# 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:** 9
**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, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/161 "2012-12-10T12:32:37Z")
They did call 5 times, **Cicero**. Each time they stated the official business and reason for the call, some nurse answered, laughed at the accent and hung up. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/162 "2012-12-10T12:35:51Z")
2dayFM and Austereo: home of, and entertainment for, dimwits, halfwits, fuckwits and nowits. The place is a gaping black hole sucking the intelligence out of anyone unfortunate enough to cross paths with it. I don’t think nuking the station from orbit would be too harsh (it’s the only way to be sure). This isn’t the first time they’ve offended with a complete absence of any kind of decency. It’s just the first time the rest of the world noticed. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/163 "2012-12-10T12:53:46Z")
Huh. Where I live calling five times, is not the same things as acquiring consent. I tried to call 5 times wouldn’t fly in court over here. Will it in Auss? Please continue to slag on the nurse as ‘must have had some other issues’. Even though you know not one thing about her, even ‘apparent suicide’ isn’t good enough for you. You need her family dragged through it to confirm ‘yes, yes a suicide’, and tell us what were her **real** problems, please detail her most private issues for us, so we can shift blame from those who actually set this in motion. Disgusting. ---
**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, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/164 "2012-12-10T13:09:48Z")
So was the prank call done live on air initially or not? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/165 "2012-12-10T13:31:50Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > So was the prank call done live on air initially or not? No. Lawyers reviewed the call before it was aired. ---
**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, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/166 "2012-12-10T13:34:17Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > 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. Sure, you are welcome to your interpretation and shouldn’t be too surprised when someone calls you on how weak they are. Your initial claim was bullshit, it remains bullshit. And lynching? you read me all wrong, mob justice is an ugly thing indeed and I want no part of it. I called for those involved to lose their jobs. If the stations closed down I wouldn’t shed a tear either. So my idea of punishment involves exactly the sort of outcome that could have reasonably been foreseen for the hospital staff unwittingly involved in this “joke”. That is a proportionate response I think, bad judgement has it’s consequences. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/167 "2012-12-10T17:13:26Z")
I heard the prank call today for the first time. I just…can’t get upset over it. Its such a badly done call, so unbelievable, so childish, that I’m surprised anyone fell for it at all. The radio host who was playing the clip as a commentary did defend them, however, saying that if you got a call from the queen and you didn’t have any formal procedures on what to do, you’d probably screw up a bit too and maybe transfer it to get it out of your hair. Its a tragedy for the family of the nurse. I think we’re a bit too harsh on the radio DJs who did this though, nobody could have foreseen such a severe reaction as suicide. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/168 "2012-12-10T17:24:32Z")
Here is a [CNN video](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/10/world/asia/australia-radio-personalities/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn)of the DJs’ reactions. I turned it off the instant the guy started crying 'cause it looked fake. I’ll let someone else watch it and let me (us) know what they think. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/169 "2012-12-10T17:37:30Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I called for those involved to lose their jobs. If the stations closed down I wouldn’t shed a tear either. [http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2012/dec/10/australian-djs-apologize-prank-call-have-show-canc-ar-2846494/](http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2012/dec/10/australian-djs-apologize-prank-call-have-show-canc-ar-2846494/) “Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of 2DayFM, released a statement Monday saying that Greig and Christian’s show had been terminated and there would be a company-wide suspension of prank calls. The DJs themselves remain suspended.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/170 "2012-12-10T18:04:02Z")
> [@](#): > > nobody could have foreseen such a severe reaction as suicide. But anybody could have foreseen such a prank could cost someone their career. They were willing to roll the dice with someone else’s future. You take the risk, you should own up when it goes awry. Not try and weasel out. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/171 "2012-12-10T18:42:32Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > But anybody could have foreseen such a prank could cost someone their career. They were willing to roll the dice with someone else’s future. You take the risk, you should own up when it goes awry. > Not try and weasel out. I don’t know that they are trying to weasel out. I do believe that they are sorry for what they’ve done, and not just sorry because they got caught and is being punished. There has to be a belief of a reasonable punishment they expected. Maybe they really thought they were simply going to get hung up on and that’s it. At the most, maybe they went ahead thinking the nurse or whoever answered might get in trouble, but suicide is like so much beyond what anyone reasonable can be expected to think will result that I can’t understand the extent of the outrage. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/172 "2012-12-10T19:10:14Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > But anybody could have foreseen such a prank could cost someone their career. They were willing to roll the dice with someone else’s future. You take the risk, you should own up when it goes awry. > Not try and weasel out. I’m having a hard time believing this. Some other factors were at play and, by now, we only know about DJ’s. So.. as I wrote someplace else: I sincerely hope that 2% of the time and effort committed to these pranksters – and quite a charade, by now – would be redirected to answer three outstanding questions: 1. I know it’s been “only” several days but coroner’s report - at least in its preliminary form - should be made available. 2. Nurse’s medical records review to put an end to oft speculated – and in my opinion totally misleading and wrong – idea that she had previous condition. 3. Detailed actions of hospital and royal family – and those authorized to handle these issues. Until then I reserve my right not go along and accuse of near-murder - and possibly totally innocent - DJ’s 5000 miles away from London. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/173 "2012-12-10T19:25:01Z")
