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April Fools Day is the dumbest holiday in existence
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
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It was great before all the companies started getting in on it, when it was just people pranking each other. I feel like at some point within the past 10-20 years, most “hip” companies come out with their own version of an April Fool’s day press release that are always so goddamn stale and expected now. They’ve just sucked all the fun out of what should be a spontaneous holiday between individuals, because you know those releases probably took weeks to craft and went through X levels of management to get approved.
It’s absolutely gotten way worse the past 15 years or so.
As someone who works for a newspaper: the days leading up to and directly following april 1st tend to be very frustrating because of this.
Usually starting on the 30th, we get the first ‘funny’ press releases, with most showing up on the 31st. Which means you have to be extra careful not to use something that SEEMS plausible enough not to warrant extra suspicion on days other than april 1st.
As journalists, we’re perhaps more aware than most regarding potential pranks. We’re always taught to question sources. Which makes it all the more annoying that so many companies and organisations try to pull one over on us. Making reliable, accurate news is difficult enough as it is without all these fuckers trying to poison the well.
Basically, companies and organisations who do it usually get their press releases trashed for a month afterwards on principle. Waste my time? Welcome to the trash bin.
I feel the other way. I find the individual aspect of it annoying but like the corporate stuff. It gives them a chance to do some kind lighthearted joke that's occasionally in an unexpected direction. I don't even mind when companies jokingly tease a new product or feature to gauge public interest.