# Fuck the Prankers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316 "2012-12-07T17:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/141 "2012-12-10T08:32:47Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > \>snip\< It is the equivalent of approaching the Hospital Reception Desk while wearing a crown and big fake ears. Well said. I laughed. > [@elbows](#): > > Malice is rolling the dice on someone else’s career to further you’re own. They were attempting to subvert security to obtain private medical information. A crime in their own country, I believe. > > They then turned it into a sideshow of promotion, still airing it hours after the suicide was known. > > They could not have known it would end this way, it’s true. But it was easily foreseeable that a professional could be feeling some repercussions. Again no way to know if those repercussions would be large or small, career ending or mentally unsettling. But they still chose to roll those dice. > > Of course they couldn’t know if this woman was mentally fragile. But that’s the thing about rolling dice with other people’s lives. > > If you have the stones to roll those dice with other people’s fates, for shits and giggles and ruthless selfpromotion, then you should nut up and quit trying to shirk the blame onto the British Press. It might not have made the international press had not the dj’s been playing it non stop. > > Actions have consequences, fact of life. They rolled the dice, were willing to risk it, thinking it couldn’t reach back to them, but it has. That’s the way life works, I’m afraid. There was no “attempt to subvert security” **elbows**. That implies that there was some kind of elaborate scheme devised to purposely and wilfully pass anticipated security checks. The hospital number available online and an amateur accent uttering the words, “I’d like to speak with my granddaughter Kate,” doesn’t even come close. There was no intention to “obtain private medical information.” I think using the term “tummy bug” in the previously mentioned piss-poor accent precludes this. And btw, it’s ‘die’. One dice, two die. All this baying for blood is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/142 "2012-12-10T08:43:47Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Well said. I laughed. > And btw, it’s ‘die’. One dice, two die. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/143 "2012-12-10T08:45:51Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > And btw, it’s ‘die’. One dice, two die. 😃 Oh dear. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/144 "2012-12-10T09:08:22Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > The thing that I find odd is that noone has pointed out that giving out personal medical details over the radio is surely illegal. I am not sure how that works with it being different countries. As far as I know it’s not. It is illegal for your doctor to divulge such information to a third party, but I don’t believe that third party has the same legal obligation to protect your privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/145 "2012-12-10T09:27:52Z")
Something I find interesting about the whole thing is the subtext in the British press of “These culturally-bereft louts from our colonial dumping ground still haven’t learnt their place.” There’s a kind of superiority and Imperialism running through the slant taken in the UK–not surprising really, given that the prank played on the tension between Australian irreverence and staunch monarchism. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/146 "2012-12-10T09:40:37Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Nope. > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > 😃 Oh dear. :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/147 "2012-12-10T10:03:44Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > :smack: :smack: :smack: Happens to the best of us. 😉 I’ve just been listening to an interview with the two DJs. They seem to be genuinely devastated. It’s a bad business all round. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/148 "2012-12-10T10:17:14Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Something I find interesting about the whole thing is the subtext in the British press of “These culturally-bereft louts from our colonial dumping ground still haven’t learnt their place.” There’s a kind of superiority and Imperialism running through the slant taken in the UK–not surprising really, given that the prank played on the tension between Australian irreverence and staunch monarchism. Really? I honestly don’t see that. I do see the usual spittle-flecked ranting from the tabloids, and more so from the loons who dribble their invective all over the “right to reply” message boards on the newspapers’ web sites; all utterly and exhaustingly predictable given that this is a story more than tenuously connected to the Monarchy. Any anti-Australian feeling you may be reading into the reports over here are undoubtedly just the gutter press attempting to elicit a response; the classic “poke-a-monkey-with-a-stick-until-it-throws-some-poo” school of journalism. I feel quite safe in saying that the buckets of loose-stool-water that is being poured over those Australian DJs would be poured over a pair of UK DJs with equal enthusiasm. We’re not all self-important Imperialist anti-Australians over here\*, any more than you’re whacky and irreverent anti-monarchists over there (didn’t Australia vote to remain a monarchy in the 90s?) - Well, anti-Vegemite maybe. Who do you think you are, exporting your nasty brown ointment over here when we’ve got perfectly good proper BRITISH Marmite. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/149 "2012-12-10T10:17:19Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Something I find interesting about the whole thing is the subtext in the British press of “These culturally-bereft louts from our colonial dumping ground still haven’t learnt their place.” There’s a kind of superiority and Imperialism running through the slant taken in the UK–not surprising really, given that the prank played on the tension between Australian irreverence and staunch monarchism. Bullshit, it has nothing to do with it. Handy that you call it a subtext as then you have no obligation to actually produce any evidence to back up your baseless assertion. The people who did this are dicks, their nationality has nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/150 "2012-12-10T10:19:12Z")
