there is also a family of anti boitics, MYOsylins, (is that spelled right? one of the doctors here will quickly correct me) myosylins use chemicals first found in 'dirt'.

Did you-all see that letter to what used to be Ann Landers' column, from the lady (who may have said she was pregnant; I can't recall) who said she eats 3 or 4 boxes of 64 crayons a week? They suggested she might have pica.

Speaking of phobias: I saw this horrible, evil-clown decal nearly covering the back window of a truck in front of me today. [shudder] A coulrophobe I am. (Did I spell that right?)

> " Pica: eating earth or clay or chalk; occurs in some primitive tribes or sometimes in cases of nutritional deficiency"

Yeah, there was an article in the NYT not so long ago about that. It spoke of how women in certain African countries can/have to improvise with various things like leather and dirt to make things to eat. The dirt cookies are sold on the street as something of a snack.

http://www.ihateclowns.com/

And no, Jackie, you don't have to register! :)

I do not fear clowns. Really. I don't. They are just not nice people. They scare little kids, they cause neurosis in some adults, they have big floppy feet, they try to fit too many of their kind in a car, I could go on and on.
Anna, I am glad to know that site is there; rather, I'm glad to know that I have so much company! I won't be signing up with them, though; not only do I not have the time or desire to go to another chat/discussion place, I don't like looking at that sticker...

We had this coulrophobics discussion a long time ago on this board. I think clowns are very scary, but had to play one in a show years ago. And I was pregnant! Ha! One of my dear friends said that I was the only clown she'd ever seen who hadn't frightened her. Curiously, they bother me more as an adult than they did as a child. Claribel on Howdy Dowdy didn't bother me at all.

Me neither - can't stand clowns one bit. I've always hated 'em. even when I was young. It's like they try to push and push you to smile even though they are just not funny.

And why is it that parents insist of forcing kids to endure these jerks. The parents are always saying, "isn't he funny" while the kids are terrified of the huge blood-red mouth.

> The parents are always saying, "isn't he funny" while the kids are terrified of the huge blood-red mouth.

Sounds like a real cliched clown. I've always thought circus clowns were very funny, especially when they let circus animals get the better of them.

If you're looking for scary ones though you can't go past the hardcore hiphop outfit, the Insane Clown Posse (www.insaneclownposse.com); I mean, they tick all the boxes, they're clowns, they're insane, and in a posse.
Then of course there's the 7th memeber of the band Slipknot who has an evil clown theme. Clowns and horror (and music apparently) mix very well. There are, of course, countless films which include weird or violent clowns. One very strange addition of late to the group of children's party guests from hell was the man-bunny rabbit in Donnie Darko (brill' film, btw).

You've heard of Slipknot? I'm impressed! They created their own er, outfits, didn't they? A 15-yr.-old girl I know adores that band; I've looked up the lyrics to a couple of their songs but haven't gotten around to any more; should I be concerned for her? That is, do many/any of their songs celebrate violence, suicide (which I suspect this girl has at least thought of), or anything like that? (Sorry, people--I should have prolly sent this as a PM...)

Slipknot are well known over here for their subliminal verses.

yeah, be very afraid! ;)

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/slipknot/

>>>Sounds like a real cliched clown.

Most clowns are though. The point of the make-up is to appear over-big, over-large and extreme. Sometimes, their colours are garish, other times, monochromatic, but always extreme. Their movements are also overly emotive and extreme. I think it is that extremity that frightens children.

i don't think all children are frightened of clowns.. (i don't remember being so..)

kids also like scary things (that are safe) adults do too, which is why we read mystery novels, and go to scary movies. (horror scary, or thriller type scary movies.)
clowns act silly and non threatening (even if they look strange and threatening!)

I have this very strange hat. Its made of card stock weight paper, in the pleated style used for those tissue paper orniments (wedding bells, etc) that fold flat, and then open up to be 3 D objects. so its very elastic, but its made of pleated heavy weight paper.

because of the style, the hat (not on) looks sort of like a birds head and neck (narrow neck, wider head) and its its decorated with 'feathers' eyes, and beak.

but you can pull the hat not just onto the crown,(as a strange green hat) but over your face like a mask. so you look sort of parrot like.. the eye of the mask are about where human eyes are, the beak is close to the nose.. (you can see through the pleates when you wear it)

2 years ago, (age 2 years, 3months) my granddaughter was very frightened when i did that.

last month, (age 4 years 3months) she was delighted..

but--she wanted to see me put the mask on, and take it off, and put it on, and take it off.. it frightened her a bit, but it also intrigued her.. eventually she wanted to wear it too. and after a it was off, she didn't want to see it.. so she hid it.. (and i am still looking for it!)

clowns are scary, (and not) and scary (and not) and most of us like that (a bit)

I liked clowns, and got a chance to play the clown in an orphanage in Mexico. I spoke no Spanish then so it took a few minutes to break the shy barrier. Then suddenly I was on the ground covered in laughing children trying to tickle me. (4 year olds are painful ticklers). I think I was one of the few adults who played with them on their level and they loved it.
So did I.

Maybe it is an age thing. I know that, over the years, I've seen plenty of very young children frightened of clowns at birthday parties, or shopping centres - and their parents are invariably forcing them to sit through it.

When I was about 7, my father took the three of us boys to the big circus (I guess it was downtown NY, that would be the Garden perhaps).

Anyway we had seats right on the runway and Pop leaned over and said really loudly, "Emmett, it's me, Rem." And the next thing you know I am sitting in Emmett Kelly's lap while he chatted with my father. No one believed me in school until I was able to take in the pictures (which are long since lost).

Funny, I hadn't thought of those hobo/tramp characters as clowns.

It's a shame about those photos. Mr Kelly was a real friend, I'd say. For a few minutes of his time, he made a dad look important in the eyes of his sons.

Velvet paintings and figurines of clowns are scary, especially “sad” clowns. The personality of anyone I’ve met who proudly owns either one, or both, is also scary.


mime n. a person silently crying for help

Since age 18, I have been a clown...and a bunny rabbit at Easter-time...my boss always asks why I'm NOT wearing a costume when I'm a witch at Halloween...and Mrs Santa. Anyway, I've found that kids who are, or have been, in hospitals are afraid of anyone with the face even partially covered or concealed. Visiting hospitals, I often avoid pediatrics (or check with parents first)...but the geriatrics LOVE all the above! For some, I may be the only visitor in a long time. Isn't that a sad thing!?

Patch Adams takes his crew of clowns to children in hospitals in war zones. If you ever get to catch one of his lectures, do. The footage of his work in such zones is unforgettable.

Velvet paintings … of clowns are scary…. The personality of anyone I’ve met who proudly owns … one … is also scary.

Not to mention sacrilegious. Ve'vet is only for paintings of E'vis !!!

>Ve'vet is only for paintings of E'vis

I don't know. what other medium is there for paintings of poker-playing dogs?

There are bulls and tigers, too.

Dare I say it? 'The Last Supper' rates the finest ve'vet. Love the abbreviation (how come that's such a long word?). It's exacterly right!