When a Friend Wants to Go to Scary Fairs and You Are Terrified
We have a guy this week who wants to go to the fair with his buddy, but he is afraid to ride all the intense rides his friend gets excited about. Should he buckle up and buckle up or find a way out before he tosses the cordog onto your shoes?
Some people have problems that require the delicate advice of a qualified professional. Others just need a random guy on the internet to kick them in the teeth (i.e. honestly). I am the last one. Welcome back to Tough Love .
Note: I am by no means a therapist or medical professional. People ask for my advice, and I give them. End of transaction. If you have any problems, please submit a formal complaint here . Now that this doesn’t get in the way, let’s continue.
Hi, Patrick,
This week my best friend invited me to go with her to the country fair. Normally that would be great, except I’m intimidated by most of the rides they have at fairs like Zipper, Swing, or Tilt-a-Whirl. Later I found out that she is very happy to go with me because she wants someone to go with her to the really scary rides.
I know I’m a grown man, so I shouldn’t be so afraid of such trips, but they scare the hell out of me. But I also don’t want to let my best friend down or get her to invite someone else. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Scarris wheel
Hello Scarris Wheel :
I would like to start by not BEING SO LITTLE. This kind of controlled fear is good for you and is the best communication experience . Nothing brings people together like the general feeling that you have experienced something, you know? I bet after you manage to get past your first heartbreaking, nausea-inducing ride, you will feel an adrenaline rush that will carry you through the rest of your trips. Have a beer or two ahead of time and you will feel invincible.
However, you are definitely not invincible, and injuries on these rides – although unlikely – are possible. But you’re just as likely to get hurt on a mobile fair as on a fixed ride in a big amusement park , so if you’re not scared of fast things at Disneyland, you don’t have to be too scared here. However, maybe you have other options, Sir Winnie, that will make this experience interesting for both of you.
First, be honest with your friend. No need to try to impress her – she’s your best friend, after all – so let her know that really scary trips aren’t your cup of tea. Tell her you’ll ride all the less scary rides, watch cute animals, and eat all the delicious, artery-clogging great food (real killer), but that you don’t want to ride something called the Death Spinner. “If she wants to ride scary things, tell her you’ll take a photo of her during the ride, or go for a walk while she screams in her head. Who would refuse someone saying, “Have fun and I’ll go in line for beer and fried twinks!” Besides, why does it have to be just you two? Another simple option is to invite a third person to the fair – an acquaintance who loves to test his strength in the gravitron. Surely one of you knows someone who will ride the rides and have fun with. They can do scary things, and you can enjoy the rest.
Or you can drink it up, drop some liquid courage and scream bloody murder like everyone else. You will probably live.
That’s all for this week, but I still have a lot of frank and honest advice. Tell me what is bothering you? Maybe I can help. I probably won’t make you feel warm and misty inside, but sometimes you need tough love. Ask a question in the comments below or email me at the address you see at the bottom of the page ( please include “TIP” in the subject line ). Or tweet me #ToughLove ! Also, DO NOT E-MAIL ME IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR INQUIRY FUNCTIONAL AND PLEASE KEEP IT SHORT . I don’t have time to answer everyone for fun. “Until next time, figure it out yourself.