Stephen King was right

[CoasterMatt]

This article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080116/od_nm/clowns_odd_dc) is not safe for those afraid of clowns.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It would be nice if clowns disappeared, as they stopped being a form of children's entertainment about 50 years ago. I don't hate them but I think they're pretty stupid.

Cirque "clowns" are a whole other concept. Too bad American clowns, much like our automobiles, are so behind the rest of the world.

[flippyshark]

Wow, too right. I found clowns disturbing too, and I couldn't understand why grown-ups seemed to think us kids ought to like them. My stepfather even had a crying clown print hanging in the family room at one point. <shudder>
I don't think I found them frightening, in the sense of being a threat, I just thought them unpleasant. And the crying clown art, just icky and morose!

[Chernabog]

I've been scared of clowns ever since Poltergeist (that hanging puppet clown that I had in my room as a kid didn't help things any either). Pennywise merely sealed the deal when I read "It" in 7th grade.

WE ALLLLLLL FLOAT....... <shudder>

[BarTopDancer]

Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.
Can't sleep... clowns will eat me.


No, I didn't read the article. I presume there are photos in it. If that is what is to be avoided can someone go pull the text so I can read the article?

Oddly enough, IT is one of my favorite books. And Flubber (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/member.php?u=12) does a dead-on impression of Pennywise.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Bozo never scared me, Ronald McDonald never scared me. All the clowns in Dumbo never scared me. I've never understood why people claim to be frightened by clowns. Being afraid of all clowns because of a few horror movies is like being afraid of all ventriloquist dummies or all talking Tina dolls.

Don't get it.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I was afraid of clowns, talking dolls, and ventriloquist dummies long before I ever saw horror movies about them, though. There's just something... sinister about them.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Oh, and Hobo Kelly didn't scare me either.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

What about Hello Kitty?

[BarTopDancer]

is like being afraid of all ventriloquist dummies

Don't like ventriloquist dummies either. Thanks to commercialization, Ronald McDonald doesn't necessarily scare me, but I have no need or desire to go up to "him" if "he" was ever at McDonald's the once or twice a year I visit one.

[cirquelover]

Here is the text only:

LONDON (Reuters) - Bad news for Coco and Blinko -- children don't like clowns and even older kids are scared of them.

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The news that will no doubt have clowns shedding tears was revealed in a poll of youngsters by researchers from the University of Sheffield who were examining how to improve the decor of hospital children's wards.

The study, reported in the Nursing Standard magazine, found all the 250 patients aged between four and 16 they quizzed disliked the use of clowns, with even the older ones finding them scary.

"As adults we make assumptions about what works for children," said Penny Curtis, a senior lecturer in research at the university.

"We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison

[Gn2Dlnd]

Mmmm-kay. TFA has one (1) picture of a clown in a parade. Our dainty sensibilities are such that we have to reprint a "safe" version of the article without the picture?

Anyhoo, the quote that makes me scratch my head is, "We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable." Unknowable?

At least I know that if I ever want to terrorize the entire LoT, all I have to do is show up to a party in clown makeup. The Clownodore.

[Capt Jack]

Clown Killer (http://clown-killer.freeonlinegames.com/)

for those clown phobic, its time for some payback

:evil:

[BarTopDancer]

No, I didn't read the article. I presume there are photos in it. If that is what is to be avoided can someone go pull the text so I can read the article?

Mmmm-kay. TFA has one (1) picture of a clown in a parade. Our dainty sensibilities are such that we have to reprint a "safe" version of the article without the picture?

I requested it. I. Do not. Like clowns. I don't even like the clowns in the Electrical Parade. And I still remember the horrible picture someone (I remember who, I will not name names) posted of a very scary clown. That was very mean.

At least I know that if I ever want to terrorize the entire LoT, all I have to do is show up to a party in clown makeup. The Clownodore.

Good to know. :rolleyes:

[RStar]

I think kids don't like clowns because people read others with body language and facial expressions. With all of the makeup, you can't read a clown. It's disturbing to have a person smile with a frown painted on. A lot of the newer clowns don't use the makeup. They have a funny nose and clothes, but no other human-altering makeup.

Oh, and my son like the Insain Clown Posse (http://www.insaneclownposse.com/detect.php) which REALLY frightens me!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I think the term "unknowable" is rather accurate. As RStar said, it's hard to read their faces, and you have no clue what they'll do next.

Eeech, the "clownodore". :p

[Chernabog]

Eeech, the "clownodore". :p

Not to worry. If he tests out the makeup in our apartment I'll probably flip out and then you can see then Clownadore exclusively on the 11:00 news. ;)

[mousepod]

Heather's brother and his wife are about to have their second baby, a boy, at the end of the month. For the past several months, they've been working on making their 2-year-old daughter comfortable with the fact that she's going to have a baby brother. They asked her what they should call the new baby, and without missing a beat, she replied "JoJo." JoJo is a clown that appears on the Disney Channel. I guess it's not a universal fear...

[mousepod]

... I just realized that JoJo is a female clown... so I have no idea what that means...

[cirquelover]

It means she'd rather have a sister....or maybe a clown for a sibling instead!!

[katiesue]

Also JoJo is a cartoon clown as opposed to a real life grown up in make up.

[CoasterMatt]

I love Clowns. Especially the ones with lots of makeup, and razor sharp teeth.

[RStar]

I love Clowns. Especially the ones with lots of makeup, and razor sharp teeth.

You mean like this?:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g310/rstar59/pennywise.jpg