When the DJ’s commit suicide, I’m blaming **Bam Boo Gut**. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/174 "2012-12-10T19:52:41Z")
With the uncalled pressure mounting, give it a few days. Even though, in their circle, deleting Twitter account might equal suicide. On a serious note, I would not be surprised if their lives start spiralling down from now on. Keep your Google alert for several months, we’ll be hearing about it soon. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/175 "2012-12-10T20:37:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > First, being a bank robber generally does qualify someone as a terrible person. I’m not talking about bank robbing - demanding money or else bodily harm will be done. I’m just talking about walking into a bank and asking for some money, which, in my mind, is somewhat equivalent to what these DJs did - they asked for something that should have been outrageous to ask for, and they should have been turned down, but for some reason they were not. > [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > They did call 5 times, **Cicero**. Each time they stated the official business and reason for the call, some nurse answered, laughed at the accent and hung up. That’s what you would reasonably expect, in my opinion. I’ll give you an example from my life; a co-worker came back from vacation, and everyone was asking how the vacation was. I made a small joke about how it was great - it was a vacation!, and he said no, actually, it was pretty awful, because my wife got third degree burns and ended up in the hospital. I had no reasonable expectation that that would be his response to my stupid little joke, just like these idiot DJs had no reasonable expectation that they would have ever gotten through on such a stupid prank. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/176 "2012-12-10T21:02:20Z")
I haven’t been pranked in a career-wrecking manner before, but I’ve experienced something similar to what happened to that nurse. It wasn’t fun, and in fact, it was so bad that I could have been standing on a ledge if that experience had added to a existing critical mass of crap and I’d had a bad support system. This is why I don’t go out of my way to mess with strangers. You never know what someone is going through. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/177 "2012-12-10T21:11:59Z")
I hate to be insensitive but if the nurse was that fragile I think the hospital may be better off. She could have just as easily harmed a patient as herself. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/178 "2012-12-10T22:43:29Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t know that they are trying to weasel out. I do believe that they are sorry for what they’ve done, and not just sorry because they got caught and is being punished. There has to be a belief of a reasonable punishment they expected. Maybe they really thought they were simply going to get hung up on and that’s it. At the most, maybe they went ahead thinking the nurse or whoever answered might get in trouble, but suicide is like so much beyond what anyone reasonable can be expected to think will result that I can’t understand the extent of the outrage. And I disagree; publicly humiliating someone and destroying their career is exactly the sort of thing that has a reasonable chance of resulting in suicide. Nor do I believe that they feel sorry; if they weren’t pretty much effectively sociopathic they wouldn’t have done what they did in the first place. They just thought they’d be able to ruin someone’s life for laughs, and are unhappy there’s been some actual consequences. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not talking about bank robbing - demanding money or else bodily harm will be done. I’m just talking about walking into a bank and asking for some money, which, in my mind, is somewhat equivalent to what these DJs did - they asked for something that should have been outrageous to ask for, and they should have been turned down, but for some reason they were not. And then broadcast it to the world, ensuring that the maximum possible amount of damage would be done. And from what I’ve heard, a teller quite likely would take such a demand to be a bank robbery attempt and hand you some booby-trapped money. > [@control-z](#): > > I hate to be insensitive but if the nurse was that fragile I think the hospital may be better off. She could have just as easily harmed a patient as herself. I don’t think it takes being “fragile” to behave irrationally after being nationally humiliated and probably seeing your career destroyed. ---
**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, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/179 "2012-12-10T22:58:47Z")
Has the nurse who actually gave the information ever fronted up to say, “I am an idiot for actually believing I was speaking to the Queen AND for breaching patient confidentiality. Had I not been so foolish, there would not have been a phone call to air; making whether or not a prank was attempted a moot point. If any one factor in this event contributed to the death of my colleague, it was that I was idiotic enough to be fooled by a very, very poor accent.” ? ? Would that fit into your demands to “own up” **elbows**? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316/180 "2012-12-10T23:37:57Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And I disagree; publicly humiliating someone and destroying their career is exactly the sort of thing that has a reasonable chance of resulting in suicide. Nor do I believe that they feel sorry; if they weren’t pretty much effectively sociopathic they wouldn’t have done what they did in the first place. They just thought they’d be able to ruin someone’s life for laughs, and are unhappy there’s been some actual consequences. You have an extremely strange and disturbingly unhealthy image in your head of the DJs. It seems to be based on nothing that actually exists in this situation. You’re completely inventing things to get enraged about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-the-prankers/643316.md?page=10)