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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not get practical joke/make someone look like a twat shows?

33 replies

Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 02:22

H currently watching Impractical Jokers and absolutely howling.

I dont get it.

Its cringe making, I am embarrassed on behalf of everyone they involve in their "fun". I just dont get why programs like that are funny!

Am I missing something? I have a good sense of humour I think, I prefer to laugh than cry, but this sort of stuff just isnt funny. I didnt like that Dom Joly one either with the phone, even though I think he is funny and I like him.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 01/09/2015 02:24

I don't either. Empathy I think...

Original poster
Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 02:35

MrsSirPterry I was just thinking about that. I was thinking that perhaps its the empathy chip that they are missing, not me missing a SOH chip.

It does seem that they dont consider the poor buggers who are being fooled. I wouldnt give my permission for that to be aired if I was one of the people involved and it never ceases to amaze me that people do! Jeremy Beadle said that they only had a couple of people say no in all the pranks they pulled.....I cant help wondering if its because they genuinely thought it was funny or if they didnt want to be seen as being a bad sport.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 01/09/2015 02:47

It's definitely them, not us.

My Mum actually ended up being on one of these programs. She didn't want to but one of her oldest friends set her up and they gave money to charity to convince her. It ended a 40 year friendship. Not really; no harm done, then.

Thanks for the Sir BTW Grin

Original poster
Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 02:51

Oh no :(

I bet they laughed at those things together, as you do, although I never did even as a child. But Beadles About et al where very popular in their day, and the friend probably thought it would be fun, except its not fun when its being done to you and you feel stupid for being taken in. At least, I would feel stupid and angry at whoever nominated me. Your poor mum.

And Pterry?!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 01/09/2015 02:57

I bet my Mum didn't actually, she has very little time for comedies at all. He doubtless thought it would be amusing. Lovely bloke, I really liked him but he was a bit of an idiot. It's basically laughing at people because you know something they don't know, which is just mean really. She showed it to me and it was fairly innocuous but she worries about people thinking she's stupid anyway Sad

Now, I will laugh at a very funny fall, if no one was hurt and the person involved laughs afterwards. I laugh when I fall over (frequently).

Also loved Pterry. Just rereading Thief of Time.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 03:05

Funny how its men who think its funny and man who nominated your mum.

It was always the men in the family pissing themselves laughing Beadle, where the women (and grandaughters, including me) were not so much. It would make an interesting social experiment to find out who finds these shows so amusing to make and watch, certainly it seems to be a male dominated industry in terms of presenters etc.

Currently on Thud on the kindle, Monstrous Regiment read by Stephen Briggs in audio (he kicks Tony Robinsons ass) and The Fifth Elephant in a proper book!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 03:06

she worries about people thinking she's stupid anyway

that would bother me loads. There is no amount of money that would persuade me to sign over the rights to that, although I can imagine that the producers where persuasive and put a lot of pressure on her.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 01/09/2015 03:15

If the money had been to her it wouldn't have worked but the place she was 'fooled' has a charity element and she already does a lot for charity so it was hard to turn down.

There is a difference in empathy scores between men and women during psychometric testing, certainly. And they find that women tend to empathise with the 'victim' more WRT media. Even in violent films and so on.

I prefer to think that it is essentially knobbers who like those programs! Including DH.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 01/09/2015 03:37

I agree WRT knobbers including my H

Its disgusting that they knew that your mum supported a charity and used that to pressure her to agree to it being shown. I can see why she said yes, they are clever and manipulative fuckers.

OP posts:
rembrandtsrockchick · 01/09/2015 05:56

It started with Candid Camera many years ago and went on from that. I was a child at the time and even then I hated that bloody program. Compared with the Beadle horror and the You Have Been Framed crap it was pretty tame but still depended on taking the piss out of people for it's humour.
I loath practical jokers and have actually ended a friendship with someone who thought it funny to cause embarrassment and humiliation to someone in order to raise a laugh from his mates.

