With April Fool's day around the corner, we once again are facing a day where people feel it's appropriate to play all manner of pranks. But, with the immense popularity of several prank shows (whether they are tv shows or some other form of internet entertainment like YouTube videos or TicToks), the rise of problematic pranks is something I think we need to talk about.
I also feel that this is something that people who work with trickster deities can fall prey to. Trickster deities often have myths that involve highly problematic pranks. However, they are deities, and trickster deities especially aren't always aligned with good intentions. As human beings, even if we work with a trickster deity, we shouldn't have our intention to cause harm to the people pranked...and we definitely don't have the power to back up our pranks (as most trickster deities can just poof after their trick is done).
And if you look at a lot of trickster stories, they almost always prank people in power or people who are acting in a way that society doesn't approve of. Tricksters in story fill the role of teacher, their pranks almost always include a lesson. They also normally involve a way for the person to avoid the prank (typically by doing what is considered the 'right' or appropriate thing)...it is only because they refuse to give up on their questionable behavior that they suffer from the prank.
Now, it's nothing new to call out problematic pranks. There are certain pranks that have been flagged as problematic by a lot of people, and around this time I always see reminders on social media to avoid these kind of pranks. Fake pregnancy is one of the ones that comes up a lot. Not only is it not cool to prank your partner like this (unless you very much know their sense of humor...I could prank hubby with it, but I am also not able to get pregnant anymore, so it would be an obvious prank), but when you do it publicly, it makes light of many people's very personal struggle with infertility, miscarriage or even unplanned pregnancies.
And the most common response you will hear, in cases like this, is that people need to 'get a sense of humor', and yet it is a joke about something that can be highly traumatic to many people. Triggering trauma isn't funny and telling people that they should find it funny because you say so is trivializing their experiences and perspective...it's just not cool.
I've also seen a rise of fake injury/sickness pranks, where someone will pretend to be hurt or sick (maybe they fake fainting or something like that), often done where their loved ones will find them. And these kind of pranks aren't new, we've had shock value pranks that are similar for ages (think about old comedians who would manipulate a ketchup packet to fake stab themselves and squirt 'blood' everywhere). But almost always, those were someone on stage (so not personal) and the joke was immediately revealed (so the prank was just for the shock value).
But now, people are drawing those pranks out, to the point where they might keep the ruse going for minutes on end, while their frantic partner is trying to help them, or maybe even calling an ambulance. This is really taking it too far. Because you are causing actual fear and worry in your partner, and this can be super traumatizing.
And one of the worst, in my opinion, are pranks where actual harm is done to another person. Think 'pranks' where someone is kicked in their privates or smacked in the face with a door. I feel like this kind of prank was made very popular due to prank shows, and what people sometimes forget is that the people in those shows (mostly...I think...honestly I don't watch them) agree to be in them. They know they are entering into prank wars, and they (on some level) accept the risk.
However, when people take this style of prank out of that situation (where you agree to participate), and just start pranking random people in their life...it becomes highly problematic. And again, they throw out the 'it's only a joke, get a sense of humor' response...while actually causing pain to other people. Not acceptable, not at all.
Finally, some people absolutely refuse to stop pranking...because they think it's funny. They think that other people should also find it funny and they refuse to listen when the people they prank ask/tell/beg them to stop. If someone asks you not to prank them and you do it anyways...you are just being a dick.
Here's the thing. The minute you stop considering how the pranked party (or observers) feel about your prank, is the minute you start doing things that aren't acceptable. A joke or prank should be enjoyable for everyone involved, full stop.
If you are pranking someone, and they aren't enjoying it, you are a bully. If someone asks you to stop doing something, and you refuse (because you think it's funny), you are a bully. If you know something will trigger, disturb or otherwise mentally traumatize someone, and you do it anyways as a prank...you are an abuser.
I'm all for jokes and pranks, and there are TONS of ways to prank your friends and loved ones where everyone can have a good laugh. And if you know someone who doesn't share your sense of humor (maybe you feel they don't have one...some people are very serious!), find someone else to prank! And don't use your deity (even a trickster deity) as an excuse to be horrible to other people.
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