It used to be, when I would park my car in the lower lot of my school at night that I would be afraid of being followed by a creepy man or someone who genuinely wanted to hurt me. Today, I find myself fearing something else.
Clowns.
It is strange that this is something to think and worry about. I never thought that, in 2016, I would be scared to look out of my window at night for fear that a clown would be staring back at me from the lawn. Its not funny. Its not even a joke anymore. I think we all need to recognize this epidemic for what it really is: harassment.
I don’t care if you’re standing on public property, or just out of reach of a property line. You’re making people uncomfortable. You are making yourself into a public disturbance. Even if you're not out to physically hurt, you are still causing anxiety. You are still promoting fear. Something that used to be a symbol of joy and laughter is now turning into one of fear. What is the point of standing outside by yourself for hours in a mask or makeup? The joy of striking fear into strangers who have done nothing to inflict fear on you? Real classy.
The prospect of people dressed as clowns attempting to lure children into the woods was a serious issue turned prank that has now spread to various areas of the United States. And sure, maybe it was fun in the beginning. People everywhere are headed out “clown hunting” and get a thrill from the slight bit of danger they feel wandering around in the dark looking for masked strangers. At Penn State, roughly 6,000 students stormed the streets of their campus after a reported clown sighting, looking for whoever decided to make an appearance that night. And if they actually would have found that person? What happens when people actually get hurt? There have been reports of assault by these clowns, and even assaults on clowns. Video after video is appearing on YouTube and Twitter showing people fighting back, and showing that this clown stuff is really getting old.
Eventually, like most fads, this will die off. But it has already changed a culture significantly. In probably the biggest way since Stephen King’s It, the way we view clowns has been forever changed. Young children today will see the hysteria and fear surrounding clowns at the moment and that image will stick with them. Clowns at birthday parties and fairs won’t seem so fun anymore, but rather something to be cautious of.
Personally, I already feel frightened sometimes walking by myself at night. It is hard enough to take care of ourselves in vulnerable situations, and now suddenly we have to worry about these clowns on top of everything else. Sounds ridiculous, right? Because it is.
This shouldn’t be a thing.
So stop striking fear into your fellow Americans and go get yourself a hobby before anyone else actually gets hurt.
