Are pranks always funny?
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
January 18, 2007 5:05pm CST
I know that many people love watching tv shows where someone is caught in a joke or gag situation (from Punk'd or Just for Laughs Gags, all the way back to Candid Camera). There are "prank call" radio programs where the djs will pretend to be someone they're not to trick some unsuspecting person on the other end of the line. Even shows like American Idol and other "competitions" have episodes where they show the most "embarrassing" contestants who are basically making fools of themselves, whether they realize it or not.
I CANNOT watch or listen to any of these. I absolutely CRINGE if someone is being made to look stupid or made to feel like a real idiot. I have to turn off the tv or radio, rather than listening to the results of some prank. I get a horrible feeling inside, that I can't even describe, and I wonder if somehow I am putting myself in that person's shoes and feeling what they must be feeling. My family doesn't understand this because they just accept these shows as the "joke" that they are intended to be... but I can't, no matter how hard I've tried. If I leave them on, I will stand there, like a little kid, with my fingers blocking my ears so I don't have to hear it!
I've been told by several people that I'm an empath but I have no true knowledge of what that really means -- if you do, please share. I'd love to learn from you! I understand "empathy" but it seems that empaths have a much deeper connection to other people's feelings??
Anyway... am I alone in my nuttiness or does anyone else feel the same way? Can you watch and listen to these shows and just find them funny, without having feelings for the people involved?
8 people like this
43 responses
@elusivedarkness (531)
• United States
18 Jan 07
I get a kick out of them quite frequently. However, I can see your point of view. A lot of pranks can go to far. People do some pretty cruel things to one another. I guess whether it's funny or not depends on whether you are the object of the prank or not. Even then pranks aren't funny if they harm another person or cause them undue stress. A little joke once is awhile isn't the end of the world, but some people just take it way too far.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
Good point, elusivedarkness. I'm sure there are a LOT of people who find it really funny when it's done to someone else but don't find humor on the receiving end. My kids can watch one of the "gags" shows and laugh themselves silly but, when it's over, they'll say "man I hope no one ever does that to me!"
3 people like this
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Why bother tyring to go against your nature?
I think those shows and "practical jokes" are abusive, myself. Someone decides it will be funny to eat up your time with stupidity and they think its even funnier if you take the situation seriously, bcause you tend to be a grounded person, only to reveal its a "prank" or a "joke". To me, that is emotionally abusive.
My husband and I were just discussing this same topic a couple of days ago, and how it would be good to get a lawyer and sue a show that played around with your life like that, even if they didn't broadcast the incident. They still took up your time, the still played with your emotions and your sense of reality.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
That's the word I was searching for, SageMother... abusive. It might sound harsh to others but I really feel that's what's being done. I like to think I have a great sense of humor and I love to laugh but I don't find any humor in it.
3 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Your friends are probably right about you being an empath. I also have been told that I have a really strong empathic sense. I _can_ (sometimes) watch the kinds of shows that you were mentioning, but I don't really enjoy them and don't tend to seek them out. I really don't like to see other people being made fun of, and I can't stand to see people around me sad. It breaks my heart. I absolutely love it when people around me are happy. I've always been this way, but I think that it has grown even stronger within me as I've gotten older. You are certainly not alone. I only wish that more people in the world had even a smidgen more empathy than they do. It astounds me when people are totally callous about other's feelings. I can't even understand how people like that live from day to day, it is just so foreign of a feeling to me.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
19 Jan 07
Thank you SO much, shywolf! Your response does my heart good :D For lack of a better explanation, I find it very difficult to "feel" as much as I do about the people around me and even strangers, as would be the case with this particular discussion. I believe that my younger daughter is like me. I'm seeing it more and more all the time. She has always been the type, since she was a toddler, to cry when OTHER people are hurt. I used to freak out thinking she'd injured herself and she'd shake her head and point at another child so I'd understand. I know we live in an "I couldn't care less" society, for many things, but like you, I wish that some people cared a bit more than less!
