Count me among the ones who thinks it is not funny. I find it just stupid.
Practical jokes are basically humor for the humor-impaired. Even so, I can appreciate a well-timed and executed prank on a certain level. This prank is fucking stupid, however, and lacks any sort of subtlety or complexity.
I mean, think about the mental processes going on in the victim’s mind as our would-be Oscar Wilde pulls off his triumph of wit:
“Yay! $10,000. Lucky me!”
“Oh, it was fake; I don’t have $10,000. Now I am sad.”
My mind boggles at the intricate web of subtle manipulation. I mean, first they thought they had won some money, but then (and this is the killer) they actually didn’t.
Damn, I just can’t get over it, I mean, first they HAD, like $10,000 but it turns out they actually DIDN’T! Jesus Christ that is funny!
“Hey, Bob, here is that new liver you’ve been waiting for!”
“D’oh! It’s made of rubber! Guess I’m still gonna die! HAR HAR HAR!”
Wow. wipes tear