Writers, politicians and regular folks have abused the word “phobia” a lot lately. It has been tacked onto every controversial idea in order to demonize people they disagree with. But let’s look at what “phobia” really means: an irrational fear. If you’re standing by a lake holding a golf club aloft on top of a barren hill in a rainstorm, and you’re afraid of being struck by lightning, is that a phobia? No. That’s a rational fear. If, however, you won’t leave the house on a sunny day for fear of being electrocuted, that’s an irrational fear. Read more