OK, The Clown Thing...

[Sparko]

So if a black person is a clown and wears white make up isn't that akin to being in white face?

e4c2b9f94da422d0cfd532242bef1359.jpg

[Adrift]

Source: Knife-Wielding Clown Menaces Subway Riders, Chases Teen out of Station: NYPD

On Tuesday, the White House said law enforcement takes creepy clowns seriously...A school district in Connecticut has banned clown costumes during the Halloween season

© Copyright Original Source

What a strange world we live in. Could anyone ever predict something this ridiculous 30 years ago? 20? 10? Just so bizarro.

[seer]

What a strange world we live in. Could anyone ever predict something this ridiculous 30 years ago? 20? 10? Just so bizarro.

I think humankind is slowing going mad...

[DesertBerean]

There's a report from Chicago that a clown tried to kidnap a 1 year old from his mother's arms.

If this was to be a publicity stunt it's gotten out of hand.

EDITED: forgot to say I'm not linking to the story yet because I'm skeptical.

[Sparko]

I think humankind is slowing going mad...

Slowly? Let's see: Gay Wedding Cakes, Transgender bathrooms, self-identifying race and gender forms, killing police, bombings in the streets, riots with black people protesting the killing of black people by burning down and looting black neighborhoods and businesses. All within the last couple of years. I say the world has gone mad and did it fairly quickly.

[DesertBerean]

Here's a article in Rolling Stones. Apparently this is not the first time we had creepy clowns.

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/...merica-w442649

[Adrift]

Apparently this is not the first time we had creepy clowns.

I keep hearing people say that, but I certainly don't remember any incidences. Certainly none that led to this amount of paranoia by normal folks. Maybe Darfius is right and this is just another cog in the Great Delusion!!

[seer]

I keep hearing people say that, but I certainly don't remember any incidences. Certainly none that led to this amount of paranoia by normal folks. Maybe Darfius is right and this is just another cog in the Great Delusion!!

Then there is this:

.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...-a7347526.html

[One Bad Pig]

Slowly? Let's see: Gay Wedding Cakes, Transgender bathrooms, self-identifying race and gender forms, killing police, bombings in the streets, riots with black people protesting the killing of black people by burning down and looting black neighborhoods and businesses. All within the last couple of years. I say the world has gone mad and did it fairly quickly.

Well, this is all here; don't confuse America with the world.

Of course, there's plenty of craziness going on elsewhere....

[Carrikature]

While there's certainly been enough media to fuel 'clowns as scary', that doesn't begin to account for kids that already find clowns (and other costumed people) scary despite a complete lack of exposure to that media.

Even people dressed up as beloved characters can be scary to kids. My daughter is that way. Real people in dress up clothes she's cool with. People in huge mascot-esque body suits she doesn't like at all.

All clowns aren't created equal, either. The rodeo clown with rags and face paint is a far cry from the caricatured features of those with wigs, giant shoes and over-sized clothing.

[mossrose]

Even Stephen King is weighing in.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/20...g-it-pennywise

[seanD]

Just shows that memes are getting weirder and weirder.

[Adrift]

While there's certainly been enough media to fuel 'clowns as scary', that doesn't begin to account for kids that already find clowns (and other costumed people) scary despite a complete lack of exposure to that media.

Even people dressed up as beloved characters can be scary to kids. My daughter is that way. Real people in dress up clothes she's cool with. People in huge mascot-esque body suits she doesn't like at all.

All clowns aren't created equal, either. The rodeo clown with rags and face paint is a far cry from the caricatured features of those with wigs, giant shoes and over-sized clothing.

I can understand that. Masks hiding identities can be scary because of how surreal/uncanny valley it is, but there does seem to be a cultural zeitgeist at the moment that sees clowns as lurid, even for people directly unfamiliar with media that portrays them as such.

[mossrose]

There were 2 sightings in my town last night. One kid (along with his Mommy) turned himself in this morning.

There was also a threat from clowns at a school in the Big City this morning. Police are not amused.

[Zymologist]

If you don't think clowns are creepy, I could point you to a short story or two that might change your mind....