# Why the hate for mimes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396 "2009-01-22T02:47:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/21 "2009-01-22T13:26:25Z")
gah, Mimes are evil. Not as evil as normal clowns, but evil nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/22 "2009-01-22T13:38:07Z")
Here are a couple entertaining videos which make fun of mime (and Criss Angel too!) I give you [Mimefreak I](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3dN4sXJfU) and [Mimefreak II](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrs4BzgPr74) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/23 "2009-01-22T13:48:40Z")
I like mimes, nothing better than a shotgun and a couple of mimes to release tensions after a hard day at work. And people hate them because. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/24 "2009-01-22T14:15:45Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > The mime is the most pretentious clown subspecies. They evoke a deadly combination of fear and paranoia, because they are interact with an occult world of unseen forces and objects invisible to the viewer/victim. Their verbally uncommunicative demeanor only adds to their secretive, spiderlike quality. In addition, their stereotypically monochromatic appearance mimics the corpse’s pallor while simultaneously evoking the stark oft-colorless environment of nightmares on a subconscious level. Also, they are all willing minions of Satan, which can’t help. Damn, this is exactly what I was going to post. OK not really but I wish it was. Well done as usual **Terrifel**. When they use to be common in Manhattan they were really annoying and less entertaining than the panhandlers that would harass park goers back then. There is basically no entertainment value and they did harass people, the backlash is well deserved if now played out. I haven’t seen a mime in a long time pull the crap they use to. I remember them from Balboa Park in San Diego too, annoying jerks, every last one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/25 "2009-01-22T14:30:45Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Street mimes tend to intrude on you in public and mock you or make you the butt of the joke. That’s just rude. The white face and total lack of speech are creepy. Combine the two and you have a recipe for loathing. I think that this is my reason. Another reason is that they INSIST on not breaking the mime character, even if the situation is dangerous in some way. They will persist in trying to mime a cry for help. Now, sometimes, when it’s an actual performance, I can enjoy mimes. I think what I really hate about street mimes is their insistence upon drawing you into their performance. I am going from Point A to Point B. I wish to get there as quickly as possible. I don’t need anybody trying to draw me into their own little world. I would find it just as annoying if some random roleplayer decided that he was the Count of Fort Worth and I needed to give him a report on my income, and promise my tribute. Now, if I indicated an interest in interacting with a mime, or a random roleplayer, then that’s a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/26 "2009-01-22T15:32:58Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I think what I really hate about street mimes is their insistence upon drawing you into their performance. I am going from Point A to Point B. I wish to get there as quickly as possible. I don’t need anybody trying to draw me into their own little world. I’m wondering if the issue is the way mimes try to draw you into their performance, as opposed to the way a street magician or juggler would. Since the mime can’t use patter to draw an audience the way a magician or juggler can, he has to interact more directly with people to build his crowd. He isn’t trying to draw you into his “little world” any more (or less) than any other performer, but he is more focused on _you_ when trying to build his audience than they are. Of course, if you’re obviously not interested, but other people have taken notice of the performance, you’re going to become an object for the mime to use to hook those people and segue into his main performance. Personally I feel that mime as a skill gets too little attention and respect because people associate mime with street mimes, while magicians get associated with David Copperfield and the like. Good mime enhances theatre greatly, while bad mime can break the spell as easily as an inappropriate fart on stage can. It’s hard to do, and harder to do well. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/27 "2009-01-22T15:57:05Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Street mimes tend to intrude on you in public and mock you or make you the butt of the joke. That’s just rude. The white face and total lack of speech are creepy. Combine the two and you have a recipe for loathing. Underline mine. The guys of El Tricicle (they have several appearances on YouTube) are basically mimes, but they don’t use whiteface and make noises: not creepy at all. