Heh. The radio station I work at did a thing about this today and, before the show, the producer sent an email round the staff asking whether “anyone likes clowns, or are they just scary?”
Presumably so they could mention the informal poll on the show.
I gather the response was almost 100% ‘scary’. Many people mentioned Stephen King’s ‘It’.
Any thing huge (compared to self) is scary and so are huge, sharp, smiling teeth, but children are also afraid of Santa Claus as well. I think they are right in assessing that anything that instinctively appears ‘wrong’ is frightening as are extremely vivid colors on large things or faces that are painted in gregariously bright, contrasting colors, especially on something very large.
I’ve never found clowns to be either funny or scary when they’re just dressed up. Sometimes their act can be funny, although in general I’m not all that impressed by the sort of humour that they tend to go for. So mostly I just find clowns dull or mildly embarrassing.
For me, it’s the permenantly smiling facepaint that doesn’t let you know what their true feelings are. A clown could be feeling homicidal but still smile at you with his BIG FREAKY FAKE FACE! *goes to hide in a corner*
For me, it’s the permenantly smiling facepaint that doesn’t let you know what their true feelings are. A clown could be feeling homicidal but still smile at you with his BIG FREAKY FAKE FACE! *goes to hide in a corner*
Exactly.
*joins Mouse in the corner and clutches her spork*
For me, it’s the permenantly smiling facepaint that doesn’t let you know what their true feelings are. A clown could be feeling homicidal but still smile at you with his BIG FREAKY FAKE FACE! *goes to hide in a corner*
Hmmm. Really, a clown is no different from most people in that respect. Lots of people make a habit of hiding how they really feel about things. I suppose that a clown just makes it more official and blatant.
*throws a clownfish into the corner with Boo and Madmouse*
Here. I’ll use the titanium one, you can borrow the steel one.
Accipiter - 16 January 2008 10:13 PM
Hmmm. Really, a clown is no different from most people in that respect. Lots of people make a habit of hiding how they really feel about things. I suppose that a clown just makes it more official and blatant.
Any thing huge (compared to self) is scary and so are huge, sharp, smiling teeth, but children are also afraid of Santa Claus as well. I think they are right in assessing that anything that instinctively appears ‘wrong’ is frightening as are extremely vivid colors on large things or faces that are painted in gregariously bright, contrasting colors, especially on something very large.
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