3 ms·

I think it's the asymmetry of the relationship. Pranking another human is an interaction of equals. Pranking something that's (totally) dependent on you, and

by jleyank 11y ago

I think it's the asymmetry of the relationship. Pranking another human is an interaction of equals. Pranking something that's (totally) dependent on you, and lacks anything resembling the same world view, is a bit more cruel. But hey, people have pets for all sorts of reasons, right?

DrScump 11y ago
Pranking a child is no "interaction of equals".
coldtea 11y ago
>I think it's the asymmetry of the relationship. Pranking another human is an interaction of equals. A tennis match is an interaction of equals (if you're at a comparable skill level). Pranking hardly, since the prankster knows things the other person does not, and even puts elaborate plots and props against his prank target. And of course some pranksters have whole teams to help them out (e.g. some college prank where 3 persons prank another etc). Or even whole crews, as in TV pranks. Is Aston Kutcher inhuman for doing Punk'd? The reason I don't consider it inhuman (inherently I mean, sometimes it can be when overboard) is that while it causes a little stress/surprise etc, it's usually good natured, and don't mean to do actual harm to the target.