News It’s Official: Clowns Are Terrifying
posted by January 25 at 9:26 AM
onScientific American confirms the scariness of clowns:
A study of hospitalized kids in England found that they positively hate clowns, which are often depicted on the walls in children’s wards. Researchers from the University of Sheffield spoke to 255 kids between the ages of 4 and 16, and none of them liked clowns. According to the magazine Nursing Standard, one researcher said, “We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them frightening and unknowable.” On the other hand, kids do like images of the Simpsons, Spongebob Squarepants, characters from Monsters Inc., pictures of local teams and athletes, and photos of the local region.
According to the report, the researchers are using their findings to create kid-friendlier hospital environments.
In other news: Screw you, Patch Adams
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Comments
WTLW!
The best thing Patch Adams ever did was get that women killed.
"..and unknowable."
that took long enough! didn't anyone who designed and perpetrated these horrors remember hating clowns themselves when they were children? or are they all secret sadists?
Has it always been the case that kids are afraid of clowns or is this just a recent phenomenon? I wasn't ever afraid of them, but when I was growing up there were no movies about killer clowns. Could kids have become sensitive to them because of movies?
I think hardcore clown porn would be so fuckin awesome!
I think hardcore clown porn would be fuckin awesome!
Clowns weird me out, but as a child I thought the seafair pirates were a lot scarier. I've never had a clown yell at me with a sword in his hand.
1: Thanks! I'm something of a history buff.
5: Good question, but I think it might be a chicken/egg conundrum. Do scary-clown movies cause fear of clowns, or do fears of clowns inspire scary-clown movies? I vote both.
I didn't mean to post that twice. I thought the first one failed. I'm sorry. Do you hate me?
@ monkey. Not sure about clown porn but Cafe Flesh 2 has some disturbing mime porn.
Yet another reason to despise the late 90's film work of Robin Williams.
This is a hate-free zone, Monkey.
But as double-posting penance, you must now Google "hardcore clown pornography" and suffer the consequences.
It's time to bring back Spletzer to defend the honor of clowns.
Now, now. It wasn't precisely a double post. The first one had a "so" in there. I think it works better the second way, Monkey.
I love clowns.
Robin Williams scares me.
I can never think of Gacy without remembering when the Kansas City Star used a picture of him to promote Clown Week. Under the picture it said "It's a rule. You MUST celebrate Clown Week."
I was never afraid of clowns as a child... at worst I dismissed them as irritating. Now, as an adult, there are all kinds of disturbing clowns.
Oh, clown porn does exist
http://ainews.com/VideoStore/4476.228186.74190704/
so disturbing.
And then there is "Spittles the Clown"
the alter-ego of Charlie Vazquez
Definitely does not want kids liking him.
http://firekingpress.com/author.htm
(sung in that Al Jolson voice) "Pogo! Pogo! That kid-lovin' clown!" (soft-shoeing, doing that shuffle-off-to-buffalo thing...)
I was ok with clowns after watching the Bobcat Goldthwait (or whatever his name is) classic, Shakes the Clown. It really humanized them for me, especially learning that clowns suffer from alcoholism, party clowns (city folk) dont always get along with rodeo clowns (hicks rom the sticks), and they hate mimes. In other words, they're just like you and me. Fear is just a byproduct of ignorence, my friends.
I've always hated the American, and I guess British, style of clown: red nose, false painted smile, frizzy hair, baggy clothes, big shoes. Any clown from virtually any other country is significantly less revolting.
In UK hospitals clowns are the least of the kids' problems. They need to worry more about the clowns that wear the white coats and have the title "Dr.".... Or do they call their doctors "Mr." there?
This reminds me of a run in with the balloon clown in pike place market.
I was having a smoke in post alley with a friend outside a bar when said clown walked by and casually puked as he walked by. Like he did it all the time.
In Scotland, you can't tell if it's "clown" or "clone". 2X the fear...
One must always be suspect of any entity with "Patch" in its moniker.
See JP Patches, Cabbage Patch Kids, Patch Adams, and a certain Patches Steinfocker.
"Patches" by Clarence Carter is exempt from the above, Kerri. It's one of the all-time best weepers. "Then one day a strong rain came and washed all the crops away..." I'm verklempt.
disturbing mime porn
Another great name for a speed metal band.
Also, clowns can actually be funny. That is, if you find racist sexist humor funny (I'm thinking of you, Erica)
Also: LMFAO @ 16.
Definitely scary clowns
@8, I know some Seafair Pirates personally (one of my neighbors was the Captain a few years back and the Duck was always over in the cul-de-sac, firing off cannons and stuff). I've ridden in parades with the Pirates and with the Seafair Clowns and let me assure you that the Clowns are far, far scarier human beings. *shudder*
My first thought, though, seeing this post was that Heath Ledger's decrepit Joker should seal the deal on scary clowns when he starts cutting Glascow Smiles into everyone's faces in Gotham City this summer while licking his lips.
I don't know about scary, but when the man behind the greasepaint is cult actor Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses), a disgusting time is guaranteed for all. Actually, his clown was a little scary, too. But mostly disgusting.
I always liked clowns as a kid. I thought they were funny, because people falling over is hilarious.
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