# Send in the Scary Clowns or Stay Away from Wasco **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 8, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784 "2014-10-08T18:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/1 "2014-10-08T18:04:29Z")
[Mysterious scary clowns are appearing at night in Wasco, California.](http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/watch-mysterious-clowns-appear-at-night-in-california-city) No one knows why. Is it some kind of viral marketing? Is it a couple locals having some early Halloween fun? Is it an invasion of clown aliens that will soon be feasting on the residents of Wasco? What do you think? Any Cali-Dopers want to go check it out? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/2 "2014-10-08T18:14:46Z")
Maybe it’s [this guy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xSNiPx791A). ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/3 "2014-10-08T18:27:52Z")
I see these pranks and wonder when someone is going to get shot because they pranked someone with a concealed weapon. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/4 "2014-10-08T19:07:40Z")
There are many, many reasons to stay away from Wasco. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/5 "2014-10-08T19:51:29Z")
It’s been done. Just like in Hollywood, nothing original is coming out of Wasco. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/6 "2014-10-09T05:52:54Z")
Super creepy. Tomorrow I am meeting a rescue transport that is bringing dogs from the animal shelter Wasco, I will try to remember to ask the driver what she knows about it. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/7 "2014-10-09T06:08:12Z")
Come here. Yes here, over by the storm drain. Closer please. I’ll whisper you the truth about the clowns. C’mon…closer please… ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/8 "2014-10-09T13:21:06Z")
This prank was first staged in England and since then other places have copied it in their towns. It’s like the Hard Rock Cafe of creepy clowns. > **[IT LIVES / Scary Clown Just Wants To Be Loved](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scary-clown-northhampton-england_n_3934290)** > > IT LIVES / Scary Clown Just Wants To Be Loved ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/9 "2014-10-09T13:30:18Z")
So, what’s the best way to get back at these clowns if they should come to my home town? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/10 "2014-10-09T13:47:03Z")
Tell them “it’s been done, do something original.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/11 "2014-10-09T13:57:48Z")
A friend of my cousins, a clown, was buried in his clown outfit. Open casket funeral, and many of the mourners wore full clown regalia. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/12 "2014-10-09T17:20:57Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > This prank was first staged in England and since then other places have copied it in their towns. It’s like the Hard Rock Cafe of creepy clowns. > > [Northampton Clown Terrorizes English Town Just By Standing Around (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Weird News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/scary-clown-northhampton-england_n_3934290.html) Thanks for posting a link that time, instead of just saying “it’s been done” over and over. Well, you did that, too, but the link was helpful. > [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > So, what’s the best way to get back at these clowns if they should come to my home town? They’re still creepy clowns, I would not engage. > [@enipla](#): > > A friend of my cousins, a clown, was buried in his clown outfit. Open casket funeral, and many of the mourners wore full clown regalia. I hope he didn’t meet his end from a hungry elephant while he was dressed like a peanut? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/13 "2014-10-09T17:31:39Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I hope he didn’t meet his end from a hungry elephant while he was dressed like a peanut? “A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/14 "2014-10-09T17:39:36Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > …I hope he didn’t meet his end from a hungry elephant while he was dressed like a peanut? > [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > “A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.” Man, just when I think I have something original to say… ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/15 "2014-10-09T17:49:31Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Man, just when I think I have something original to say… At least we all know we’re of the same generation. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/16 "2014-10-09T18:41:17Z")
On the one hand, it’s obviously a prank, and the costumes/makeup seem chosen specifically to be on the creepier end of the creepyclownometer. The Northampton guy seems to be in a more general clown outfit. On the other hand, I have to wonder how many scares I may have inadvertently given over the years. I routinely participate in events that have me hanging out in public parks in various costumes. (I haven’t been cast as a clown yet, but it’s probably just a matter of time.) I know for a fact that I once scared two young women (and a squirrel) into panicked flight–I was in a monster costume that blended well with the foliage and keeping still to try to hear where the players were, and they didn’t notice me until they were a few feet away and I turned my head. How many times has someone on a casual stroll through the park seen me in costume, been a little freaked out, and gone the other way without my notice? I’m not suggesting there’s a Creepy Clown Club in Wasco, and that people are just happening to see them as they go about their private clown club business. I’m just saying that people are easily spooked–maybe too easily spooked–by things that are a little out of the ordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/17 "2014-10-09T22:48:40Z")
The lady I met today who was bringing the rescue dogs from the Wasco animal shelter had not heard anything about the clowns. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/18 "2014-10-11T17:51:03Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > The lady I met today who was bringing the rescue dogs from the Wasco animal shelter had not heard anything about the clowns. Excellent…the plan continues apace. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/19 "2014-10-12T04:07:17Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > A friend of my cousins, a clown, was buried in his clown outfit. Open casket funeral, and many of the mourners wore full clown regalia. Did they all pile out of the coffin? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784/20 "2014-10-12T04:32:48Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > Did they all pile out of the coffin? Watch out for the squirting flower arrangements. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-scary-clowns-or-stay-away-from-wasco/700784.md?page=2)