# "I'm really a girl" (April 1st prank PM) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519 "2015-04-01T17:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/161 "2015-04-02T20:09:28Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I didn’t before, but since you keep bringing it up, now I feel obligated. That was the whole idea. ---
**Author:** ![Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/162 "2015-04-02T20:15:57Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MRys7zIcqPY/maxresdefault.jpg "The Veronicas - You Ruin Me (Lyric Video) NEW 2014") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRys7zIcqPY) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/163 "2015-04-02T20:35:10Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > So my point is: for **Idle Thoughts** to so glibly assert the anonymity of his correspondents when h posts their words is foolsih, because it relies upon indifference and not actual anonymity. “Security by obscurity,” as the IT folks like to say. I’m not saying you aren’t right to object, but in my case you actually are anonymous - I don’t know which PM was yours. You need a pretty obvious quirk in your posting style before I catch a clue. Regards, _[redacted]_ ---
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/164 "2015-04-02T21:17:55Z")
Ok, I am late to this, um, party as you can see. I responded with sincerity to IT, and got back…an apology. Wait, what? IT, you really pussed out. Your message to me, instead of a clever and sly gotcha was simpering and whiney. Not attractive. You could have gone the distance with it. Why the copout? As pranks go, inane and mediocre. And another thing I’ve learned, mods can act like douches sometimes. Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/165 "2015-04-02T22:20:36Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Cross posting this to the ATMB thread too. > > Some backstory… > **On Facebook,** for the [last](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/1969225354031) [four](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/3648924105450?pnref=story) [years](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/10203582424304924?pnref=story) I’ve done this. Every April 1st, I do the whole “Okay, confession time. I’m really a girl. I’ve been a girl all this time” prank. Mostly because it’s extremely amusing to see some people always believe it, despite having seen many of my photos, talked with people who know me in real life, or who have even actually _met me_ Well, THERE’S your problem. Nothing that’s a good idea on Facebook is actually a good idea anywhere else. :o Words to live by, my not-quite-friend. I never did get an answer, although I’ll admit I’m not obsessively reading every post in every thread about this SDMB watershed event. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. (“We’re not a happy family…”) I have no idea how you picked me to be among your [del]victims[/del] [del]correspondents[/del] lucky winners. Luck (random selection)? Saw my posts and like the cut of my jib? “Send to all?” Secret man-crush? Really, what did I do to deserve this? ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/166 "2015-04-02T22:32:21Z")
While I hardly think the “prank” was horrendously cruel, it was’t even mildly funny. Even a robot could easily compose a more humorous prank. It’s just a pathetic plea for attention by someone who had nothing to say but “look at me”. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/167 "2015-04-02T22:52:34Z")
IMO it was a harmless prank; no big surprise on April Fool’s Day. On the other hand, the intentional nastiness toward the OP that has been displayed on some of these posts (like the one above) just astounds me. ---
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/168 "2015-04-02T23:19:21Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > While I hardly think the “prank” was horrendously cruel, it was’t even mildly funny. Even a robot could easily compose a more humorous prank. It’s just a pathetic plea for attention by someone who had nothing to say but “look at me”. This. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/169 "2015-04-02T23:23:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’m not saying you aren’t right to object, but in my case you actually are anonymous - I don’t know which PM was yours. I’m assuming it’s the “cantankerous conservative” one, which I would not have identified as Bricker’s, even given a $1000 prize. He’d be on my list, and given enough guesses, I’d eventually get to it, but I don’t think of him as particularly “cantankerous.” Had he not said anything in this thread, I would never have connected it with him. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/170 "2015-04-02T23:36:18Z")
> [@Athabasca](#): > > This. Now, \*that \*was clever and sly. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/171 "2015-04-02T23:40:28Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I have no idea how you picked me to be among your [del]victims[/del] [del]correspondents[/del] lucky winners. Luck (random selection)? Saw my posts and like the cut of my jib? “Send to all?” Secret man-crush? Really, what did I do to deserve this? It was whoever was online at the time I was doing it, which was for about an hour yesterday morning (8am to 9am AZ time). ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/172 "2015-04-03T00:14:28Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > IMO it was a harmless prank; no big surprise on April Fool’s Day. On the other hand, the intentional nastiness toward the OP that has been displayed on some of these posts (like the one above) just astounds me. Why am I supposed to feel and remark positively toward someone who thinks lying to others is inherently fun? There should be nothing “astounding” about someone pointing out something so obvious. If a joke has no punchline, no twist of the unexpected, and isn’t funny, is it even a joke? ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/173 "2015-04-03T00:18:05Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > It was whoever was online at the time I was doing it, which was for about an hour yesterday morning (8am to 9am AZ time). See, you’ve even lied in further messages that claim that you did this only to people whose posts you “like.” Your misinterpretation of this holiday has made it one of your favorites, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/174 "2015-04-03T00:19:30Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Why am I supposed to feel and remark positively toward someone who thinks lying to others is inherently fun? There should be nothing “astounding” about someone pointing out something so obvious. If a joke has no punchline, no twist of the unexpected, and isn’t funny, is it even a joke? Despite the phrasing of this post, I am assuming you don’t actually believe that your only choices were to either feel and remark positively, or to respond with nastiness. I may be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/175 "2015-04-03T00:20:39Z")
