On writing April Fools’ posts
I’ve been writing April Fools’ posts for nearly twenty years now. Some are better than others; I think my finest hour was in 2010. That one also went viral, and tons of people came to read it due to many links, not perceiving it was a prank. Many of the newcomers (and even some regular readers) took me seriously and berated me for what they saw as defending the indefensible and/or publishing misinformation (although that term wasn’t used back then). There was so much furor about that post that I had to issue a disclaimer and explanation.
The best April Fools’ posts are built on a foundation of truth, as was that one. This year’s post also was built on a true story but was less clever and elaborate than the 2010 one. Nevertheless it still fit the bill by fooling some of the people some of the time, despite the fact that towards the end I even acknowledged the date as April 1 and despite the fact that many commenters realized it was a spoof and said so.
The thing about April Fool’s and blog posts is that people aren’t necessarily expecting a joke and people don’t necessarily read all the comments, some of which would have let them in on it.
Each year, though, I think it gets a little more difficult to surpass the foolishness of most of the actual news and actual happenings. That’s another reason it’s hard to tell the difference between truth and fiction.
Yes, every day has become April Fools day.
Speaking of humor and foolishness, has everyone seen this already? I think it’s hilarious!
https://twitter.com/JSJdarling/status/1765418014000972270
My first clue was those rumors about Jill and Doug. You are meticulous and thorough about research and links, and there were no links. Flashing red light.
BTW, the Critical Drinker is still in business, despite my comment in the Jill and Doug topic. That was TCD’s April Fool’s joke:
–The Critical Drinker, “Thank You, And Goodbye…” (cued to the reveal)
https://youtu.be/LW0yhZgqBic?t=190
Even my language guru, Steve Kaufmann, got into the act, Jimmy Durante-style. He looked straight into his camera and declared:
_______________________________
Why bother learning a language?
No, it isn’t worth it.
You’re probably not going to succeed.
So don’t even bother trying.
–“Why learning languages in 2024 is just NOT worth it”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUwDYE5MEww
_______________________________
He made a pretty good case. I have my Dark Nights of the Soul about learning French and he spoke to those nights.
IF I may offer, one obvious option is to put the first message into the thread:
===========================================
.
.
.
.
.
In CASE it wasn’t OBVIOUS:
WHAT DAY IS IT?
😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛 😀 😛
.
.
.
.
That way it’s not overtly in the prank post, but if anyone goes to post a response that takes it too seriously, it’ll wake them up.
The “.”s also make sure it is longer than the usual and stands out at the top of the comments so most all will see it.
huxley:
Some of my favorite YouTubers, the 2-set violin guys, pulled the same stunt as The Critical Drinker.
I suspect you have a good sense of humor, but your writing here is usually quite serious, even (maybe especially) the music and ballet posts. Which is to say that your posting an April Fool’s joke post will nearly always be unexpected and successful.
You sure had me going this year!
I didn’t find the post all that hard to believe or even all that startling. Mildly surprising, no more. That’s how jaded I’ve become.
In retrospect the extreme Yuck factor should have been a dead giveaway…but I fell for it…
@ Neo > “The thing about April Fool’s and blog posts is that people aren’t necessarily expecting a joke and people don’t necessarily read all the comments, some of which would have let them in on it.
Each year, though, I think it gets a little more difficult to surpass the foolishness of most of the actual news and actual happenings.”
The Washington Free Beacon had several April Fools’ posts on the First.
All of the headlines looked as probable as yours.
Or any number of legitimate stories on the home page.
However, each of them had the word “satire” in red letters at the top and bottom of the post, and a notice at the end: Editor’s Note: Today is April 1, 2024.
This one was a little too obvious, although when I first saw it, I could believe it might happen, what with so many whistleblowers, leaks, suddenly discovered evidence and so forth.
https://freebeacon.com/satire/breaking-noose-with-jeffrey-epsteins-dna-found-in-raid-of-clinton-home/
I really did like this one, though.
https://freebeacon.com/satire/biden-says-his-next-scotus-nominee-will-be-an-illegal-immigrant-i-mean-undocumented/
What’s the lag time between satire and reality now — about 2 days?
I’m thinking of calling it the Babylon Bee Closure Constant.
“…every day…”
Indeed…
…and then there’s this from the “Who Could Possibly Have Imagined” File…
“Mass Layoffs Begin At California Fast Food Chains As $20 Minimum Wage Law Takes Effect”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/mass-layoffs-begin-california-fast-food-chains-20-minimum-wage-law-takes-effect
“…what with so many whistleblowers, leaks, suddenly discovered evidence and so forth….”
Indeed…
Hey, speaking of whistleblowers…
“Former ESPN host says her Biden interview was entirely ‘scripted’ by network execs: ‘Every single question’ ;
” ‘I was on script and was told not to deviate,’ former ‘SportsCenter’ host Sage Steele told Fox News Digital”—
https://www.foxnews.com/media/former-espn-host-says-biden-interview-scripted-network-execs
Shocked, simply shocked, etc., etc.
…Then there’s DARK April 1st:
“Trans activists shut down my lesbian speed-dating event;
“We need single-sex venues. So I’m building my own.”—
https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/04/03/trans-activists-shut-down-my-lesbian-speed-dating-event/
(No, not the Bee..)
+ Bonus—as in, “Doesn’t get crazier than this!”…
“National Organization for Women blames patriarchy for trans exclusion in sport”—
https://archive.is/VQqWT
H/T Blazingcatfur blog.
Actually, alas, it does…
“UCLA Medical School Abruptly Cancels Lecture Blaming ‘Whiteness’ For Opioid Crisis”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2024/04/03/ucla-medical-school-abruptly-cancels-lecture-blaming-whiteness-for-opioid-crisis/
(That’s right: the medical school. Should be read…if one wants to understand just how insane are the Democratic Party’s, and “Biden”‘s, policies, aims and goals…)
File under: “First do…AS MUCH HARM as you possibly can.”
I am a member of a very active aviation forum (80,000+ members at last check). Some subjects can get a bit contentious and with that many voices there is occasional hand-wringing about the atmosphere in the community.
Well this year there was an artfully written post, ostensibly from the founders of the site, which announced that they were shutting down. Several paragraphs blamed the degraded climate of debate and explained the painful decision process.
The last graf explained that they preferred not to have toaddress any emails or posts “at this trying time” and that their secretary, April, would be handling any questions.
The final sentence was: So please don’t contact us directly but contact April first….
Still many fell for it.
The company Games Workshop probably had my favorite April Fools Day stunt. They announced a new release that people had widely speculated on, but in more of an “it will never happen” fashion, on April 1. Everyone laughed, and was amused at the obvious April Fools Day prank.
And then the following day they had a follow-up “Yes, we’re serious” announcement.
RE: Surpassing the real world foolishness –
Titania McGrath is an X account that posts ridiculously over the top parodies of woke thinking. Or, at least, that’s what it’s intended to be. The guy behind the account recently lamented how many things once posted as parodies on the account have actually come to pass.
Oldav8r (10:23 am), very cute there at the conclusion.
I repeat my suggestion to all with regards to 4/1 pranks. Put a prominent first message into the comments to point out the date. That way anyone not realizing it was a prank should have an easy time realizing they’ve been taken in… yet it does not ruin the prank itself.
😉
Obloddyhell:
That is what neo did, although it was the very last line; “setting the hook.”
That’s when I knew she had gotten me, again, leaving me flopping around on the deck.