Simple Machines Community Forum

Customizing SMF => Building Your Community and other Forum Advice => Topic started by: ishy on March 23, 2011, 09:10:28 AM

Title: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 23, 2011, 09:10:28 AM
Normally I run some type of April Fool's prank on my site, but after 5 years, I'm running out of ideas. The one that has worked best for me was to change everyone's avatars to something that either I know is opposite them or that I know they would just find really funny. Like my co-admin who hates anything pink and sparkly got a pink sparkly unicorn avatar (nearly gave her a Twilight Edward sparkly avatar, but she knows where I live). None of them come here, so I knew it would be safe to start a discussion here for some ideas, and maybe others will get some ideas, too.

Anybody have ideas for April Fool's pranks?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: WantSome on March 23, 2011, 12:33:05 PM
oh this is such a cute idea!  I hope more people post ideas coz I'm looking for something exciting to do for April Fool's too.

For Valentine's I reset everyone to a fluffy fluffy pink theme with hearts.  Everyone appreciated the joke so maybe you could try something like that except to a theme that is... funny? 

I also saw a mod somewhere which was for a lightbox effect on the front page.  When the user logs onto the forum, the page dims and this box appears - I'm not sure what the mod is originally to be used for but you could use it to put a joke or something in there.  Maybe a big red warning that says 'YOU BROKE THE FORUM, WE WILL BE SENDING OUR NINJAS TO KIDNAP YOU NOW!"

or something that is actually funny.  >.>
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: WantSome on March 24, 2011, 06:25:29 AM
I saw another one suggested somewhere else...

You can use the censored words function to change words to something random.

e.g.  can -> beans
        words -> uncle
        random -> carrot
So the sentence above would become:

you beans use the censored uncle function to change the uncle to something carrot.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 24, 2011, 06:28:41 AM
Well, for April Fool's last year, we were in the run up to SimpleDesk 1.0, and this is what we did: http://www.simpledesk.net/community/general_discussion/ceiling_cat_506.0.html
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 24, 2011, 06:38:46 AM
Teehee....

I've come up with something. Most of my group is gothier black-loving women. My junior admin, however, has been on a mission to turn us all pink and flowery and 'girly' since we started 5 years ago. So I emailed her last night and asked her if she wanted to 'take over' the site for April Fool's. I'll turn everything pink, make a new logo, and she's going to post all over about her takeover. She has a wicked sense of humor, so I'm sure it will be a riot. There's also one guy on our forums who has verbally sparred with her (in a very good natured way) for years, and I plan to bait him into "retaking" the board. She emailed me back "You can count on me for a fantastically fascist April Fools!"
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 24, 2011, 06:46:22 PM
If you have a news and announcement section, fake news can work too, as long as they sound real. Don't be too rash, though, such as simulating a site shut down, because some people who might fall for it might leave.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: kat on March 25, 2011, 11:20:15 AM
I changed the censored words, so everything they typed was spelt wrongly, when they posted.;)
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 25, 2011, 11:51:42 AM
Quote from: K@ on March 25, 2011, 11:20:15 AM
I changed the censored words, so everything they typed was spelt wrongly, when they posted.;)

Bwahahahaha!! Man, I know a forum whose members would be hysterical if that happened....
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: kat on March 25, 2011, 03:05:27 PM
You use the usual typos, like "waht", "wrok" and that kinda stuff.

Drives 'em mental. ;)
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Dream of Omnimaga on March 25, 2011, 04:47:59 PM
When my site was on Invisionfree, I once did that too. Everything would turn into l33t5p34k.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: petabyte on March 25, 2011, 05:29:21 PM
we did some random word changing:

'is' became 'flying spaghetti monster'

'a' became 'I am a little teapot'

and so on
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Bookmama on March 27, 2011, 07:50:50 PM
Wow.... you guys are incredibly imaginitive. 

The only forum April's Fools joke that I was part of, I didn't play, but they sent a message to all the members that the forum had become too much overhead and they were shutting it down.  It actually was kind of believable because the forum had grown a lot recently.

In response, someone had started a thread asking whether members could assist with the moderation and what could we do to change the forum owner's mind.  And then of course someone else said.... Isn't it April Fool's??

