#CreepyLiminalSpaces: Why are these places supposed to be creepy? 🤔 As an avid horror reader who has seen all the trends like Jeff the Killer and cursed images, I just can’t wrap my head around it. I’ve worked in both construction and HR, and let me tell you, none of the stories about liminal spaces are scary to me at all. In fact, they’re downright boring! 😴
But I keep hearing about how these spaces are supposed to give people the heebie-jeebies. So, can someone explain to me like I’m five why liminal spaces are supposed to be “scary”? 🧐 Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Let’s get to the bottom of this mystery together. 💬 #LiminalSpaces #HorrorStories #CuriousMind 😱👻
The things that are scary are the things that are *almost* normal. It’s similar to the Uncanny Valley.
Through our lives, we develop an expectation of how the external world is supposed to work and what it is supposed to be like.
When we encounter something very strange and unlike anything we’ve ever experienced, our brains generally don’t know how to deal with it, so reactions and responses can be mixed.
It’s when you get something in between that we start getting a sense of unease. Something that looks like it is supposed to be normal, but is just *off*. We feel fear because fear is a natural response to something being wrong, it is a preparation of our flight or fight response since the unknown can contain hidden dangers.
So we have something that is just normal enough that we have an expectation of what it is supposed to be, but is also different enough that it creates a sense of something being wrong.
This, of course, can be countered by repeated exposure. Since you personally work in these kinds of environments, you have essentially built up a resistance. You’ve learned, through experience, that there is nothing wrong, so you have a slightly different experience of what is “normal” than most people.
The contrast between boredom and fear can be effective, making the scary stuff stand out more starkly.
IRL liminal spaces are probably the most scary because we’re often alone in them, visibility can be limited, and assaults happen in places like stairwells and parking garage access bridges.
Liminal spaces often have flat symmetrical walls which create stronger echoes. Echoes can be scary because they broadcast something’s presence before you can see them (and broadcast your presence to others).