Hear about the clown who had Coulrophobia?

I have a friend who has a phobia of clowns, its called Coulrophobia ….It stems back from a painting of a clown he had hanging on his bedroom wall, above his bed when he was growing up. The Clown wasn’t smiling and there is something very sinister about a clown who has nothing to smile about…
The word clown comes from words meaning "clot" or "clod" which came also to mean "clumsy fellow".
There is a saying that humour mostly has a victim but when its not funny the only victim is the comedian? Is that why clowns wear funny noses and big shoes? Plan B anyone!
"I know can you guess whats in my pocket"? Er no thanks Bozo I would rather not…can you keep it tidy please there are kids about you know?

I think my friend has a point…sometimes there is just something, well not quite right about a man who dresses up in strange goofy attire, wears huge shoes, dons a red nose and calls himself an entertainer of children… Oh and also, why are there so few woman clowns? clownettes?

According to some phobia studies, an estimated 20 to 30% of the entire population find clowns scary, or at least a little unsettling.
A common theory as to why a number of people find clowns scary involves a connection between the presence of clowns and a personal trauma suffered during early childhood. For a young child, a circus can create a sensory overload with all of its unusual sights, sounds and smells. Heavy makeup, colourful costumes and over sized er shoes? Can become very unnerving to a child.

There is also the concept of what role clowns play in society. According to the established "rules," children have the right to behave as children and adults have the responsibility to act like adults. Some people find clowns scary because they are permitted, even encouraged, to become adults acting like children.
Subconscious fears of molestation by a masked or disguised attacker may be one reason some people find clowns scary.
Clowns are often portrayed as emotionally unstable or even psychotic in many forms of media. The idea of a "killer clown" has been used in horror films and novels for decades.

There are actual treatment centres, which specialize in treating coulrophobia and other unusual social phobias.
So what does treatment usually involve? Group sessions of call and response? "Hi everyone my name is Gareth and I am terrified of clowns"…"Hi Gareth." "Ive been clown free for seven years now...Its been that long since my last visit to the circus." "Yay, well done" loud clapping ensues...."Not too loud everyone" - the shrink - "we dont want to take him to that dark place again..."

The session could involve the group beating on some bloke wearing a clown costume…lets call him…an actor, Jerry…"Thanks for your time Jerry, sorry about the nose bleed…remember you saved lives here today…you are a good man Jerry!"

As someone once said: "To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kind of scary. I've wondered where this started and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus, and a clown killed my dad.”
I had a friend who was a clown. When he died, all his friends went to the funeral in one car.”
Thanks folks I am here all week!