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I've feared this for as long as I can remember. The colors, the setup, the buzzing, even the name sends a shiver or two. I try not to get near it (open or closed), and I either hide it or desperately beg the players to move/stop when I must stay. I understand being somewhat creeped by a child's toy - Is it normal to have a full fear of it?
Wow. I thought I was the only one.
When I was 4 my mother bought the game for me, and it was terror at first sight. The look, the sound- the entire package. Growing up I was the only kid who DIDN'T want to go to toy stores because of this fear.
This fear CONSUMED me. I mean, completely. Birthday parties were terrifying, any store with a toy section. My whole life revolved around it. I was teased about it, even by my parents.
THE NAME terrified me too! I just RECENTLY faced it (I'm 19 now) and I feel better about it- I actually cried with relief when I forced myself to face it... but still, it affects me negatively- I don't avoid it as much as I used to, but it definitely causes shivers.
Please know you're NOT ALONE!!! I can't believe someone else has this phobia!
I know how terrible it is... and how embarrassing it is!
Best of luck!
I have yet to face it, and I still run for my life when the commercial comes on. Toy aisles are the danger zones, and if I lay eyes on it from a distance, I have to plan carefully what I want to do - Should I go somewhere else? Do I really need to go in there? If so, is there a way I can make it to where I can't see it?
As a kid, it didn't matter how good of a time you were having; if you take that game out, I'm going into a full-blown panic. Period. The idea that we actually owned the game was terrible. Nowadays, I avoid it whenever possible, although I don't think I'm as consumed by it as before.
your fears are your own, no one can blame you for that. Also, IT IS CREEPY, ISN'T IT! maybe you have a really low threshold for medical stuff or...JUST REMOVING SOMEONE ELSE'S INNER ORGANS!
I'm so glad that the internet was invented so I can finally take comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one plagued with this intense fear! I actually knew the ramifications of a real surgery, which didn't help at all. I remember one Christmas my parents bought it for me in hopes of exposure would help my fear because going into toy stores went from a positive experience to lots of fear real quick. Needless to say it backfired tremendously. I threw the thing (this is the second version of it I had gotten this year) and cried. They forced me to play a round and set everything up. No amount of bargain, pleading, or shear panic could get me to play. Finally they got me to do one through teary eyes and in the middle of a full blown panic attack so of course I didn't get it, I which made the fear even worse. They angrily packed it all away and I took it and shoved it under my bed. Eventually they went in and got rid of it. The newer versions I'm fine with especially the ones that are like Paw Patrol themed but I'll never forget that. The thing is when I was super little my older brother had it and I WANTED the game desperately, then I saw that commercial and something snapped in my little brain and it was all over.
In my experience, my snap moment was at KB Toys when my Sister got to pick whatever board game she wanted and chose Operation. At first, I was glad: "Yes! I can finally play this at home!" type of feeling (I would play it at family friends houses) but seconds later it turned to full blown panic. At first, Mom thought I was being a brat. But time went on and she realized I wasn't but had a sudden and unexplainable fear of my then-favorite board game.
Also, did you happen to have any similar fears of other board games around the same time like the game of life or ouija?
I was afraid of Operation until I was in High School. I conquered it while Christmas shopping with my cousin shortly after mistakenly looking at the Windows 9X PC game on the wall behind the clerk, turning around to look at the opposite wall and temporarily finding myself paralyzed in fear after discovering it was on that wall's shelf also. Mostly the fear would make me look away the moment I could move again when similar happened at other stores before that day, but at that time I could finally keep looking at it and finally gathered the courage to go face the board game at the store next door after I looked at the entire PC box.
Oh my god I thought I was the only one. From ages 2 til about 16 (21 now) just looking at the damn box gave me a panic attack. I don't know what it is about this game but it still skeeves me out. I'm fine with real body organs (I've dissected multiple animals for classes without flinching, seen far more graphic stuff in movies) but the thought of someone being tied up and forced operated on has always scared me to death. The newer versions of the game are less jarring and I can play them fine but that old school commercial still makes my heart race.
the thought of taking a booger out of his arm and a dog out of his belly XD thats some scary stuff man scaaaaary stuff(im trying to be kind i am quite fond of the game)
I hated it as a kid too, mainly because I always thought the sparks that came out when you touched the side might cause a fire and burn the house down.
The first time i played operation my friends tampered with it so that when it buzzed i actually got alot of volts that shocked me. I can udnerstand the phobia. It can come in strange packages or games, or anything really. I have a friends scared of pickles.. its wierd. But I was like you a few years back. Clown makeup totally petrifyed me. Anything resembling that would get me into histerics. Then i finally confronted my fear by dressing up as a clown. I think i nearly scared myself to death.
I do hope you can overcome your fear of this. Come the day you have children if you dont already, it will allow for alot better holiday shopping :D
Agree w/ the previous comment, that's understandable about the sound, but nothing else about it is scary. Unless you're making this up...
I don't know. When I was little I used to like to put bugs in the holes. It's all good. Don't worry about it :)
...this was normal when I we were say five? I understand not-liking the sound, but fear of the colors??! Really, you're grown!