Why are people so scared of clowns?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Just wondering if I have missed something. Is it all to do with the clown from It? Or were there other scary clowns in movies or books?

DP is scared of clowns. He's a man.

I think it's the 'hiding heartbreak' vibe they give off. Insincere. Fake smile.

I like them. Twisty The Clown is my favourite AHS character.

I love browsing clown masks.

I had s nightmare about one as a child, I wouldn't say I was scared of them but I understand those who are I'm still scared of my feet being grabbed whilst getting in and out of bed thought. Hubby thinks I'm mad when I jump on to the bed! The clown started it all though!

Does anyone know a man who is afraid of clowns? Not being goady, it just always seems to be women.

I do.

I never liked clowns. I think it was because of the gaudy fake emotions painted on their faces. Also their behaviour is very unpredictable, I'm autistic. But the 90s television mini series It just confirmed it.

I also hate dolls. Not rag dolls, not Barbie type dolls. All staring, blank, dead eyes. Baby dolls and china dolls are terrifying.

Does anyone know a man who is afraid of clowns? Not being goady, it just always seems to be women

My martial arts instructor who’s as tough as fuck apparently 😂

Clowns never really bothered me but Nosy Bonk off Jigsaw and my cousin (male) was terrified of Wurzel Gummage 😂

I think it was because of the gaudy fake emotions painted on their faces. Also their behaviour is very unpredictable, I'm autistic

Interesting, as I’m dyspraxic and I’m sure I have autistic characteristics too. And I am terrified of anything that makes me jump. My mean husband showed me something the other day where a huge animated spider runs at the screen and my heart nearly stopped for about three seconds. And I don’t mind spiders one bit.

Does anyone know a man who is afraid of clowns? Not being goady, it just always seems to be women

At least three of my male friends share the horror. Age ranges 25-48. Also porcelain dolls and old fashioned ventriloquist dummies.

Why do you call a phobia of clowns?

Common sense.

I actually don't mind clowns, DH is terrified of them and has to close his eyes if he sees one unexpectedly (on TV etc, we don't come across clowns randomly in RL)

It's the mask, the fake smile. I don't like any masks, or creepy face paint on adults.

That and they look like they'll murder you as you sleep.

As a child I saw the opening scene of a james bond film (i think) where a clown is running through the woods and gets a knife in the back. Also I generally dont find them funny and never have. Have seen one that made me laugh and he had minimal make up and didnt go in for slapstick.

Have you all seen Cam as a clown in Modern Family? Brilliant stuff. Also the clown funeral.

Hate them. And mimes, dolls etc.
I had a fisher price jack in the box as a toddler. I ripped it out and buried it in the garden I hated it so much. 😫

They aren't funny.
They look wrong. I really hate not being able to see someone's face properly. I also hate anyone in costume with a fake head. It just feels so wrong.
Clown slapstick isn't funny. It often feels cruel. I've never understood why clowns have been popular and I don't know anyone whose reaction isn't "urgh" in relation to clowns.
The pp upthread who mentioned uncanny valley are on to something.

My DD2 hated them from very early on - freaked out as a toddler at party and still, as an adult shudders at the sight. Still don’t know why

I think it's the mask - you can't see their expression and therefore you can't trust them. Not only that but they paint on a smile - a fake smile. It creates a dissonance that raises the skin on the back of my neck.

There's a short story - might be Stephen King - where a kid sneaks into a circus and sees the clowns starting to get ready. They get towels and start wiping off their human face make up to reveal evil clowns underneath .

They're not. It's a massive trendy "thing" to be scared of clowns...generally, IMO.

It's entirely because of John Wayne Gacey and his infamy.

I'm more confused at the people who are scared of holes and can't look at crumpets or the new iphone. How is that a thing?

trick I’ve read that, it’s really creepy. They kidnap him and he ends up becoming one of them.

I agree about the face being hidden. Sometimes Father Christmas is scary if the face and mouth is hidden behind too much beard.

There's this dialogue about clowns in Enid Blyton's Five go off in a Caravan:

Anne: I can't imagine Tiger Dan (sadistic bad-tempered villain, known as Tiger Dan because of his rages) as a clown! Clowns are always so merry and gay and jolly.
Julian: That's just acting. If you look at photographs of clowns when they're being ordinary men, they've got quite sad faces.
Anne: Tiger Dan hasn't got a sad face. He's got a cruel, ugly, fierce, savage one!

Anyone over 50 and scared of clowns?

@BarbaraofSeville I have that revulsion of small holes thing. It's a visceral, instinctive reaction, and inexplicable to me. I am old and entirely un influenced by horror genres or anything else.
It's very weird.

I hate them because they are fake happy extraverts, usually portrayed with dark personalities underneath, who wear too much makeup...a bit like one of my neighbours, cannot stand her for the same reasons :-D

Anyone over 50 and scared of clowns?

I'm older than 50 and find clowns hilarious, especially their shoes.