I don't mind crowds, but I hate when you get into the cinema and there's no seats, or not enough seats for everyone to sit together. I don't like when the person sitting behind me kicks my seat, or puts their feet on my seat. Once I went to see a movie and the guy behind me put his feet on my seat and kicked me in the head! and i got dirt in my hair from his shoes! I turned around to ask him if he could please not put his feet on my seat (he was using it as a footrest) and he told me to 'f*** off".
I used to get stressed out when our group would all wander off and we'd get split up in big crowds, but now i don't care, i just wait outside and everyone eventually joins up again. I can imagine it would be infinitely more stressful when your kids wander off in huge crowds...
BTW, i don't think it's silly that you find that scary Paul... i think it's silly that i think when i put my feet over the end of my bed someone's going to grab them!
Yours is a rational fear and to do with staying safe, mine's completely irrational!