R’Perspective: April Fools’ Day is becoming a ‘thank you, next’ holiday - Highlander

April Fools' Day is an ideal occasion for jokers looking to deceive unsuspecting individuals, spreading rumors of famous deaths and false product launches. In my opinion, the act of fooling the innocent at heart can be somewhat bothersome and lacking in humor. Occasionally, the elaborate planning involved in carrying out pranks even makes me feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, my negative outlook must admit that certain trickeries played on April Fools' Day are creative, imaginative, and entertaining. Allow me to recount my optimistic and pessimistic encounters with the holiday.

I really enjoy April Fools' Day because it's a whole day where people try to surprise me. It's like a fun challenge that I have to navigate. Even though there's no real reward at the end of it, it feels good to make it through the whole day without getting tricked. In the past, I fell for pranks like Jackie Chan dying or a huge drink at Starbucks. I even shared these on social media and felt pretty silly once I found out they weren't real. Now, I always check the facts before believing anything. I haven't been tricked in a while! My favorite thing I ever did for April Fools' Day was hosting a masquerade ball. Everyone wore disguises and tried not to get recognized. We even gave out prizes! It was like the show "Masked Singer," but without the singing or famous people.

However, there are certain pranks that become too extreme. I've observed that some pranks have caused physical harm to individuals or put them in danger, especially when the prank is intended to terrify them. Additionally, some April Fools' pranks can feel very unnatural and exaggerated, such as when friends pretend to be engaged or create fake movie previews. It's pretty obvious when someone is pretending on April 1st, and these types of pranks tend to fall flat.

There are some false reports about movies that are still floating around after April Fool's Day, like the talk of a Live-Action Hunchback of Notre Dame that keeps popping up on social media. I'm not thrilled about getting my hopes up only to have them dashed for the sake of a joke or fan casting. Other pranks, like putting fake spiders in my bag or spraying whipped cream on my face while I'm sleeping, feel more like Halloween scares or something we'd experience at summer camp. Another joke that's worn out its welcome is switching salt and sugar. It may be amusing for a few moments, but ultimately, it just means spending time removing salt from sweet foods and vice versa.

To me, it seems like April Fools' Day is usually pretty boring or unimpressive. However, there are some situations where it can be fun and creative, as long as the people you're pranking and their safety are taken into account.