Fool me once, shame on ... oh, you know the rest.
April 1, 2015 1:59 PM Subscribe
The Washington Post has attempted to comprehensively list all April Fools pranks and hoaxes appearing on the internet today, helpfully separated into categories. There's still April Fools Day on the Web (mentioned twice, previously) which has a collection of jokes, spoofs and parodies around the internet, with annual records going back to 2004. For older records, there's a far from complete Wikipedia list of April Fools' Day Jokes, with a slim selection of notable hoaxes going back to the 1950s, while the Wikipedia article on April Fools' Day goes back much further. Snopes breaks down the legends behind the term (previosuly).
What stunned me is that Amazon Dash isn't a joke.
Woe to the marketeer with a March 31 launch date for an inherently goofy product.
posted by chavenet at 2:07 PM on April 1, 2015 [10 favorites]
Woe to the marketeer with a March 31 launch date for an inherently goofy product.
posted by chavenet at 2:07 PM on April 1, 2015 [10 favorites]
April Advertisers Day
posted by dng at 2:13 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dng at 2:13 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is it just me, or is April Fools some real weak sauce this year? The jokes from the WaPo article seem to mostly boil down to"_______, but for cats/dogs" or "________, but done with drones". Even our wildest prankish imaginings are becoming hellishly mundane.
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:19 PM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:19 PM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
Think Geek had some fun stuff too - but they also originally had two other Game of Thrones themed spoof products that mysteriously went missing about mid-day today. I'm assuming someone forgot to clear it with HBO.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:21 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:21 PM on April 1, 2015
something about our contemporary culture ... everything seems to be taken so much more seriously, everything is dialed up ... I don't recall people being in such a tizzy about April Fool's day as they are this year ... similar to how, it seems, Halloween is recently a huge deal for adults ... I feel like the need for internet content is somehow resulting in these previously rather modest days becoming a BIG DEAL suddenly ...
posted by jayder at 2:28 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jayder at 2:28 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
They killed Game of Thrones Clue? That was the one I most wanted to become real!
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:35 PM on April 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:35 PM on April 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
I remember April Fools 2001, How to Meet Losers, on the MSN home page. That was funny like a pleasant illness I still have to some degree!
posted by Oyéah at 2:38 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 2:38 PM on April 1, 2015
Best AFD joke IMO was Bob Barker hosting an episode of The Price is Right.
posted by infinitewindow at 2:48 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by infinitewindow at 2:48 PM on April 1, 2015
Is it just me, or is April Fools some real weak sauce this year?
It's kind of played out in my opinion. People are doing it despite not having any good ideas.
posted by thelonius at 2:49 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's kind of played out in my opinion. People are doing it despite not having any good ideas.
posted by thelonius at 2:49 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
To quote MeFi's own Linda_Holmes, "Ah, April Fool's Day. The day we set aside to learn how few people are qualified to work at The Onion."
posted by Lexica at 2:52 PM on April 1, 2015 [20 favorites]
posted by Lexica at 2:52 PM on April 1, 2015 [20 favorites]
Editor to PR Flacks - Prank Us on April Fools' and You're Banned
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:01 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:01 PM on April 1, 2015
I enjoyed xkcloud. I got to draw things!
posted by brainwane at 3:17 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by brainwane at 3:17 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
ThinkGeek always wins April Fools Day... Voltron Cat Condo, Do It YourSelfie 360° Selfie Rig, Steam-Powered (literally) Gaming Cabinet, GotG Collector's Edition Groot Beer and Rocket Fuel Two-Pack (you had me at Groot Beer).
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:19 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:19 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
The best part of traveling today: I lost three hours of this nonsense in the time change and couldn't be happier.
posted by zachlipton at 3:33 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by zachlipton at 3:33 PM on April 1, 2015
If Google wanted to make me forget about my privacy concerns, they would make the Google Panda a real thing.
posted by betweenthebars at 3:53 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by betweenthebars at 3:53 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
"An Internet-connected knife actually sounds like a fairly reasonable idea..."
Are you kidding me? What would it do, tweet @911 when you slip and cut yourself?
posted by Rangi at 4:02 PM on April 1, 2015
Are you kidding me? What would it do, tweet @911 when you slip and cut yourself?
posted by Rangi at 4:02 PM on April 1, 2015
I assumed today's Metafilter colors were a tribute to The Dress.
posted by juniper at 4:03 PM on April 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by juniper at 4:03 PM on April 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
If Google wanted to make me forget about my privacy concerns, they would make the Google Panda a real thing.
posted by betweenthebars
I don't believe for a hot second that Google is joking about Panda. That is a classic "haha you thought we were joking? Turns out there's a Google Panda in your house right now!" move.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 4:33 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by betweenthebars
I don't believe for a hot second that Google is joking about Panda. That is a classic "haha you thought we were joking? Turns out there's a Google Panda in your house right now!" move.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 4:33 PM on April 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, about 2004 there was a massive cluster-edit on the Wikipedia AF article that practically overwhelmed the site at times, and at the end of it (I participated mostly as someone trying to keep the chaos organized), it really wasn't a comprehensive listing of funny, or even fun, pranks that you might assume. Ever since the whole exercise has seemed more in the diminishing returns column for me.
posted by dhartung at 4:38 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by dhartung at 4:38 PM on April 1, 2015
Turns out there's a Google Panda in your house right now!" move.
