r/OutOfTheLoop • u/Attollo • Sep 29 '16
Answered Can someone explain the clowns roaming around in the states?
I keep seeing articles about people dressing up as clowns and roaming around with weapons. What's going on and what are they doing?
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u/BoomBoomSpaceRocket Sep 30 '16
It's still a mystery and so far most have been harmless. They either just stand there creepily at weird hours or yell at kids. There have been some sightings in my area (Erie, PA) but no one's been caught. Technically they aren't doing anything illegal, but the police are still keeping an eye out because it's just creepy as hell.
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u/its0nLikeDonkeyKong Sep 30 '16
Mystery solved in your own comment. It's creepy to do!
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u/BoomBoomSpaceRocket Sep 30 '16
Yea, at this point it's probably just copycats doing it for shits and giggles. Seems a little risky though for just a laugh. Police would definitely take them in for questioning, and a regular citizen might feel threatened and get violent.
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u/brianjlowry Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
Technically, in VA, it is illegal to cover your face with a mask if you are over the age of 16.
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u/Farfignougat Sep 30 '16
I've only read some articles about the clowns in Carolina but don't they sometimes try to lure children into the woods? I guess harmless because they fuck off back to the woods easily I've heard but who knows where the prank ends and the real bad shit starts.
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u/AgentJin Sep 30 '16
I wouldn't exactly say harmless. I mean dressing up as a clown and chasing a bunch of random kids (or as someone else posted above, chasing a pregnant woman with a knife) seems to be some form of attempted battery or assault.
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u/ElectrixReddit Oct 01 '16
I wonder if this is the result of mean prank channels breeding a bunch of teenagers/young adults that have some high levels of sadism.
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u/WaffleSports Sep 30 '16 edited Oct 03 '16
So I'm staying at The Clown Motel in Tonopah Nevada soon... which is next to a graveyard.
Check this post on Monday I'll report back.
Monday edit- not dead! But i have been transformed into one of them, it's not that bad they have a good health plan and 401k matching options.
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u/Jukebox_Villain Oct 11 '16
they have a good health plan and 401k matching options.
So, can I buy clown makeup at a local hobby store, or....
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Sep 30 '16
Marketing for the upcoming "It" remake?
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u/OhioMegi Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
That's what one of my third graders said today. Though how/why an eight year old knows about It, I don't understand.
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u/CricketPinata Sep 30 '16
That seems to be the consensus on most of the image boards and "Know Your Meme", as it hasn't been tied to any planned big prank or anything.
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u/OhioMegi Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
We're getting threats on Facebook that clowns will be coming to our school and parents are gonna come "packing".
If we have a lockdown, I'm going to be ticked
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u/MAKE_ME_REDDIT Sep 30 '16
1.) check your spelling before you post. I mean damn, I could barely figure out what you were saying.
2.) enjoy the pointless lockdown. When you have one for no reason, it's the best.
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u/KKShiz Sep 30 '16
I watched that movie when I was 7 or 8. My mother and I have conflicting stories as to how I ended up watching it at such a young age. I remember, as a punishment for something I had done, I was forced to watch it. She claims I begged her to let me watch it. I'm inclined to believe her as I can't imagine a parent (a good one anyway) punishing a young child by making them watching such a movie. Regardless of how it happened, it somewhat traumatized me. Even up to the age of 15 or 16, if I saw the VHS/DVD cover at a store I would immediately turn around and never go in the isle. I actually enjoy the movie now.
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u/screamineagle411 Sep 30 '16
I read the book back when I was around 9 or 10. To this day It remains one of my favorite books. The movie was also pretty great. Anytime you get Tim Curry and John Ritter I'm one board. But regardless of how much I liked the book and movie, like you the cover use to always freak me out.
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u/blackrobinhood24 Oct 03 '16
same lol i read the book and saw the movie young and i thought it was a really good book definitely showcase the value of good relationships at the least but even without that its just a cool bizarre weird ass thing youd be into as a kid
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u/kplo Oct 05 '16
Oh man, the same thing happens to me with Chucky. To his day I can't look at its face.
