for being totally freaked out by clowns

[stoatie]

Minding my own business watching "not going out" (no AIBU for watching !!) when totally without warning up popped some really scary clowns (well tbh I find ALL clowns scary) I couldn't watch the rest .

My OH thought I was being a stupid arse - but having commenting on FB about my fear - technically coulrophobia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulrophobia it would seem most of my friends feel the same.

So AIBU to be totally freaked by clowns, and if not why on earth do some people think they are suitable for children's entertainment

What did I do?? I'm lovely

YANBU. They give me the creeps.

There's a lovely short story about clowns that scared the living shit out of me once (I think it might be by Stephen King) all about what the little boy sees when he creeps round the back and peers in under the tent flap after the sinister circus is over... shudder

The fear of clowns became more popular/common from about the 80's onwards

Before that, it was quite unusual.

YANBU - me too!

I think it's partly the fault of that famous horror film (whose name escapes me at the moment.....'it', maybe?) with the scary clown, and partly because in our childhoods, before CRB checks, clowning tended to attract a certain sort of bloke, so most of us have at some point encountered at least one childrens entertainer who liked children a little bit too much. Children pick up on creepiness without necessarily knowing about the sordid reality, and that uneasy feeling remains even though I'm sure most clowns are nice people underneath the greasepaint.

Blame Stephen King's It Johnny Depp has a clown phobia. Watching NGO last night I can see why

I think my fear of clowns started after I watched 'Poltergeist' as a kid. A clown comes to life in a child's bedroom...

YADNBU.. nasty starey things

I also hate clowns and was freaked out by 'not going out' as well! I have long wondered why clowns make people uncomfortable and I suspect that it is because we can't read their faces. We are very adept at working out peoples emotions and therefore whether they are friend or foe so to speak. Clowns can hide behind the painted face which means they could be a threat despite being smiley. Just my own theory though.

YANBU
I have a fear of clowns too. I don't like their big feet or their painted on smiles.
I have a fear of people dressed up in costumes- it freaks me out.

Yep, I am with you re NGO. They pushed that one far too far! But let's face it, they chose the theme because its become shorthand for Scary Things!

I also blame It and Poltergeist....

I'm hyperventilating just reading this thread. I got the chills watching NGO last night too even though I knew it wouldnt be anything sinister

I hate clowns, they make me shudder.
Also those street performers that are statues and the ones that do the robot moves, dear god, I cross the street if there are any of then about.

You need to watch the movie "Shakes the Clown".

Oh god that freaked me out too last nights

Trying to find an entertainer for DS's party has bought me out in a cold sweat seeing all the pictures of cheery c**s

It freaked me out last night and I'm not scared of clowns! To be fair dh was on nights and I was on my lonely only. They turned out to be a load of old men after a bit of dogging action, so were less creepy with the clown masks on!

What's NGO? Anyway yanbu they are horrible! I think it's the whole smiley face but with sad/distressed eyes things or vice versa, plus they have been overused in horrors, same as china dolls shudder

Not totally freaked out by them but I do find them a bit creepy yup. YANBU!

YANBU, it was indeed Stephen King's IT that ruined them for me, I actually only saw a trailer for the film on TV when I was about 7 and ever since then I can't stand them.
I also hate the way (in common with impersonators and other supposedly funny people) they won't leave you alone til they make you laugh, but their very presence guarantees that will never happen.

YADDDDBU

I hate them! I don't see why people allow their children near them as they are so creepy!

I get laughed at as apparently its a weird fear. Glad its not just me

YANBU!
Have always hated them, partly because you cant see what the person looks like or facial expressions through the make up. Stupidly watched IT when I was 15. :-(
Did NOT help...

IT is not as scary as the short story! If I could just remember who it was and what the title was... it's in an anthology, and I am almost certain is is SK... but it could be John Connolly, he is creepy as hell too
I only ever tried to watch IT once and I couldn't go past the top of the stairs to the bathroom in the dark for months afterwards, and this was when DH worked nights every second week :( had a bucket, in the bedroom, in the corner, just in case, oh yes I did...