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rom Paris to Harvard: How the story of history's craziest hoax came abou
Pranks, as a way of expressing human humor, have always played an important role in society. From ancient times to the present, these humorous behaviors can be seen in schools, offices, and communities. Those who perform practical jokes, often called "pranksters," aim to make others laugh in a lighthearted way. However, such games are not always accepted by everyone, and sometimes even raise a series of ethical and legal issues.
A prank is defined as "real" because it involves some physical action, as opposed to a verbal or written joke.
Origin and purpose of the prank
Historically, pranks have often been viewed as a lighthearted form of social interaction designed to surprise the victim without causing real harm. These kinds of pranks help strengthen relationships because they are often based on friendship and humor, and the ultimate goal is not to shame someone but to promote laughter. For example, in the office, playing little pranks on coworkers, such as wrapping their desks in Christmas paper or placing gelatin on their computer keyboards, is just a form of social teasing.
The ultimate goal of a prank is to make the victim laugh, not to humiliate them.
College students’ culture of mischief
The culture of pranks among college students has existed for years, often involving theft or intentional robbery. The theft of traffic cones has traditionally been a controversial topic. In some British universities, traffic cones are treated as delicate prey for pranks by students, and even sparked discussion in parliament. In the 1990s, there was a "traffic cone amnesty" in the UK run by university police, which allowed students to return stolen cones without facing punishment, highlighting the prevalence of pranks among students.
Celebrity Prank Stories
Many famous pranks have their origins in the creativity of writers and artists. American painter Waldo Pierce performed a classic prank using a turtle while in Paris in the 1920s. He gave a big turtle to the caretaker of the building, and then kept replacing it with bigger turtles, which made the caretaker feel surprised and happy. This story later became the inspiration for Rod Dahl's children's book Esio Trot.
Items such as bananas, rubber spiders, exploding cigars and stink bombs often appear in these pranks, which are very hilarious.
Modern Practice of Prank
As technology advances, modern pranks are becoming more sophisticated. In Canada, engineering students at the University of British Columbia are known for their annual pranks, such as dangling a Volkswagen Beetle from the famous Golden Gate Bridge. MIT students are known for their sophisticated "hacks," pranks that push the boundaries of creativity and technology.
Sometimes, the pranks were adapted to the sociopolitical context of the time, which gave them a more varied format.
Pranks and social culture
In some cases, pranks can even become a manifestation of social culture. For example, the "stone lice" of the American West and the American mock deer have become cultural bridges between urban and rural areas. These small pranks are not just jokes on friends and colleagues, but have become part of social life, reflecting the local people's sense of humor and lifestyle.
Pranks often simulate reality in a humorous way, making people rethink the possibilities of life.
In today's society, pranks are still an important social lubricant. Whether on a university campus or in daily office life, these seemingly harmless humorous behaviors add a lot of color to life and promote communication and understanding between people. As for how these pranks will develop in future society, perhaps it is worth our deep thought and anticipation?