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u/rjd55 Oct 07 '16
Same exact scenario here with age and mom. I always had an issue walking to school as a little kid in the rain..... and here comes a storm drain ahead. I definitely chose walking into oncoming traffic than walk past that storm drain.
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u/Yuktobania Oct 04 '16
He probably heard an adult or the TV talking about it. Kids are a lot more observant than people give them credit for.
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u/Droodlocks Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
I'm fairly certain Stephen King himself came out and said it wasn't and that the people should quit doing it.
Edit: He didn't denounce them but said he finds them creepy as well, so I doubt it's a legitimate marketing stunt. Link
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Oct 04 '16
I mean...wouldn't he say that either way?
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u/CedarCabPark Oct 06 '16
"Ya I think they're pretty lame. Probably some hack trying to promote something"
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u/naynaythewonderhorse Sep 29 '16
As far as I'm aware, the whole reason behind the clown thing is unknown right now. It's just people dressed up as clowns in random towns, and people are paranoid about it. But, supposedly no connections to any of the events have been made, and it's probably just people dressing up because they think it's funny that people are freaking out.
Honestly, I'm inclined to agree it's a little funny. It's just people dressed up as clowns, with maybe a few random instances of violence among a huge number of clown sightings. Not enough to really state that all the clowns are violent, and more or less just to create paranoia for the sake of creating paranoia.
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Sep 30 '16
Few dead clowns start turning up that'll put a stop to it real quick-like... Just sayin'...
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u/Rahmin_Noodle_Queen Sep 30 '16
I live in Idaho and I hear people talking about dressing up as clowns to harass people and all I can think about is how bad of an idea that is in a state where you can openly carry a gun. It's really a good way to get shot.
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u/H_L_Mencken Sep 30 '16
The police in a nearby town had to actually make a statement on this:
The Police Department said they received one report on Tuesday night of a passenger in a vehicle dressed as a clown. Lt. John Zerbonia said the vehicle in question was only driving down the road. He said the clown was dressed in a costume and it is not a violation of any city ordinance or state statute.
I like the "clown was dressed in a costume" statement. As if real clowns don't wear costumes.
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u/bubonictonic Sep 30 '16
I have friends in northern Colorado who kept their kids home from school this week because of clowns.
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u/HoffmansCranberries Sep 30 '16
I'll expand on this part because I'm from on of those schools; a freshman at our highschool made a bunch of fb profiles with clown pictures and threatened to shoot up a middle schools and my/their highschool. Everyone was excused from showing up if they didn't want to, and about 700 kids didnt go to school.
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Oct 05 '16
Friend in southern colorado had a bunch of clown reports in his town, a bunch of guys frome his baseball team heard there was one on there field so they went looking with baseball bats and the cops showed up.
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u/MPair-E Sep 30 '16
Because it freaks people out and goes viral as a result, makes for a good headline for desperate journalists, and because there are a lot of copy-cats out there. It's no more complicated than that.
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u/WhiteOrca Sep 29 '16
I read an article not too long ago that explained the whole thing. Basically, it's all just hype and there's nothing to be worried about. Every year in the months before Halloween people always report seeing strange clowns. This year, it started in one of the Carolina's when dozens of people reported seeing a clown trying to lure kids into the woods. After that, it was everywhere. People started claiming to see clowns all over the country. The reason why you shouldn't be worried about this is because no clown has been arrested or charged with anything. People are just reporting clown sightings, usually without any evidence. Most of the reported clowns are probably fake. There have even been pictures of reported clowns that were later found to be fake. This whole clown sighting phenomenon is only so popular right now because of social media. This clown thing is perfect for spreading through social media like wildfire. People start hearing about clown sightings everywhere, so because they want attention they lie and say that they saw a clown too. Then, there are the people who hear about clown sightings, so they become afraid of seeing a clown, and when they see something in the woods, they just assume that the thing they saw was a clown because they're paranoid and so many other people are seeing clowns. On top of that. The more popular it is, the more likely people are going to want to dress up as clowns to freak people out, so that could be a contributing factor as well.
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u/sheep_paws Sep 30 '16
Most of the reported clowns are probably fake.
So you're saying they're not real clowns, just people dressing up as clowns.
