The international day of pranks has almost arrived.
Granite Bay High senior Nick Wohlman believes April Fool’s pranks are a great way to joke around with family members.
Two years ago, Wohlman replaced the contents of his father’s deodorant with butter as a prank.
“(My dad) got very mad at first,” Wohlman said. “But looking back at (the prank), he laughs about it now”
However, the boundary of a prank becoming harmful can be pushed and crossed by students.
“There is a very fine line between pranks and just being mean,” Wohlman said. “Pranking your brother or father is different from pranking random people and being hurtful.”
GBHS graduate Chandler Brown was the victim of one of these pranks two years ago.
Brown, who is a sophomore at UCLA now, had well-known aspirations of attending MIT while he was a GBHS senior.
Brown’s friends decided to replicate a letter of acceptance from MIT and mail it to Brown, who believed the fake was real. Many colleges and universities actually release their decisions on April 1.
At the time, the incident did some damage to Brown’s friendships.
Junior John Sabin recalls hearing a mother crudely prank her children.
“Back when I was in fifth grade … I was walking home on Aprils 1 and … overheard a mom threatening to take her kids to a foster home and leave them,” Sabin said. “One of the two kids just started bawling.”
Sabin said pranks should be planned with modesty instead of unthoughtful insults.
“Extremely personal (pranks) are bad for April Fool’s, while those that are smaller are (more) fun,” Sabin said.
Junior Tanner Basset said people who are typically outgoing and enjoy excitement are best for pranks.
“Whether (a prank works or not) depends on the person,” Bassett said.
April Fool’s observances seem to be declining in popularity in Granite Bay.
“I think (April Fool’s) is kind of a dying holiday,” Bassett said. “It’s (really) not that big of a deal anymore.”
Wohlman said many high school students have outgrown the novelty of April Fool’s.
“(April Fool’s) was more apparent when we were younger,” Wohlman said.
Around the country, however, this is a holiday that still has plenty of adherents. Many students choose to watch pranks on YouTube rather than make the effort to carry them out on their own.
“Everyone sees really good pranks on YouTube, which takes away from people’s desire to prank the people around them,” Sabin said. “The (risk of) pranks failing discourages (participation).”
Junior Daniel Smith would like to see greater participation in April Fool’s at school.
“I think it would be (great) if GB participated more in April Fool’s pranks, but it might (interfere) with the teacher’s curriculums,” Smith said. “I don’t think (pranks) (aim) to be beneficial but they are super fun. But can’t fun be beneficial?”
Getting more active participation April Fool’s pranks would require more effort than in previous years.
“(April Fool’s) is a good holiday because it endorses and encourages good fun and pranks,” Wohlman said. “It makes people have a better sense of humor.”
