Giving clowns a bad name
The scary clown craze we have been hearing so much about has hit home. Area police recently reported sightings in Stayner and Caledon, adding to the growing terror.
Since August there have been a growing number of reports of creepy clowns standing under streetlamps or standing on roadsides. Some of them are reported to be carrying bats, knives or axes but for the most part they are using their mere presence to terrify people. There has been little physical violence associated with the clown sightings, but there is emotional violence.
People are terrified of not only the clowns but even the potential of seeing the clowns. The worldwide phenomenon has created a sense of apprehension, which as Hitchcock knows is the best thrill of all.
The scary clown craze does not bode well for legitimate clowns though. Many happy clowns are reporting that they are experiencing a negative spin-off effect, while costume stores that can’t stock enough clown costumes are giggling all the way to the bank.
Even Ronald McDonald isn’t cheerful enough to rise above the trend. His handlers have limited his public appearances, until this all blows over. You know it’s real when Ronny is intimidated. That dude is tall and has really big shoes.
There are theories that it could be a marketing scheme, perhaps related to the promotion of the new movie, It, but even Stephen King has tweeted about it, trying to calm people.
Whatever prompted the craze, it has grown due to copycats who are looking to get in on the action. And that is the scariest part of this whole story. These things always start out as thrilling to those who appreciate a bit of the macabre, but they just end up being sad because of those who take it too far.
Many people have said if they ever see one of these clowns they would run them over or attack them. There are also online groups that advocate hunting down the creepy clowns. The threat of violence and intimidation is bringing out the violent tendencies in their victims and that could go wrong.
In the United States, there are people facing felony charges for making a terrorist threat connected to clown-related activity but we are expecting, before this is over there may be a report of a motorist facing charges of clown-related vehicular manslaughter.
We all need to keep this clown craze in perspective. One would think there is nothing illegal about standing on a street corner dressed as a clown but the police seem to disagree. They say these people, those not armed, can be charged with something as minor as mischief.
In many places, clowns are being banned this Halloween but, for those who love Halloween, the creepy clowns add to the thrill of the holiday.
People pay big bucks for this kind of thrill. There is no shortage of ways to spend money on getting a not-always-cheap thrill.
No, it’s not funny, it’s terrifying and that’s why people are talking about it.
Some people are out to scare, but there is no denying that some people like a little scare, especially at Halloween.