He never said that; he said from the very beginning that it was whoever was on line at the time. How does it make you feel to call someone a liar who is just doing a prank to make people smile? Superior? ETA this is for AnaMan ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/176 "2015-04-03T00:22:16Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > On the other hand, the intentional nastiness toward the OP that has been displayed on some of these posts (like the one above) just astounds me. …it was an inherently nasty “prank.” From the unsolicited nature of it, to the emotional nature of the private message, to the posting of those private messages without permission. And the follow up is that anyone who expresses even the small amount of displeasure at the prank is getting mocked as “over-sensitive.” > [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Cross posting this to the ATMB thread too. > > Some backstory… > On Facebook, for the [last](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/1969225354031) [four](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/3648924105450?pnref=story) [years](https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLeeNeal/posts/10203582424304924?pnref=story) I’ve done this. Every April 1st, I do the whole “Okay, confession time. I’m really a girl. I’ve been a girl all this time” prank. Mostly because it’s extremely amusing to see some people always believe it, despite having seen many of my photos, talked with people who know me in real life, or who have even actually _met me_. > I even did in in 2013, but can’t find the FB post for it right now. > Anyway, it got to the point where I became sort of “known” for this joke and even had many people messaging me before the first asking me if I’m going to do it again this year. Some years I’ve considered not doing it and said this, but it always seemed to get a lot of “No, you must do it! It’s practically tradition now!” type replies. > Even this year, I did a callback to that old prank now, [by changing my FB photo to one of me in drag](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206463046078668&set=a.1609493920970.80151.1344879340&type=1&theater) (yes, that’s really me). > > So, if you’re friends with me on FB (or been friends with me on there for awhile), this prank should come as no surprise to you. For those of you who aren’t, however, you can see that this prank is nothing new in terms of me doing it. There is a huge difference between the “pranks” and it is pretty astonishing that you can’t see it. On facebook people are either your friends or are followers, they have seen your photos, some of them even know who you are in real life, they understand your sense of humour, so when you post something that says: > [@](#): > > "I’ve been keeping a secret for awhile and I don’t really know who to tell…I saw you were online, though, and figured “What the hell?”. > I know you and I don’t talk, really…but I’ve always liked most of your posts and just wanted to get it out to someone. > > It’s probably not even that big of a deal, but it will help my own conscience. > I’m not a guy, I’m actually a female. > Yeah… > > Nobody else knows this, I’ve never told anyone…and it was probably very stupid to hide the fact in the first place, but years ago, when I first registered, I just felt more comfortable letting people think I was a guy. > > Anyway, again, not sure why I’m telling you, but it’s weird. I feel that if at least one person knows, I don’t feel as guilty." It is obvious it is a joke: as everybody knows exactly who you are. If they didn’t know who you were, they wouldn’t have made friends with you. But on the Straight Dope most people don’t have a clue who you are. To most people you are a moderator first. And while you may be the recipient of hundreds of private messages I’ve only had about fifteen since I signed up to the dope. So a private message from an authority figure sent on April 2nd (because we don’t all live in the same time zone as you) about an extremely personal thing would be perceived very differently to a facebook post read by your family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/177 "2015-04-03T00:23:51Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > Why am I supposed to feel and remark positively toward someone who thinks lying to others is inherently fun? There should be nothing “astounding” about someone pointing out something so obvious. If a joke has no punchline, no twist of the unexpected, and isn’t funny, is it even a joke? Isn’t lying to people for fun the point of April Fool’s Day? The only thing obvious to me is that you seem to lack a sense of humor. I feel sorry for you that you seem to be so deeply offended by it on such a personal level. There was no malice intended in the prank. I didn’t think it was that epic, but all I did was roll my eyes and go about with the rest of my day. Lighten up, Francis. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/178 "2015-04-03T00:27:24Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > But on the Straight Dope most people don’t have a clue who you are. To most people you are a moderator first. And while you may be the recipient of hundreds of private messages I’ve only had about fifteen since I signed up to the dope. So a private message from an authority figure sent on April 2nd (because we don’t all live in the same time zone as you) about an extremely personal thing would be perceived very differently to a facebook post read by your family and friends. Bingo. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/179 "2015-04-03T00:42:07Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Bingo. Except I don’t get why you guys think this was extremely personal. Almost no one here is hiding their gender. Most don’t even keep their sexual orientation private. When I got the PM I assumed (if it was true) was that it was just a girl who didnt want flirting and shit. The only way this is extremely personal is if we make the leap to a real gender identity issue. Did you think that? ---
**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:** [April 3, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519/180 "2015-04-03T01:05:26Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Except I don’t get why you guys think this was extremely personal. It was written like it was personal. There are people who do this for all sorts of reasons, some of which are personal. Revealing it to the public can make it personal. Many reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-really-a-girl-april-1st-prank-pm/716519.md?page=10)