certain spider because I know the consequences of it’s bite – not because I fear the spider itself. Likewise, I can avoid jumping out of a plane because I know death awaits – it’s not fear of falling that keeps me in the plane necessarily (i.e. I would willingly jump out with a parachute). You don’t necessarily have to fear something to avoid it.

One could argue that fear is what gives governments power. They prey on the fears of their constituents in order to drive forward their agenda. At least, that’s what the Bush administration did.