Why is darkness scary?

[The Infinite]

As many people have probably already said before, one does not fear the dark. Instead we fear what my be IN the dark. We fear the unknown and well the dark can obscure the unknown.

 

[Madara XIII]

It is not the darkness itself that frightens man, but what we PERCEIVE in the dark, whether it be a reflection of our fears, ourselves, or our overactive imaginations.

We fear what may lurk within that darkness, be it real or fictional.

Darkness itself is not scary, but the mind of humans is what makes it such an unwelcome and disturbing place to reside.



and with that said....

CACTUAR TIME!!!

FEAR THE CACTUS!!

 

[FalloutJack]

Actually, as a light-sensitive individual, I'm at home in the dark. Can see alright in it too.

 

[smithy_2045]

Since when was darkness scary?

 

[Freethinker101]

Well, darkness is technically all around us. What makes it scary is the unknown, or the fact we tend to see stuff, or that a creature (wolf,bear or cougar) might attack us when we are walking. Maybe after years of constant electrical light, were afraid to coming to the realization that one day we maybe in the dark for years to come. Though not much can be explained for those who are afraid, or maybe it is the realization we might be robbed, or killed, but if you think about it, when you were young you were afraid of a goblin or a boogieman in your closet, when you got older you were afraid of a burglar, maybe some people will forever be terrified of their surroundings in after hours.

 

[unholy weasels]

i liked the part in bioshock 2 where i walked around a corner and saw a hanging corpse and a couple of dead bodies i ignored it and walked into a kitchen, the music climaxed and went quiet for heaps long. i decided there was nothing interesting left and turned around to see that the hanging corpse that was there before was no longer there a stepped out and was attacked by three splicers freaked the crap outta me

 

[unholy weasels]

also its not the darkness that scares us its what the darkness hides.

 

[Fridge]

Let's think about this.

Nobody wants to be left in the dark. Even a place that has no horror elements in daylight,
a place or an area you might even know very well, becomes scary once it gets dark. A few people want to voluntarily stay in the dark, even if they know there's nothing in there with them...

Or is there people who are comfortable walking the streets and byways at night?

Are you clear that something is out there? Hiding and waiting, or is it just scary because we watch too many horror movies?

It is fascinating especially in modern times where we don't have to fear any predatory animals jumping out to kill us. Still, we stay close to our technological fires...our lights, where we feel safe.

Please tell me.

The reason I always came up with is because humanity as a race fear the unknown and the darkness makes everything an unknown as you can't see whats in front of you, it could be a tree or an axe wielding murderer.
It really doesn't help when you have a really overactive imagination.
But then I'm perfectly at ease walking around in the dark most of the time. Theres a 4 mile stretch of path called the Silken Way that most of my friends think I'm mad for walking down at 1 or 2am. Its got no street lights apart from maybe one or two at the beginning and the end. Thing is generally I'm the scariest thing on that path.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Let's think about this.

Nobody wants to be left in the dark. Even a place that has no horror elements in daylight,
a place or an area you might even know very well, becomes scary once it gets dark. A few people want to voluntarily stay in the dark, even if they know there's nothing in there with them...

Or is there people who are comfortable walking the streets and byways at night?

Are you clear that something is out there? Hiding and waiting, or is it just scary because we watch too many horror movies?

It is fascinating especially in modern times where we don't have to fear any predatory animals jumping out to kill us. Still, we stay close to our technological fires...our lights, where we feel safe.

Please tell me.

Its quite simple. Because we can't see whats in it and the human imagination is one of the most terrifying element in any medium. Take for example, JAWS. Yes it isn't in the dark but everytime the shark brings a victim down, you never see how he does it exactly. Now you tell me, what do YOU think he does to them?

 

[zombiesinc]

It's already been mentioned, but i'm going to agree using a quote from the greatest horror writer of all time, H.P. Lovecraft.

[i\]"The oldest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest fear is the fear of the unknown."[/i]

And I'm just going to quote you, because your quote is just that true.

 

[Nouw]

It's fear of the unknown. Damn it...

Also in our genes. Since Cavemen, they've feared darkness as it was the most dangerous time of the day and they had no idea what was going on. Extra Credits said it beautifully, it's our thirst to know.

 

[Malgorath]

The Doctor knows why! Cookie for getting the reference.

 

[lacktheknack]

snipp'd

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE.

That's enough to make darkness very unpleasant.

 

[WolfEdge]

Because creepers spawn in the dark.

...

Tsssss!

 

[Serenegoose]

I always imagine things in the darkness, reaching out and trying to grab me in every corner. My eyes play tricks on me and my imagination kicks into overdrive. When I turn the lights out, I actually have to leave the room REALLY QUICKLY or jump into bed as fast as I can - if the bed has an empty space below the legs, that's literally jump, if it's solid down to the floor I just run! My favourite little semi-hallucination is of this drowned looking old woman, all wrinkles and ratty hair with dead eyes and claws.

I know, it's silly. Knowing that hasn't helped me with any of this though.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

The dark is scary because you cant see whats there. There could be a monster, rapist, zombie, or maybe even your worst nightmare in there. Sure you cant prove it but you can DISprove it either.

I bet ive been ninja'd but im too lazy to read 5 pages of posts

 

[The Night Shade]

I see it this way if you are in the dark you can't see them but at the same time they can't see you

 

[Broken Orange]

What ISN'T scary about darkness? Just look at it!

Oh Shit! Don't do that again!

Dark is scary because we don't know what is there. The fear of the unknown.

 

[Dango]

As mentioned before, humans are afraid of the unkown, whether it's death, darkness, or what that thing under your bed is, if you don't know what something is, you're more likely to be scared of it.

 

[Amberella]

I've never been afraid of the dark.

I walk around in my house, basement in pitch black and it doesn't bother me.

I rather love the darkness. <3