Please explain a quote by Robert Benchley?

Question

"Tell us your phobias and we will tell you what you are afraid of."

I understand Robert is an US actor, author, & humorist back in 1900's. Was he being funny or serious in this quote? Can someone explain it to me?

Answer 1

This is the smartest kind of humor, the so-called "wit", that is, it is intelligent, quick and amusing at the same time. It´s funny because it relies on some kind of previous knowledge. For example, in this case, in order to understand the joke, one must know that "phobia" means "fear" or "dislike" (= "being afraid of something"). To those who know that, what R. B. is saying is obvious, redundant. But to those who don't, it is puzzling. In that sense, the comedian (or whoever makes such remarks) has a great time just by observing the reaction of the public (or the people around him/her).

Answer 2

I think he is just a making a joke but there is an under lying message that by listing your phobias you are reinforcing your fear of those things.
For example, someone keeps telling people that they afraid of the dark is reinforcing that phobia because they all keep telling themselves that they should fear the dark.
Phobias are constructed by telling yourself that you fear these things and most people use the diagnosis of a phobia to avoid overcoming the fear.

Answer 3

Its a play on words. Using phobia; which is a fear of something. Its not a serious quote. Its the same as saying "Tell us your fears and we will tell you what you're afraid of." or "Tell us your culinary pleasures, and we'll tell you what you like to eat."

Answer 4

He was being funny. He was talking about the medical revolution and how everyone is giving every simple thing a scientific name.

for example:

fear of disease : pathophobia ... why not just say im afraid to go get sick?