Mr. X has been unemployed since he graduated from the university, which is about ten years down the line after graduation. However, as God would have it, he was invited for a job interview by a reputable multinational company, and he really prepared for it. Unfortunately, he missed the interview as someone out of the blue; on his way to attend the interview, splashed mud on him, and even rough-handled him on the accusation of being indebted to him. But Mr. X kept screaming to onlookers that were attracted to the scene of the commotion thus, “I don’t know this man from Adam, I’ve never met him in my life”.
Not only did Mr. X miss the interview but the argument that ensued took hours to resolve, coupled with the fact that his clothes were soiled with mud. As if the insult was not enough, the mischievous man that threw him into the hullabaloo in a hilarious manner pointed at a Cameraman who strategically positioned himself a few metres away from the scene amid hysteric laughter and screaming thus, “Look at the Camera over there, it is a prank, it is a prank”.
Without a doubt, pranks being made by Pranksters in Nigeria nowadays often make people fear for their own lives. Many of these Pranksters are more concerned with the number of views, and forget that they are seriously hurting unsuspecting people who innocently go about their daily businesses, only to see themselves being harassed on the streets. Not only do they hurt people, but pranks are also an invasion of privacy. They all involve setting up hidden cameras that capture private moments and reactions. To anyone that understands the fundamental principles of photography, it is obvious that most of the perpetrators do not have permission from the victim to post the videos online.
As a Journalist, I am aware that consent is rooted in respect for the human right to autonomy, the right to make decisions about oneself. Applied to photography, it means that people have the right to decide whether or not they want to be photographed. A good way to ensure that we are respecting a person’s right to autonomy is by asking for consent. Unfortunately, Pranksters in this part of the world are not respecting anyone’s privacy.
Against the foregoing backdrop, there is no denying the fact that the problem with pranks like the ones being done in Nigeria is that they could have long-term psychological effects that could cause permanent traumatization and anxiety in their victims.
In a similar vein, a well-dressed lady who was hurriedly walking to the car park to catch up with time fixed for a Red Carpet Event on a particular Saturday suddenly found himself in a state of dilemma as she ostensibly weighed the option of either proceeding to the event or going back home to change her dress. The reason for the foregoing unpalatable scenario she found herself in cannot be farfetched as a Prankster emptied a bucket of water on her.
Added to the foregoing anecdotes, it is not an exaggeration to opine that not a few active users of various social media platforms are familiar with diverse internet content that has been created by various Pranksters.
In fact, there was a prank where a lady had her wig publicly removed from her head as well as another prank where an “Okada Rider” was hired from Mile 2 to Obalende in Lagos, only for the passenger to disembark and walk straight to the Cemetery at Obalende whilst feigning to be a ghost, with the “Okada Rider” fearfully speeding off to avoid being haunted by the supposed ghost.
At this juncture, it is not an exaggeration to say that Pranks can sometimes go a bit too far to the detriment of public safety. In fact, the foregoing view cannot be pooh-poohed as the internet is full of awesome prank clips that leave people laughing, but some are done in fear and that is not cool as the kind of prank being made by skit makers in Nigeria had more people feeling sorry than laughing.
Given the foregoing inanities that have contemporarily characterized the prank business in Nigeria, so to say, it will not be out of place to opine that many have found themselves being sucked into the world of extreme pranks. It is sad that pranks that ought to engender harmless fun that will make people get a good laugh are today leaving people that fall victim to Prankers reeling in pains and agonies. In fact, looking back, the prank was a fun way to pass the time and the content creators always looked as though they were enjoying themselves which made it more enjoyable for the viewer. An example of these innocuous pranks is the prankster jumping out from around a corner and scaring the victim in a costume, or perhaps making some funny moves. Unfortunately, nowadays though, the word “prank” means something much different from what it ought to be.
For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to opine that Pranksters do not have to behave like kids to play practical jokes and funny pranks on members of the public, their friends, and family members. The key is to make sure their pranks are hilarious instead of harmful. They should also avoid rude, dangerous, damaging, or hurtful tricks, and should always keep their audiences in mind.
Sad enough, pranks have since the evolvement of social media platforms begun to take a turn for the worst in this part of the world as virtually everyone aspires to become skit makers. It is no doubt that skit making, which is the stock in trade of Pranksters, is a money-spinning venture, particularly as the start-up capital is affordable as long as anyone that wants to go into the business has a good smartphone, and is internet-savvy. Unfortunately, content creators no longer do it for fun; that is to make the audience have a good laugh. Rather, the motive behind being a Prankster in this part of the world is morphed into views, social media attention, and money. In fact, in the skit-making sector of the entertainment industry, every prankster wants to make the next big and extravagant prank in order to get noticed and gain popularity on social media platforms and ultimately get more visitors to his or her site.
Without any scintilla of exaggeration, pranks in recent times have been evolving into excuses to engage in sexual harassment toward people. In fact, in most of the skits released by Pranksters on social media platforms in recent times, it is difficult to write off their collective content as not writing off the content would be tantamount to ostensibly blocking access to proper justice, particularly their victims that were thrown into pains. Even if harassment of his or her target was not the original intention of the Prankster, in the eyes of the public or the law, it is.
In fact, pranks have evolved into crimes as not a few Pranksters are at the moment struggling to try to get more popularity and clout. If what is happening is not already too far, then what will be? The loss of lives? Severe injuries? When do they start to affect children if not already? Traumatizing events labeled as pranks, what a way to “justify” the things other people have wrongfully experienced. Pranks were a tool to have harmless fun, it is crazy to see them go to these lengths.
