4 ms·

It's a white lie that became apparent to the roommate as soon as the next ad was shown. It added comedy to the joke, in my opinion. Did the lie hurt anyone?

sejje 12y ago
Well, it's not for sure, but arguably. The author seems to think he was on the cusp of it, at least: >> I was afraid that if I didn’t end the torture he might need psychiatric treatment.
baddox 12y ago
It didn't sound like it became apparent to the roommate shortly thereafter. According to the article, it was at least a week later, after the Snowden news broke and the roommate apparently became paranoid. I'm assuming that the report of paranoia and the sentence "I was afraid that if I didn’t end the torture he might need psychiatric treatment" is comedic hyperbole, but I cease giving any "prank credit" after the roommate explicitly and correctly called the author out as the source of the ads.
skizm 12y ago
It isn't about hurting anyone, it is about having some pride as a trickster/troll. You played a good prank, your roommate figured it out. Time to move on. Anyone can lie through their teeth, that's not clever at that point.
unoti 12y ago
It may not have hurt anyone. But a good rule to live by is: If you find yourself considering lying, then you have made some poor choices somewhere along the line. Every time you find yourself wanting to lie, think about it, and you may come to realize this is a solid rule to try to live by.
- baddox 12y ago
  I'm actually not opposed to lying as part of a prank. The issue I have is lying when the target essentially says "oh, haha, you're pranking me, right?" At that point, the prankster should just say "yep, I got you good, the end."
  - evan_ 12y ago
    or if you're committed to the bit, play it coy and deny it in a way that makes it obvious you're lying.
- qq66 12y ago
  Your grandmother buys you an ugly sweater. Six months later, close to death, she asks you if you like the sweater she got you.
  - tripzilch 12y ago
    I don't like this prank.
    - qq66 12y ago
      Thanks for the honest response.

sejje 12y ago

Well, it's not for sure, but arguably. The author seems to think he was on the cusp of it, at least: >> I was afraid that if I didn’t end the torture he might need psychiatric treatment.

baddox 12y ago

It didn't sound like it became apparent to the roommate shortly thereafter. According to the article, it was at least a week later, after the Snowden news broke and the roommate apparently became paranoid. I'm assuming that the report of paranoia and the sentence "I was afraid that if I didn’t end the torture he might need psychiatric treatment" is comedic hyperbole, but I cease giving any "prank credit" after the roommate explicitly and correctly called the author out as the source of the ads.

skizm 12y ago

It isn't about hurting anyone, it is about having some pride as a trickster/troll. You played a good prank, your roommate figured it out. Time to move on. Anyone can lie through their teeth, that's not clever at that point.

unoti 12y ago

It may not have hurt anyone. But a good rule to live by is: If you find yourself considering lying, then you have made some poor choices somewhere along the line. Every time you find yourself wanting to lie, think about it, and you may come to realize this is a solid rule to try to live by.

baddox 12y ago
I'm actually not opposed to lying as part of a prank. The issue I have is lying when the target essentially says "oh, haha, you're pranking me, right?" At that point, the prankster should just say "yep, I got you good, the end."
- evan_ 12y ago
  or if you're committed to the bit, play it coy and deny it in a way that makes it obvious you're lying.
qq66 12y ago
Your grandmother buys you an ugly sweater. Six months later, close to death, she asks you if you like the sweater she got you.
- tripzilch 12y ago
  I don't like this prank.
  - qq66 12y ago
    Thanks for the honest response.