It doesn't seem like the technology would be that hard to pull off... Isn't it essentially a more advanced Siri in a plush toy?
posted by drezdn at 4:57 PM on April 1, 2015
It doesn't seem like the technology would be that hard to pull off... Isn't it essentially a more advanced Siri in a plush toy?
posted by drezdn at 4:57 PM on April 1, 2015
Why is the "Actually good and not-contemptible fun" portion of the list buried at the end of the article?
And, yeah. This year was pretty weak.
posted by schmod at 5:31 PM on April 1, 2015
And, yeah. This year was pretty weak.
posted by schmod at 5:31 PM on April 1, 2015
Tesla's April Fools’ Day Apple Watch parody
posted by jeffburdges at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffburdges at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
What stunned me is that Amazon Dash isn't a joke.
LibraryThing's emdash, on the other hand...
posted by Shmuel510 at 5:53 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
LibraryThing's emdash, on the other hand...
posted by Shmuel510 at 5:53 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Chrome Selfie thing actually got me this morning, on my phone. I thought it was unfunny since there actually have been some issues with camera security in browsers. Secondly, after I closed it, Chrome crashed... which it never does on my phone.
posted by Foosnark at 5:54 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by Foosnark at 5:54 PM on April 1, 2015
For what it's worth I also don't believe for a hot second that Google isn't watching you through the webcam of your computer and always cover mine with electrical tape.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 6:23 PM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 6:23 PM on April 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
Regarding the Kardashian butt:
During the OJ trials someone marketed a Jello mold of Lance Ito's face.
posted by brujita at 7:13 PM on April 1, 2015
During the OJ trials someone marketed a Jello mold of Lance Ito's face.
posted by brujita at 7:13 PM on April 1, 2015
Yo, Metafilter April 1, I'm happy for you, and I'm going to let you finish, but Engadget has the best date-based pranks of all time. OF ALL TIME!
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:34 PM on April 1, 2015
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:34 PM on April 1, 2015
something about our contemporary culture ... everything seems to be taken so much more seriously, everything is dialed up ... I don't recall people being in such a tizzy about April Fool's day as they are this year ...
They just found another way to get you to talk about products. It is their job in life. Where's Bill Hicks when you need him.
posted by sylvanshine at 8:21 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
They just found another way to get you to talk about products. It is their job in life. Where's Bill Hicks when you need him.
posted by sylvanshine at 8:21 PM on April 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I totally agree with this guy. (Linked from the link above by oneswellfoop.)
I mean, Entrepreneur magazine sounds terrible, but I still like his stance of April Fools Pranks are dreadful don't do them.
That always always gets a response of "Hey, it's just a joke, lighten up" But is it even a joke anymore. It's just tedious PR conformity grinding away the very soul of the word "joke"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:43 AM on April 2, 2015
I mean, Entrepreneur magazine sounds terrible, but I still like his stance of April Fools Pranks are dreadful don't do them.
That always always gets a response of "Hey, it's just a joke, lighten up" But is it even a joke anymore. It's just tedious PR conformity grinding away the very soul of the word "joke"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:43 AM on April 2, 2015
I liked HuffPost Parents' prank on twitter. They had @HonestToddler "hack" their account for a little while yesterday. Here are a few sample tweets:
RT If you wake up angry from naps.
--
If you added a baby to your home but already have a toddler and just realized what u have done there are solutions: http://pasidaho.org/relinquishing/
--
Well this is fascinating! "Toddlers Who Don't Get Between 2-3 Reese's Cups A Day Can't Love" -Biologyists http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/01/breaking-parenting-studies-april-1_n_6984402.html
--
Serious question: If you love your toddler why did you have another baby.
--
Doctor Fact: It is physically impossible to love a toddler and infant sibling at the same time. Just have one baby.
--
Did You Know: Kids who are forced to potty train before five are 90% likely to get arrested by age 16.
--
Someone's coming if I get cut off call my grandm
And then...
@HonestToddler: Arianna Grande Huffington called my mom.
--
Just checked into @ Time Out w/ 0 others http://4sq.com/IWasFramed
posted by zarq at 10:20 AM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
RT If you wake up angry from naps.
--
If you added a baby to your home but already have a toddler and just realized what u have done there are solutions: http://pasidaho.org/relinquishing/
--
Well this is fascinating! "Toddlers Who Don't Get Between 2-3 Reese's Cups A Day Can't Love" -Biologyists http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/01/breaking-parenting-studies-april-1_n_6984402.html
--
Serious question: If you love your toddler why did you have another baby.
--
Doctor Fact: It is physically impossible to love a toddler and infant sibling at the same time. Just have one baby.
--
Did You Know: Kids who are forced to potty train before five are 90% likely to get arrested by age 16.
--
Someone's coming if I get cut off call my grandm
And then...
@HonestToddler: Arianna Grande Huffington called my mom.
--
Just checked into @ Time Out w/ 0 others http://4sq.com/IWasFramed
posted by zarq at 10:20 AM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Internet ruined April Fools Day on February 7, 2008 according to this BRAND NEW Strong Bad Email.
posted by FJT at 6:02 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by FJT at 6:02 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by filthy light thief at 2:01 PM on April 1, 2015