I do know that if what you type is not what comes up on the screen. It will drive people insane quickly.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: willerby on March 30, 2011, 03:52:43 PM
Love using the censored words, brilliant idea.

Reminds me of a prank on a fellow worker where we removed his print icon/button on Word and replaced it with an identical macro-enabled button which capitalized all lower case and vice versa before printing then reverting the doc back to original. The machine was fast enough for the whole thing to be over before you could see what had happened.

Resulted in a call to the IT helpdesk reporting a printer fault on our floor - "It keeps getting caps and lower case the wrong way round"

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: anakmacan on March 31, 2011, 05:24:51 PM
I changed "is" & "am" into "are", "are" into "is". They all sound like lolcats and it drives them insane  :laugh:
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: kat on April 01, 2011, 05:25:24 AM
I changed mine so that certain words become pix of lolcats:

http://www.katzy.dsl.pipex.com/LOL.htm
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: anakmacan on April 01, 2011, 11:16:44 AM
Awwwwwww <3
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 31, 2012, 03:08:14 PM
It's that time of year again!  Anyone have any new ideas?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: The Silver Monkey on March 31, 2012, 11:01:17 PM
You could turn your board upside down by placing this:

-moz-transform: rotate(180deg);
-webkit-transform: rotate(180deg);
-o-transform: rotate(180deg);


into the body tag of your board's style(s).

It doesn't seem to work with every theme, though.

Alternatively, you could turn all of your board's images upside down by placing this:

img {
        -moz-transform: scaleY(-1);
        -o-transform: scaleY(-1);
        -webkit-transform: scaleY(-1);
        transform: scaleY(-1);
        filter: FlipV;
        -ms-filter: "FlipV";
}


In your theme(s) style(s).
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on April 01, 2012, 06:59:03 AM
That's really evil! I love it!

The censored word thing is working really well so far. I also changed all their avatars for My Little Ponies as a distraction....
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on April 01, 2012, 07:06:42 AM
I did the censored word thing, but no-one has noticed yet  :(  Unless they're keeping quiet just to wind me up....
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ApplianceJunk on April 01, 2012, 07:13:16 AM
Check out google maps.
http://maps.google.com/


Bottom left corner.

Start Your Quest

Quote
8-bit Quest Maps is our Beta Maps technology and has certain system requirements. Your system may not meet the minumum requirements for 8-bit computations.

http://www.youtube.com/googlemaps
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on April 01, 2012, 07:33:33 AM
Quote from: Sabrinova on April 01, 2012, 07:06:42 AM
I did the censored word thing, but no-one has noticed yet  :(  Unless they're keeping quiet just to wind me up....

It's been noticed - one of my members copied one of her posts on our forum to post elsewhere, with hilarious results!!  :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: GlitchPC on April 01, 2012, 07:47:35 AM
My site has gone through so many changes in the past few years...my limited number of users grows thinner every day.  I'm trying to build the member base back up to a respectable number of people...and this will take time.

However...being that today is April Fool's day...I just couldn't help myself...

I posted in our News and Announcements forum (just a few minutes ago) that I will be changing forum software...once again...back to vBulletin.

What few members I do have will probably jump ship for good...this time.  I wouldn't blame them...but, I sure hope they get the joke after all is said and done.


Wish me luck!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ApplianceJunk on April 01, 2012, 08:01:59 AM
Good luck,

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: GlitchPC on April 01, 2012, 08:08:03 AM
Thanks...in addition...I added the fake user's mod.  This should get some attention, huh?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: rtkane on April 01, 2012, 11:15:13 AM
I used the newsletter function to issue a member-wide warn about posting offensive material. 

QuoteDear XXX,

You have received a warning for posting offensive material on the boards. Please cease these activities and abide by the forum rules otherwise we will take further action.  Another offense will remove your ability to post on the boards. 

Regards,
The XXXXXX Team.

I've gotten so many "what did I do?" messages back I had to install a PM auto responder mod that explains the joke.   This, of course, in addition to censored word edits and a theme change.

