# Gas masks are freaking creepy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734 "2014-02-19T21:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/1 "2014-02-19T21:16:24Z")
[See?](https://www.google.com/search?q=gas+mask&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=qB4FU4eGNu6uyAHb9YCwCA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1271&bih=718) That is all. Prompted by the [7th picture down.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/photography/2014/02/ukraine_protest_photos_police_and_protesters_clash_during_demonstrations.html) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/2 "2014-02-19T21:24:38Z")
That’s nothing. Have a look at the Mickey Mouse gas mask: [![](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/mo/MOFTLchemical_dk1576_720x480.jpg) ](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/mo/MOFTLchemical_dk1576_720x480.jpg) > **[Military Museums of Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2017)** > > Three museums under one roof, all free. The U.S. Army Engineer Museum and Military Police Museum are both good, but the Chemical Corps Museum is what you want to see first. That’s not a catchy name for a chance design – they really did try to make it look like Mickey Mouse in order to be kid-friendly: > [@](#): > > The Mickey Mouse gas mask, for example, was a failed attempt to make chemical warfare fun for kids. It’s a visitor favorite, hidden among a display of dozens of other gas masks. There’s a photo of Walt Disney convening with military brass to discuss the cartoon mask development, and a picture of Charlie McCarthy donning a ventriloquist dummy-sized gas mask. Of even more interest are masks and suits designed for dogs, horses, and even pigeons. Museum curator Cynthia Riley told us that the animal wear was intended as a temporary exhibit, but visitors have loved it so much that she hasn’t had the heart to take it down. More on the Mickey Mouse Gas Mask: [http://gasmasklexikon.com/page/USA-mil-mikey.htm](http://gasmasklexikon.com/page/USA-mil-mikey.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/3 "2014-02-19T21:27:00Z")
Might I recommend for your enjoyment the _Doctor Who_ episodes “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances”? 😃 Consumption of these entertainment products is contraindicated for those with known violent reactions to creepy, gas-mask-wearing, monomaniacal [stalker-children](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22the+empty+child%22&client=ubuntu&hs=iKG&channel=fs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=tSEFU-PsLsrf4QTa_YCQAQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1465&bih=960#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=lu7nm-2eh6YaTM%253A%3B2DEflWTMBvukkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Freprog.files.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F06%252Fempty-child.jpeg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Freprog.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F06%252F21%252Fthe-pandorica-opens-11th-doctor-episode-12%252F%3B640%3B352). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/4 "2014-02-19T21:33:29Z")
Un-holy, and gives me a similar gut reaction as the pictures from the [hanging-from-buildings-by-fingertips](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=715791) thread. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/5 "2014-02-19T21:40:06Z")
That mask isn’t going to give him much protection, since it seems to be missing the filter. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/6 "2014-02-19T21:48:00Z")
If an annoying ultra-organic gardener ever moves in next door, I’m going to go out and spray my shrubs wearing the creepiest-looking gas mask I can find. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/7 "2014-02-19T21:51:29Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That mask isn’t going to give him much protection, since it seems to be missing the filter. It reminds me a lot of the scuttling gas-mask people in _The Wall._ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/8 "2014-02-19T21:57:32Z")
Then there’s [this](http://i.imgur.com/Vo6yfBd.gif) scene from _True Detective_. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/9 "2014-02-19T22:03:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > That mask isn’t going to give him much protection, since it seems to be missing the filter. It’s not really a gas mask. It’s _part of his face_. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/10 "2014-02-19T22:40:33Z")
[Creepy all right](http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130416054221/killzone/images/3/39/1hfKILLZONE-3_17.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/11 "2014-02-19T23:28:13Z")
Well, second on the third row ([persistent link if it changes](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-wQXSnoet8/Tj3LAqdweAI/AAAAAAABzbA/4MuwqR3ncOY/s640/ichabod%2Bgas%2Bmask1.jpg)) is one of the creepier, and it isn’t a gas mask. Well, I guess it is sort of the medieval analog. This is a variaton of the [plague doctor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_doctor) [mask](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_doctor_costume). The 17th image down (3 below the painting guy): [TESTUDO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testudo_formation)! ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/12 "2014-02-19T23:45:35Z")
A good friend of mine is renting a house from one of his friends. His friend has a glass-case display of antique gas masks on mannequin heads. My friend was asking my opinion on dating. I recommended the first thing he needs to do is hide that case. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/13 "2014-02-20T00:01:42Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Might I recommend for your enjoyment the _Doctor Who_ episodes “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances”? > > 😃 I don’t think I can ever watch that ever again. I was _freaked out_. Are you my Mummy? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/14 "2014-02-20T00:19:16Z")
I just got a little bit of afraid of developing a fetish around gas masks. For a second I was like “Hey, that’d be hot…” So many things that are impossible to un-see or un-think. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/15 "2014-02-20T01:57:32Z")
I am not your mummy. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/16 "2014-02-20T02:24:43Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > [Creepy all right](http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130416054221/killzone/images/3/39/1hfKILLZONE-3_17.jpg). I see your video game gas masks [and raise you](http://media.moddb.com/images/members/1/284/283202/3466444412_3974b3998c.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/17 "2014-02-20T02:43:02Z")
[Yep.](http://www.jumpingfrog.com/images/NewYorker/ny071842.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/18 "2014-02-20T02:45:57Z")
I used to think gas masks were cool precisely because of that sort of dark otherworldly creepiness. I collect(?) illustrations I think are cool and I had a sizable collection of ones with gas masks. So I thought they were neat… … Until I had actually wear them on a regular basis for chemical attack drills in the army. They’re super uncomfortable and any activity becomes a pain in the ass since your line of sight’s all f’ed up and you run out of breath super fast. A claustrophobe’s nightmare. And the full MOPP suit? Hot and heavy as hell and it’s like walking around with duck feet. Oh and when you do the tear gas drill, you take out the filter and BLECH you get a pool of spit, snot, and tears joyously sploshing around the bottom. Not that you care because of the BURN in your eyes, nostrils, throat, skin and HOLY FUCK I CAN’T BREATHE then you sort of can, except it still burns and still not very fun. Just imagine every facial orifice capable excreting liquid doing just that at FULL THROTTLE. Now whenever I see gas masks I grimace a little bit. …Sorry for the hijack? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/19 "2014-02-20T03:01:29Z")
First thing I thought of was Neil Gaiman’s [Morpheus mask](https://www.google.com/search?q=gaiman+sandman&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uW4FU7GxKsnroATJ-ICICg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg&biw=853&bih=417#q=neil+gaiman+sandman+mask&tbm=isch). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734/20 "2014-02-20T14:37:17Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I don’t think I can ever watch that ever again. I was _freaked out_. I was at Gallifrey One this weekend (LA’s big Doctor Who convention). There was a little boy dressed in 1940’s clothes with a gas mask on walking up to adults saying “Are you my mummy?” It was really, really creepy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-masks-are-freaking-creepy/681734.md?page=2)