Yes, phobias are irrational. I find it interesting how casual people's reactions can be when someone informs them of a phobia.
Once a tour bus pulled up at the lobby, and the guide from the Jamaica Tourist Board came to ask me if there were any cats on the property because there was a journalist with a phobia for cats. I took her concern seriously and took her to a location where she couldn't see any of the several cats we had on the property. All the staff laughed and ridiculed asking how could someone be afraid of cats.
The guide told me that the lady just wreaked havoc at the last resort and damaged all the fancy crockery in the restaurant and refused to pay because she advised them and they casually lied about cats not being there.