Anatidaephobia

-"The fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you."

This comes from a Far Side strip by Gary Larson published years ago (thus the quotation marks).  The word has snuck into some popular culture (the nerdier side), mostly based on the fact that it's really damned funny.  Maybe I've just hung out with some of the very nerdiest of nerds, but I've heard people use the word anatidaephobia to describe the sensation of impending doom, and I really like it for that.  Using it as such is, I suppose like a nerd secret handshake that lets other nerds know what you are.  Then again, you spout off about anatidaephobia, and norms might have the distinct impression that something's up.  So maybe it's like a really obvious secret handshake: everyone knows that something's going on, but only those who are hip to it will know quite what.

(photo dramatization)

Comments

[Rayquaza]

O_O A duck is watching me,OMG.

[Air Jordan]

Tomorrow is an other day!@