When you purchase through links on our site , we may pull in an affiliate commissioning . Here ’s how it works .
A mysterious and sinister buffoon has been sighted prowl the street of Northampton , U.K. , do both curiosity and concern . Nocturnal sightings of the side - painted fiend — widely dubbed The Northampton Clown — begin originally this calendar month . The clown has not harass , attacked , nor jeopardize anyone ; he — or possibly she or It — merely swan the street creep people out ( and sometimes poses for photos ) .
A Facebook page was set up last workweek ( onFriday the thirteenth , befittingly enough ) called " Spot Northampton ’s Clown , " featuring photos of the clown at different locations throughout the city . Someone take to be the clown has posted picture , updates and government note saying he ’s harmless and just give birth a bit of playfulness .
This screenshot from a YouTube video shows the so-called “Local Clown,” who has similarities to the Northampton Clown, though despite rumors to the contrary the Local Clown says he is not also the Northampton Clown.
If it all seems like a viral prank , publicity stunt or theatrical melodrama , it may be . In fact , a second man , dress in his own blue muscularity - paddedsuperhero costumeand glasses , calling himself " Boris the Clown Catcher , " has look on the Northampton streets on a deputation to seize the creepy clown . Some have suggested that Boris is himself the Northampton Clown , adopting the role of both Heron and baddie in a societal media prank . [ Really ? The 6 Most Outrageous fraudulence ]
Boston ’s mystery merry andrew scare
Strange as this case is , it ’s not the first time that business organization over clowns has gripped a urban center . In May 1981 , law in Brookline , Mass. , issue an all - point bulletin ( APB ) ask officers to observe for a vehicle contain potential child snatcher . The vehicle , an older modelling new wave with a broken headlight and no hubcaps , was reportedly occupy by several buffoon in full costume . Several small fry report that clown had tried to lure them into the vanguard with promise of candy .
This screenshot from a YouTube video shows the so-called “Local Clown,” who has similarities to the Northampton Clown, though despite rumors to the contrary the Local Clown says he is not also the Northampton Clown.
It was only one of several mysterious sighting of the phantom goof ; the next day , Boston police again searched the urban center in vain for another caravan driven by a creepy merry andrew reported to be haunt a public park ; once again law searches amount up empty . As study open to surrounding area and parents grew aflutter , an functionary from the Boston Public Schools issue a memo to principals in his schooltime territorial dominion : " It has been brought to the attention of the police force department and the district office that adults preen as clowns have been bothering baby to and from school . Please advise all scholarly person that they muststay away from stranger , specially those dress as clown . "
parent were fearful , tike were warned and law were wakeful , but despite search and police force checkpoints , these mysterious clowns were never found . Whether these creepy-crawly clowns were genuine , or the product ofmass hysteria , japery , eyewitness misunderstanding , the power of proposition and the media , or some admixture of these , no evidence was ever base of their cosmos .
The Northampton Clown , on the other hand , seems real enough . Though the goof has doubtlessly made some people genuinely unquiet , it seems that most are discussing this phenomenon with their tongues securely planted in their face .
The fact that the clown poses for photographers suggest an ingredient of hoaxing or mischief ; after all , if anyone thought the clown was a serious terror they could watch him or call the police force . It ’s also of import to mention that England has , by some estimates , about 2 millionsurveillance camerasin functioning . Public streets are routinely monitored and read , and it would be a childlike matter for police to review footage to turn up a threshold or fomite where the clown go forth . That is , of course , assuming that they believed there is any menace ; walk around dressed to kill as a clown at night is not illegal .
Creepy clowns
Fear of clowns — call coulrophobia — is fairly vernacular , especially in vernal youngster . The ground masses find buffoon scary vary from someone to someone ; sometimes , the fear stems from a childhood trauma with a specific clown , other times , it ’s just a oecumenical unease with all clown . [ What Really Scares People : Top 10 Phobias ]
But there are a few reason why goofball are often considered creepy-crawly and perturbing . buffoon exaggerate for effect , distorting reality and ratio . They push impossibly lilliputian cars and carry outsized power train , such as tricycles the size of elephants and hammer the sizing of log . closely everything about a clown , including his or her speech , activeness and clothes , are either too big or too small , and nothing about them is normal .
goof are at once both at once recognizable and yet totally anon. . We do n’t do it who is behind that makeup and red rubber nose : a kindly grandfather or a serial sea wolf ? And , of line , clowns are also unnatural in another way : No normal person could volitionally put up with hordes of children cry and jump-start all over them for that long .
While the Northampton Clown seems to be have harmless sport ( for model , today , Sept. 17 , promising on Facebook a big surprisal for afterwards this calendar week ) , the real risk is probably the threat of copycats hijacking the phenomenon and getting in on the act ; already there are a few reports of ( apparently independent ) clowns pretend to be the Northampton Clown .
Or are they ? The mystery story continue .
Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of " Skeptical Inquirer " science magazine and writer of six Word of God including " The Martians Have Landed ! A History of Media - Driven Panics and Hoaxes . " His website iswww.BenjaminRadford.com .
