Fear of the Unknown

I was watching television the other day when a commercial for Purell hand sanitizer came on. In the commercial, the soothing female voiceover informed the audience that Purell was the most trusted brand of hand sanitizer because it was proven to kill more germs than their competitors. I'm on the couch with a look on my face that is the physical embodiment of "Whaaaaat?"

I'm not so good at science. I'm sure there are lots of scientific ways to test exactly how many germs are killed by a dollop of hand sanitizer, but all I could think while watching this commercial was that it might all just be a big hoax. Maybe, just maybe, hand sanitizer doesn't do anything at all; it's just another way we are being convinced to spend our money. Because how do we, the consumers, really know if it's working? We don't. We have to trust that someone with microscopes or something sciencey has done the research to prove that Purell really does get rid of the most germs. But we can't tell this just by looking at our hands. You can't see germs. All we get are damp hands and that pungent, yet satisfying, clean smell.

More than any of that, this commercial made me think about how we, as humans, are so often terrified by invisible predators. We can't see germs, but we do everything we can to protect our homes and bodies from them. We are terrified that these unknowable germs could harm us in some way. Just look at some of the movies involving disease and infection epidemics. There's Contagion (2011), I Am Legend (2007), and 28 Days Later (2002). And those are only the one's I've heard of! There are plenty more.

We are obsessed with the invisible predator, but what other kinds are there, besides germs? What about a different kind of germ--a virus. Every time a friend posts a strange link on my Facebook timeline I hesitate to open it because I'm afraid it will give me a virus, destroying my computer (and therefore my life) with one ill-advised click. We're afraid of virus', those mysterious hackers who can wipe out our bank accounts from across the globe with complete anonymity, identity theft, and sexual predators. The online world, unique in the fact that it does not physically exist even though we spend so much of our time there, brings about a special kind of fear that is very similar to being wary of germs.

What else? I would say, the government. It's no new thing for people to be afraid that Big Brother is watching them, but I've been seeing this fear show up more and more in mainstream media. The invisible, judging eyes of the government, Big Brother, terrorists, God, Dr. Eckleburg--whoever, strike fear into our hearts.

The idea of being watched without knowing it and not being able to watch in return is frightening, and reminded me of the fear of aliens--extraterrestrial creatures that we did not know about or understand, but who knew all about us and were bent on our destruction. You don't have to think too hard to come up with an exhaustive list of books and movies covering this topic.

Thinking about aliens made me realize that we might not be afraid of the unseen so much as the unknown. While not knowing can create a healthy curiosity and thirst for life, it can also breed terror. Think about it. Why are you afraid of the future? Because you don't know what will happen. Why are you afraid of death? Because the afterlife (if it exists) is unknowable. Why are you afraid of the dark? Because you can't see what's there.

I should probably end this by saying something philosophical, but instead I'll just advise you to embrace the germs. Try not to worry about the aliens. And, if you must, put on some night vision goggles--though you'll probably sleep better without them.

Stiffness

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from running too far

Running for miles, dawn to dusk, again

There is sweat and ache

And a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about running

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from walking too long

Waling everywhere, without care,

Direction, and purpose

With a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about walking.

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from standing all day

Standing straight and firm much too long

The work is never done 

It brings stiffness 

Or maybe it's from thinking about standing

There's a stiffness in my joints

That comes from sitting at least

Sitting through old and hard and sad

Why did I ever stand?

There is a stiffness

Or maybe it's from thinking about sitting.

There is a stiffness in my joints

That comes from flying at night

Flying up to places unreal

For they are too perfect

For the stiffness

Or maybe it's from dreaming about flying.