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: NanoSector on April 01, 2012, 11:49:53 AM
AdBlock for Chrome changed ads into kitties today :D

For me, I might think of an easter egg in one of my mods. Maybe my last FancyPosts mod, where it changes all the button names of menu's created :P
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: TheListener on April 01, 2012, 11:53:59 AM
being as MKA is a local area forum I mentioned the Town was to get its own currency.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on April 01, 2012, 04:27:07 PM
Man, they're upset about the censored word one... LOL
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 10, 2013, 07:12:49 PM
Second week of March, and time again to think about this year's prank. I'm tempted to do the upside-down one this year. Also contemplating changing everyone's display name and avatar to a pop star. Really bubblegummy ones like Justin Beiber.

I changed all the avatars to My Little Ponies last year, and also added the word censor to put in MLP words and neighs. They thought the avatars were funny, and some of them still have them, but they weren't too amused by the word censor.

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Account Abandoned on March 11, 2013, 05:34:39 PM
Quote from: ishy on March 23, 2011, 09:10:28 AM
Normally I run some type of April Fool's prank on my site, but after 5 years, I'm running out of ideas. The one that has worked best for me was to change everyone's avatars to something that either I know is opposite them or that I know they would just find really funny. Like my co-admin who hates anything pink and sparkly got a pink sparkly unicorn avatar (nearly gave her a Twilight Edward sparkly avatar, but she knows where I live). None of them come here, so I knew it would be safe to start a discussion here for some ideas, and maybe others will get some ideas, too.

Anybody have ideas for April Fool's pranks?

I usually make a topic saying something like "Its been a good run but due to personal issues, [forum name] is closing down" and then in the body I put "April Fools!" and I will get a herd of responses including LOLs, that wasn't funny's and so on.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Liam. on March 12, 2013, 11:18:41 PM
We're changing as many game pages on my website to be recipes related to that game (Pacman cookies, etc.) with images to accompany, for one thing. We also have a button that tries to run away when the cursor gets near it. We're currently writing a script to make it so that some users seem like they've been promoted to admins, but when they try to access the admin panel it'll do something like Rick Roll them.

Finally, the cruelest one of all, is that after a random amount of time (anywhere between 5 minutes and 6 hours), Slenderman will appear on the screen, with the audio and noise effect. Oh, the wonders of JavaScript and HTML5! Let's just hope no-one gets a heart-attack and we get a lawsuit on our hands...

It's a shame the site is only in beta, but we have a handful of a couple of hundred active people to mess with.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: kat on March 13, 2013, 06:38:25 AM
I think we'll mess-around with the word censor, again. Probably just replace the word "I" with something like "Wobble-bottom".
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Liam. on March 13, 2013, 08:49:14 PM
Please K@, please make a list of as many words like "wobble-bottom" as you can :')
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 13, 2013, 08:55:18 PM
The only words like 'wobble-bottom' are 'wobble-bottom' and 'wibble-bottom'. Everything else isn't really like it.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on March 13, 2013, 09:31:06 PM
wubble-bum?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: kat on March 14, 2013, 07:25:54 AM
Bouncy-Buttocks.


I love it when these topics get all intellectual...
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Account Abandoned on March 14, 2013, 02:09:46 PM
I though about this year joining a certain person's forum and acting like a certain person in which he despises but I already mentioned wanting to do it so now the plan is flawed *evil grin*
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 14, 2013, 03:20:55 PM
And you think I wouldn't notice? ;)
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: a10 on March 14, 2013, 03:37:41 PM
 :D Great. Looking forward to applying a good dose of censored words fun.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Account Abandoned on March 14, 2013, 07:50:50 PM
Quote from: Arantor on March 14, 2013, 03:20:55 PM
And you think I wouldn't notice? ;)

Oh I can change my writing styles very easily :P I let loose most of the time and make constant typos haha but when it comes to something like college, I am a perfectionist :P
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 14, 2013, 07:58:09 PM
So you'd even get a Russian proxy server?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Account Abandoned on March 14, 2013, 07:59:15 PM
Oh I meant another person ;)
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 14, 2013, 08:00:38 PM
Oh, not gri? Good luck impersonating her writing style. Mind you, one claim of 'you're just not listening to me because you're a misogynist' and I'd probably be convinced.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 15, 2013, 08:42:47 AM
This Bouncy BBC mod (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3661) plus the word censor is giving me some ideas. Not just that, but using other BBC to turn things colors, sparkle, or whatever.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: danielwmoore on March 15, 2013, 03:55:17 PM
Try using the word censor to do the following:

Censored words: (left column)
r
l

Proper words: (right column)
w
w

Make sure you uncheck "Check only whole words."

