Are Phobias Weird?

I ask this because I do have a strange phobia: Tomato Ketchup!

I've realised that every time I mention my phobia everyone either assumes I'm weird or I'm lying, I prefer people to think I'm weird because those who think I'm lying decide to try me. I've had panic attacks caused by people waving blobs of ketchup on a chip in my face, then they get shocked that I'm crying and hyperventilating, I warned you didn't I?

I have to wonder if I turned round to somebody and said "I have a phobia of heights" would they then force me to skydive from a plane? Or if I said "Spiders really care me" they then start throwing tarantulas at me? I sincerely doubt it, so why do they have to force me to be in close contact with the dreaded red sauce?

You may say "It's an irrational phobia! Ketchup never harmed anyone..." I am fully aware of this, deep down I know that I won't die if some did land on me (eeeeurgh the thought of it!) but that doesn't mean I don't want to be sick whenever I smell it. All phobias are pretty irrational, some are understandable though.

Many people have phobias, I'd guess that most people do it's just that some are more common than others. Whether the phobia is of the dark or of cotton wool, it may be irrational but not really all that weird!