Leveraging the power of The Clown.An automated call to parents and guardians from the San Francisco Unified School District implies that the concern is real, if misplaced, and heightened by schoolyard stories and social media posts among impressionable students.
"What we know is that no actual assaults have been reported in the Bay Area," says a school social worker on the below voicemail recording. "We encourage you to speak with your child about what they are really feeling." [...]
As evidenced by the SFUSD robocall, the unflappable adult world is leading its progeny by example. You know, by somewhat prematurely banning clown costumes this upcoming Halloween in a South Bay school district according to ABC7, for instance. TV news is busy launching investigations into clown costume sales (up 300 percent) and asking the tough questions: What effect is this having on everyday working clown performers and businesses, hmmm?)
Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.
I think we found our Halloween theme.
I know quite a few professional clowns, they are losing bookings and getting death threats. It sucks, and the media jumps an all this nonsense and does zero actual journalism.
Also there is no truth to the rumor that the jets screaming overhead are the ritalin-crazed advance guards of an approaching clown army. Tell the children.
I seem to remember that clown image from the early 1990's - I think it was a demonstration image for Viewsonic monitors (maybe) to show them off.
As far as I know, the image was originally included with Cloanto Personal Paint for the Amiga (clown.pic)
"no actual assaults have been reported in the Bay Area" - except for the clown who tried to kidnap a 1-year-old at a Denny's in Concord three days ago.
EXERCISE VAGUE CAUTION
Clowns have always been bastards. To hell with them.
Begun, this clown war has.