“Social anxiety is the fear of interacting with other people, which can bring on intense feelings of self-consciousness. Put another way, social anxiety is the fear of being judged negatively by other people, leading to feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation and depression.”

Let’s just face it. Sharing is a little scary. We all know the feeling when the teacher singles you out for talking in class. You do not even realize that she is staring at you. Once you do realize it, and look up, the teacher looks you in the eye and says: “If it is such a great story, would you like to share it with the rest of the class?”

Of course not.

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Today, I wrote a new "fear column" for Aalto EE's Profile, and realized I probably hadn't posted my previous one so here it is.

Fear is a survival mechanism. Fear keeps us alert, on our toes. And it’s primal. According to neuroscientific research, the neural circuitry underlying fear is highly conserved in mammalian species, from rats to humans. In other words, fear mechanisms and systems are so fundamental that they’ve been carried over through the biggest of changes, the many, many slow changes that have made us us: the evolution.

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Phobophobia is a phobia which is defined as the fear of phobias, or the fear of fear, which includes intense anxiety and unrealistic and persistent fear of the somatic sensations and the feared phobia ensued. Phobophobia can also be defined as the fear of phobias or fear of developing a phobia. It differentiates itself from other kind of phobias by the fact that there is no environmental stimulus per se, but rather internal dreadful sensations similar to psychological symptoms of panic attacks.

Here’s a brain twister: The fear of fear. As if it’s not enough to be afraid of something, especially since there are a lot of phobias to be afraid of.

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The airport is quiet. Only two international flights remain for today, and only one from this particular part of the terminal. Most of the shops are closed, only one coffee shop serves its customers.

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Why do people often run as fast as they can all the way to the street, then look around, and finally walk across it, slowly? Why not just keep running?

If they're afraid of getting hit by a car, walking slowly is not going to help.

Is this one of the predictably irrational decisions we make? (And when I say "we", I mean "they." I run, baby.)

Twenty years ago, I wanted to become a Hallmark card writer. I thought that it took a special talent to make a joke in such a small space, with only one element of surprise - the turn of the page - available.

Still do.

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I'm about to hit the road, going on a quick trip to the old country. I thought I'd update this blog as I go, so .. stay tuned.

12.25: "No, I don't live in Sweden," I said to her. Not that there's anything wrong with it - naturally. I just didn't want to hear her pitch about the benefits of having an American Express card.

I had one, a long time ago. I think I used it once.

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Why is it that few artists remain as successful on their solo careers as when they're in a band? The first ones that come to mind are The Beatles. No matter what you think of Imagine, or Got My Mind Set On You, or anything by the Wings, I think we can agree that the Beatles was greater than the sum of their parts.

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