Funny prank or cruel?

[SoniaFouler]

These types of pranks are becoming more commonplace in town centres in the UK, and around the world. I got caught out by one a week ago.

YABU - Funny
YANBU - Cruel

Next time someone does it to you, OP, clutch your chest and fall to the floor having a 'heart attack' (I was taught how to do a stunt faint in drama at school), then do a Nelson Muntz 'ha ha' when he looks worried. Prank him back. Funny now, huh?

I think it's funny, it's very gentle, he's not jumping out screaming or anything. To be honest the chuggers jumping out at me and trying to accost me in the high street annoy and startle me more! I think the bushman is funny.

I don't mean to come across as po-faced but pranks are cruel. They're almost always unfunny and cause needless stress/anxiety. I would categorically divorce my husband if he took up playing pranks. No I don't want to find eggs in my knicker drawer or to discover the 'blood' on his shirt is actually ketchup.

I've got PTSD. I'd probably scream, laugh it off, walk away, and you'd think it was just a funny prank, ho ho ho, she didn't seem upset. But something like this would seriously wreck my mental health for days afterwards. If you think that's funny, then fuck you.

Absolutely.

@MrsTerryPratchett

I've got PTSD. I'd probably scream, laugh it off, walk away, and you'd think it was just a funny prank, ho ho ho, she didn't seem upset. But something like this would seriously wreck my mental health for days afterwards. If you think that's funny, then fuck you.

Absolutely.

There used to be a guy who did this every day in San Fransisco along Fisherman's Wharf. I think he made his living doing it. He certainly got an obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Famous_Bushman

Just read the wiki article - seems like there were two of them!

Funny if done to a friend, cruel if done to a stranger who may be unwell / upset about something / just not want to interact with some creepy bored stranger.

And videoing strangers then putting it on youtube is never ok.

No I don't

I hate jump scares and would probably lash out (verbally if not physically).

If they're the done thing in someone's family and friends then fair enough each to their own, but to a stranger is bizarre and not remotely funny.

@Chamomileteaplease

IMO not remotely funny plus it could be bloody dangerous - the "bush" knows nothing of the mental or physical health of the person approaching .

This.

Pranks are funny with family and friends and an audience you know. If you know they will also find it funny.

Otherwise it's cruel.

I grew up with a large extended family and hated pranks and tickling and throwing in pools etc. I was always told I was being miserable and it's funny.

Actually it's not. No one gets to dictate what I do and don't find funny and how it makes me feel.

Not funny

@BigYellowHat

😂 DH and I would think that’s hilarious.

Really? What would you find hilarious about ot6?

Sorry, it that should have been, of course

It's lame. People only react because he steps out in front of them. He better not do it in Picadilly Gardens, the spice addicts won't be as forgiving. He'll get lamped!

It's neither cruel nor funny. Just a person dressed as a shrub sticking a leg out, which those nearby aren't expecting. A loud sneeze has me jump similarly.

No such thing as a funny prank

Prankers are wankers IMO

Prankers are wankers IMO

Best quote ever

Lame but harmless if done to groups of people who are already relaxed and laughing. Not ok done to people on their own.

But I’ve never seen Oxford Rd as clean as that, so I think it’s a fake video.

I kept expecting someone to react and instinctively punch him really hard, John Prescott style.

Neither. Pointless.

@SnaccidentsHappen

I think it's funny, as do the people in the video. Although we do like to give each other frights in their house.

Yeah, the people in the carefully edited video do seem to find it funny. I would imagine that those who didn't/were utterly terrified/lashed out etc. weren't included in it. I imagine there were a fair few of them - probably around half if this poll is anything to go on!

Just saw the replies to this, sorry I forgot about this thread. The reason I asked this was because I got caught out in a complete fright by one of these last week. Lots of people were watching and laughed loudly at my expense and because I was shocked I laughed too but it was more out of nerves because it really frightened me. I am 100% convinced my reaction was filmed and chosen to be uploaded on YouTube or Tik Tok or whatever but I am not going to search for it because I don’t want to see it. After It happened and we walked away I said to the other person I was with that it was really cruel to do that to people, I used the examples given in this thread already saying I could have had a heart attack if I had a weak heart, and that I could have ran out into the road in shock and got run over by a car even but was told I was being dramatic and OTT but I don’t think I was being. My friend that I was with found it really funny and burst out laughing. I am also highly annoyed that I am now likely to be filmed online and that I don’t have any pictures or videos of myself online because I choose not to and now I have been uploaded Online for people to laugh at my expense. My friend does have social media so perhaps that’s why she didn’t mind and thought it was funny