Okay, this is meant to be a funny story, moral of the story is don’t be surprised when the prank goes wrong! Disclaimer: All persons mentioned are very close friends and remain so to this day. No participants, property, or innocent bystanders were harmed or offended in any way, and all comments made in furtherance of the prank were lies stated expressly for comedic purposes. These events took place in late 20th century the mid-nineties, when pranking a friend wasn’t the equivalent of an act of terror. If you are triggered by jokes about sensitive subjects, this isn’t the story for you.

My (51F) life-long best friend (52M) loved to make people laugh (still does), and the boys of the group were always trying to play low-key embarrassing pranks on each other for a laugh. For example, a group trip to the grocery store could result in an improvised game of catch with a roll of paper towels. “Tom” might call out to “Tim” and tell him to “Go long!”, and Tim would dutifully lope down the aisle, both hands ready for the catch. The QB aims and throws the roll of paper towels in a graceful curving arc, right into Tim’s grasp. [Me? I know what’s coming and I’m trying not to roll my eyes while laughing at their antics]

So, of course, Tom signals to Tim to throw it back, which he does, only for Tom to turn away as soon as the “ball” is in the air and pretend he’s looking at something on the shelf as the paper towels crash into a shelf and fall to the floor, at which point everyone turns to look and Tom looks at Tim with an expression of confusion on his face, “Bro, what are you doing?”, and then apologizes to anyone in the vicinity as he picks up the paper towels, like he doesn’t know why this guy would do such a thing! And Tim is over there trying to act all nonchalant like nobody thinks he’s crazy. 😂

Okay, so I got my opportunity for revenge one afternoon at some fast food place. It was mostly empty, but it was me, Tom, and a couple other friends. One ongoing prank was, completely out of the blue, very loudly say something that would be embarrassing to the target. Once it was standing at the cash register at the video store paying a late fee, and Tim loudly said something like, “You were late returning The Bonfire in her Panties?” in front of everybody behind us in line. Usually people laughed because it was so over the top that it was obviously a joke. So on this occasion, we’re about to sit down to a late lunch, having a normal conversation and all of a sudden, Tom slammed his tray down and said something like, “Jane! Don’t make a scene!” really sternly, and loud enough to get the attention of anybody nearby and cause a brief moment of silent stares. He got me with that one a few times. But I wised up and figured out I had to get back fast and hard (no mercy!) if I wanted to get one over on him, so this time I instantly flinched, threw my hands up defensively and cried, “Please don’t hit me!” Tom almost died of mortification, and right away I straightened up and laughed, and then I had to comfort him for the trauma. And he never ever tried that one again. But he never stopped making me laugh. 🤭

ETA: Pranks can be great, a lot of fun, but not if someone could get hurt, not if someone else has to clean up after you, and not if it’s going to make someone in your group uncomfortable. Having fun, having a good laugh, a lot of good can come from it. But fun at someone else’s expense is not funny, not ever. I realize that some people like slapstick comedy, the series Jackass was very popular, but I watched a couple of segments and that was enough. I just don’t find humor in people getting hurt, or hurting themselves. The whole concept of Jackass was not funny to me at all, to me it was a showcase of highly dysfunctional attention-seeking behavior, and the fact it was so popular disturbed me. I thought it was an indicator of a troubled society. Please know your audience, know your “target”, and make sure your goal is to laugh with someone, not at someone. ✌️