# Does anybody find circus clowns funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015 "2016-07-15T23:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/21 "2016-07-16T12:41:04Z")
Yes, hilarious!! But then, I grew up in the 1950’s/60’s, watched _International Showtime_ every week, and loved Emmett Kelly’s Weary Willie character. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/22 "2016-07-16T12:44:21Z")
They were funny when I saw them at Ringling Brothers in the 60s. Kids loved them. But they were ruined by amateurs who were loud and boisterous, scaring kids (some Santas have the same effect). Add that to people’s strange penchant for Wanting to be afraid (which led to the evil clown trope), and people don’t like them. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/23 "2016-07-16T12:57:22Z")
I have known people who _claimed_ they were scared of clowns as a child, but I have been to many, many events with small children and clowns present and have seen exactly one child one time express fear in the presence of a clown. And in that case the clown came bursting loudly into the back of the room during a low-key program and the child was reacting to the sudden noise. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/24 "2016-07-16T13:01:20Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > I always thought Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lameriello had the ultimate face for being a clown. > Not really known for being all that funny, though. > > [Google Search](https://www.google.ca/search?q=lou+lamoriello&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjymdz4j_fNAhVQ9mMKHRUqCxcQ_AUICSgC&biw=910&bih=623) [This is more my impression of the mug’s phiz.](http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/dudeee4/media/2il0dco_zpsa82d79ae.jpg.html) The dude looks more like a mob boss to me. I never found clowns scary, and I never found them especially funny. **EinsteinsHund** , you are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/25 "2016-07-16T13:34:24Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > And, of course the lions would think they taste funny. > ETA: May not transfer well to a German idiom. Nope, works perfectly: “Die Clowns schmecken komisch”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/26 "2016-07-16T14:02:18Z")
Clowns could be amusing. If they gave everybody in the audience air rifles. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/27 "2016-07-16T14:23:07Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Clowns could be amusing. > If they gave everybody in the audience air rifles. What is THAT supposed to mean? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/28 "2016-07-16T14:30:08Z")
The late Sir Terry Pratchett said it best: > [@](#): > > “No clowns were funny. That was the whole purpose of a clown. People laughed at clowns, but only out of nervousness. The point of clowns was that, after watching them, anything else that happened seemed enjoyable” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/29 "2016-07-16T14:56:35Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The late Sir Terry Pratchett said it best: The proper way for me to appraise that quote is to know exactly what Sir Terry Pratchett thought was funny. It could just be a case of cultural snobbery. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/30 "2016-07-16T15:06:57Z")
> [@bosda di'chi of tricor](#): > > clowns could be amusing. > If they gave everybody in the audience air rifles. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > what is that supposed to mean? {evil smile} ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/31 "2016-07-16T15:09:47Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > The proper way for me to appraise that quote is to know exactly what Sir Terry Pratchett thought was funny. It could just be a case of cultural snobbery. Feel free to read what Pratchett wrote about [the Fool’s Guild](http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Fools'_Guild). > [@](#): > > If it was funny, clowns wouldn’t be doing it. He also spelled out the hierarchy of Clowning in the Fool’s Guild: The Degrees of Clowning 1. Muggins. 2. Gull. 3. Dupe. 4. Butt. The first four levels are those which a student Fool is expected to attain during basic training at the Guild. This usually takes about five years, after which the student passes out with the grade of 5. Fool. This is only a starting point, however, as like masonic ritual, higher grades of fatuity beckon:- 1. Tomfool. 2. Stupid Fool. 3. Arch Fool. 4. Complete Fool. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/32 "2016-07-16T16:00:33Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > {evil smile} {If sustained, suggests future trip to orthodontist} ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/33 "2016-07-16T16:09:06Z")
Perfectly normal for some kids to not like clowns. Some are afraid of clowns. Along the same lines as kids being afraid of ghosts… Some kids are not afraid of ghosts! Don’t worry about it. It is good that there are differences in people. ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/34 "2016-07-16T16:52:17Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > The proper way for me to appraise that quote is to know exactly what Sir Terry Pratchett thought was funny. It could just be a case of cultural snobbery. There was also: > [@](#): > > “They are tragic,” said Vetinari, “and we laugh at their tragedy as we laugh at our own. The painted leer grins out at us from the darkness, mocking our insane belief in order, logic, status, the reality of reality. The mask knows we are born on the banana skin and leads only to the open manhole cover of doom, and all we can hope for are the cheers of the crowd.” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/35 "2016-07-16T17:24:24Z")
And who is Vetinari? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/36 "2016-07-16T17:30:44Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > And who is Vetinari? A Patrician. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/37 "2016-07-16T17:56:15Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > A Patrician. That means nothing to us Plebeians. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/38 "2016-07-16T18:16:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > That means nothing to us Plebeians. He rules a city called Ankh-Morpork, which has a one man-one vote polity: He’s the man, so he gets the vote. In other words, he’s a Renaissance-era enlightened despot trying to play [del]Thud[/del] chess with pieces who are either drunk, angry, utterly incompetent, or all three and plotting against each other at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/39 "2016-07-16T18:42:21Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > He rules a city called Ankh-Morpork, which has a one man-one vote polity: He’s the man, so he gets the vote. > > In other words, he’s a Renaissance-era enlightened despot trying to play [del]Thud[/del] chess with pieces who are either drunk, angry, utterly incompetent, or all three and plotting against each other at the same time. That sounds like a line from a book by Richard Armour: “Rome was [at this time] ruled by a triumvirate. This consisted of three men who spent most of their time plotting to kill each other.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015/40 "2016-07-16T18:45:07Z")
Well yeah. Donald Trump is the rodeo clown de jour. And add VP nominee Mike Pence and you have a (trifecta - 1) of hilarity. Self-driving Cown Cars will be supplied by Tesla. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-find-circus-clowns-funny/760015.md?page=3)