To think this is really un amusing!

[Spookyoldclothcatpuss]

A friend of mine got his hands on a spoof scratch card. Amongst a small group of friends he 'won' 25k. Of course we were all thrilled for him. Within a few minutes, this was all over town, as one mate in particular was so pleased for him, he told everyone, whilst the 'winner' stood and watched. Everyone was so pleased, congratulating him and saying how great it was. Several hours later, he confessed what he had done.
Now don't get me wrong, I love a good joke, but I think this was really bad taste! I don't even really know why I don't like it, it just really bothers me!

I think it would have been VU if he had played the 'joke' on someone else, but he hasn't harmed anyone else, just made himself look like a bit of an arse.

It's a bit silly - but so long as he was the one to 'win' I can't really see the problem. He's probably down a few quid from the round he was forced to buy to celebrate

I think it's because it's at the person who 'wons' expense (wons doesn't look right there, but it sounds right ).

Some people might be OK to take it Jeremy Beadle style, but if you were depressed or in debt you might not be so receptive.

How did the winner take being told it was a joke?

Ahhh reading duck post I've misunderstood what you said, the joke was on him.

In that case not hilariously funny, but not as bad.

If he'd played the joke on someone else that would have been truly awful. As it is it's more wierd than bad. I don't really see anything funny in it, perhaps I'm missing something?

Why is it in bad taste?

He did it to himself.

The 'joke' was to let other people think he'd won money.

It's not actually funny but it's not in bad taste.

Unless the thing is that they thought he'd won money and they were going to get some and it was all a joke so they weren't?

Which still isn't bad taste so much as it is grabby mates

YABU. He was just having a laugh.

it's really horrible.

My DH gave his mate one last christmas after we'd had Christmas dinner. I hid in the kitchen while DH's friend rang people to tell them he had won £25,000 and talked about how his debts would all be wiped out. I didn't know what to do or say (didn't know DHs friend very well at this point) and really hated myself for not saying anything. Poor guy. In the end I pleaded with DH to please tell him.

the awkward silence lasted about 2 hours.

At least your friend was in on the joke.

It's not funny because why do you even need the fake card? You could just as easily phone up your friends and pretend to have won the lottery and then go 'oh ha ha I didn't'.

You would look like a twat, as he did.

However, he hasn't really harmed anyone. Giving it to someone else is really mean.

DuelingFanjo - I hope this guy got your dh back somehow!

Besom, they are really old friends and I breathed a sigh of relief when after 2 hours of awkwardness he (the friend) started to joke about it. Have since got to know him better and he's such a lovely guy so I am glad that he still wants to be friends with us!

Spooky - I don't see why you think it was 'in bad taste' when he played the joke 'on himself' (if, like DF's DH he played it on a friend I'd agree with you). I don't find it funny, but then, I don't really have a 'practical jokes' kind of sense of humour.

DuelingFanjo - I'm not sure I'd be as forgiving as your friend , probably would be if you told me within a couple of minutes, but not if you'd watched me tell people how great it would be to be free of my debts :( If he was my DH I would have made him 'fess up a lot sooner!!

It was the way he stood there and watched his friend make himself look a prat, telling the world! This person then had to go tell everyone it was a windup.

Oh right, re-reading it, I see what you mean, he did make a bit of a fool of the guy 'spreading the news'. I still don't think that it was in bad taste - just unfunny! At least he didn't make the guy think he'd won the money....

(can you tell I would still be pissed of with DF's DH)