Vox Pop: How scared are you?

Someone once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He was clearly wrong. There's loads to be scared about: murder, illness, pain, war, pollution, getting sacked, and fear itself. And that's ignoring obscure phobias. I knew a girl who was scared shitless of the stickers you get on fruit. If you put one on a light switch, she couldn't turn it on. So, how scared are the people of London?

Vaughn Porter, 28, trainee chef

Vice: Are you scared?

Vaughn: A little bit. Maybe a lot. I was kicked out when I was 16, I was on the streets, in hostels, prison. It’s a nasty world, it can also be a nice world, but there’s things you have to worry about. People are dying everyday.

Were you always scared?

I would go on like I wasn’t scared of nothing when I was a bit younger, but yeah I was scared. Deep down inside.

Do you have any phobias?

Needles, medication and I am allergic to the sun. So, the sun.

You’re allergic to the sun?

No, hay fever. I’ve got hay fever.

Easy mistake to make. What's the most scared you've ever been?

When I smoked a lot of weed at one stage in my life. I was really paranoid and I ended up in prison. In there it can be scary.

Felix Joeusson, 18, student

Vice: What scares you day-to-day?

Felix: Getting run over by a car in the street, maybe. Trams, getting hit by a tram.

When did you last encounter a tram?

In Barcelona.

Any phobias?

I’m pretty scared of groups of eggs that are, like, really close together. Like spider’s eggs.

Santi Reiser, 21, music producer

Vice: What scares you on a day-to-day basis?

Santi: General anger. There’s a lot of angry people in London.

Do you think we live in a fearful society?

Quite fearful, yeah. A lot of people are scared of things that they don’t really know. So, it turns into hatred and then anger. It all stems from fear. Fear of the unknown.

Do you have any friends with any weird phobias?

I’ve got a friend who just doesn’t go outside. He’s agoraphobic and literally can’t leave his house, which is quite weird. I don’t see him that often, it’s been a while.

How did you meet him if he doesn’t go outside?

I met him at school. It comes and goes, but at the moment it’s really bad. It’s OK when there’s loads of overpowering buildings, but as soon as he goes into the countryside or anywhere where’s there’s an open space he gets really overwhelmed.

Tim Gomersall, 32, musician

Vice: What is your greatest fear?

Tim: Falling down a pipe and not being able to get out. It’s never happened but I dream about it a lot.

I bet Mario and Luigi get that all the time. Any other fears?

I’ve got a phobia of buttons. I can’t go near plastic buttons.

What do you do when you have to wear a shirt?

I don’t wear shirts. I don’t wear suits. I wear elasticated clothes and t-shirts.

Milly Edge, 19, shop assistant

Vice: What scares you on a day-to-day basis?

Milly: Getting run over by a car. I got run over when I was 12.

What is your greatest fear?

Drowning.

Why do you fear it so much?

Because it’s a pretty slow death. Also, I’m a shit swimmer and I’ve always been scared of water.

Any ridiculous phobias?

Hearing people brush their teeth. I just don’t like the sound of it. I can’t stand next to someone brushing their teeth, I’m like, “Argh!”

Ailbhe Clyne, 24, gallery assistant

Vice: Do you like being scared?

Ailbhe: I don’t scare easily. I don’t get scared of scary movies or anything like that. I get more scared at the idea that I might not be able to pay the rent.

What scares you the most?

I guess my greatest fear would be the same as anyone else, like not succeeding in what I want in my life.

Is our society scared shitless?

I think that people are more scared than they let on.

What are they scared of?

I suppose just general things. I think that people are more afraid of failing, and things like keeping up with the Joneses. They’re afraid not to have things even though, at the end of the day, they're not really that important.

Andrea Bescean, 22, student

Vice: When have you been the most scared in your life?

Andrea: When I was 12, I got caught with a porno magazine in school. That was crazy.

Sounds bananas. Was it yours?

Yes.

Why did you have a jazz mag in school?

Because me and my two other friends were investigating new experiences and wanted to check things out. We went to the shop and stole it because, of course, no-one would sell it to us.

Do you still look at porn now?

No.

Milli Richards, 25, serial game show contestant

Vice: Is there anything you’re afraid of?

Milli: I’m scared of stingrays. Does that count?

Yes. Why are you scared of stingrays?

Because of what happened to Steve Irwin.

Yeah, that shit was messed up. Know anyone with a weird phobia?

My dad is scared of cotton wool.

What does he do when he needs to clean his ears?

He doesn’t.

Gross, the wax build up must be out of control.

He cleans them, he just doesn’t use cotton wool. You can rinse your ear with a bit of water, can’t you?

I'm not sure that would do the trick.

Maybe that’s why he’s deaf in one ear.