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u/blue_bomber508 Sep 30 '16
I mean.. some peoples' profession is to be a clown, in my mind they're real clowns. Not Joe Shmo who bought a rubber nose at Arlene's costumes just to be a shithead.
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u/KingOfRages Sep 30 '16
There was a clown arrested in my town, so it's not really true that no ones been arreste.
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u/swimmer1995 Sep 30 '16
http://6abc.com/news/police-someone-in-clown-mask-involved-in-reading-teens-killing/1530287/
Just gonna leave this here.
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u/TheGogmagog Sep 30 '16
Police say they're sorting through various accounts of the incident that include the victim wearing the mask, the stabber wearing the mask, and someone else wearing it.
So someone was killed and someone was wearing a mask, or not. Terror level orange is the rational response?
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u/kinjjibo Sep 30 '16
Hey I was gonna post this, it's sorta local (hour and a half from me). The town over from me has had clown sightings and honestly, I'm kinda terrified of it really catches on by me. I doubt there will be stabbings or anything really here because it's small, fairly quiet areas (although the cities on either side of me can be kinda shit), but just imagine seeing a clown walking towards you at night. I'm usually inside in bed around 9pm anyway, but just the thought freaks me out. Guess I have a fear of clowns now.
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u/mikekrypton Oct 01 '16
Here's what I don't understand....big floppy shoes, bright hair and clothes...how is it someone hasn't caught one of these clowns and interrogated the shit out of them???? How far can they get, flopping and honking as they attempt to run away??????? They're not very stealthy and in no way shape or form can they camouflage behind a bush or tree!!! My wife told me she read an article that clowns are threatening to shoot up schools. HOW???? When you see a clown walking in the front door, wouldn't your first reaction be (Due to recent circumstances) to immediately hit it with a chair and knock it the hell out????? Not only that...the reports are always so vague. "A pregnant woman was chased by a knife welding clown". No names....no real story surrounding it. I'm just baffled at this media phenomenon.
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u/tussilladra Oct 17 '16
The clowns are not easy to catch at all, they use a highly efficient car service to get around.
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u/Pennigans Sep 30 '16
It happened in one town, made the news, and now other people are copying it in their own towns. Haven't heard of anyone getting hurt, it's just a terrible prank.
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u/TT454 Sep 30 '16
In my honest opinion a real prank should never involve any kind of emotional distress. These clowns may think it's harmless fun, but thinking you're about to be stabbed to death isn't.
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u/hjlowrey Oct 06 '16
There was a fatal stabbing in Pennsylvania, and a group robbed a store in Michigan, so it's gotten past harmless sadly
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u/Hero_of_my_own_story Sep 30 '16
In Green Bay It was gags the clown to promote a new local movie. I think he is a copy cat or others copied him. People do it because it gets a lot of attention. It's all a marketing ploy for what ever local cause is happening. Here's is proof from my local news paper http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2016/08/10/green-bays-creepy-clown-marketing-ploy/88527696/
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u/SmileDarnYaSmile Sep 30 '16
Good lord I can't believe this comment is so far down! This was only a couple months ago how has everyone forgotten about this.
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u/Big_Booty_Pics Sep 30 '16
I dont think you understand the context. Clowns by themselves arent very scary. Clowns just sitting on a park bench in the middle of the night or standing by the road at 1 in the morning as people drive by, would probably be pretty scary to a lot of people.
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u/UltraChilly Sep 30 '16
My first thought when I hear "lots of people dressed as X" is it's linked with the Cacophony Society, but here I don't know
We've had the same thing around the same time of year in 2014 and 2015 in France (http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/des-clowns-terrifiants-affolent-plusieurs-villes-du-nord-ia0b0n2442599) but IDK much more about it...
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u/Notch__Johnson Sep 30 '16
People have said its viral marketing for Rob Zombies new movie 31
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u/blazin_chalice Sep 30 '16
looks dumb
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u/Notch__Johnson Sep 30 '16
I don't watch horror movies so they all look lame to me but some people love the Saws, Purges etc.
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u/Zumbert Sep 30 '16
Eh the original saw was pretty good, but I will agree most of them are pretty corny.
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u/blazin_chalice Sep 30 '16
I don't watch horror movies so they all look lame to me
Start with The Shining. Then watch Ring (original Japanese), then Rec (original Spanish).
