TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The Killer Clowns Craze Thread

Go To

Vampireandthen In love with an Uptown Girl from Northern Ireland Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: A teenager in love
In love with an Uptown Girl
#1: Oct 7th 2016 at 12:18:13 PM

Yeah. This a thread for that new craze, killer clowns. People dressing up as clowns and being creepy is one thing, but honestly, it's getting out of control, and I'm worried. Case in point, I've heard reports of a clown chasing preschoolers with a knife. That's worrying for a number of reasons:

-Being chased by a crazy person with a knife is scary enough. But imagine what it must be like to be a preschooler, walking to school, on Friday, ready for the weekend, all cheerful and happy, can't wait to see your friends, and somebody starts chasing you, dressed as a clown, with a knife? What is going through their young minds is that they could die! They will go home crying to their parents, traumatised, and afraid to go outside. -Think of what it must be like for the parents, finding out someone may have just tried to kill your kid, and seeing them crying and helpless, and you can only report it to the police and be on the look out for that clown. -The police will be under pressure to do something. This could be a misguided prank or a genuine attempt on a child's life. They have to do everything in their power to make sure that this stops. And that could even involve lethal force. -For anyone who just dresses up as a clown to prank people, they could be killed by someone who feels they are a danger to the community at large. This has happened so many times through out history. Fear makes people do horrible things. Fear that something bad could happen to your family makes you want to protect them in any form you can, and that could involve killing an innocent person due to a misunderstanding.

This killer clown craze is dangerous for everyone involved. I have listed reason why it is. This is for everyone who is dealing with a killer clown, or is one. Sure, Halloween is coming, but show some restraint? Cause I am serious when I say someone could die due a simple misconception born out of fear.

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but this is something that does worry me. Does anyone else agree that there is a very real danger present for people who dress as clowns and just stand about at night?

Please allow me to introduce myself, I am a man of wealth and taste. Nice to meet you, hope you can guess my name.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#2: Oct 7th 2016 at 12:20:29 PM

This might be an interesting topic. Please link out to some news articles for people who want more information. And let's not get too hyperbolic or apocalyptic, m'kay? Few of these clowns have killed anyone.

Video link

edited 7th Oct '16 12:22:43 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#3: Oct 7th 2016 at 2:15:25 PM

There's already a counter-movement, Clown Lives Matter, being led by actual professional clowns and mimes springing up.

Clowns Will March in Tucson to Prove They’re ‘Not Psycho Killers’

There's also been a popular social media trend on Twitter and Instagram going along the likes of: "Clowns are terrorizing the streets. A megalomaniac millionaire is running for President. Where's Batman when you need him?"

NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#4: Oct 7th 2016 at 5:20:16 PM

Waiting for Superman, of course. He can't be expected to tackle Joker and Luthor at once by himself.

Nerevarine Since: Mar, 2016
#5: Oct 7th 2016 at 6:33:34 PM

Brexit, mass shootings, Donald Trump, and now killer clowns. This entire year is like some weird bad dream I once had.

I guess what it boils down to is when something crosses the line from being a prank to being a threat. Most of us will probably agree that chasing children with a knife or making threats about Halloween does so, but what if a clown was outside my house at midnight waving to me? Or what if the same clown only walked past my house late at night? Unless he maybe stays outside my house for too long, he's technically not doing anything illegal.

The way I see this culminating is that, should this craze continue for long enough, someone will be killed or severely injured while trying to play a prank, either in self-defense or from a cop. And then lawmakers and enforcement will have to debate if creepy clown costumes should be considered "threatening".

edited 7th Oct '16 6:35:36 PM by Nerevarine

Xorn15 Nurse Mordred Attending from R&D Platform, Seychelles Waters Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Nurse Mordred Attending
#6: Oct 7th 2016 at 6:36:13 PM

Yeah, seriously, this year has been absolutely bugfuck. Anyway, two days ago, a pair of clowns were stalking the parking lot of my local Kroger, jumping out at people. They were chased off, but still...

FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#7: Oct 7th 2016 at 8:28:04 PM

I am seriously considering encouraging people to show unity against the clowns by wearing Batman memorabilia.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#8: Oct 7th 2016 at 8:35:48 PM

I don't even get the clown thing. I heard something about how someone was trying to make a viral marketing campaign, but then it seems like someone took the idea of creepy clowns and did something nasty with it. It's really fucking bizarre.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#9: Oct 7th 2016 at 8:41:52 PM

[up] I agree. I have to confess I don't really understand it myself. I have no idea if this is just some nationwide prank by some people with terrible senses of humor or if there's supposed to be more to it.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#10: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:10:11 PM

It's international at this point, we've had at least one incident of teens dressed as scary clowns harassing children in the UK.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#11: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:22:22 PM

Some sort of memetic crime wave, I suppose?

What's next, frozen forest fantasies being the next Game?

