# The man with the BIG RED nose & the hatred I have for him.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 30, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587 "2001-10-30T19:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rfsgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90db22/32.png) [@rfsgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfsgrl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/1 "2001-10-30T19:49:20Z")
Halloween brings out the wonderment of this strange “phobia” {shall we say} that I have. I am a 26 year old woman who is horrifingly, desperatly, afraid of **clowns** Not just I don’t like them or that they are weird… but I mean I am run from the room screaming in terror afraid of them. I think it stems back to my childhood, when my seemingly innocent parents hung pictures of Emmit Kelly all over my room and for those who don’t know who he is… he is a “sad” **clown**. Every year I would receive more pictures of **clowns dolls** … or something. Living in Chicago back then, anyone from around those parts knows that WGN mornings’ were filled with \*\* Bozo\*\*!!! Well in second grade guess where my class field trip was??? You guessed it… The \*\* Bozo\*\* show! I was forced by my mother to go… and not only that but i was one of those kids chosen to play the GRAND PRIZE GAME you know, the one where you stand up there with \*\* Bozo\*\* and throw the little balls in the buckets for prizes. Well right before we were scheduled to go up… I had a full blown panic attack… and who else but \*\* Bozo \*\* and \*\* Cookie\*\* themselves game to my assistance… well this good Irish catholic school girl promptly kicked \*\* Bozo\*\* right in the shin. I didn’t play that game, and was was removed from the then limping \*\* Bozo’s\*\* sight I have a few other incidents with \*\* clowns\*\* that are just too traumatic to list… but needless to say I loathe them. When I was 15 my boyfriend at the time insisted he was going to cure me of my “silly” phobia and literally made me sit through **Attack of the killer clowns** , and I tremble as I write this \*\* IT\*\*. Anyone who has seen these movies knows they are hard to take even if you do like \*\* clowns\*\*. Not too long after that I broke up with that insensitive moron. Two Halloweens ago, my then 5 year old (who knows Mommy hates \*\* clowns\*\*) wanted to be what else for Halloween. Now keep in mind this child knows I hate them, but i have also told both my kids that it is fine for them to like the hideous beats… I asked my daughter to pick two other costumes that she would like to wear, and if the place we were going to didn’t have them, then she could be a \*\* clown\*\* Well of course the damn place didn’t have the others… and I was stuck honoring my promise… I cannot explain the feelings I had painting the face on my child… I refused to look at her! But as a good Mommy, I kept my promise to my child… Here we are now and I am still as afraid of **clowns** as I ever was… I know there will be tons of the little creatures floating around tomorrow, and I have to say I am dreading it… So this makes me wonder… are there any others out there who have a weird “phobia” such as this? And… any clues on how to deal with this?? ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/2 "2001-10-30T19:57:55Z")
Hide under the bed until they all go away? Oh, I guess if you’re taking your daughter trick-or-treating that won’t work. Oops! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/3 "2001-10-30T19:58:04Z")
Ya gotta feel sorry for clowns. After all, their smiles are only painted on. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/4 "2001-10-30T19:59:29Z")
FWIW, the fear you describe is common enough that it has a name: coulrophobia. I’ve known one other person who had it, although probably not as severely as you do. If it’s interfering with your lifestyle, you might seek professional help. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/5 "2001-10-30T20:02:33Z")
Um, well, first I’ll say that on your thread title alone, I was trying to figure out what you were talking about. Since I was pretty sure no one hates Rudolph, I had it in my head that, since yours was the “evil penis” post, that the “man with the BIG RED nose” was another phallic euphemism. Then I opened the thread. OOOOOHHHHHHH… Clowns. Of course! 🙂 Yeah, I really don’t like them either, although its not a phobia (we wont even get into my butterfly phobia!) I’m wondering if its something to do with our age group, though. A lot of people in their mid-late 20’s are not big fans of clowns and especially clown dolls. My theory? Poltergeist, the movie. If you’ve seen it, you know why. If not, just dont see it! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/6 "2001-10-30T20:03:26Z")
I was sure this was going to be an anti-Clinton rant. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/7 "2001-10-30T20:05:54Z")
I was deathly afraid of The Easter Bunny until I changed my religion. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/8 "2001-10-30T20:14:24Z")
Clinton, hell, I was expecting at least one Kennedy joke by now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rfsgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90db22/32.png) [@rfsgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfsgrl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/9 "2001-10-30T20:15:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scredle \* > \*\*Um, well, first I’ll say that on your thread title alone, > I was trying to figure out what you were talking about. Since I was pretty sure no one hates Rudolph, I had it in my head that, since yours was the “evil penis” post, that > the “man with the BIG RED nose” was another phallic euphemism. Then I opened the thread. OOOOOHHHHHHH… > Clowns. Of course! > 🙂 > Yeah, I really don’t like them either, although its not a > phobia (we wont even get into my butterfly phobia!) > I’m wondering if its something to do with our age group, though. A lot of people in their mid-late 20’s are not big fans of clowns and especially clown dolls. My theory? Poltergeist, the movie. If you’ve seen it, you know why. If not, just dont see it! \*\* How did I know someone was going to liken this to my \*\* EVIL PENIS\*\* thread 😉 I have seen Poltergeist (who hasn’t?) another one of those things that I have to cover my eyes when i know that part is about to make it’s appearance. The thing about their faces being painted on… I have a feeling that has a lot to do with it. they are hiding who they really are… Who knows where this came from… it doesn’t interfere with my lifestyle per se, but man o man do I hate when I walk into Walmart and there is one of those animal ballon making beasts in front of the bathroom and I have to get a manager to make the \*\* clown\*\* move so I can use the facilities. No, I am not kidding… I really did that… ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/10 "2001-10-30T20:27:56Z")
