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Being a kid was not easy. The world was full of threats, and you could take nothing for granted. If you swallowed a seed, the plant would grow in your body. A psycho would hide behind the shower curtain every time you entered the bathroom. And for dessert, you could never skip a square when walking down the sidewalk, ‘cause you'd either get someone close to you in trouble, or (pick one) the plague would start.

Luckily, we are all past this point and as grown adults, most of these irrational fears are far behind us. But that doesn't mean we don’t remember them, since so many people on Twitter feel like it was yesterday. After one woman who goes by the Twitter handle @torY asked “did anyone else go through a phase as a kid where u were genuinely concerned ab the bermuda triangle?” it soon became evident that not only was she not the only one, but that there are many more threats we had to endure as kids.

So let’s see what things used to send chills down our spine right down below, and please remember, even if those fears may look unreasonable today, it doesn’t mean they weren’t real and distressing then.

#1

Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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Johnny
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember going to the elementary school library to research how to survive quicksand - I was convinced that I was bound to get stuck in a patch of quicksand on my way to school. Somehow I managed to avoid that hazard all my life despite its prevalence in cartoons and TV.

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    #3

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Lauren Caswell
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was scared of quicksand, piranhas and accidental body swaps or time travel XD overactive imagination and anxiety, me? Never XD

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    To find out more about fears among children, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Kristin Pleines, a clinical social therapist at Manhattan Play Therapy who specializes in doing trauma work to help young families and children. Kristin explained that irrational fears happen to kids of all ages, and there are very common fears that children in different age groups may experience.

    Kristin suggests that parents validate their child’s feelings first. “We want the child to feel validated, supported, and safe.” She gave an example of a seven-year-old afraid of being snuck up on by a snake—a child who has never even encountered a snake.

    “You might say something like, ‘I'm sorry you feel scared. We all get scared sometimes, and I know it's not fun. But there aren't any snakes in our house, and we aren't going to keep looking for them, because you're safe here. I think your brain is playing a little trick on you, so let's find a way to distract it!’”

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    #4

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Remi Flynne
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s something which lots of people think is a fact but there’s no law against driving with your interior lights on. But at night it can be distracting or interfere with your vision by reflecting off of the inside of the windscreen. If you’re pulled over and it’s decided that your light was a probable cause in any bad driving, you can expect to get a careless driving charge though.

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    #5

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a very common myth, so don't worry. ^_- Also the one with watermelon growing in your stomach if you swallow the seeds.

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    Another way is to get creative. “For example, you might pretend to be snakes and wiggle around, or start to research different kinds of unique snakes together. This is actually a type of exposure, which helps desensitize the child to his or her fear,” Kristin said.

    Usually, irrational fears tend to go away on their own as children develop. Only if the fear persists for more than a few months, or if it begins to interfere with the child's daily functioning, Kristin recommends that parents consult a therapist.

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    “For example, if a child begins avoiding situations that he or she previously enjoyed in an effort to avoid reminders of their fear, this is a sign that the fear might be better addressed with the help of a professional.”

    The therapist also explained that irrational fears can be caused by trauma, OCD, and anxiety, and “there is a particular nuance to addressing fears based on their underlying cause.”

    #7

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Monday
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to have this weird fear that if I were swimming I'd kick a dead body at the bottom of the pool...I have no idea why

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    #8

    30 Things People Found Terrifying As Kids That Look Less Scary Now

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    Simon Clarke
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm an outdoor teacher, teaching kids in a very muddy environment. In every single group of 30, someone will still ask "is there quicksand here". Must be some hangover from evolutionary stage that we still haven't shaken off.

    The Einstein
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I didn't. EVEN THOUGH, I did a passion project about it in 3rd grade. I was like, "Huh, that's cool."

    Sarahthecutevixen
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i was scared of the Bermuda Triangle until i realized I lived 1680 miles from it

    Susan Egan
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Quicksand was so popular on TV when we were kids. I didn't think much about it until my Aunt told me to stay downstream in the brook that passed her house. There was quicksand upstream. Was it true? I have no idea, never risked it. Bermuda Triangle wasn't a risk since I never got near it. Once I was older I thought it might be interesting to find out where things went that "disappeared'.

    Susan Moore
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Behind our trailer park, we had a flat muddy area it had quicksand so yes I was scared of it.

    Keryl Cryer
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also, flying in a plan over Russia because their government would shoot it down.

    Leslie Burleson
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Uh what is normal about dismissing these horrible threats to humanity ? It's 2020 for a few more months , anything can happen lol

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    #11

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Hubertus Touché
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With the farts my dad produced spontaneous combustion really didn't seem to be that far off to me...

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    #12

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    GirlFriday
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    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    SO MUCH YES!!! I didn't have a car seat as a child, I rode in the back of pick up trucks, I walked the bank of the Mississippi river alone, but GOD FORBID I should swim right after eating.

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    #13

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Lucas
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I enjoyed watching it but as kids we knew it was just an illusion. My parents must have been quite upfront and honest about most things.

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    #14

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Shelp
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's why you always answer your children's questions

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    #15

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It isn't poisonous but you can choke on it. https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/what-happens-if-you-eat-silica-gel

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    #16

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    GirlFriday
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    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My very first home had a basement and I was so terrified of this that the first thing I did in fixing it up was have a light switch installed at the top of the stairs. That was literally #1 on the fixer-upper list. My father (who was helping with the fixing up) was like, first thing should be get rid of the carpet, and I was like NO, BASEMENT LIGHTS CONTROLLED AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.