2 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Wow, that is so touching - honestly, your daughter is ten times the empath that I've ever been. I don't think that I've ever cried when someone else was hurt. And she already understands why she's doing it. That's amazing. I'm just reassured to hear that there are more people in the world who truly care about other people's feelings and can't help but feel this sense of empathy! ^_^ Thanks also for marking me the best response! That was very sweet!! ^_^ ^_^
@khalablue (309)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
I just finished watching the first two segments of this year's American Idol competition where they are touring from city to city auditioning contestants.
Last night's episode from Seattle was so bad that I can't imagine they will find any worse anywhere else in the country.
At one point in the program I figured that some of these people had to be actors because it is almost impossible to believe that anyone is as bad as some of these auditioners were. Either that, or some people figure that this is the only way that they can get their 15 minutes of fame.
I honestly think that it is truly impossible to embarrass some people, and when they watch the segment in which they "performed" I am sure they will either think that their performance was amusing or good.
As far as being embarrassed for them, my answer is no, I was not embarrassed for them because they chose to place themselves in that situation, with knowledge of their complete lack of talent, and so therefore, I will side with your family and friends in this instance and regard it as all in good fun and humor.
I think some of us watch out of utter disbelief.
I think when someone reacts as you do, it is because you are the type of person who would be uncomfortable drawing attention to yourself, and to be ridiculed would cause you personal mortification.
Would this be a good guess?
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
Absolutely khalablue! You're completely right... I am very much the type of person who avoids embarrassment at all costs (the result of growing up with very low self-esteem and painful shyness, I'm sure!).
I agree with you on the American Idol comment that "they chose to place themselves in that situation." That's very true. These contestants know that, at some point, they may find themselves on tv (good OR bad LOL) and, yes, I firmly believe they just want their "15 minutes"... with "bad" being more likely to ensure they get it.
Yet, having made that rationalization, I know that I can't differentiate how I feel about them from those who DON'T ask to be placed in the situation. Those against whom an elaborate prank is planned and they fall for it hook, line and sinker. My reaction is to be exactly the same.
(And I really CAN take a joke! LOL I'm not at all a "stick in the mud" and, truth be told, it takes a WHOLE lot to offend me. Probably another reason I'm surprised at how I feel)
2 people like this
@khalablue (309)
• Canada
19 Jan 07
If someone deliberately plays a prank on me and I end up being the butt of a joke, that doesn't bother me. Especially if it is "an all in good fun kind of situation." I amnot even offended if the joke is in bad taste, because I can roll my eyes and tell the other person that they are a tad immature.
What embarrasses me, is if I personally do something foolish, whether because I didn't give it enough thought or because I was being impulsive. If what I did was dumb, then I am embarrassed, because then I think it reflects on no one but myself.
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
19 Jan 07
As long as the person that the prank was pulled on was laughing just as hard as everyone else, yeah, it's funny. Normally, all those involved would need to sign a "release form" in order for the various shows to be allowed to ahow it on TV.
I can be a prankster myself. I've had some pulled on me, & yeah - I've laughed along with everyone involved. When pulling a joke like this on someone, I do think before doing. Will the person appreciate it & laugh with us? If not, I might just explain it to all involved, including the guy I was thinking of pulling it on. If I am certain he'd laugh with us, then I pull the joke on the guy.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
19 Jan 07
You're absolutely right that some people are able to accept the pranks MUCH better than other people, KrazyKlingon. I mean, I've been the butt of a few myself and, although you wouldn't believe it from what I've said in this discussion so far, I actually DID laugh about it. Again, like you said, you sometimes know that the person who is "targetted" will understand that it's a prank and they'll have the capacity to laugh at themselves.
