April fools is quite the unique holiday. On the first of April, people across the world play jokes on each other. This seemingly light and playful event has been pushed to the extremes over the years. We have evolved from knock knocks, to pranks, to blatant lies, and now we have disaster.
How to do April Fools Right
Don’t get me wrong, April Fools can be great fun if done properly – and many do! There are two ways to properly enjoy April Fools in my eyes.
- Harmless Minor Jests
- Kids draw your restaurant menu for a day
- You tell a friend their shirt is inside out
- Cover someone’s office in sticky notes
- Extreme and Obvious Unbelievables
- Whopper flavored toothpaste
- Announcing a new teleportation product
- Signs instructing “no walking, skipping only”
How to do April Fools Wrong
April Foolery goes too far when actions actually impact someone for an extended period. If a false product is believable enough and purchased, a room filled with spoiled milk causes vomiting, or serious events are joked about, you went too far. When a joke leads to distrust, embarrassment, and consequences, it is no longer a fun holiday.
Some see April Fools as an opportunity to show off or exceed the previous year’s jest. That is a scenario where danger can arise. As jokes and pranks become extreme, the opportunity for negative outcomes increases.
Joke Responsibly
With great jokes comes great responsibility. While cheesy, this statement has truth to it. If you treat April Fools as a fun way to bring joy and laughter into the lives of those around you, you will be successful. But if you are taking the holiday as an excuse to do something uncalled for, you’re taking advantage of the date inappropriately. There will surely be great and joyous jokes this year, and there will likely be harmful ones. Do what you can to keep yourself and the organizations you represent on the right side of the line and the holiday can be a blast AND a great marketing opportunity.
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