Study: Clowns are "universally disliked" by kids

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080116/od_nm/clowns_odd_dc


So, I guess the question then becomes: Who invented the concept of clowns as entertainers, and when and why were they believed to be liked by kids? How did this go on so long when kids hated them? Was there ever any supporting evidence that kids like them? I, also, am one who never particularly cared for clowns. I wasn't exactly frightened to death of them, but they did seem on the scarry side to me. A little too "insecure exhibitionist" for my tastes.

Wow thats crazy, i was a circus psycho clown for fright fest at six flags for like 3 years, loved it, getting paid to scare ppl is the best thing hahah. I dont think i would ever be a fun, entertaining clown, i think their more creepy hahah.

This is funny (and not at all surprising!) Clowns suck! They freaked me out as a kid - still do!

Not only do I hate clowns (scary and devilish), I hate large stuffed animals as well, like big bird, especially when they try and hug you without permission. I have no idea where the belief that these things are entertaining for kids came from, but I’ve seen children kick and push them and run away shouting “come and get me”

I'd also like to know where the common belief that clowns are children-friendly and funny came from. The pucinello (Italian jester/clown) is used in surreal imagery, doesn't seem meant for kids. The Crow clown is down right frightening. Like a shamanic figure.

I've seen mellow clowns that blow balloons and children seem to like them. My son never warmed up to them. But he's not typical.

Dressing up in a 'funny' probably expresses your desire to come into contact with people and entertain them. You could also wear a big orange hat and an orange suit; would probably have the same effect.

I didn't mind clowns, except a few cases where I got scared. This actually reminds me a little of the Doctor Who story The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.

I'm carnophobic. A clown made me pet his monkey once.

I also had a principal who hated me, gave me another two days of school after the year ended, and had several clown figurines in her office. One year she dressed up as a clown and I was SCARED of her. She would constantly say 'okay' after every statement she would make and I didn't think she could help it. Bizarre lady, I still have nightmares.

Clowns can be scary, especially to little kids. That face makeup makes their teeth appear yellow. It's really creepy!

I liked clowns.

Okay... I have a theory.

Most kids seem to "behave" more (i.e., are actually scared silent) around the imposing, psycho-looking person known as the clown. (I mean, "the man is clearly insane", the kids think to themselves. "Just look at how he thinks people dress, and how he bleaches his face for no reason.") So, parents interpret this rapt attention the kids are giving as enthralment. When, in reality, the kids are just outwardly behaving so that the crazy clown guy doesn't go psycho on them. It's easy -- even fun -- to disobey your mom, but what little kid wants to disobey a sheet-white juggling maniac?

Then, one kid like Who_Am_I says she liked the clown, and that's all the confirmation the adults feel they need.

Last edited by Ragtime on 17 Jan 2008, 2:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thanks for posting this story, because it's seemed so amazing to me that I'm supposedly so unusual, and that the rest of my culture is so totally unlike me in this regard. I dislike the garish make-up & exaggerated costumes & gestures of some kinds of "theatre". Mimes were always scary to me, too-much of it just because of the mask-like 'whiteface' makeup.

The clown aesthetic was always unappealing for me, as child & still now as adult. Unattractive make-up, clothing, display, behavior, manner-according to my personal tastes. Eeeek.
I like particular Muppets, but not all of them-Big Bird was not my cup of tea (too big & just not a compatible personality to mine).
Can deal with someone having arm puppet (though I can't stand the stereotypical ventriloquist's "dummy"), but once things are at level of a person inside a life-size costume, well no thanks. Also have always disliked appearance (and the attempts to mimic animal noises) of people made up (with cosmetics) and/or dressed up as animals (in plays, for instance). Usually gives me the creeps. You couldn't pay me to go see a musical, esp. something like "Cats".

Clowns date back thousands of years, at least, and can be found in most human cultures. They allow people to laugh at things that would normally be taboo to laugh at. They predate the idea that people of different age groups should be entertained differently.

Clowns are based on tradition, not scientific evidence. There are many examples of traditions that persist despite a dearth of evidence to support their existence. My opinion is that traditions are especially worthy of study because of their tendency to be embraced without question.

If you look for it, you can find a lot of info on the history of clowns on the web.

If I ever have kids, I'm going to hire a professional clown to "entertain" them every saturday.

I like the cool clowns.