The problem arises with the releases, in my view, when the people are clearly on tv BECAUSE they look foolish but that was not the "context" when the clip was shot... i.e., American Idol -- yes, they may sign a release that they can be shown on tv (and, yes, the audience will laugh at them) but sometimes, those people really BELIEVE that they are very talented and they aren't actually releasing their image to the media because they expect to be humiliated. But in a case like Punk'd then, yes, they should know exactly how things are going to look on-screen.
1 person likes this
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
19 Jan 07
I feel the same way about it. It´s not at all funny to put people into ridiculous situations. I wouldn´t want anybody to do this to me, so I don´t like seeing it happen to others.
That´s what an empath is all about: someone who can easily syntonize with other people´s feelings.
@rahuldmhatre (736)
• India
19 Jan 07
pranks can be fun when you play them on your friends and the whole idea is pure fun, but when you do it to make people look stupid in front of thousands of people then that is not termes as prank, but it should be called as abuse, beause it may hurt some people, some people may take it good heartedly but not always do , so i think we should refrain from it and do not encourage such programs
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
22 Jan 07
No, I do not think they are funny nor do I enjoy them. People should respect others more than that. I hate pranks
@korek222 (701)
• Poland
19 Jan 07
That is right - i personally like to laugh at the pranks but when i tihnk how would i feel if i were this person this fun turns to be horrible and makes me scared i think! But that is the human nature - to laugh off other and forget how unpleasant it is to be laughed of himself!
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
20 Jan 07
I agree... funny until the tables are turned and then it's not nearly so amusing!
@katty0004 (386)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I think the one that gets me the most is that home video show that comes , some of these people really get hurt and to sit there and laugh at them isn't funny , but some time it the stuff they do that gets them hurt and they know better ,
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
19 Jan 07
I agree katty... on those home video shows, a lot of people come across as ridiculous but they are being filmed doing something that they chose to do. I agree that they should know better but they do it at their own risk. They're embarrassing themselves without any help from anyone else ;)
1 person likes this
@yotachan (135)
• Indonesia
19 Jan 07
I love to watch people joking about him/herself. That would be called a comedian. But as your opinion, there are TV programs who situates a people being fooled by someone and recorded by camera, right?
Well, this doesn't make any sense of humor. What I've seen was the harming of people itself.
But there are some programs that people get harmed by others as a scenario. So the people being fooled is the program crew. And I watched this as a humor.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
19 Jan 07
I love comedians too, yotachan! I try to go to the comedy festival near my home each summer because it's a lot of fun. You're right... the shows I don't like are the ones where someone is fooled and it's recorded. :)
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I do not like practical jokes or prank shows. Not at all. I don't even like the American Idol audition episodes because all they do is make fun of the bad singers, and some of them clearly are mentally challenged. Ashton Kutcher's show Punk'd went a little far soemtimes-- on one episode they had 2 guys destroying a car (actor Wilmer Valderama thought it was his car). What a waste of money-- and energy!
2 people like this
@cool_xanders (121)
• Indonesia
19 Jan 07
I never like pranks show.
It is not nice to make anyone look stupid, hummiliated and degraded just for amusement for other.
2 people like this
@master_ang3lkulit (271)
• Philippines
19 Jan 07
for me, this pranks may be good if they assure nothing happens to the person they being pranked. what if the person have a high blood. the person will me directly feliver to the hospital. so be careful of what you do. there is always responsibility to any actions have done.
2 people like this
@garimabatra (58)
• India
19 Jan 07
I can stand such shows and gags until the people thee are played on are well-to-do! If pranks are played on people like a poor fruit seller or a hawker who barely has any idea of what is being done, then it is really disturbing to see how these people are made fools and shown on the television for everybody to see! I hardly find a funny element there! What fun is it fooling an innocent person who finds it hard to get on with his life, trying hard to make both his ends meet? Strongly against them!
@dragontester (570)
• Switzerland
19 Jan 07
It is not at all funny. Its just that at times, people involved in it try to act cool. But, on an average, anybody feels tensed and emabarassed. And in this current era of media frenziness, it goes on to lower levels.
2 people like this
