NJ's most common fear (it's NOT property taxes)

It was a small, simple news story. It should have been taken as fun news. But instead it filled me with dread.

Six Flags Great Adventure had announced it will soon be reopening El Toro, their flagship wooden roller coaster. It was 10 months ago that over a dozen people were injured on the ride after the cars they were riding in jolted on the track. Apparently, it had to do with structural failure with support beams. The investigation is still open. No opening date has yet been set for El Toro.

I don't like roller coasters. In fact, I hate them. The embarrassing truth is, I fear them. It's irrational. I don't know why.

Ingram Publishing

I'm not afraid of heights. I can stand at the ledge of any building or the Grand Canyon, no issue. I'm not afraid of speed. I once drove at 147 mph. I'm not afraid of twists and turns. I once did a ride along on a jet fighter with the Navy acrobatic flying team the Blue Angels. In fact, I've even done a skydive. Loved it.

So why am I afraid of roller coasters? No clue. Like I said, I know it's irrational. That's what makes it a phobia.

Ingram Publishing

Now I don't know of other people who share mine. There must be some. But I found this interesting list of what's supposed to be the number one phobia by state. Why would fears vary from state to state? Hell, I don't know, why did someone I know of become absolutely petrified at the sight of a ketchup packet? True story.

But yourlocalsecurity.com did a study of the top fear in every stare by using a search of nearly 40 "fear of" terms combined with Google trends data. The results are interesting.

Here's the list of states and each one's top fear. When you get to New Jersey's see if it surprises you.

😨 Alabama

Fear of Public Speaking

jacquesdurocher

😨 Alaska

Fear of Needles

😨 Arizona

Fear of Holes

😨 Arkansas

Fear of People

😨 California

Fear of Failure

😨 Colorado

Fear of Holes

😨 Connecticut

Fear of Holes

Armastas

😨 Delaware

Fear of Holes

😨 District of Columbia

Fear of Commitment

😨 Florida

Fear of Snakes

😨 Georgia

Fear of Snakes

randimal

😨 Hawaii

Fear of Heights

😨 Idaho

Fear of Needles

😨 Illinois

Fear of Public Speaking

😨 Indiana

Fear of Spiders

😨 Iowa

Fear of Clowns

eldinhoid

😨 Kansas

Fear of Holes

😨 Kentucky

Fear of Holes

😨 Louisiana

Fear of Public Speaking

😨 Maine

Fear of The Dark

😨 Maryland

Fear of Spiders

😨 Massachusetts

Fear of Failure

😨 Michigan

Fear of Holes

😨 Minnesota

Fear of Water

😨 Mississippi

Fear of People

stevanovicigor

😨 Missouri

Fear of Spiders

😨 Montana

Fear of Flying

😨 Nebraska

Fear of Holes

😨 Nevada

Fear of Heights

😨 New Hampshire

Fear of Flying

AlexeyPetrov

😨 New Jersey

Fear of Public Speaking

😨 New Mexico

Fear of Holes

😨 New York

Fear of Public Speaking

😨 North Carolina

Fear of water

Getty Images/iStockphoto

😨 North Dakota

Fear of Needles

😨 Ohio

Fear of Blood

😨 Oklahoma

Fear of Water

😨 Oregon

Fear of Water

😨 Pennsylvania

Fear of Failure

😨 Rhode Island

Fear of Holes

😨 South Carolina

Fear of Holes

😨 South Dakota

Fear of Needles

(Getty Stock)

😨 Tennessee

Fear of Being Alone

😨 Texas

Fear of Snakes

😨 Utah

Fear of Clowns

😨 Vermont

Fear of Needles

😨 Virginia

Fear of Blood

😨 Washington

Fear of Spiders

😨 West Virginia

Fear of Clowns

😨 Wisconsin

Fear of Water

😨 Wyoming

Fear of Flying

Does this sound right for New Jersey? Fear of public speaking? Aren't we more outspoken than anyone? Isn't it nearly impossible to shut us up? But that's what the data showed.

I don't know. Crunch a different set of numbers you'll get a different answer. Example. Last year according to this article by Kylie Moore different stats showed New Jersey’s biggest fear was long words. I guess you could combine the two phobias and have to publicly speak really long words and have a total mental breakdown.

New Jersey's Most Terrifying Serial Killers

New Jersey Nightmares - Notorious Serial Killers

What would happen to NJ if we were attacked by nuclear weapons?

We used NUKEMAP by Alex Wellerstein to see what would happen if a nuclear warhead hit New York, Philadelphia, Washington or New Jersey.

The models show what would happen in aerial detonation, meaning the bomb would be set off in the sky, causing considerable damage to structures and people below; or what would happen in a ground detonation, which would have the alarming result of nuclear fallout. The models do not take into account the number of casualties that would result from fallout.

LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library

In 2017, NASA opened the digital doors to its image and video library website, allowing the public to access more than 140,000 images, videos, and audio files. The collection provides unprecedented views of space. Stacker reviewed the collection to select 31 of the most breathtaking images, including the first from the James Webb Space Telescope. Keep reading to see these stunning images, curated with further information about the captured scenes.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

You can now listen to Deminski & Doyle — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite afternoon radio show any day of the week. Download the Deminski & Doyle show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now.

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.