Chicken bald back

[Alis girls]

Anybody been reading about these? Or encountered them? Never been keen and both my sons as toddlers were scared of them. Thankfully in this part of London we've not had any but hope Halloween doesnt bring them out. Slightly spooked. I have a short walk from my car to surgery down residential street - a few weeks ago at about 7.30am in the morning I could see a silouette of I think a woman with long hair (or a guy with long locks) sitting under a tree on the grass in front of houses. I was seriously spooked as let myself into work and always lock door behind me till there are several staff in (all women) was worried he/she would follow me. The receptionists roared with laughter when I told them - begining to think I might be seeing things - just hope its not a clown

[AndyRoo]

We haven't seen any ourselves, but there have been some in the area. I can't decide whether I am relieved, or whether I feel left out!

 

My take on it is that they're idiots in costumes, I can't say I am going to lose sleep over it. I think all of those who seem to be arming themselves with knives and other weapons deserve to be arrested, ditto the ones who are attempting to enter people's homes - but the rest should just be pitied and then ignored. They'll soon get bored when they realise no more attention is going to be given to them.

 

If I should encounter one, though, and they attempt to intimidate me, they'll be getting a quick smack in the head and then sent packing...

[mullethunter]

I think there have been a few around Cornwall that the police have had words with

[Alis girls]

I must ask my son who's a student at Bristol uni if hes seen any. Hes likely to thump one if they spook him.

[patsylabrador]

It makes me cross. I'm pretty sure it's a Public Order offence and being charged with that could be devastating for their future. They're obviously too stupid to consider the consequences their behaviour could have. Somebody could get hurt, they target children and the elderly and carry weapons.

I think they're bullies and may well get hurt themselves if someone retaliates.

If they get beaten or arrested/charged they will probably cry and whine because that's what bullies do.

Idiots.

[soapdragon]

It's infantile, stupid and thoughtless to try and intimidate people like this What on earth are they thinking of However, should someone lash out in fear or in order to try and protect them self then it will probably be the poor person who is being intimidated who get prosecuted/in trouble The phrase 'get a life' springs to mind!

 

 

I have always hated clowns !

[AndyRoo]

I must ask my son who's a student at Bristol uni if hes seen any. Hes likely to thump one if they spook him.

 

Yeah, there have been a number here in Bristol, although I am yet to see one myself. One of my sisters saw one, but she was with mates who basically laughed until he/she walked away.

[Alis girls]

I think it's because you can't see their faces - we need to be able to see faces for lots of reasons. . Last week driving to shops on outskirts of London (very near Hertfordshire) I was startled to see Spiderman standing on the corner (promoting pizza company) even more startled when he waved then when I got to Borehamwood saw two more. Expected men in white coats to appear.

Still don't like clowns. Shudders.

[patsylabrador]

It's definitely the use of weapons that bugs me and the lurking round primary schools. I just want them punished for that.

[soapdragon]

It's definitely the use of weapons that bugs me and the lurking round primary schools. I just want them punished for that.

 

Totally agree...its just not funny. Daily Mail ( ) carries a double page about this today dayins someone in clown clothing with a 'weapon' got bonked on the nose and there has been a successful prosecution with the 'clown' (in more ways than one, I think!) getting £90 fine and a criminal record - not that he seemed bothered about that but it just illustrates the mindset of these numpties

[AndyRoo]

It's definitely the use of weapons that bugs me and the lurking round primary schools. I just want them punished for that.

 

Exactly! If they're carrying any kind of weapon, or purposefully chasing after people in a bid to torment someone, they should absolutely be punished.

 

Although I do think the ones that just stand there and look a bit weird or creepy should just be ignored or moved on. Other than being a bit spooky, they're not really doing anything wrong.

 

What do we do, ban all clown costumes forever more? If they're not actually causing any harm, I don't think they deserve to be punished in the strictest of senses.

 

I think we do have to keep it in some sort of context: if this had all been happening on Halloween night, people would have probably found it at least mildly amusing and then dismissed it as a bit of fun (not including the ones with weapons, obviously).

[gavclojak]

I am gonna hose them down with cold water if I see one of the little "Ooops, word censored!"s!!!

[The Dogmother]

I think it's because you can't see their faces - we need to be able to see faces for lots of reasons. . Last week driving to shops on outskirts of London (very near Hertfordshire) I was startled to see Spiderman standing on the corner (promoting pizza company) even more startled when he waved then when I got to Borehamwood saw two more. Expected men in white coats to appear.

Still don't like clowns. Shudders.

 

You must have been very near my folks then!

 

We have the spiderman/batman/Mickey Mouse characters here advertising Papa John's Pizzas. Never seen the shop at all.

