Do You Have Coulrophobia? / myLot

https://pixabay.com/en/clown-mask-happy-face-makeup-1410163/

Gouverneur, New York

October 1, 2016 8:54am CST

What is coulrophobia? It is the fear of clowns. Imagine that, I thought everyone loved a clown. They are silly, funny and entertaining. I was apprized to learn that many children and adults are scared, some down-right terrified, of clowns. To them they look odd, strange, so, sometimes even evil. This phobia has been around for years. I can clearly remember the movie and book by Stephen King called "IT". For those who are unfamiliar with it, it is about a killer clown. It was terrifying. However, this did not make me afraid of clowns but it did seem to help boost the number of people who were. There have been many different instances of clowns being used as bad guys through out history. Some beginning back when the kings and queens were entertained by jesters and such. If the sight of a clown leaves you with a state of panic, difficulty in breathing, an irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea and feelings of fear, then it sounds like you just might have coulrophobia.

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13 responses

egdcltd

@egdcltd (12059)

•

1 Oct 16

Clowns are so often portrayed as evil, in books, TV and film, that it's hard to find them amusing. I think an American clown organisation publicly complained about the media portrayal of clowns.

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

True, they have been used a lot in evil situations. I still look at them fondly as a happy memory from childhood.

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egdcltd

@egdcltd (12059)

•

1 Oct 16

@HazySue I don't think I've every seen one in a non-scary situation. Even the man dressed as a clown in Bad Neighbours 2 was creepy.

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

2 Oct 16

@egdcltd It's sad that clowns have been turned into something to be feared instead of a fun loving character that it was.

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Jeff Moffitt

@moffittjc (128840)

• Gainesville, Florida

1 Oct 16

I love clowns! Funny clowns, scary clowns...it doesn't matter! I like them all! Have you been hearing all over the news about all the freaky clown sightings going on all over the country?

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

I am a clown lover. I do suppose that the media using scary clowns could cause some to be afraid.

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Jeff Moffitt

@moffittjc (128840)

• Gainesville, Florida

2 Oct 16

@HazySue Did you see the news today about a guy dressed as a scary clown who got shot? Law enforcement has been warning people for a while now that if these crazy clowns go around trying to scare people that somebody is going to start shooting them! And that's exactly what happened!

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

2 Oct 16

@moffittjc I am not surprised. If you walk around dressed like a scary clown you are asking for trouble.

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Michelle

@infatuatedbby (94909)

• United States

1 Oct 16

Not me but I never liked clowns though!

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Michelle

@infatuatedbby (94909)

• United States

1 Oct 16

@HazySue I'm not a fan still lol!

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

I can remember watching the clowns and laughing at them while at the circus.

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Ms Rae

@carebear29 (32002)

• Wausau, Wisconsin

1 Oct 16

Yes I do hate clowns but weird part is is I like Bozo. FIgure that out.

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Ms Rae

@carebear29 (32002)

• Wausau, Wisconsin

1 Oct 16

@HazySue Lol. I think its because I grew up watching his tv show all the time.

Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

Give me a few years and I might come up with an answer as to why. Never mind, I don't think I will ever figure that out.

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@RitzzView (3041)

• India

2 Oct 16

I am glad..I don't have any kind of phobias..

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

3 Oct 16

So am I. It is hard to get through life without some type of phobia.

@RitzzView (3041)

• India

3 Oct 16

@HazySue Yes true!

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Kokil agarwal

@amitkokiladitya (171988)

• Agra, India

1 Oct 16

Thanks for the knowledge... I did not know some thing like coulrophobia did exist

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

It seems to be becoming more prevalent, the fear of clowns.

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Kokil agarwal

@amitkokiladitya (171988)

• Agra, India

1 Oct 16

@HazySue OK But I have not net anyone yet... Touch wood

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celticeagle

@celticeagle (189944)

• Boise, Idaho

1 Oct 16

Clowns are very unusual. Big fluffy hair and all the make up. I can see where some would be terrified. I am not 'afraid' of them, just don't like them.

Sky

@skysnap (20152)

•

1 Oct 16

haha I think I only have acrophobia :D

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

I am not much for heights either.

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Hazel Vee

@epiffanie (11327)

• Australia

2 Oct 16

I've never heard of that phobia before .. My 4 years old grandson is very scared of clowns ..

Marlina

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

1 Oct 16

Coulrophobia: thanks for this new word today.

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

Don't you just love learning new words?

ARM

@responsiveme (22923)

• India

1 Oct 16

New term., thanks...its not the clowns themselves but what may lurk behind the clown costume of a non-clown which is disturbing but so far encountered only in books and movies.

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Susan

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

1 Oct 16

Agreed. They are hiding behind the mask or all the clown makeup.

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