Why is darkness scary?

[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

 

[DeadEy3]

Darkness is different depending on what state of mind you are in. can be scary, soothing, depressing, or just plain sleep inducing(for all of us who don't use a nightlight).

It is scarier for the more imaginative and creative minds.

 

[AlwaystheUnlucky]

As Dune's Stilgar once said, its better to be in the dark with imaginary horrors than in the light where those horrors are real (okay, I paraphrased it).

 

[PastaSource]

Because we are told from birth that darkness is scary. Society conditions us to be afraid of the dark.

 

[SimuLord]

I've been outdoors in New York City at 3 AM. I feel very much at home and at peace with myself and the world around me under cover of darkness.

(indeed, I once went an entire month without turning the light on in my house. Still had the electric stove and my computer, but my power bill was only $49.)

 

[David_G]

It is not what you cannot see in the Dark that you fear.
It seems the masses have comforted themselves with the trite statement ?people fear the unknown.? Humanity finds a strange comfort in this statement. If people did indeed fear the unknown, this statement would be akin to locking eyes and spirit with that soul-rending horror which lurks unseen in the back of every human?s mind.
No, it is not what you cannot see in the Dark that you fear.
It is what you will see if you gaze long and hard into it. You will see that thing you ?know? you will see. You will attempt to assuage that sting of fear in your mind by numbly assuring yourself that it is simply a figment of the rampant faculties of the subconscious.
It is not.
Yes, we fear the Dark for a reason.
The reason is not what you think it is.