BACK TRACKING

Should we treat the familiar with contempt?

In the latest in his series recalling memorable walks and pathways, Will Gore reflects on how a mundane route – and an overactive imagination – can hold hidden terrors

Saturday 19 January 2019 12:52 GMT
Comments
Feeling sheepish: why fear the unknown?
Feeling sheepish: why fear the unknown?

It is easy to talk about fear of the unknown. In fact, fear usually arises from anticipated realities – situations we convince ourselves we will encounter (no matter how likely they actually are to occur).

Places we do not know well ought not intrinsically to scare us. True, if you happen to be completely lost in a strange place without a map, you might reasonably feel a little anxious; and there are certain parts of the world it wouldn’t do to roam alone.

But that is a matter of circumstance, not of location alone.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in