Key Points
In 1979 I wrote a book about practical joking titled Gotcha!" in which I noted, Nowadays, I fear, people have lost some of what it takes to laugh at life and to appreciate a good gag, even at their own expense..
In 1935 Troy made a fake human ear out of corned beef and placed it in a display box at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art with a sign: This is the ear which Vincent van Gogh cut off and sent to his mistress, a French prostitute, Dec. 24, 1888.".
Though it turned out to be a hoax crafted by a Canadian web developer named Tarandeep Gill, it underscored a condition even more widespread today: Users of the internet are easily gulled..
Good Housekeepings 20 Best April Fools Pranks" included: Buy fake poop and place it literally anywhere: on the toilet, in the carseriously, you cant go wrong.".
(Roman Emperor Elagabalus, who reportedly enjoyed practical jokes, used them at dinner parties to embarrass any pompous guests.) Today there is iFart," Tap & Fart," Fart Box" and a symphony of other digital aides for those who insist flatulence is funny..
