Does Being good at Being Scary/Creepy count as a talent?

[DiverseWonderland]

Title says it all, does being good at being creepy or scary count as a talent? if so how could it be used?

 

[tree]

The title doesn't really say it all.
It's not specific.

Under what circumstances would the "being scary/creepy" be displayed?

If it's unconscious, then it's a disadvantage.

For example, if it's displayed unintentionally while working as a pre-school attendant/teacher,
no, it's not a talent. That would be a liability.

If the ability to be scary and creepy is conscious, and for example, displayed as
an actor (on stage, in movies, or audio productions, or amateur Halloween
haunted house type things...etc) it would be a valuable talent.

 

[Judge]

Title says it all, does being good at being creepy or scary count as a talent? if so how could it be used?

Probably not. Unless you were character actor Rondo Hatton, who made a career of having a rare pituitary condition known as "acromegaly". A condition that was physical and not behavioral.

RONDO HATTON – The Deformed Creeper -Freaks and Human Oddities

Though with Hollywood and character actors you never know. Provided you don't have a problem with rampant typecasting and can calmly deal with psychotic directors.

 

[Pats]

At Halloween and in a haunted house.

 

[DiverseWonderland]

The title doesn't really say it all.
It's not specific.

Under what circumstances would the "being scary/creepy" be displayed?

If it's unconscious, then it's a disadvantage.

For example, if it's displayed unintentionally while working as a pre-school attendant/teacher,
no, it's not a talent. That would be a liability.

If the ability to be scary and creepy is conscious, and for example, displayed as
an actor (on stage, in movies, or audio productions, or amateur Halloween
haunted house type things...etc) it would be a valuable talent.

What if it's both Unconscious and conscious?

 

[tree]

What if it's both Unconscious and conscious?

Then it's a problem.

 

[BraidedPony]

Stephen King!

 

[DiverseWonderland]

Also i mean scary or creepy personality wise, like maybe when your acting or something like that

 

[DiverseWonderland]

Also on this note I think part of this has to do with my interest in certain Horror and I have a tendency to "Pick up" traits from different fictional characters whether it's a phrase or gesture so add that with horror characters and i think that's part of my scare/creep factor and i usually don't do that in public but sometimes i can't help myself.

 

[Tom]

Since it is occurring in RL, I'd say it is some sort of personality disorder. So, no not a talent and not useful.

 

[DiverseWonderland]

Since it is occurring in RL, I'd say it is some sort of personality disorder. So, no not a talent and not useful.

What’s RL? And what kind of personality disorder?

 

[Mattymatt]

Title says it all, does being good at being creepy or scary count as a talent? if so how could it be used?

I would say it counts as an acting skill. Look at Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson, John Lithgow, and John Malkovich. All 4 of these actors are very much scary/creepy people. They're able to translate their personality quirks into Academy Award winning performances.

 

[Judge]

I would say it counts as an acting skill. Look at Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson, John Lithgow, and John Malkovich. All 4 of these actors are very much scary/creepy people. They're able to translate their personality quirks into Academy Award winning performances.

It is always amusing to see people who can truly act the part, only to see them in real life in a completely different persona. Which also reflects just how good they truly are at their craft.

I think Vincent Price was the first one who caught my attention of such actors.

I always liked the one such performance that Peter O'Toole gave in the film "Night of the Generals". Where he played a psychotic Nazi general. A role pretty far removed from most of the other characters he played in his career. Oops. A spoiler warning a tad late.

 

[Tom]

What’s RL? And what kind of personality disorder?

RL = Real Life.

I'm no Shrink, so have so idea what to call it really. But it is knowingly adopting something that will frighten and repulse people. Some on the other hand may laugh at you for it.

 

[nowwhat]

Title says it all, does being good at being creepy or scary count as a talent? if so how could it be used?

In some places, it is the time of the year to show off your talent!

 

[BraidedPony]

To be counted as a skill I think it would have to be controllable by you. For example being able to sing is a skill, but not in the library.

 

[Pats]

If you think about it - some on the spectrum often mimic other people as a way of fitting in - maybe watch fewer horror shows?

 

[Judge]

It is kind of amusing to think of all the different character actors who were typecast in Hollywood over long periods of time. For many of them they may have made a tidy living in playing bad guys of all types.

Though it may also amount to a "fraternity" of sorts. One very difficult to get into. But once you're in, you've made it.

Gotta love how DeNiro brought "Taxi Driver " Travis Bickle to life.

 

[pamelaperejil]

I used to have a twitter account where, from midnight on, I mass-tweeted bunch of creepy, dark, and or bizarre memes. Got a lot of followers. Even got put on a list where authors and such would come look to get ideas. It's fun to have a hobby. I was never an artist myself, but I did know what was high quality "creep" material. I had taste. I was part of a subculture. On Twitter, at any rate.

Sure, when you're an expert at it, anything can be a talent. But, like another poster said, you have to be able to control it. If you're walking around creeping people out in real life without meaning to, then that's hardly something to be proud of.

You could start a Youtube channel. Ever seen Scary Snowman?

Jay Karl's Scary Snowman

scary snowman youtube - Yahoo Video Search Results

 

[Autistamatic]

The only way I can see it being used to your advantage is in some kind of dramatic art. As has been mentioned acting is a possibility but you'd be lucky to get a break if your range is limited. You might do well on YouTube - maybe doing horror movie/TV reviews? There's a new series of "American Horror Story" just started so with a cheap tripod, your cellphone and some free editing software like Shotcut you could be started and gaining views in no time.
Another thing that comes to mind is spooky city tours. I know such things operate in London, Edinburgh and Boston. A talent for creeping people out would be a real asset in a job like that.