I think it's funny to see the dichotomy of people when you talk about April Fool's Day. Some people really get into the spirit, and pull off practical jokes. Whilst others walk around with a frown all day.

I had planned on doing an April Fool's joke, but since I'm still new at writing for WPW, I thought better. Just know that I had an entire spread about Google's new social networking/dating service called GoogleHearts.com.

Before the internet, April Fools Day was a more simple time. Maybe, you pulled out a whoopee cushion, or made up a story to get at your parents. The internet has really turned April Fool's Day into something big. Perhaps something dangerous.

I'm a self-proclaimed optimist so I like to think that most of the world is filled with intellectual people, in some form. The idiots just happen to be louder. When an April Fool's joke goes online, it's shocking to see how many people will be buy into a story. If I wrote a blog post that Obama resigns as president to become host of American Idol, I gurantee atleast three people would believe me.

It's this idea of the easily manipulated, that makes April Fools pranks dangerous online. Perhaps, someone just reads your headline without reading to the end, where you actually say 'April Fools'. In real life, you control the scenario of the prank so it's up to you when to end it. Being online is different, as the user decides when to begin and end their viewing of content.

So, be careful out there on the internet today. More than likely, everything you're reading is false. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Oh no, sounded like a pessimist just then.

| JohnnyV |