I just posted a question about clowns and was told that fear of them doesn't exist and that it's abnormal. I disagree. Please explain the fear so that they can understand. Thanking you in advance.
2006-07-23 10:20:41 · 18 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Clowns are creepy and scare the crap out of you.
I used to scream, bite and kick when my folks would try and make me go see the clown. I was a smart kid.
As an adult, I'm certainly not scared of clowns, just think them a bunch of weirdos, drunks and child predators.
I hate Mimes too. Maybe more than clowns. I guess mimes are clowns.
I do not understand what draws people to do this sort of thing.....it's not entertaining and it's not an art form....it's just creepy.
2006-07-23 10:29:03 · answer #1 · answered by DJ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can not explain a fear of clowns... I can explain a STRONG DISLIKE of them...
My best friend was abused by her father, he was a drunk, and she could tell when he said one thing and meant another. She hates clowns, they are "shifty" per her words.
I have been a "people watcher" all my life. People who know me trust my opinion of a person, because I see the minor things. Clowns to me are "not right." (I actually don't mind ones that just wear big hair and clothes)
Then I read some research that said something along the lines of:
Certain people who really tune into little facial differences to determine true emotions have trouble with clowns. The fake smile or frown disguises and misrepresents the clown., so he or she becomes untrustworthy.
The clown is also considered to be disquising their true image, with heavy makeup, the fake nose and hair. Many people have a strong reaction to this "disguise."
Other people are uncomfortable with clowns for their obvious lack of normal social behavior, and their unpredicatability. i.e. clowning around
While most people have a strong dislike of clowns for their "facial lies" and "disguise" other people have a real fear of clowns. They will avoid places with clowns and get upset being near one.
2006-07-23 17:44:00 · answer #2 · answered by mj_schrader 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The official term for this irrational aversion to red-nosed entertainers is coulrophobia. While many are merely creeped out by clowns, the fear runs much deeper for others, affecting their daily lives.
Several theories attempt to explain the origins of the phobia, though none seem definitive. One of the more interesting comes from Kathryn Cillick. She believes most people are afraid of clowns because it's impossible to gauge a clown's true emotions. Thanks to painted-on smiles, people can't distinguish if the clown is as happy as he seems or if he's actually about to bite somebody's face off
Personally, I don't fear clowns...but I do sometimes wonder about people who always seem to walk around with a smile on their face or always try to seem upbeat. More often than not, you find they are putting up a front to cover some deeper problem. It's their way of coping. I guess we instinctively know it's not normal.
2006-07-23 17:29:14 · answer #3 · answered by Dale P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not really an uncommon phobia. My 19-year-old daughter is deathly afraid of them. I think it stems from a birthday party when she was about 5. A neighbor was trying to be nice and sent her mother dressed up as a clown for a surprise. Her mother used to go around to nursing homes to visit people. Well, the clown costume was okay but the makeup was hideous and she had cotton stuffed in her cheeks and couldn't talk right. It terrified about every child there. To this day, if confronted with so much as a clown photo that you won't take away, my daughter will cry.
2006-07-23 17:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by Rvn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fear because they're not really human. Some clown faces are painted grotesque or have exaggerated expressions. The bright colors and varied costumes might be too loud or "in your face" especially to younger people.
Oversized shoes and more...Clowns are physically and emotionally exaggerated comedy/tradgedy and are an art form I believe.
We had a large clown doll sitting in a rocking chair as a child....in the dark of the night...it can look like a monster!!! hehe
2006-07-23 17:40:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was about 30 years old I went to see the Barnum and Bailey Circus in Fresno, California and the clowns scared me. To this day they still do. That answerer doesn't understand that just because they love clowns doesn't mean everyone does. The fear is the painted face and facade of it, it's scary because you can't see who is underneath it. Kind of like some kids are afraid of Santa Claus.
2006-07-23 17:32:51 · answer #6 · answered by Goldenrain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom is scared of clowns, I'm not sure why. I heard fear of clowns is common. It makes sense to be afraid of someone hiding their true identity. The movie "It" and that serial killer that dressed like a clown doesn't help to make clowns any less scarier.
2006-07-23 17:27:23 · answer #7 · answered by i luv teh fishes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was growing up (a long time ago), we had a 'clown' in our town that supposedly would stop and try to lure kids into his car with candy. Parents were really up in arms about it. That made a lot of us afraid of clowns.
Today, I just hate the Burger King clown-thingy.
2006-07-23 17:26:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coulrophobia: Seeing a clown or only thinking about a clown can result in the following symptoms:
breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.
2006-07-23 17:32:38 · answer #9 · answered by echoedwhispers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont fear clowns. But I wouldnt shed a tear for a dead clown.
2006-07-23 17:22:47 · answer #10 · answered by Torsion Stampede 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