Kids hate clowns. Do you?

[R'as al Ghul]

Bad news for Coco and Blinko - children don't like clowns and even older kids are scared of them.

The news that will no doubt have clowns shedding tears was revealed in a poll of youngsters by researchers from the University of Sheffield who were examining how to improve the decor of hospital children's wards.

The study, reported in the Nursing Standard magazine, found all the 250 patients aged between four and 16 they quizzed disliked the use of clowns, with even the older ones finding them scary.

"As adults we make assumptions about what works for children," said Penny Curtis, a senior lecturer in research at the university.

"We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."

- REUTERS

I still find clowns scary. What about you?

[Drisos]

Doubtful, either Yes or Gah. hmmmm

They're slightly freaky, indeed

[seireikhaan]

Clowns are just wrong. Period.

[Dutch_guy]

They aren't funny, which is why I don't like them.

The movie It didn't help either, though.

[Ser Clegane]

I have to admit that I also never liked clowns (OK I do not actually hate them with a passion - but kind of a little bit)

[Andres]

Never liked clowns. They are not funny

[Husar]

Some of them are funny, most probably not, haven't seen a lot of them but I don't see how they could be scary.

[Cronos Impera]

Come on, clowns are meant to bring joy and happiness. Some may have a bad makeup or just make stupid jokes but most of them are warm and generous ( if you've ever witnessed a charity event you'll probably agree with me). The guilty party here is their makeup supplier which unfortunately is doing a crappy job.

[LittleGrizzly]

Have a friend whose scared of clowns, 1 or 2 i think with It (the film) being the reason, they're the right age to have watched it at about 8 or maybe younger, never understood it myself.

Clowns are on the most part pretty crap i never liked them, i dont hate them any more than some other crappy entertainment, now get me a clown on a uncycle juggling and that would be entertaining for a good minute or two.

[Ramses II CP]

Forget about It, I can't stand clowns because of John Wayne Gacy. The idea of leaving my kid alone with a clown is only slightly less horrifying than the thought of leaving her alone with a (Okay that might irritate some people, so I spoilered it to avoid sidetracking the thread, but it's the truth )

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

priest.

Intellectually it's possible to know, beyond all doubt, that almost all clowns are good people just trying to make a living and entertain kids, but viscerally they're creepy and disturbing. I simply can't connect with them, person to person, to understand what drives them to be a clown.

A big part of it is the make-up too. We went to a kid's birthday party last summer where the father dressed up as a clown, but he just did the wig and nose deal with funny clothes, and the kids were cool with it. If he'd had that greasy white face as well I think it would've made him strange and unrecognizable to them.

Maybe that's just my bias from too many cheap carnivals as a kid.

[Caius]

Gah! for me

But I hate camels. They suck big time. Now, I have to run away from Martok and Mithrandir.

[drone]

Can't sleep, clown will eat me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV1hbSDDAfc

[JimBob]

I was getting over my fear of them. Then I played Dead Rising again.

[Whacker]

Gah here also.

I'm indifferent to clowns, I want to believe that most/many of them are genuinely good-hearted folks who want to amuse kids. Have seen some who were truly amusing and funny, others that were bland, and a few that were even scary.

But I hate camels. They suck big time. Now, I have to run away from Martok and Mithrandir.

PREACH THE TRUTH MY BROTHER! NEVER FALTER IN THE FACE OF LIES AND ADVERSITY! COMBINED WE SHALL PREVAIL AND THE STINKY CAMEL WILL BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS; A BEAST OF EVIL AND HERESY!!!

We now return you to normal programming.

[Hepcat]

I'm the only one who voted no

I've never hated nor been scared of clowns, sure, lots of them may not be funny but I've never hated them. One of my friends however has a complete phobia of clowns. It's always quite a laugh to hear her talking about clowns.

[Lemur]

I have three words to say on this subject: John Wayne Gacy.

[KukriKhan]

Well, this thread sure puts the kay-bosh on my post-retirement plans to go to Clown College and entertain at birthday parties for beer money.

[Bijo]

They aren't funny, which is why I don't like them.

The movie It didn't help either, though.

Ya damn right. I don't find them funny either. I never understood what is to be funny about clowns or what they do. May it be personal taste, alright.... well, then I guess I ain't got that taste some others do have.

And that movie, HAH! Creeped me out as a kid. Nowadays though, that's probably the only movie with a clown that I find funny. Here, for all of you the clown face:

[Csargo]

When I was a kid I was scared of clowns, and that's because I had a freaky looking clown doll hanging up in my room. I never could sleep in there.

[FactionHeir]

I liked clowns as a kid and dressed up as one for carnival too once or twice, probably because it was the only costume that was even affordable back in the day.

[Martok]

I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE clowns -- only spiders inspire a stronger phobia in me. (So you can imagine how much I enjoyed watching Stephen King's IT as child. )

As others here have said, I'm sure the vast majority of them are decent people who just want to entertain. Knowing that in the abstract is quite different from facing the reality, however. When seeing a clown in the flesh, I'll usually find a sudden excuse to be elsewhere....quickly.

Gah! for me

But I hate camels. They suck big time. Now, I have to run away from Martok and Mithrandir.

PREACH THE TRUTH MY BROTHER! NEVER FALTER IN THE FACE OF LIES AND ADVERSITY! COMBINED WE SHALL PREVAIL AND THE STINKY CAMEL WILL BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS; A BEAST OF EVIL AND HERESY!!!

We now return you to normal programming.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Some people have a hard time admitting the error of their ways.

Clearly I've been overly lax in your treatment, but no worries -- extra cleaning duties in the stables should help focus your thinking and in realizing that repentance is desirable.

[Justiciar]

Clowns are people too.

[Xehh II]

Clowns are scary, I don't like them.

[Beefy187]

Clown look funny.. I dont like peoples who look funny

[TruePraetorian]

Clown look funny.. I dont like peoples who look funny

You look funny...

Clowns scare small children and animals and I think it's hilarious when little things are scared so I give clowns 4.5 out of 5

[spmetla]

Clowns save lives! Think of all the rodeo stars that would have been gored by bulls if not for the action of a brave but oddly dressed clown.

[TruePraetorian]

Actually that makes clowns suicidal, and that scares me...my opinion is teetering...

[Meldarion]

No, whenever I think clown I always picture The Joker, and he is in my opinion the greatest villain ever created. He's not just any clown he is the clown Prince, and nobody here can argue he doesn't have style.

[edyzmedieval]

I hated clowns, especially after seeing The Batman movie. Joker resembles very well a clown, and since then, I hated the clowns even more. They're not funny.

The only thing I can say is that they are poor people most of them, and try to do their best so they can earn some money.

[Beefy187]

Now more serious.. Clowns are good as long as they are juggling tennis balls or something (wow skilled)

Soon as they switch to knives... argh!