I have no doubt they’re genuinely mortified, **Baron Greenback**. I’ve not listened to anything yet, and I’m not sure I’ll seek it out. As you, **RobDog** and others can appreciate I have my own public humiliation to deal with 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/151 "2012-12-10T10:27:05Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > We’re not all self-important Imperialist anti-Australians over here\*, any more than you’re whacky and irreverent anti-monarchists over there (didn’t Australia vote to remain a monarchy in the 90s?) Oh, I know, and I actually meant the tension between irreverence and monarchism is internal. Our women’s mags see Kate and William as some kind of dual reincarnation of Diana–we at once love watching the royals while simultaneously feeling ashamed that we actually care. And I think the prank, in its ham-fisted attempt at self-deprecation, played on that contradiction in our cultural psyche. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/152 "2012-12-10T10:30:14Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Bullshit, it has nothing to do with it. Handy that you call it a subtext as then you have no obligation to actually produce any evidence to back up your baseless assertion. > > The people who did this are dicks, their nationality has nothing to do with it. Listen up, fuckface: allow me my own interpretation of events while you get your raeg on. ISTM that people like you enjoy a lynching and any excuse will do, but don’t masturbate too hard–you don’t want blisters. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/153 "2012-12-10T10:44:54Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Oh, I know, and I actually meant the tension between irreverence and monarchism is internal. Our women’s mags see Kate and William as some kind of dual reincarnation of Diana–we at once love watching the royals while simultaneously feeling ashamed that we actually care. That’s not so different from the situation in the UK to be honest. I had a very strange feeling watching their wedding - I found that I was feeling very protective of them, almost as if they were members of my own family. I still don’t really know what that means. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/154 "2012-12-10T10:56:40Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > That’s not so different from the situation in the UK to be honest. I had a very strange feeling watching their wedding - I found that I was feeling very protective of them, almost as if they were members of my own family. I still don’t really know what that means. Yeah, I don’t doubt what you’re saying. But I do think there’s an additional element of “Dude, I know you’re my cousin, but don’t talk smack about my sister (even if I call her a bitch occasionally, too).” Only tonight I saw a British commentator saying “The media here would never do anything so horrid!” yet we all know they’ve done much, much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Comadrona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Comadrona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Comadrona)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/155 "2012-12-10T11:08:52Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I guess I’m the only one who thinks its a very stupid thing to get upset about let alone kill yourself over. Unless they are all now lying the hospital and the palace were not giving her a hard time about it. Seems to me there had to be a lot more going on with her. Which is possibly why she was being used as a receptionist rather than a nurse. But that last is just wild speculation on my part. No you are not - I think so too, there must have been a lot more going on in her life for her to leave her two kids like that. However, I also think the radio jocks are tiresome with their “gotcha” calls - puerile stuff and very boring. BTW, as a former hospital nurse and midwife, I can tell you that generally the nurses answer the phones in many wards, especially on night duty. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/156 "2012-12-10T11:12:46Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Only tonight I saw a British commentator saying “The media here would never do anything so horrid!” yet we all know they’ve done much, much worse. Probably owned by people who used to be Australians 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/157 "2012-12-10T11:18:11Z")
> [@Comadrona](#): > > However, I also think the radio jocks are tiresome with their “gotcha” calls - puerile stuff and very boring. I’m wondering if the idea of a prank where the pranksters themselves are the intended targets is completely foreign to some people. There’s no “gotcha” involved when you’re the one who’s meant to be the idiot; someone like Stephen Colbert is a master at this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/158 "2012-12-10T11:24:16Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Only tonight I saw a British commentator saying “The media here would never do anything so horrid!” yet we all know they’ve done much, much worse. The British print media is a foul cesspit, in the main, and they can be the most self-righteous cunts in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/159 "2012-12-10T11:40:36Z")
Forgive me if this has been addressed already, but I thought that phone calls couldn’t legally be broadcast without the victim’s knowledge and consent? Surely all such “prank calls” are pre-recorded and only later broadcast after the prankers own up and ask for permission? To the best of my knowledge that’s the way it has to work in the UK anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/160 "2012-12-10T11:57:23Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Forgive me if this has been addressed already, but I thought that phone calls couldn’t legally be broadcast without the victim’s knowledge and consent? Surely all such “prank calls” are pre-recorded and only later broadcast after the prankers own up and ask for permission? To the best of my knowledge that’s the way it has to work in the UK anyway. It should be the case here and now the immoral bastards running the station are claiming they tried 5 times to contact the nurses involved prior to the airing of the tape. The station is known for shitbag antics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316.md?page=9)