|
INTERNET GRANDFATHERŽ
|
|
April Fool's Day For some reason I was wondering how April Fool's Day came to be honored as a day when many people find it appropriate to perpetrate practical jokes. I've never been a fan of practical jokes, jokes that rely on fooling a victim. I too often find them hurtful to the victim. I don't honor April Fool's Day and I don't play practical jokes on people. I did learn something about the day, however. According to my (limited) research, March 25 used to be the old New Year's Day. Apparently, April 1 became a meaningful day because the celebrations beginning on the old New Year's Day continued until April 1. However, I was unable to learn how the day and practical jokes became entwined. I love jokes, I love to laugh and see others laugh. While some might argue that my sense of humor is dry or, indeed, well hidden, I believe that I enjoy as wide a range of humor as anyone. But I still don't see any humor in embarrassing or hurting someone else. I don't find it funny or enjoyable to laugh at the pain of others. What impulse causes people to enjoy practical jokes? Is it as basic as one-upmanship, that somehow making someone else a victim proves one's superiority? Is it pure meanness, the enjoyment of someone else's pain? Is it juvenile, a regression to an age when we were all still learning how to behave? I don't know but none of these explanations should make someone proud of practical jokes. Whatever it is, I urge that we cease practical joking, on April Fool's Day and every day. We don't need victims to feel good about ourselves and we shouldn't enjoy hurting others. A good joke, where we can laugh along with others, is pleasant. A joke where we laugh at others is unpleasant. 4-3-06 2006 Archives 2005 Archives 2004 Archives 2003 Archives 2002 Archives 2001 Archives |