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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Olof, you got me thinking about clowns - evil ones, and The Joker came to mind. Calling all the Fox 'personalities' Jokers seems apt to me. For more evil clown info, I went to Wikipedia,:

'The evil clown is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead depicted in a more disturbing nature through the use of horror elements and dark humor. The modern archetype of the evil clown was popularized by DC Comics character the Joker starting in 1940 and again by Pennywise in Stephen King's It. The character can be seen as playing on the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.' 'Coulrophobia' I hadn't heard of that before.

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Suzanne Crockett's avatar

I’ve read that coulrophobia can begin in infants. About the time they begin to understand and identify faces, a clown’s face can be disturbing, as it has many similarities to a human face but also great differences.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

My daughter, 28, is terrified of clowns.I have no idea of the basis.

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Gail, From the assortment of what HCR and subscribers deliver, we find the leads to questions trailing along with us. There is such a condition as your daughter's. Will you consider doing a bit of research about it through the American Psychological Association (only authentic professional associations) and, perhaps you and daughter call her doctor or yours (general practitioner/internist) for a suggestion? You won't alarm by saying that other people have the same fear as she does, 'so let's look in it'. It actually may be a relief to know that she is not the only one.

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Gail Adams VA/FL's avatar

Thanks for your thoughtful response, Fern.

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Citizen60's avatar

Mine was too. And the characters at Disneyland. So odd.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

My niece, also 28, not only hates clowns but also the costumed people (think Smoky Bear, Disney characters, etc.)

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