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#12: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:23:40 PM

Assuming that what they're doing is mostly standing around and scaring people what exactly would they be prosecuted for?

Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#13: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:24:56 PM

Probably as disorderly conduct or as a breach of the peace.

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Antiteilchen In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good. Since: Sep, 2013
In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
#14: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:25:10 PM

Harassment and threat of violence.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#15: Oct 7th 2016 at 9:32:59 PM

Well, the ones that are just standing around being creepy probably couldn't be prosecuted for anything. It's the ones that have disturbingly approached and chased children that would be prosecuted with whatever crime covers scaring the crap out of children.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#16: Oct 8th 2016 at 1:21:24 AM

First off, I have to say that I find the fact that the Good Clowns named their movement "Clown Lives Matter" to be, at best, incredibly tasteless and disrespectful. There are other names. Pick one.

Also, Halloween is going to be...uh, interesting, and potentially very bad if the wrong circumstances should arise. An epidemic of violent clowns harassing and threatening people, a day where half the people in the country dress up in goofy costumes, and a nation full of trigger-happy gun owners. What could possibly go wrong.

Whether this is a hoax (remember, a good number of "sightings" are either unconfirmed or disproven), a sick marketing gimmick, or an isolated incident (or, again, hoax) that just gave rise to a wave of copycats, it does have a way of getting to you. I've found myself looking over my shoulder a lot more when I'm walking these days, and I doubt I'm alone in that regard.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#17: Oct 8th 2016 at 2:15:41 AM

I live in Union City, near Fremont CA.

Apparently a whole block of street and a school or something was closed down due to threats made by someone who claimed affiliation with these clowns. They said on some social media profile they were "coming" to California.

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#18: Oct 8th 2016 at 3:25:54 AM

Satanic Panic II:Electric Boogaloo

FlowingCotton Just flowing with it. from GMT Plus 07:00 Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Just flowing with it.
#19: Oct 8th 2016 at 3:39:05 AM

I came into the thread with different expectations because we actually have a troper named Killer Clowns.

edited 8th Oct '16 3:39:18 AM by FlowingCotton

Vampireandthen In love with an Uptown Girl from Northern Ireland Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: A teenager in love
In love with an Uptown Girl
#20: Oct 8th 2016 at 3:57:25 AM

[up] I hope he doesn't lurk around.

But on a serious note, I live in Northern Ireland, and there actually was a case where a clown wielding a knife followed children to school. That worries me. I'm the second oldest of twelve kids, and the oldest boy, so I have a big responsibility to my younger siblings, over half of which are in primary school. There haven't been any reports of killer clowns in my area, but there probably will be soon. And I am concerned that this could escalate into a prank gone wrong.

http://news.sky.com/story/killer-clown-with-a-knife-is-seen-following-children-to-school-in-county-durham-10608500

Please allow me to introduce myself, I am a man of wealth and taste. Nice to meet you, hope you can guess my name.
Ecrivan Amused Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Too sexy for my shirt
Amused
#21: Oct 8th 2016 at 7:47:09 PM

As far as I can tell it was initially intended as a bored neighborhood prank but some of the first sightings (as they were caught by surveillance cameras) went viral which unfortunately gave rise to copycats that are taking the prank in a different direction. That's why the Clown Movement popped up as innocent Clown (and Mimes) entertainers are now getting shit for something they were not even involved in. I guess this is why we can't have nice things as some idiot will ruin it for everyone else. Doesn't help that Coulrophobia is a thing....

Still, the true clown to fear is Donald Trump.

edited 8th Oct '16 7:47:39 PM by Ecrivan

Formerly known as Bleddyn And I am feeling like a ghost Resident Perky Goth
golgothasArisen Since: Jan, 2015
#22: Oct 8th 2016 at 9:12:15 PM

Someone at a rival junior high in this town went on Facebook under a clown persona and threatened to bomb the place. They got arrested, thankfully, but it's still terrifying to know it happens down here, too.

Alabama, no less, where it's pretty widespread.

"If you spend all your heart / On something that has died / You are not alive and that can't be a life"
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#23: Oct 15th 2016 at 9:12:12 PM

And aparenly there is a guy dress like Batman punching clowns.....

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPEING RIGHT NOW!

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
Advarielle Homicidal Editor Since: Aug, 2016
Homicidal Editor
#24: Oct 15th 2016 at 9:24:43 PM

...what? Are you implying that the west is more chuuni than the east? I really don't know how I should feel about this. On one hand, this is hilariously awesome. I mean batman vs. killer clowns. [lol] But on the other hand, this is basically some sort of terrorism and I really should take it seriously and not laugh at it.

At least, I'm going to check google and find a video of it.

Only an experienced editor who has a name possesses the ability to truly understand my work - What 90% of writers I'm in charge of said.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#25: Oct 15th 2016 at 9:33:05 PM

That's happening in North England. A man is dressing up as Batman to pursue the killer clowns. It's glorious.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.

Total posts: 59
Top