“I am what I am, a fool to you, so it seems.”
– Oedipus Rex
April Fool’s Day is upon us, whether we celebrate it or not. It’s the one day of the year where pranking people is not only socially acceptable, it’s expected.
The prestige of the payoff is something many take very seriously.
“Personally, I think the best way to accomplish an April Fools prank is not to do it on April 1st,” said Nik KuarSingh. “They never see it coming. The element of surprise is a powerful tool.”
Sheridan College has not been one to sit on the sidelines. The college has pranked the student body multiple times, announcing the introduction of school uniforms, or unveiling a new ascot to replace Bruno the Bruin.
The first April Fools prank was in 1698. This prank involved tricking folks into going to the Tower of London “to see the lions washed”. This prankster behavior is not just limited to individuals anymore. Volkswagens issued a statement changing all US operations to “Voltswagen” was part of their April Fools prank.
In Canada, perhaps the most infamous prank came when CBC ‘broke the news” announcing the Royal Canadian Mints’ creation of a “Threenie (a three-dollar coin) to replace the five-dollar bill.
There are downsides to April Fools Day. Genuine news released on April 1st is likely to be ignored. Googles announcement of Gmail in 2004 was dismissed as a hoax, despite being true. Most tragically, the 1946 Aleutian Island earthquake/tsunami warnings were ignored as a prank, resulting in 165 deaths.
There are still benefits of a good planned joke. The benefits of a good belly laugh include stress relief and reducing strains on the heart.
So, go forth everyone. Be at peace; whether its blowing up a roomful of balloons, taping the toilet seat shut or rearranging the kitchen drawers. Have some fun, prank safely and have a laugh.