View from the Cheap Seats is kind of an extension of the newsroom. Whenever our three regular reporters, Calvin Daniels, Thom Barker and Randy Brenzen are in the building together, it is frequently a site of heated debate. This week: Is April Fool’s day a benefit or detriment to society?
Don’t be fooled
It might be a little bit of a stretch to make a case that April Fool’s Day is either good or bad for society.
There is very good evidence, however, that humour is good for society. In addition to the release that a good laugh brings, scientists say playing pranks on one another is an important element of bonding between humans and a great icebreaker.
More important from my perspective is April 1 puts everyone on their guard. As much as we may take being pranked good-naturedly, nobody really wants to be fooled.
On this one morning, critical thinking skills are heightened as we attempt to avoid being the one to wear the ‘kick me’ sign for the rest of the day.
Anything that gets people questioning whether something is true or not is a good thing in my view. I just really wish people would exercise those critical thinking muscles every day.
- Thom Barker
Ambivalent
April Fool’s Day has always been one of those peculiarities of our amalgamated culture which has confused me.
Perhaps that is simply because I have little interest in expending any amount of energy of devising, and then delivering, an April Fool’s Day joke.
So when compatriot Cheap Seater Thom broached the question is having a day of pranks and practical jokes beneficial or detrimental to society I was ambivalent at best.
I will say, I think the day held greater import in the minds of the general public when I was a youth.
It may be that the day is another example of something the Internet has killed. With hands-on access to the knowledge of the ‘Net, a joke gets harder to pull off.
The day does have a history, a rather long one in fact. The custom of setting aside a day for the playing of harmless pranks upon one’s neighbour is recognized everywhere. Some precursors of April Fools’ Day include the Roman festival of Hilaria, the Holi festival of India, and the Medieval Feast of Fools, so the current day’s roots grow deep.
And over my years there have been a couple of pranks I recall.
The local newspaper in Tisdale pulled one year’s back, managing to dodge in a blurry UFO in a photo of the local water tower, and running it on the front page.
I also recall a local comic artist posting on Facebook just a few years back that he had gotten a gig with Marvel. I was a keystroke away for falling for it, until I remembered it was April 1.
But back to the core question.
I rather doubt the benefits of the day, although good-natured fun can build friendships, and community I suppose.
As for a detriment, well that can be an issue I suppose if a practical joke goes too far. It’s a fine line at times between funny and cruel, and very a matter of individual perspective.
I suspect in the end the day comes and goes for most of us with little attention paid to the prank aspect, and for those that do partake, as long as done with some thought, it should be all in good fun as they say.
- Calvin Daniels
Lighten up folks
Ah yes, April Fools’ Day.
A time of the year when pranking people is not only accepted, but encouraged.
It’s also a time of the year that I really enjoyed when I was younger because it was the only time of the year when carrying out a plan of comedic justice on unsuspecting friends that may have wronged you over the year (such as stealing your chocolate pudding) was seen as acceptable.
Recently, however, the entire ‘holiday’ has come under fire. Many people now feel as if a day for pranking is a day that makes bullying legal. I like to call those types of people soft.
Pranking is not bullying. At least, not if it’s done properly.
Sure, the lazy ‘prankster’ will just push someone in mud and yell “April Fools!” all the while laughing maniacally at their ‘hilarious’ practical joke that took them all of .5 seconds to think of (and is thought up when the prankster sees the victim walking past a mud puddle).
A true prankster, however, will not do something by the seat of their pants. Instead, they’ll plan for weeks, maybe even months, the perfect prank that will solidify them as their school or workplace’s top ranked Bart Simpson; an honour that should been rewarded with a trophy and crown and not, as has become all too common as of late, with scorn and punishment.
After all, a prank is just that: a prank. Not abuse or bullying. Lighten up.
-Randy Brenzen
