Otero Junior College Chinook

Clown Phobia Pallid white skin, polka dot hula-hoop pants, white gloves, enormous red shoes and those psychotic killer eyes are all elements that make up the most terrifying being on earth. I will never forget Ronald McDonald the clown. It’s not a unique fear, the fear of clowns. Most people despise these horrid creatures that scare decent people, violate personal space, and promote the lowest form of entertainment. The events leading to my personal clown phobia began at a young age. The trauma started in first grade. Mom taught science at my elementary, so having to wait around for rides home at the day’s end was a common occurrence. It was on a distressing school day, that an anti-drug assembly was taught by Ronald McDonald. After school in her third grade classroom, Mom and Ronald began to chat. Having left something behind, Mom rushed back to the faculty room. Then, hurrying into her classroom expecting to go home, I saw him. Ronald and I were together in the deserted classroom. He seemed to look at me like a lion stalking its prey. Leaning down, glaring and walking smoothly toward me, he said, “Janice, Janice, come here, come closer Janice! Come closer to me so we can talk!” Mom must have mentioned my name. Not knowing this at the time, I pulled away from my frozen gaze on this paranormal stranger, terrified, and then sprinted frantically from the room. His daunting eyes still loom in my recollection. Since then I have been a passionate clown hater; mostly because of the recurrent nightmares I suffered from as a child. Why are clowns so fearsome to a number of people? It has to do with how happy they always are, almost hysterical. It‘s all too easy to imagine that joyous smile suddenly fading away, replaced by a nasty sneer. Imagining clowns as mental patients isn‘t too difficult either. Their behavior is so unnatural that people know it‘s false. With the phony mask and act, the imagination goes haywire about what the big footed monster is really like. Parents have indoctrinated children with the “never talk to or take candy from strangers” lesson; so kids are already scared of anyone offering them a lollipop. Then add deathly pale makeup, a big red nose and strange hair, and the fear is decidedly worse. One of the most annoying traits is their tendency to violate anyone’s personal bubble with their twisted antics. A mechanical laugh with in a close proximity is unsettling. They claim it all in the name of fun; but who delights in tormenting children for a living? Furthermore, movie producers know that there is something innately evil in the clown persona. Movies like: It, Poltergeist, Killer Clowns, Clown House and others prove this. Growing up and watching cartoons with The Joker, clown prince of crime, has an influence on people.
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