Hacker News Reader

Comment by anoncoward111 | Hacker News Reader

Eh, I hate flying and I have a ton of anxiety. But when I'm on a train in a tunnel, theoretically I can't see anything and it doesn't bother me too much.

View on HN

There's a big difference between being on a train in a tunnel and being in a plane several thousand feet in the air.

I am acutely aware of that difference- however, both scenarios are enclosed tubes.

And your brain is wholly enclosed in a sphere anyway, which itself is part in your body, so you kind of spend your whole life encased in a tube with no way out! Thus, rationally proving that claustrophobia is a myth and anyone claiming to suffer from it is no more credible than a flat-earther!

yes this is sarcasm

I literally suffer from claustrophobia and agoraphobia you sarcastic nitwit

I'm trying to explain to you that a window with some clouds does not alleviate my claustrophobia. So, whether the windows are virtual or not make no difference to me, even if one malfunctions...

Jesus

In a train tunnel you could be suddenly be crushed by rock or water. You have time to contemplate your fate in a plane.

Which is funny because I don't think I have a ton of anxiety but this was exactly what I was thinking. I was once stuck for a bit on a NYC Subway and I found it deeply deeply unsettling.

The train has window. In my experience tunnels are always lit a little bit and you can see the wall passing by. Also it's rare to stay in a tunnel for more than a few minutes.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com