Yours sincerely
A Humourless Old Bat.

ftmsoon · 01/09/2015 09:53

I hate these programmes too! I also hate fiction like this, eg The Office. I just don't understand how it's funny.

greenhill · 01/09/2015 10:21

When my DC were just starting school I let them watch YBF a few times, each time letting them laugh, but always exclaiming something along the lines of "that looks painful" "that must have hurt" "oh no, they'll have bruises".

Funnily enough they only liked watching the animals doing odd things after that and were a lot more concerned about the people involved.

I'm a killjoy too. And proud.

BoneyBackJefferson · 01/09/2015 10:24

YANBU.

I have often wondered if those that make these programs were bullies at school. For me, at least, there is very much a theme of humiliation but its OK because it was just a joke.

TENDTOprocrastinate · 01/09/2015 10:33

At least in this show they are embarrassing themselves rather than others.

I do think its really funny (I didn't to start with but my DH convinced me to give it a chance)

MrSlant · 01/09/2015 10:41

I can't stand them either or the ones where we laugh at people falling over either I fall over a lot. I BET Sir Terry disliked them too.

lorelei9 · 01/09/2015 10:43

Not only do I hate these programmes, but (prepares to be flamed) I think it can contribute to a culture of people really not understanding how serious some of these accidents are.

I also didn't get these programmes when I was a kid. Not familiar with the one named in the OP but as a genre, I just don't get it.

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 01/09/2015 12:16

I love Impractical Jokers (mmm Sal...)

But I'm laughing at the guys themselves not the public involved. It's not meant to be cruel to them.

"LARRYYYYY!!!"

AuntyMag10 · 01/09/2015 12:17

Best you stay away from YouTube then. This pranking this is all over.

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 01/09/2015 12:19

LARRY!!!! Grin

3rdSymphony · 01/09/2015 12:29

I absolutely loathe this kind of thing. I haven't seen these programmes, but there used to be a regular 'wind-up' series on a local radio station my parents always listen to in Ireland, which they find hilarious, and I find cruel and stupid. I genuinely don't find it funny that the man she's engaged to has decided to humiliate on local radio some woman who's about to get married by having someone pretend to be a hotel owner with a funny accent cancelling the wedding because he doesn't approve of choreographed first dances or her cake topper or something. And she has to laugh at the big reveal or look curmudgeonly in front of her family and friends, all gleefully listening to her shrieking and losing it.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/09/2015 12:44

I agree - these shows just seem cruel to me. I would be so hurt and upset if a friend or relative set me up for something like this - I cannot imagine seeing them in the same light ever again.

On a lighter note, though - it is good to have found some more fans of Sir Pterry. MrSlant - I have just finished the final book, and it was a bitter moment. I confess there were a few tears when the postman delivered it - it made it seem real, iyswim.

Words in the heart cannot be taken.

Twerking9to5 · 01/09/2015 12:48

Ooh I love impractical jokers Blush. But as a pp said, I feel it's embarrassing more for the jokers rather than the public. A lot of the time, the public actually find it quite amusing. The xfactor, however, I hate as find it really exploitative and cruel.

Rainbowlou1 · 01/09/2015 12:53

I hate these sorts of things too..I'd be gutted if I was set up.
we went to a 5yr old's party where the entertainer's idea of entertaining the children was to humiliate as many adults as he could and get as many others to laugh and cheer him on, I died when he picked on me and it reduced my son to tears..!
I just don't get it Confused

lavenderhoney · 01/09/2015 12:55

Can't bear shows like that. I also can't bear practical jokers in real life. It's always at the expense of someone being trustworthy and kind, and the joker has a good old laugh at how clever they are - and if you think it's not amusing to be made a fool of, apparently you can't take a joke.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 01/09/2015 12:58

I went right off George Clooney when I find out he is a great practical joker and pranks everyone, knobber.

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