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u/mclamb Sep 30 '16
Update on that website.
"The company and the film “31” are not associated in any way with the creepy clowns and costumed characters found roaming the South."
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u/JunieBitchJones Sep 30 '16
This happened a few days ago in my town. The police had to address it and calm a lot of people down. Some say it's to mimic The Purge movies, but who knows if that's the case.
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u/CarlEatshands Oct 03 '16
Wasn't something going around on social media how the purge was really happening in some areas? I think it was last year or early this year, but I remember seeing how all of these different town were getting hit by the purge. Happened just like how this clown business is happening. Screenshotted posts shared all over fb and twitter, people freak, you're town is called out, then nothing happens and we all forget it.
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u/Greeneyesablaze Oct 04 '16
There aren't any Purge movies set to release any time soon.. and the Purge doesn't even have clowns in it. People said it might be fore Rob Zombie's movie 31, but that's been released already and the sightings are still taking place. Others think it's for IT, but that doesn't come out until next year some time.
Nothing really adds up, and that may be what makes it so creepy.
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u/Wily_Cahoots Sep 30 '16
I think some are just being funny, but a person dressed as a clown tried to gank some kids in W-S.
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u/Thebareassbear Sep 30 '16
A town over from mine had an incident last week where someone was chased through the middle of town really late at night by a person in a clown suit with a knife, I'm thinking one person did it and then some other fucked up people decided to do the same thing just for giggles
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Sep 30 '16
Yeah for some reason in ky theres been alot of clown sightings but its just people trying to get a rise out of everyone. Oh no some dudes dressed as a clown I better run like hell forget all the other shit that happens. They know right now people are freaking over them so their dressing up like the to fuck with em.
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Sep 30 '16
I have a sneaking suspicion that it's all a campaign for the new "IT" movie, but I could be totally wrong
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u/MentallyGiant Oct 04 '16 edited Oct 05 '16
It began with reports of clowns attempting to lure children into the woods with promises of money & candy. Parents called police gravely concerned and they investigated. This happened in one state and has now spread across the country to multiple states. Although I'm sure some are just hoaxes and other sightings are people attempting to follow a "trend", it's very real since the early sighting were of clowns with machetes and knives. It's also spread to numerous recorded altercations, whether the clowns chase people and are caught on camera or are getting beaten up by a group of people.
There was actually n confrontation that led to the death of a 16 yr old boy. Here's the link to that article: http://abc7chicago.com/news/fight-over-masks-may-have-led-to-teens-stabbing-death-police-say/1533473/ There are a few different articles. I don't know which one is the best since I pulled the first one I saw. Now, there have also been threats to schools & teachers, leading police to shut down the schools for the day and have heavy watch around the areas. Which again, could be a hoax and could've just been some teens not wanting to go to school and cause some mayhem. There have been groups formed in different places that keep watch over their neighborhoods, putting a beating on any clowns they see. Along with all that, I've read about how the clowns have attempted to lure children in for satanic rituals with Halloween coming up and everything.
So to summarize it all: Creepy clowns appear luring kids in forests, some calling them satanic, police / media get involved, sightings spread to different states, schools & teachers threatened by clowns, and neighborhood watches formed to protect from clowns.
Now, I'm sure people might want to avoid dressing up like clowns for Halloween.
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u/EZE123 Sep 30 '16
Florida Man checking in. There were a couple of recent of sitings in the town where I live. One was posted on fb. It looks creepy, but probably just the way it was filmed. The girl who cuts my hair believes the same as someone else here - promotional stunt for It. I assumed people just trying to freak people out.
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u/TheGogmagog Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
There was a rumor our school about a clown sighting, rumors school was closed today (they weren't). Now people are saying they will keeping kids home tomorrow because the police chief hasn't made a statement about the plan on what they are going to do about it.
Do what about what, rumors? Of somebody in a mask, or possibly makeup, possibly showing up in one of the city's schools. I came here hoping 'they' were organized somehow and had a website or 'slash b' on four chan.