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    #17

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Celeste Grant
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a phase as a child where I thought eating spicy food might cause me to combust in my sleep so would have a long shower before bed... as water would stop any fire that had started inside me... sounds crazy but I guess there is some kid logic in there somewhere.

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    #19

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    Remi Flynne
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That isn't emphasising a danger, that is exaggerating and unreasonably scaring that poor child. Teaching care is one thing, giving people lifelong phobias isn't good parenting.

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    #21

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    Octavia Hansen
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the days of VHS tape, one of my friends pulled the FBI copyright warnings out of all his tapes and spliced them together in an empty cassette. 2 hours of FBI warnings! Very Andy Warhol-ish . . .

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    #22

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Queen Mab
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My concern was volcanos. I read a book when I was in grade school about a farmer in Mexico who saw a volcano erupt from his corn field. Mind you, I lived in Florida (before it became awful ) which is comprised mainly of sandstone with no tectonic plate with hundreds of miles. I was suspicious of every hole in the ground. Worried about it for years.

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    #23

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    troufaki13
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was scared that if I sat on the toilet too long, then a snake-like monster would emerge from the water and bite my ass

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    #24

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Bardhi's Dad
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know if every swimming pool have shark, but some of them certainly do. I'm sure!

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    #27

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Perfumista Perfumista
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Our dog got skunked so yes. I was terrified. I am allergic to tomatoes, so bathing in tomato juice would not have been an option for me.

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    #29

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If people keep destroying the habitat of animals, they must not be surprised when the animals move into the peoples habitat.

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    #30

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Lauren Caswell
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was 18 when this was released and tbh she creeped me out! I remember thinking that's a bit too much for kids. When her glasses and wig came off was one awful, but her talking to them and her creepy "cat" has to be the worst bit of that scene

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    #31

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Shelp
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm confident that my mind is f****d up enough to scare off any potential mind reader

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    #33

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Hubertus Touché
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, considering the average size they got these days I for one can truly imagine they might feel claustrofobic and trapped...

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    #34

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    #35

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    유림 오
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Idk as child I kinda didn't like them but my granny collects them . Had few in my room too but still alive and don't give a dump anymore I guess

    #36

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Hubertus Touché
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ever since a clown rules the white house my fear of these unreliable freaks has returned...

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    #37

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Liz DuBois
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I to am afraid of the dark and I only told my husband last week his answer fairy lights in our room instead of me leaving the bathroom light on until he came to bed I am still afraid of the dark but it's comforting I hope this help anyone who is afraid of the dark

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    #38

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    EA
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes! Still hate them (i’m 26) tripped on one when I was about 4/5, was nearly at the top. Clothes got caught In the shredder looking bit at the end, clothes then ripped, then my knee was all scraped and bleeding. It was hella scary

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    #39

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With the coronavirus situation, I'm so used to emergency warnings on our phones, but, oh my, when an earthquake happened a couple of years ago or so. We were in the office, and phones went "weeeeeeee! Apocalypse! The world is falling apart!" (that's how iPhones sound), and we all looked at each other, and I read it was an earthquake, and then we felt a slight vibration, and that's it.

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    #42

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Cuddles
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can hear this picture. D: (Although I was old enough to find it hilarious more than terrifying. "Reeeturn the slaaaaaab" "WHAT'S YOUR OFFER?!")

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    #43

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Levi Baker
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a dream once where my family was being chased by a dinosaur made out of macaroni noodles

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    #45

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    #47

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    #48

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Acceber
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I sometimes worried that not so much mind reading, but a giant thought bubble would play out what I was thinking abov my head and I would be unaware that everyone could see it

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    #50

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    Cuddles
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't go near the buoys. They'll kill me. Although my fear probably comes from being at the beach and having a teenager drown because they used to pile on one of the big ones and all jump off. He jumped off, got his foot caught in a loop of cable and drowned before anyone knew where he was. Pretty scary when I was just a little six or seven year old kid playing in the shallows.

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    #52

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The dodo is dead. It's extinct. ( Insert Monty Python Parrot Sketch )

    #53

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    #54

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Karin Lange
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a child, I was afraid of jet planes, especially the sonic boom. That was because of my grandma and mother's stories about the bombing in WWII.

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    #55

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Brett
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    W- why would you put your hair in a vending machine? Is hair some new weird currency I dont know about?

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    #56

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    Bardhi's Dad
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, you have to know that it's possible to get pregnant if someone touch your bellybutton, but only if you have sex at same time. 😉

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    #57

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, we just had normal demons under the bed. Alligators aren't native to Europe.

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    #58

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As long as you don't stand before a mirror in the dark and repeat her name 3 times, she's not coming to get you.

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    #59

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    Mike Crow
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was in the navy during this and was on watch in the Joint Operations Centre in CFB Esquimalt when this happened. We had a count down and when it hit zero we looked around and thought “Was it fake or did we just not make the cut for the rapture.”

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    #60

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    #61

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    #62

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now that's ridiculous because everybody knows that the Loch Ness monster can only survive in fresh water. The water in a college swimming pool isn't fresh...

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    #63

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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    #64

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    #65

    Things-Terrified-As-Kid

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