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/28 "2009-01-22T16:05:52Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > The mime is the most pretentious clown subspecies. They evoke a deadly combination of fear and paranoia, because they are interact with an occult world of unseen forces and objects invisible to the viewer/victim. Their verbally uncommunicative demeanor only adds to their secretive, spiderlike quality. In addition, their stereotypically monochromatic appearance mimics the corpse’s pallor while simultaneously evoking the stark oft-colorless environment of nightmares on a subconscious level. Also, they are all willing minions of Satan, which can’t help. Excellent! I was once a clown and even I hated mimes, except Marcel Marceau but he was the only mime that should ever have existed. I agree that they’re pretentious and annoying, and they don’t leave you alone. A good clown\* will back off if they’re scaring little kiddies or the people don’t want to be bothered, mimes don’t back off. Sometimes I really miss my old screen saver that included the game Mime Hunt. I think the mime hate really started in the 70’s when that mime couple, Shields and Yarnell started popping up on all the variety shows. \*Yes, there are some clowns that are annoying and creepy but they are not good clowns, they are bad clowns … bad, naughty clowns. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/29 "2009-01-22T16:17:29Z")
> [@astro](#): > > :)…:eek:…:rolleyes:…:dubious:…😉 ?? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/30 "2009-01-22T16:18:21Z")
I can’t speak for others, but for me, it is simple. They just don’t entertain me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/31 "2009-01-22T16:25:01Z")
Remember, an Olive Loaf\* is one of the best weapons against a Mime attack. \* Bloom County where Opus became a hero as the Olive loaf Vigilante for fighting back against the creepiness that are mimes. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/32 "2009-01-22T16:37:21Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > They even get the short end in video games, Duke Nukem Forever. > > In the carnival there’s a room full of mimes. If he blows them all away, you here him say, “I hate mimes.” Was that Duke Nukem? I remember that same scenario in Blood :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/33 "2009-01-22T16:58:37Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Was that Duke Nukem? I remember that same scenario in Blood :dubious: You are [correct.](http://blood.wiki-site.com/index.php/Innocents) I would have sworn that was the Duke making mime pâté. Mea Culpa. There was a custom map for D3d where mimes were the enemy so I’m sure that’s where my confusion originated. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/34 "2009-01-22T17:01:08Z")
Is Duke Nukem Forever even published yet? I mean, it has only been 12 years, that would be rushing things. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/35 "2009-01-22T17:16:00Z")
If there is an occupation that brings nothing to civilization it is surely the mime. But it sure is funny when they get ‘stick time’. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/36 "2009-01-22T17:46:14Z")
Like clowns, by their very nature, are intended to make us uncomfortable. They stand outside of the normal rules of society and the laughter they provoke is more of a “whistling past the graveyard” catharsis than laughter of joy. They lead pointless absurd lives, Getting caught in invisible boxes and yanking invisible rope and shit. They are a mirror that is held up to the audience that reminds us that, for all of our striving and deeds, in the end we fear that our lives are pretty pointless as well. In some cases, such as the old Comedia del Arte, the clown or mime could not be seen by the other characters and was always messing with them. In this way they are a lot like fate or death. Clowns and mimes also have a pretty gruesome back story. Case in point: the origin of the huge red painted smile dates back to the middle ages when children were kidnapped and their cheeks cut open so that they literally would “smile” from ear to ear, at which point they were sold as court jesters. I fucking hate them. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/37 "2009-01-22T17:53:20Z")
Mimes are a separate species of human, known as the Mimeus. For many years, they’ve covertly attacked the naive and unknowing on street corners. Most pedestrians are strong; they walk past these insidious members of an ancient cabal and thereby save their souls. Others are not so fortunate: they stand, mesmerised, by the “show” these ghouls put on while the “performers” are busy stealing their lifeforce. The truly unfortunate even contribute their hard-earned wealth to these beasts, these unclean demons in human form. Related species include examples such as [Town Clown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Kangaroo#Regular_features) and [this sad, pitiful creature](http://www.vintagephotos.com/Image%20336A%20Emmett%20Kelly.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/38 "2009-01-22T17:54:46Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Clowns and mimes also have a pretty gruesome back story. Case in point: the origin of the huge red painted smile dates back to the middle ages when children were kidnapped and their cheeks cut open so that they literally would “smile” from ear to ear, at which point they were sold as court jesters. I fucking hate them. I realize I may regret this, but… Cite? ---
**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:** [January 22, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/39 "2009-01-22T18:10:42Z")
Learn the words! Vetenari has the right idea. To the scorpion pit with them. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396/40 "2009-01-22T18:13:28Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > I realize I may regret this, but… Cite? Hmmmm. I will have to poke around for that. The page that I _think_ I got this from is blocked at work (that was from an old essay that I wrote years back). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-for-mimes/482396.md?page=3)