Whether it be elaborate tricks pulled on the notorious April Fool’s Day, or simple pranks from a class-clown classmate, or a mistimed joke that hits harder than anticipated, it’s simple for humorous intentions to be executed poorly and result in sore feelings.
Everyone has had a bad joke played on them. But, a common response from someone involved in a prank-turned-disaster is, “I didn’t know that person would get upset,” or, “I didn’t know I could get in trouble for doing that.”
So, it begs the question: how can someone have lighthearted fun with friends or coworkers without it devolving into madness? In honor of April Fool’s Day’s recent occurrence, here are three useful tips & tricks to ensure the people you pull pranks and stunts on walk away laughing rather than storming.
# 1 : Sensibility
For the holiday of April Fool’s Day, pranks are expected to be grand and wild– silly-stringing a person, T-Ping a house, setting back clocks, etc. may be too much effort for a common day, but April 1st is a nice exception.
But there must be valued lines not to cross. Telling ‘funny’ lies that could cause emotional distress or create conflict is not the way to go. For example, someone dramatically announcing to their significant other that they’ve been having an affair on them, only to drop an anvil of whiplash on them when they slip in that, “April Fool’s,” declaration could make them upset with their emotions being toyed with.
Practicing sensibility means understanding what pranks are funny, versus what pranks are cruel. If someone suspects that a prank could cause an argument, a physical fight, damage to property, or any type of pain, it is best to leave that prank sitting in their imagination.
When asked about how to keep pranks sensible, an anonymous Gateway freshman stated,
“If it’s just an April Fool’s prank, it shouldn’t be a big project like a Rube Goldberg machine. But, if you were to take into consideration how this will affect the person you’re pulling the prank on, you should probably do a Rube Goldberg machine type prank to someone you know who will not flip out at you.”
In addition, the scale of pranks is something to pay attention to. Being rational, and thinking decisions through before initiating a prank, is a surefire way to ensure it comes across as meant to be delivered.
# 2 : Know Who You’re Pranking
Involving strangers in your All Fool’s schemes can be a slippery idea. A person can never be quite sure how someone they’ve never met will react to having a whoopee cushion plopped into their car seat.
But, more than just not pranking strangers, it’s valuable to know the limits of family, friends, or colleagues that might be on a list of pranking victims. Humor should not cross boundaries or comfort zones.
Here’s an example: If someone is aware that their wife, who they are drafting up an April Fool’s prank against, has an awful fear of spiders that might send her into a panic attack, then it should be obvious to not include spiders in that day’s shenanigans.
It’s surprising how many people are unaware of this unspoken rule– do not use phobias, genuine triggers, or insecurities against someone for the sake of being funny. Inducing fear for a moment, that can then be relieved with a laugh, is enjoyable. Inducing fear that sticks with someone far after the prank is over is not alright.
Think about it this way: if a prank requires a lenghty explanation or an apology, steer clear of pulling it… or just find a new recipient who would appreciate the humor behind it.
Another freshman interviewed perfectly said it as,
“You have to make sure it’s harmless, something that doesn’t hit a nerve but still makes them laugh. Before you pull the prank, you have to think of every possible outcome and whether they could get offended or not.”
# 3 : Accept Responsibility
In the situation that an April Fool’s Prank does go wrong, it’s something that is going to need a proper apology. It’s better to accept a slightly embarrassing fault than to sleep on the couch for a while over a failed prank incident.
Part of accepting responsibility is not to dodge blame– telling someone, “You’re overreacting,” or “It was never serious,” is creating tensions rather than lowering them. Even if someone’s intentions were pure, if feelings end up hurt, it’s important to apologize and practice a sense of empathy.
An excellent comment, listing the valuable parts of a good, harmless prank, that a Gateway student sent in includes the following:
“-Ensuring it’s not hurtful to their well-being, mentally or physically
-Make sure you know the person and their possible triggers
-Keep it lighthearted and fun for everyone.”
When all is done right, fooling around with pranks and tricks doesn’t have to cause distress. It depends on how willing a person is to be considerate about the feelings of those involved.
At the end of the day, April Fool’s Day should end up being enjoyable, whether from the pranker or the prankee’s angle. It’s supposed to be a silly holiday, and when done right, it can be absolutely hilarious. Practice rationality, and pranking can open up a whole new world of humorous interactions.
What’s the best prank you’ve ever been a part of, and were you the giver or the receiver? Drop a comment down below, and happy belated April Fool’s Day– it’s never too early to start planning pranks for next year.