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u/Justin72 Sep 30 '16
Ummm I'm going to look for sources, but I'm kinda drunk and kinda lazy, but I think all of this started across the pond... in England, or Wales, or maybe Ireland.... But I will look for sources. Here is a report of a clown sighting in 2013... Northampton is the earliest report of this phenomenon I can find way back in 2013.
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Sep 30 '16
I don't know why or where it originates from, but my area in Utah was in the news for it today. Weird shit.
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Sep 30 '16
Most likely a very well-orchestrated PR stunt for the upcoming remake of the "IT" movie remake. Get everyone freaked out about clowns then profit.
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u/Fuckoffbrad Oct 01 '16
If it is promotion could they get in legal trouble by causing distress in the public. I'm terrified of clowns and I can't sleep because there's one by my school supposedly
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Sep 30 '16
This happened down the street from my parents' house this morning. 1 clown was hailing cars at 4:00 AM and then 2 others would jump out from hiding and chase the car. Pretty funny as long as it's harmless
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u/skullminerssneakers Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
My guess is promotion for the new "IT" remake coming out soon. Either people dressing up to be reported or false reports to get clown hype up before the film.
Edit: wow i didn't know this many other people had seen this online, i had thought of this myself.
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u/Tera_GX Sep 30 '16
I remember seeing a variety of tasteless victimizing pranks, creating elaborate scenes of making it look like some clowns just murdered someone, and will now chase the witnesses. It hit frontpage several months ago, but I guess there's dedicated ongoing content.
I suspect the entirety of the answer is here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=clown+prank
It's just a prank bro, a little pretend murder is nothing. (horn honk)
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u/BiscuitEdi Sep 30 '16
Didn't this start the whole thing few years ago: http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Wasco-Clown.jpg
Copycats continued afterwards.
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u/porkchop_d_clown Sep 30 '16
So, as someone who actually spent years dressing up as a clown and visiting sick kids in the hospital, the rise of creepy clowns has been an appalling trend overall. You used to run into very few kids who were actually afraid of clowns but by the mid-2000s it was almost half of them, and they were all too young to have encountered "It" or Gacy or the Insane Klown Posse.
It's almost like they were just absorbing the fear from their elders...
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u/iluvgrannysmith Sep 30 '16
I believe it is a publicity stunt related to the upcoming remake of Stephen King's IT.
The book is about a malevolent creature preying on a town's fear. It mainly goes after children, and it can manifest into their fears. Which is why it is commonly associated with being a clown. It also turns into a spider, and a werewolf at other parts in the book.
I have only heard rumors, but I heard them in Ohio, and I'm home in New York right now and hearing rumors about it here. I'm much more willing to believe this is a media fueled publicity stunt, growing with people's fear and desire to gossip via social media, than either a large organized gang or copycatism. Mainly because both places mentioned were my exact towns I was living in.
Or hell... maybe I'm the clown.
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u/StupidLemonEater Oct 01 '16
I heard it was viral marketing for the new It movie. Has that been debunked?
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u/FatherJTodd Oct 01 '16
I live in Michigan and we started having sightings here too. Not close to where I live but curious how long until someone here in my town starts dressing up.
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u/fluffykitty12 Oct 03 '16
Update on one of the latest incidents- video of teens being chased by a knife-wielding clown on a jogging path.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1901606/knife-clown-chase-joggers-woods/
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u/taffyai Oct 03 '16
You forgot too that a lot of these clown people are following people and peeking in their windows at night etc. Imo it's dumb because if I see a stranger around my house especially with a weapon or looking into my house if I had a gun id definitely go get it while I called the cops. Walking around in a costume you know freaks people out and following them and looking in their houses is just stupid. So I don't feel bad if these idiots get shot they are really asking for it. But I read that apparently one in idaho or somewhere stabbed someone so yknow it may not be too long before others do that but hopefully not. Especially when you're in a mask it's an automatic thought process of ''this person is dangerous and is trying to harm me.''
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u/TheRiverRunsRed Sep 30 '16
It's just stupid people being stupid. One of these clowns is gonna get shot sooner or later.
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Sep 30 '16
Seriously, I'm amazed someone hasn't gotten shot by a jumpy individual. And I don't know if I could blame them. I'd probably put landmines in my yard if there were clowns running around my neighborhood.
