April Fools - Just Say NO

I hate April Fools Day. Annoys the stink out of me.

Every year on April 1st, I cringe as I fire up Facebook and Twitter. I cringe for the people who think that these social media pranks are funny, AND I cringe for the people that fall for them. I know all day long I'll be subjected to all sorts of ridiculous posts, announcements and the like.

We've all seen these, right? Lucy posts "Surprise! We're pregnant!", complete with a fake sonogram she's swiped from Google images. Relatives and friends descend, offering well-wishes and love. After an uncomfortable amount of time has passed, she posts "Just kidding!"

UGH. I don't know what's worse - pretending you're pregnant to get a cheap laugh for two seconds, OR getting a giggle out of tricking your great-aunt Gladys that you're expecting. Wow, Lucy, you're sure a funny one!

And let's talk about click-baiting, shall we? For those who don't know the term, click-baiting means websites and writers posting articles online with deliberately attention-grabbing (and often misleading) headlines so the person will click to read it. Thus, getting the website/blog more hits and perhaps more ad revenue, likes, etc.

Be warned - you will see these all the live long day today. If you see an article saying something like, "Walt Disney World is going to close!" or "No more Pixar movies, ever!" - spoiler alert - those are not real. Don't click on them, it just encourages the people who do that crap.

Not trying to be a spoil-sport but would someone please explain to me what is funny about making jokes on a day that EVERYONE IS MAKING JOKES!?  If you're really trying to fool your Aunt Gladys about being pregnant, throw a curve ball and do that on April 5th! (I still think fake pregnancy announcements are ridiculous, but you get my point.)

Can we all just make a pact? Today and every April 1st for the rest of our lives? That we will not buy into or stir the pot of this madness?!

Be a pal - give April Fool's Day and all its "pranks" your coldest of shoulders.

Signed, Me
(Not an un-fun Scrooge, just someone who has had enough of April 1st shenanigans)