 

Been reading about the clown thing and getting quite irritated about it; if I see one, it will be seen running away with two lurchers chasing it, and unless it can do 30mph, the clown will have a hole in the seat of its pants!

[Alis girls]

Must see photos of that.

[bluekarin]

My daughter had some outside her halls in Southampton on Wednesday night I've told her to phone 101 of they come again. She was a bit freaked out, but I told her they cant get to her bedroom window as she has railings outside.

[Valkyrie]

My mum told me about those yesterday. Well I'm not fond of clowns and if anyone tries to jump out on me then they'll be whacked with my brolly - I used to play hockey so wielding it will be easy!

 

On a more serious note, they could actually frighten someone to death and if that's the case would it be premeditated murder or manslaughter?

[AndyRoo]

My mum told me about those yesterday. Well I'm not fond of clowns and if anyone tries to jump out on me then they'll be whacked with my brolly - I used to play hockey so wielding it will be easy!

 

On a more serious note, they could actually frighten someone to death and if that's the case would it be premeditated murder or manslaughter?

 

If they (God-forbid) did manage to scare someone to death, I don't think it would count as murder - manslaughter at 'best'. But then I was thinking about this and, technically, couldn't you accidentally scare someone to death completely innocently without meaning to anyway?

 

For instance, there have been a few occasions where I have been walking home down quite dark streets before, and I've been convinced I can hear footsteps following me. On more than one of those occasions I have turned around to find that there *was* someone behind me which made me jump out my skin; however, the person doing so has given me a strange look and just kept walking. If I had a heart condition then it is possible that the scare could have killed me - but they'd have been a totally innocent party, so would it be fair to bang them up for manslaughter?

 

I know the situation with the clowns is a bit different because they're obviously dressing up to freak people out to give people a jump, but then thousands of people do that each halloween. Where do you draw the line? Do we just ban any form of fancy dress just in case? And then how do we decide what counts as fancy dress?

 

One of my friends said "but what about people with phobias?", and while I understand the sentiment, I was also thinking to myself 'but you can have a phobia about anything'. Some people have a paralysing phobia of buttons, so do we just ban all buttons just in case someone happens to be scared to death be your shirt?

 

Does that make sense? I don't know what to make of it. I think everyone should just be told that no one has actually been physically attacked by these people (that I am aware of anyway) and to just stay calm and call the police if you feel threatened. Otherwise just ignore them.

[Alis girls]

A woman at work's 12 yr old daughter is freaked out as she was told they dragged kids into woods and killed them. My ES sent me a text saying he hated them when he was little and if one comes near him he will - then a lot of rude words

[The Dogmother]

I may be wrong, but I think that the Anti-social Behaviour law has changed slightly, and it could be classed as such if you feel threatened by them. Happy to stand corrected on that though.

[Egluntyne]

Why do we have to copy the worst of American habits?

[soapdragon]

Beats me too but it seems as though what goes in the US finds its way over here before too long.

 

Lets face it; Halloween is actually All Hallows Eve ie; the day before All Hallows Day which was, traditionally, a day to remember the dead...loved ones who are no longer with us etc. Quite solemn and reflective so how that has got corrupted into begging for sweets and general trick or treating (ie; demanding with menaces) is beyond me.

 

I do not wish to be a killjoy and have children aged 8 and 12 but they have never quite got the hang of trick or treating either tho' I have tried hard to give them a balanced opinion/view. Equally I am not a church goer so not approaching it from a particularly religious point of view - just don't agree with all the hype and commercialism which surrounds it. Goodness alone knows, its bad enough at Christmas.......

 

Rant over...off for a lie down

[Cat tails]

We've had a few too. One was unceremoniously arrested by the police as a warning to other idiots...

 

I'm not overly fond of Halloween, but I do like to dress up my house. Don't often talk to my neighbours, but Halloween is an occasion that loads do participate.

 

After last year even winning the amazing award of best dressed house (little purple plastic thing with a pumpkin glued to it ) I have my work cut out this year.

Toying with the idea of playing the assistent to the Dutch Steve Irwin (who is not dead... unlike Steve) and having lost his newly discovered highly dangerous animal...

[Valkyrie]

In Germany there is the opposite to nice Santa. The one that sorts out the naughty children and they have parades. The children are mostly laughing because they know it's a fun thing. But with these clowns some of them are malicious and it is those that are going out with intent to threaten that should be punished before any poor old dear pops their clogs.

 

I do like the Mexican way of having parties in the cemeteries so that their deceased families and the ancestors don't miss the fun at Halloween.

[AndyRoo]

Oh, I love Halloween - but then I lived in the US for a bit, and seeing how it was out there was great. They go all out, it's as big as the 4th July, or Thanksgiving or Christmas. I loved it! But then, I love any excuse for a day off work and a party...

[Valkyrie]

When in Rome as they say.