I like to think of myself as pretty manly. I like the outdoors. I like video games, sports, and action movies are pretty kick-ass. My idea of an awesome vacation includes me in the woods with nothing but a sword and fighting 5 rabid bears with aforementioned sword.

However, I do have a small phobia…of blood. If I see it…I tend to pass out pretty quickly.

When I was 14 I cut my thumb pretty deeply playing with my Swiss Army knife. The bleeding didn’t stop for what felt like hours (read: three minutes) and it was gushing blood (read: slow dribble). After keeping running water on my thumb for about 30 minutes (read: 15 seconds) I ran downstairs to find my parents to inform them that their son was spontaneously a hemophiliac and that medical attention would be required. In addition, I was apparently quite pale and I was already seeing white spots all over.

My mother, put my thumb under the faucet for over 15 seconds and calmly told me that if I was going to pass out or throw up, that I should be considerate and try to do it outside in the backyard.