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u/pasher71 Sep 30 '16
Just a couple of hours ago a woman was attacked by a idiot in a clown suit here in Cincinnati. They are shutting down schools in the area. This is the stupidest trend ever.
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Sep 30 '16 edited Sep 30 '16
It's really actually very simple - Batman the Dark Knight - Link & American Horror Story - Link both used clowns. There's be tropes brewing since the 80's about IT the movie & these people are taking it one step farther. Why now? It's been going on for 20 years ... had a goofy friend (goofier than me & that's saying something) who would go to parks and photo bomb tourists for shits and giggles...like a performance art - got tips of all things.
This trend simply is more recognizable as we have cell phones with cameras that will make you famous.
EDIT: Also, appears that "Gags" a short film by a guy in Green Bay, WI was trying to "scare" up some free advertising, rob zombie has a movie coming out with clowns & a clown in Carolina was trying to abduct children.
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u/crowbar032 Sep 30 '16
I'm at work so I can't link Facebook, but a local city site had screen caps of a Clown Pose page saying they were showing up at local schools. This morning one school actually closed for the day due to credible clown threats. I think a good portion of it is copycat and people driving up hysteria based on that one lone incident in South Carolina. And it's close to Halloween and people like to do stupid stuff.
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u/Harpermania Sep 30 '16
I heard a kid was murdered in PA by a clown. Any details on this or is this just fake Facebook parnoid influenced posts?
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Sep 30 '16
I'm pretty sure they're all copycats of this 2013 creepy Clown guy from Northampton in the UK.
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Sep 30 '16
The ones in North Carolina (not sure if they were first or not) turned out to be a hoax. A guy was arrested for calling in the sightings.
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Sep 30 '16
This happened awhile back. A YouTuber scare theater made a video about it if you wanna check it out.
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u/Ckickinit Sep 30 '16
On my way to work a few weeks ago I saw one riding a little motorcycle around in circles in a parking lot. It was at like 5:30 am. So I too am curious about this.
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u/xxkittyluvrxx Sep 30 '16
Pretty sure this all started with 3 kids in northern Kentucky threatening people on Facebook and has spiraled out of control. Here in KY parents are refusing to send kids to school. Even after knowing they are kids doing pranks some schools still cancelled classes.
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u/lebeck1r Sep 30 '16
Clowns were always just roaming around, but people are posting it on social media so it is "news" now.
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u/lilweber Sep 30 '16
This happened on my university a couple of nights ago. I have no idea if it was in a threatening manner or a joking one, either way it would make me extremely uncomfortable to come across. Fuck those people.
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u/jeremyosborne81 Sep 30 '16
Most reports are either fakes by douche bags wanting to laugh at people panicking or copy-cats, again wanting to laugh at people panicking. There MAY be a single person dressed as a clown, hanging in the woods somewhere, wanting to murder children. Most likely there isn't even one and it was just an online thing made by douche bags who want to laugh at people panicking.
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u/spelbot Sep 30 '16
It started with some dude in england last year and someone in the states decided it would be a good idea to copy
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u/Sickle5 Sep 30 '16
For those that keep saying it is related to the It remake: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/stephen-kings-movie-producer-denies-933077
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u/Tymoran Sep 30 '16
I want to say there was footage somewhere of a clown running at someone who was carrying a concealed pistol and the clown was shot. Not having any luck finding the video though.
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Oct 01 '16
There were lots of clown sightings around the west coast in 2014, haven't seen much about it until now. I wonder if the incidents are related
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u/__Eion__ Oct 01 '16
Some dude does it, people see it on the Internet and copy. This isn't anything new or scary.
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Sep 30 '16
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u/rukh999 Sep 30 '16
This was my first thought. Well second, I first thought the title was about the presidential elections.
Can someone explain the clowns roaming around in the states?
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u/A_BURLAP_THONG Sep 30 '16
I read an article that seemed to suggest the whole thing is just a trend of copycat-ism. One person decides it would be funny to dress up like a scary clown and hang out in the dark, police can't do anything about because it's not breaking any laws, it becomes a minor news story, other people hear about it and follow suit.
It appears that the initial incident may have been some sort of publicity stunt.