Startle

[beetiger]

I have a slightly odd startle reflex. When someone sneaks up on me, and is basically there when I don't expect them to be, I jump. Only not right away. I take about a full second to realize they are there, in my personal aura of space, and *then* I jump. And vocalize, usually something very stereotypical like "Aaahhh!". It really disturbs people who didn't think they were sneaking up on me.
The night guard at my office, who is one of the very few folks here who seems to sincerely like me, did this to me today at the microwave, where I was reheating some rather solid soup with some milk for a lazy at my desk sort of dinner.

I think I inherited this from my father. Although he was overall a gentle man, I remember him once almost hitting my brother with a large amount of force, because he came up behind him while he was playing pinball, and he swung around, fists flying, before consciously realizing what was going on. (Greg ducked, and he missed.)

I expect a nice strong Moro reflex from the baby.

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

This post made me recall a disease known as Jumping Frenchmen of Maine Syndrome, which I once heard about in class as an engaging example of neural wackiness in autosomal recessive diseases. (Of course, there's one paper that refutes the genetic theory and sets it all in a psychological court, but who really knows?)

The more I observe of how my mind works, the more worried I get. :}

[beowabbit]

This has nothing to do with anything, but I send you a great big hug.

(I guess if I were giving you the hug in person and you didn’t notice for a moment, it might have something to do with something.)

[koogrr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, know what you mean. I and my sister react in similar ways. (oh... I'd have so much fun sometimes). Occasionally I'll flinch out of sleep at the people nearby too.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I do the same thing. Nice to know I'm not alone. Let's form a club.