This will turn all Rs and Ls into Ws.  Makes all the posts sound like Elmer Fudd.

Sample:
Quote
Wike so... This is suwe to make those wascawwy wabbits cwazy on youw fowum!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: lurkalot on March 15, 2013, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: danielwmoore on March 15, 2013, 03:55:17 PM
Try using the word censor to do the following:

Censored words: (left column)
r
l

Proper words: (right column)
w
w

Make sure you uncheck "Check only whole words."

This will turn all Rs and Ls into Ws.  Makes all the posts sound like Elmer Fudd.

Sample:
Quote
Wike so... This is suwe to make those wascawwy wabbits cwazy on youw fowum!

lol.. I like this one.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 16, 2013, 12:04:00 AM
I'm totally doing that. With a Bugs Bunny forum theme...
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: danielwmoore on March 16, 2013, 06:25:55 AM
Bugs Bunny forum theme... can't believe I didn't think of that.  Just be sure not to have problems with copyright infringement with the graphics. 

I'm thinking of perhaps just using a nice close-up "portrait" of Elmer Fudd in the upper left corner, and to the right, nice graphics that say, "Hewwo, Wewcome to ouw Fowum" or something.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 16, 2013, 12:43:22 PM
I should break out the code I wrote a few years ago that would post-process the page, and rewriting all the content between tags, without rewriting the tags themselves...
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: danielwmoore on March 16, 2013, 10:41:54 PM
Quote from: Arantor on March 16, 2013, 12:43:22 PM
I should break out the code I wrote a few years ago that would post-process the page, and rewriting all the content between tags, without rewriting the tags themselves...

I'd love to see that.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Liam. on March 17, 2013, 12:54:39 AM
http://www.zurb.com/playground/jquery-raptorize?timed_launch=true

I'm sure this can be put to good use...
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: WantSome on March 18, 2013, 03:51:43 PM
That raptorize looks hysterical.

Does anyone want to help me make it work?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: danielwmoore on March 18, 2013, 08:22:34 PM
I modified the Raptorize to work within the confines of my site, that is, to keep it in character.

It is now Zombie-ize on my site.  http://insaniquariumguide.com/forum

It works by Konami Code only for now, so use up up down down left right left right B A, and of course, works only once per page load.

Found an error in the JavaScript that caused it not to work in Firefox 10+ with sound, fixed that.

It is pretty cool there.  I plan to keep that one year round as a Konami Code treat, and perhaps will have it to an automatic display on delay for every page load on April 1st.

@WantSome: I could help you make that work. 
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: xrunner on March 18, 2013, 08:31:42 PM
I heard that this year there will be no April Fool's day.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 25, 2013, 07:36:37 PM
Quote from: xrunner on March 18, 2013, 08:31:42 PM
I heard that this year there will be no April Fool's day.

:laugh:
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 31, 2013, 10:01:08 PM
Quote from: danielwmoore on March 18, 2013, 08:22:34 PM
I modified the Raptorize to work within the confines of my site, that is, to keep it in character.

It is now Zombie-ize on my site.  http://insaniquariumguide.com/forum

It works by Konami Code only for now, so use up up down down left right left right B A, and of course, works only once per page load.

Found an error in the JavaScript that caused it not to work in Firefox 10+ with sound, fixed that.

It is pretty cool there.  I plan to keep that one year round as a Konami Code treat, and perhaps will have it to an automatic display on delay for every page load on April 1st.

@WantSome: I could help you make that work. 

I am trying Raptorize, but I can't get it to work.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: xrunner on March 31, 2013, 10:06:04 PM
I'm converting to Vbulletin tomorrow!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 31, 2013, 10:10:55 PM
I love you guys!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 31, 2013, 10:16:28 PM
Quote from: xrunner on March 31, 2013, 10:06:04 PM
I'm converting to Vbulletin tomorrow!