I’m afraid of clowns. I’m pretty sure it pre-dates **Poltergeist** , but that surely didn’t help matters. The fear isn’t quite as paralyzing as yours, though… I reserve that for [sub]shudder[/sub] frogs and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The moron of a boyfriend was using a relatively standard therapeutic technique known as **flooding**. Guess it didn’t work this time… maybe he should’ve had you watch those two movies plus Poltergeist while listening to “Send in the Clowns.” 😃 -BK ---
**Author:** ![Palmyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/57b2e6/32.png) [@Palmyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palmyra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/11 "2001-10-30T21:01:37Z")
My boyfriend really doesn’t like clowns. Gets this very grim “don’t even talk about those evil unnatural things” type expression on his face when ever clowns are mentioned… though I think he leans a bit more towards hating them than being afraid of them. However, he _is_ creeped out big time by **marionettes**. Two days after I learned this, my mother unearthed from the attic a box of Mexican marionettes… three women of various ages, and a **clown**!! Would it be totally cruel to surprise him with it on Halloween?? [sub]I was considering borrowing a trick from “Rosanne” and getting him thinking I was pregnant, but damnit! my period came five days early… yes I _am_ evil…[sub] ---
**Author:** ![Firx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Firx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firx)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/12 "2001-10-30T21:30:45Z")
I was going to post a W. C. Fields joke, but somehow it just doesn’t seem appropriate now. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/13 "2001-10-30T23:46:31Z")
I’ve always hated clowns. I wouldn’t say I’m scared of them, but they do seem vaguely creepy. There’s a weird sexual unpleasantness to them -I was subconsciously aware of it even as a kid. Of course, the “Mr Bubbles” case in Australia probably adds to this feeling, but we won’t go there. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/14 "2001-10-31T00:25:23Z")
“You know - camp! The tragically ludicrous? The ludicrously tragic?” “Oh, like when a clown dies…” - The Simpsons [sub]“We all float down here!” :D[/sub] Esprix ---
**Author:** ![P.W.Doodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f14d63/32.png) [@P.W.Doodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P.W.Doodle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/15 "2001-10-31T01:22:29Z")
I don’t know if it is weird or not…but, I have never been able to watch _Wizard of Oz_ without leaving the room or covering my eyes whenever the “monkeys” are around! Maybe you could get your daughter to paint you up like a clown…would that help?? If not, at least she would enjoy it!! Polly ---
**Author:** ![rfsgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90db22/32.png) [@rfsgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfsgrl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/16 "2001-10-31T01:24:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*“You know - camp! The tragically ludicrous? The ludicrously tragic?” > > “Oh, like when a clown dies…” > > - The Simpsons > > [sub]“We all float down here!” :D[/sub] > > Esprix \*\* Did you think I was going to miss the \*\* IT\*\* reference \*\* Esprix\*\* you meanie you… Strangely enough, Krusty does not bother me… However I absolutly HATE Ronald Mcdonald! I think a lot of people dislike clowns… but do they actually fear them?? Palmyra:“Would it be totally cruel to surprise him with it on Halloween??” YES! it would be totally cruel to do that! At least if it was done to me… This comming from a woman who checks to see what the theme of a child’s party is… and if it is \*\* you know whats\*\* they may party without me!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/17 "2001-10-31T01:28:17Z")
> [@](#): > > To me, clowns aren’t funny. In fact, they’re kinda scary. I’ve wondered where this started and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad. – Jack Handy I’ve had a friend who was afraid of clowns. She’d always say they were evil. I personally have been irritated by clowns but not afraid. As a child, I always used to watch the Melbourne Moomba parade, and every year a pair of clowns named Zig and Zag would be featured in it. Good old Zig and Zag! So, clowns were a good thing, associated with Moomba and easter and all that kind of thing. In recent years, Zig (or Zag, I don’t know which one!) has been accused of molesting children, which is horrible and disturbing at the best of times, but especially when we’re talking about a beloved childhood character. I guess clowns really are evil - who else would cover themselves in makeup and hang out with children? ---
**Author:** ![Ferggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Ferggie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferggie)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/18 "2001-10-31T02:54:33Z")
**Cazzle** sez: > [@](#): > > I guess clowns really are evil - who else would cover themselves in makeup and hang out with children? Michael Jackson? I don’t like clowns, either, but not to such a debilitating degree. Those marionettes, though… Friend of mine who was hard-up for cash agreed to paint a replica of one of Gacy’s clowns for someone. She couldn’t wait to get the thing out of her apartment. ---
**Author:** ![\_your\_name\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/919ad9/32.png) [@\_your\_name\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_your_name_here)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/19 "2001-10-31T03:00:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Palmyra \* > **My boyfriend really doesn’t like clowns. Gets this very grim “don’t even talk about those evil unnatural things” type expression on his face when ever clowns are mentioned… though I think he leans a bit more towards hating them than being afraid of them. However, he _is_ creeped out big time by marionettes.** Just like me. I hate clowns but can stand them. I’m deathly afraid of marionettes. Fortunately I rarely see them, but when I do…it’s scares me so bad. Clowns I can stand, if I steer clear. For instance I nearly ran from a clown I saw at my local mall. My friend was like “What the hell was that!!!” (your name here) ---
**Author:** ![Ferggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Ferggie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferggie)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587/20 "2001-10-31T03:03:24Z")
Didn’t think of this before or I’d ‘a’ put it in my last post…was anyone else creeped out by that _one_ puppet on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-with-the-big-red-nose-the-hatred-i-have-for-him/90587.md?page=2)