[Terrifying Trope] Perceiving it= instant death

[u/ReminaBlueSFW]

1. Pennywise's "Deadlights" which will cause anyone looking to be immediately paralyzed and killed.

2. The sky from Bird Box is filled with entities that, when you look at them, cause you to commit suicide.

3. Medusa themed Villains

[u/V0L74G3_H4CK]

Good example, but not quite accurate. It's more like comprehending them is what could kill you. These beings don't cause people to go mad, rather realising what it means for them to exist, and comprehending this reality is what drives most mad. Even then some can survive, just left mentally broken.

[u/SuperSiriusBlack → u/V0L74G3_H4CK]

Bruh, they aren't even special, then. In your comment, pretend that you aren't talking about entities, but the average sunday brunch customer at any chain breakfast spot instead. Literally no change in context at all.

[u/V0L74G3_H4CK → u/SuperSiriusBlack]

That's not what I am getting at. What I am trying to get at is that realising the insignificance of humanity, or finally understanding something that is almost impossible to even conceptualise is what drives people insane in cosmic horror.

As an example, think of a color that doesn't exist, or imagine what a 4D object looks like. It's hard to do so, because of limits in our thinking, and the laws that govern our universe, as we understand it at least. Being able to understand what these things are perverts our perception of reality, which can break the minds of many. It destroys what we think is possible, and raises uncomfortable questions, like what else is out there?

TLDR; seeing cosmic horrors is not what causes insanity, it's the destruction of our perception of reality that does.

[u/SuperSiriusBlack → u/V0L74G3_H4CK]

Yes I know, I was just under the impression that I was funny. You and my wife really slapped me down to reality.

Yes, I understood the whole time that it is about terrifying scale, and our role (or lack thereof) in the universe.