Question 58*
A good friend pulls off a well-conceived practical joke that plays on one of your foibles and makes you look ridiculous. How would you react?

I like to think that I am able to enjoy a good joke, even one at my expense, so I hope that I would get past my initial embarrassment and be able to laugh it off. I’m assuming the prank would not be caught on video à la Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d–it would be a bit harder to forgive if my moment of humiliation were replayed at every future gathering. I’m sure it would sting a bit to be the victim of a practical joke at the hands of a trusted friend, but thinking of the friends I’ve got, none of them would stage the joke to be intentionally hurtful or malicious. Their intent might be to get me to take myself or a situation less seriously, but the predominant motivation would be just laughs. Besides, if I’m willing to temporarily look like a buffoon, then I expect to be able to give as good as I get–turn about is fair play, after all!

*From The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, PhD.