I still keep believing vB 5 is a joke but sadly not.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: {••тєηηιѕєя••} on March 31, 2013, 10:18:19 PM
Prepared a nice theme for April 1  :-* :-* :laugh: :laugh:
I congratulate the makers >:( :o
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 31, 2013, 10:45:16 PM
Quote from: danielwmoore on March 15, 2013, 03:55:17 PM
Try using the word censor to do the following:

Censored words: (left column)
r
l

Proper words: (right column)
w
w

Make sure you uncheck "Check only whole words."

This will turn all Rs and Ls into Ws.  Makes all the posts sound like Elmer Fudd.

Sample:
Quote
Wike so... This is suwe to make those wascawwy wabbits cwazy on youw fowum!

This downside to this one is that it disables half your BB Code.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 31, 2013, 10:46:20 PM
Most critically, links.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ishy on March 31, 2013, 10:51:33 PM
Most of the links work unless they are in posts. But it looks cool. I think I'll keep it for now...
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ApplianceJunk on March 31, 2013, 10:52:34 PM
I'm done with SMF.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Arantor on March 31, 2013, 10:56:58 PM
Yeah, the problem is I keep getting sucked back in by the awesomeness.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ApplianceJunk on March 31, 2013, 10:58:05 PM
Rainbows are awesome.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: LiroyvH on March 31, 2013, 11:03:43 PM
Quote from: Arantor on March 31, 2013, 10:58:05 PM
Rainbows are awesome.

Only double rainbows are!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: TheListener on March 31, 2013, 11:04:28 PM
Whatever happened to sanity?
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: ApplianceJunk on March 31, 2013, 11:06:12 PM
Quote from: CoreISPony on March 31, 2013, 11:03:43 PM
Quote from: Arantor on March 31, 2013, 10:58:05 PM
Rainbows are awesome.

Only double rainbows are!

Your awesome.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Gary on April 01, 2013, 02:55:33 AM
That Double Rainboom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26BQ0HNtDmI) Rainbow Dash did was awesome!
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: WantSome on April 01, 2013, 06:30:01 AM
HAHAHA omg this is brilliant.  Tell me the pony smilies are available as a package?  I'll go check that out.

Coincidentally, with the help of danielmoore, I got the raptorize code to work on my site and modified it so that a pony danced across the screen and the music that played was a clip from Pony Swag - http://youtu.be/p1HZp4ClFXY

At first it gave users a fright and now they're just finding it incredibly annoying.  I still think it's hysterical.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Account Abandoned on April 01, 2013, 06:33:01 PM
This year I released and announced a topic saying that I had no time for AAF anymore and that I was taking offers to buy the forum out. I added a page to my root directory called /auction/index.php which had the April Fools' message :) I tricked quite a few people, haha. I also sent it out the night before April 1st as well in hopes to hide it a bit more.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on April 01, 2013, 06:55:09 PM
I replaced the smooth grey background gradient on Actualism theme with coloured paperclips and changed on.png and off.png to paperclips as well  ;D  This was after prepping my members all week with pictures of paperclips and comments about my paperclip obsession getting out of hand LOL  :P
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: TheListener on April 01, 2013, 06:57:22 PM
For you Sabs

/me runs
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on April 01, 2013, 07:07:46 PM
Ooh no, that one's just scary!!

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: TheListener on April 01, 2013, 07:09:48 PM
You wimp.

:D

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: Chalky on April 01, 2013, 07:11:59 PM
Nah.. this one's scarier.  Looks a bit like me too  :P

Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: TheListener on April 01, 2013, 07:14:49 PM
Quote from: Sabrinova on April 01, 2013, 07:11:59 PM
Looks a bit like me too  :P

Dare I agree?  :D

Even thinking of them makes me shudder.
Title: Re: April Fools Pranks
Post by: xrunner on April 03, 2013, 09:12:28 AM
I thought you had short fingernails?

Quote from: Sabrinova on April 01, 2013, 07:11:59 PM
...  Looks a bit like me too  :P