I love Halloween, it is hands down my favorite time of the year and one of the seasons that I love to decorate the most from the doorway all the way to the bathroom. However, this festivity festivity has no right overlapping with dangerous and threatening behavior. The recent clown epidemic throughout the United States- has apparently even caught on in some places in Australia.

The spread of creepy clowns and aggressive behavior so close to Halloween most likely has people with your children thinking twice. There is no reason that people who want their kids to experience the same wholesome traditions as them should feel fear or uncertainty because of real life clowns. This holiday belongs to the exploration of the dark, but not the cruel. Yes, it's a time to think about ghosts and the dead-all subjects to be explored, but no holiday is an excuse to harm others either mentally or physically. For those dressing up as clowns for a laugh- don't because just like that distasteful joke you played don April 1st of last year, this won't go so well either. Authorities in the United States are considering those dressed up as clowns to be a threat, because it's not funny when someone has to fear for their safety. If you want a good laugh ditch the make-up and mask for a magician's outfit. It's not beneficial for people dressed up as clowns or those subjected to your presence because, people who are angry or threatened have been known to fight back- and that's a best case scenario for a clown. A couple who recently dressed up to go around and scare people, were arrested and had their four year old child taken away from them due to endangerment (don't leave your kids alone to harass people). As far as these sightings go, it's no longer a joke, but a form of harassment and aggression. Just like all other terrible ideas or world-wide panics, this one started in the United States. The craze that began in South Carolina was quick to spread to other places, oddly enough not out of organized clown attacks, but out of interest in joining this demented fad.

People dressing up as clowns to scare others either out of laughs or for the darker reason of enjoying people's fear-get over yourself. The world has enough problems without your negative contribution. Do something nice. Even other illegal options are kinder, like dressing up like a superhero and go around putting money into peoples almost expired parking meters (yes, I'm talking to you New Hampshire Robin Hoods). A positive impact on another person's day can be just as illegal as threatening people, so if you're doing it just to be on the other side of the law there are other options. If you are doing it to scare people- work for a scary maze and get paid for it. There is a time and a place for such behavior and on the street where people remain vigilant and on edge is definitely not the time. There is a difference between people who opt to be scared and those who have it placed upon them suddenly-consent. Clearly, a large and overarching issue is why are we so obsessed with taking away peoples right to consent and imposing our own will on others? Why does our pleasure in imposing power in the form of fear appeal to so many people across international boundaries.

Maybe the language of the need for power is universal, but maybe we are all just really bad practical jokers. It's not cool and it's not helpful- also I'm scared of clowns so please find a new hobby.