Many people I know have pet peeves and phobias. It’s pretty safe to say we all have certain things we find mildly unpleasant or totally horrifying. Andrew, 22, from Melbourne, Australia, talks to me about his severe dislike of household sponges.
Andrew and his arch-nemesis.
Miranda: Why don’t you like sponges?
Andrew: I don’t like the feel of them. The feel of them gives me goosebumps. It’s just grippy and– (groans) The same reason people don’t like fingernails down a blackboard. Just dry sponges. Wet sponges are not too bad.
M: What comes over you when you touch a sponge?
A: Goosebumps and you feel, (groans) you feel sick.
M: What’s the worst kind of sponge?
A: There’s no such thing. They’re all bad.
M: When did you first realize you didn’t like sponges?
A: I honestly don’t know. We’ve been using the detergent stick… it has a sponge at the end but you don’t have to touch it. I never liked it when I had to wash my car. I had a big sponge then.
M: What does this fear mean for you? What does it prevent you from doing?
A: Nothing, really. If I have to use one, I’ll use one. It prevents me from enjoying washing dishes.
M: Do people make fun of you?
A: Only you.
M: How do you get around your phobia?
A: It’s not a phobia, I’m not scared of them, I just dislike them. I get around it by not washing dishes, or by using the detergent stick.
M: Do you have any advice for other people with this fear/pet peeve?
A: Don’t tell anybody that you’ve got this pet peeve, because they’ll make fun of you and ask you lots of questions. Keep it in the closet.
M: How do you react to people when they laugh at your fear?
A: I just find something about them to laugh at. Ammunition against them. Find things that are funny about them.
M: So you’re saying this fear is something funny?
A: Yeah, it’s not a big issue anyway.
M: Can I post this on my blog?
A: Yeah, if you want. It’s an illness. You’re making fun of an illness.
