Tips on the art of the practical joke.
First, practical jokes are never funny.
There have been zero practical jokes truly worth laughing at in all
of human history. None.
Second, practical jokes are very funny
in concept. They usually involve a complex engineering challenge,
and are more often a way of demonstrating ingenuity rather than any
real sense of meanness of spirit or desire to humiliate.
However, they are never funny in real
life.
For every bucket perched above a door,
there has been a long session of drying out the carpet. For every
cow somehow herded up to the second story of a house, there has been
a shovel that had to be burned (and probably the occasional house or
two). Scares, shocks and surprises have generated punches, heart
attacks and police reports.
Now I will admit to having an
imagination that appreciates that artistic side of such things. The
complete dismantling of a car to be reassembled (working) atop an
inaccessible building is an impressive feat. But, like a bank
robbery, it does have its victims and its consequences.
So, as a request, should you feel the
desire to involve me in this kind of thing, either as a planned
exercise or as a moment of impulse, please do not. I do not
appreciate that humor, will not respond the way you want me to, and
will not consider it “all in good fun”.
And no, of course I'm not talking about
anyone specific. That would be silly.
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