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Are practical jokes funny or mean? Why?

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marisaupa
marisaupa
Marked as Best! November 03, 2009 05:00 PM
The only real opinion that matters in determining if a practical joke is funny or mean is that of the person on the receiving end.

It is for this reason that the person doing the joke should know his subject well. The temperament, tolerance and emotional breadth of every person varies. The less well you know a person, the more difficult it is to know these details.

I have seen harsh practical jokes, that to me bordered on the cruel or grotesque, which both joker and receiver laughed off and enjoyed with full force. I have also seen, mild, perfectly innocent practical jokes, which have ended with the receiver mad as hell or crying.

Net result, practical jokes can be both funny and mean, all depending on the reaction of the subject. So, if you are so inclined to be a practical joker, do so only to those you know well, otherwise the result might not be gratifying to anybody.
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vicgoodwin...
vicgoodwin...
November 03, 2009 05:14 AM
They can be both. Sometimes practical jokes have a biting edge. Sometimes the joke accidentaly hurts someone because no one knows what the person is going through. I know one time we painted a sign that said you are on the hit list. the sign meant that we were going to do practical jokes to the person, we did not know their child had been bullied at school and they woke up afraid that this was gang sign in the yard. ( how embarrassing) So we made a mistake and did hurt instead of funny. so I guess it came across as a mean practical joke.
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kimmertje
kimmertje
November 03, 2009 11:13 AM
A practical joke is mischievous trick played on a person . It might make the victim feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Even though it is usually all meant in good fun, the victim might not experience it that way.
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http://www.answers.com/topic/practical-joke
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jillbeth
jillbeth
November 03, 2009 12:01 PM
I don't care for most practical jokes, except maybe mild ones on Aprils Fools Day. My dad discouraged us as kids from playing practical jokes because he said there was no humor in embarrassing or possibly causing physical harm to people, and I still feel the same way about that.
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amybrowne2
amybrowne2
November 03, 2009 03:17 PM
Usually to who ever is pulling the prank it seems very funny, but the victim usually does not feel that way.

My momma instilled it in us at a very young age to do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. She also told us often, if we could not say anything nice, to remain quiet. I think that covers the verbal pranks too.

I certainly did not want anyone to prank me so I did not prank anyone. It is never a smart idea to prank some one because it can cause all sorts of bad feelings.
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