8 ms·

Aprils fools day was really fun and cute for a little while there, maybe around 2006-2008 when it was unexpected and delightful. I don't know why or when it hap

Aprils fools day was really fun and cute for a little while there, maybe around 2006-2008 when it was unexpected and delightful. I don't know why or when it happened, but it's incredibly cringey now. Like watching your parents trying to dab, and instead of laughing at themselves, your parents actually think they're cool and getting respect from kids.

dmos62 8y ago
So I didn't know what dabbing was. First google result: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6FsToW2w4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6FsToW2w4
- cr0sh 8y ago
  Bet you wished you could get that time back now... /I know I do.
ada1981 8y ago
Agreed. But more like boofing vs. dabbing.
- smush 8y ago
  Please define boofing? I'm too old to get it organically.
  - lwansbrough 8y ago
    UrbanDictionary.com is your friend. In this case, you may want to pass on knowing.
    - sonofgod 8y ago
      Fun fact: googling it gets a nice box-out from Forbes on it, featuring the words "butt chugging".
      - ada1981 8y ago
        🆒
mikeash 8y ago
I wonder if it’s just a matter of when you come of age online. I’d say the same thing about it once being cute and fun, except 5-10 years earlier.
- modzu 8y ago
  indeed; the tradition dates to the 16th century.
ocdtrekkie 8y ago
I want to say for me, it's about how I feel about these companies now, compared to how I felt about them then. Elaborate April Fool's jokes struck me as cute and human and uncorporate, and a lot of the companies who do them no longer feel human and uncorporate to me anymore. So now it just feels disingenuous. I would also say the quality of the jokes has declined over time.
- TravHatesMe 8y ago
  I agree with this sentiment. Worthy of mention: Diablo II's Secret Cow Level. Initially a rumour among fans, Blizzard teased players and posted a screenshot of cow monsters on April 1st 1999 [1]. This joke soon became reality in the sequel, Diablo II. IMO they used an April fool's joke as an excellent device to entice players. I find it to be genuinely humourous (killing herds of cows brandishing weapons), and best of all -- the joke was on us, it turned out to be a real thing in the following game. It is a classic level in Diablo II and one of the best areas to farm. To this day it is a memorable joke, often recalled by gamers. It had even made its way into Starcraft (cheat code: "there is no cow level") for additional effect. [1] https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Secret_Cow_Level https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Secret_Cow_Level
  - ocdtrekkie 8y ago
    World of Warcraft added a secret cow level a couple years ago for Diablo's 20th anniversary: https://kotaku.com/world-of-warcraft-now-has-a-secret-cow-level-1790774238 https://kotaku.com/world-of-warcraft-now-has-a-secret-cow-le... I still feel like Blizzard maybe does the best April Fool's gags, because they're willing to make fun of their own failings in a way Google or Microsoft brand people would never allow (see the Clippy thing on Teams). Blizzard's April Fool's patch notes often includes commentary about their own company's broken promises or mistakes. That being said, after this past year, I'm not sure how funny I'll find Blizzard's mistakes.
  - MisterTea 8y ago
    My god, the cow level. Though I never played my brother did extensively and we both had our computers in the same room. For weeks all I heard was non-stop mooing as he and his friends tackled the cow monsters over battle net. He even spent hours trying to figure out a way back into the cow world after he accidently led most of them to the portal and could not transport back as he was ganked and insta killed. I can still hear them...
netsharc 8y ago
Slashdot used to (well, when I used to read them) have really excruciatingly lame fake stories in an attempt to be funny on that one day...
- MBCook 8y ago
  The pony theme was great.
acheron 8y ago
This is 100% a function of your age, not a specific date.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
sixothree 8y ago
I remember NPR trying to do an April Fools prank long ago. It was a dog bark translator. My reaction was "cool, though I already kinda know what my dog barks mean". I wondered how hard the technical problem was. When I realized it was a prank, I didn't feel duped. I felt like the purveyor of the prank looked foolish in my eyes. That's when I realized the true meaning of April Fools. They sure are.

dmos62 8y ago

So I didn't know what dabbing was. First google result: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6FsToW2w4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6FsToW2w4

cr0sh 8y ago
Bet you wished you could get that time back now... /I know I do.

ada1981 8y ago

Agreed. But more like boofing vs. dabbing.

smush 8y ago
Please define boofing? I'm too old to get it organically.
- lwansbrough 8y ago
  UrbanDictionary.com is your friend. In this case, you may want to pass on knowing.
  - sonofgod 8y ago
    Fun fact: googling it gets a nice box-out from Forbes on it, featuring the words "butt chugging".
    - ada1981 8y ago
      🆒

mikeash 8y ago

I wonder if it’s just a matter of when you come of age online. I’d say the same thing about it once being cute and fun, except 5-10 years earlier.

modzu 8y ago
indeed; the tradition dates to the 16th century.

ocdtrekkie 8y ago

I want to say for me, it's about how I feel about these companies now, compared to how I felt about them then. Elaborate April Fool's jokes struck me as cute and human and uncorporate, and a lot of the companies who do them no longer feel human and uncorporate to me anymore. So now it just feels disingenuous. I would also say the quality of the jokes has declined over time.

TravHatesMe 8y ago
I agree with this sentiment. Worthy of mention: Diablo II's Secret Cow Level. Initially a rumour among fans, Blizzard teased players and posted a screenshot of cow monsters on April 1st 1999 [1]. This joke soon became reality in the sequel, Diablo II. IMO they used an April fool's joke as an excellent device to entice players. I find it to be genuinely humourous (killing herds of cows brandishing weapons), and best of all -- the joke was on us, it turned out to be a real thing in the following game. It is a classic level in Diablo II and one of the best areas to farm. To this day it is a memorable joke, often recalled by gamers. It had even made its way into Starcraft (cheat code: "there is no cow level") for additional effect. [1] https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Secret_Cow_Level https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Secret_Cow_Level
- ocdtrekkie 8y ago
  World of Warcraft added a secret cow level a couple years ago for Diablo's 20th anniversary: https://kotaku.com/world-of-warcraft-now-has-a-secret-cow-level-1790774238 https://kotaku.com/world-of-warcraft-now-has-a-secret-cow-le... I still feel like Blizzard maybe does the best April Fool's gags, because they're willing to make fun of their own failings in a way Google or Microsoft brand people would never allow (see the Clippy thing on Teams). Blizzard's April Fool's patch notes often includes commentary about their own company's broken promises or mistakes. That being said, after this past year, I'm not sure how funny I'll find Blizzard's mistakes.
- MisterTea 8y ago
  My god, the cow level. Though I never played my brother did extensively and we both had our computers in the same room. For weeks all I heard was non-stop mooing as he and his friends tackled the cow monsters over battle net. He even spent hours trying to figure out a way back into the cow world after he accidently led most of them to the portal and could not transport back as he was ganked and insta killed. I can still hear them...

netsharc 8y ago

Slashdot used to (well, when I used to read them) have really excruciatingly lame fake stories in an attempt to be funny on that one day...

MBCook 8y ago
The pony theme was great.

acheron 8y ago

This is 100% a function of your age, not a specific date.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

sixothree 8y ago

I remember NPR trying to do an April Fools prank long ago. It was a dog bark translator. My reaction was "cool, though I already kinda know what my dog barks mean". I wondered how hard the technical problem was. When I realized it was a prank, I didn't feel duped. I felt like the purveyor of the prank looked foolish in my eyes. That's when I realized the true meaning of April Fools. They sure are.