Funny pranks are innocent, sweet, and result in a good laugh afterward by all parties; however, evil pranks are intended to harm or to embarrass, and should be avoided at all costs. If you plan on playing a prank or a practical joke on a friend, there's no need to prank them in a way that is patently mean, and absolutely no place for pulling a prank that could cause physical harm. Not only can pulling evil pranks threaten the safety of your friend and others, it may result in you getting in serious trouble.
Avoiding Evil Pranks
Sometimes determining what type of prank might threaten the safety of others is rather difficult. You want to do something funny and inventive, but don't want to risk hurting a friend. Here are a few things to consider when you decide to pull a funny prank, and how to avoid harming someone in the process of carrying out a practical joke.
Dangerous Objects
There are certain objects that should be avoided in any type of prank. Although you might think that you've taken every precaution to ensure the safety of all parties involved, you could still end up harming someone in the process if you pull a dangerous prank.
For example, one popular prank involves pretending to use a sharp knife to get something out of your eye, and stabbing a creamer, causing it too appear as though your eye has "popped." Feigning bleeding after being stabbed works similarly. Yes, you might feel as though you have complete control over the knife, but you could end up slipping and hurting yourself or others.
Some people have also accidentally hanged themselves while faking suicide on Halloween. Pranks that use fire, guns, knives, or other dangerous objects should not even be attempted.
Perilous Situations
Don't place your friend in a dangerous situation in order to prank him. This includes such horrifically perilous pranks as cutting the brake lines on a car, moving a friend to a dangerous location while he is sleeping, "kidnapping" a friend and putting him in the trunk, or stranding a friend in a remote location.
In all of these situations, the risk of your friend being severely harmed or even killed in the process of a simple practical joke is very high indeed. When planning a prank, avoid settings and situations wherein a person, by merit of what they are doing or where they are left, could end up in pain, discomfort, or fear.
Walking the Line
Some pranks walk the line between dangerous and safe. Putting plastic wrap under the toilet seat, for instance, seems funny and harmless on the face of things. Bodily fluids, however, are often filled with bacteria and disease, and the cleanup for such a prank is disgusting. Cleaning out the toilet with a friend's toothbrush is dangerous for the same reasons. The fact is, although such pranks do not pose an immediate threat to your friend, the end result could be severe illness.
Likewise, if you pull a prank that causes a friend to act irrationally, even for a short period of time, it may seem harmless. However, you may not be able to reveal the joke to them before they flee to take matters into their own hands. A prank should be quick, well-timed, and short enough in duration that no one will be hurt.
Pulling a Prank that Works
Some of the most hilarious evil pranks seem to suggest or threaten danger, but are not inherently dangerous. Place marbles or ball bearings into a friend's trunk, for instance, and drive along with them as they begin to worry about taking their car to the shop. Put a fake cat skeleton into his cat's box moments after the actual cat walked away. Program a scary picture to pop up on her computer.
All of these safe pranks are easy to pull off, cause a moment or two of sheer panic, and the effects subside into nervous laughter. Although the perception of danger exists, that perception is short lived and the result is a happy, if jumpy, friend.
