# Prankster Doesn't See What Was Wrong with His Prank **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528 "2019-06-14T21:43:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/1 "2019-06-14T21:43:29Z")
I was idly reading some back columns of Dear Annie today and came across [this gem](https://www.creators.com/read/dear-annie/06/19/prank-gone-too-far). My hackles rose at the word “prank” because I’ve always thought pranks were rather mean-spirited, but holy crows, does this guy take the cake. Briefly, the letter writer pulled a “prank” on a co-worker that I think should have gotten him arrested and perhaps beaten to a pulp. While the co-worker was on vacation, the prankster “put” his house up for sale, including an ad in the paper, yard signs, and banners and gave out his co-worker’s cellphone number so interested buyers could call while he and his family were on their trip. The poor guy got hundreds of calls, and the prankster doesn’t understand why 1) Everyone is mad at him 2) Co-worker got two good offers on his house, so what’s the big deal and 3) Co-worker shouldn’t have spend his hard-earned money on a vacation anyway. Talk about clueless. I think even Dear Annie was gobsmacked. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/2 "2019-06-14T22:12:51Z")
This wasn’t a prank, but a crime. The jerk belongs in jail. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/3 "2019-06-14T22:19:18Z")
Something about that Dear Annie column raises my suspicions that the letter is fake. It’s just too over the top. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/4 "2019-06-14T23:08:13Z")
That could be too. But there are clueless people in the world. I feel sorry for his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/5 "2019-06-15T00:10:20Z")
In a world in which [people’s houses have been sold without their knowing about it](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-23/north-canberra-house-sold-in-real-estate-fraud/5617164), finding a for sale sign on your front lawn is not in any way funny ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/6 "2019-06-15T01:42:17Z")
The first show of the third season of “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” involved the kids selling their house (while the parents were away) to a couple. The wife was played by Patty Hearst. But the co-worker should be pounded into a photon. And then fired. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/7 "2019-06-15T02:05:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Something about that Dear Annie column raises my suspicions that the letter is fake. It’s just too over the top. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/8 "2019-06-15T02:50:09Z")
In [Episode 1 Season 1 of Joe Pera Talks With You](https://www.adultswim.com/videos/joe-pera-talks-with-you/joe-pera-shows-you-iron), Joe Pera attempts to show you Iron, but he’s interrupted by a family wanting to view his house for sale. Turns out the neighborhood kids put someone else’s For Sale sign in his yard, as a prank. But it worked out because the actual house for sale looks just like Joe’s and the family bought it and now they’re some of Joe’s best 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:** [June 15, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/9 "2019-06-15T03:09:08Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The first show of the third season of “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” involved the kids selling their house (while the parents were away) to a couple. The wife was played by Patty Hearst. > > But the co-worker should be pounded into a photon. And then fired. Into the sun. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/10 "2019-06-15T04:01:04Z")
You’re being a [Stiffly Stifferson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jORviU2oyMQ). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/11 "2019-06-15T05:19:05Z")
I love pranking Stiffly Stiffersons with my tire iron. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/12 "2019-06-17T00:45:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Something about that Dear Annie column raises my suspicions that the letter is fake. It’s just too over the top. I think so too. The clincher is the pranker claiming that the prankee “got two good offers”. How would he know? Seems unlikely that the homeowner would tell this clown what people were offering, and even if he did, what is a “good offer” on a house that is not for sale at any price? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/13 "2019-06-17T02:39:51Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I think so too. The clincher is the pranker claiming that the prankee “got two good offers”. How would he know? Seems unlikely that the homeowner would tell this clown what people were offering, and even if he did, what is a “good offer” on a house that is not for sale at any price? Not to mention: Who makes an offer on a house they haven’t seen the inside of? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/14 "2019-06-17T03:37:51Z")
When we put up our family home for sale, we got two offers before we set up a viewing by appointment only. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/15 "2019-06-17T03:39:10Z")
When we put up our family home for sale, we got two offers through the realtor before we set up a viewing by appointment only. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/16 "2019-06-17T12:04:49Z")
So, that’s four offers in total? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/17 "2019-06-17T13:34:38Z")
Reminds me of [Kathy Rowe](https://fabiosa.com/ctfk-rsafr-auimk-pbmts-phavn-literal-house-of-horrors-a-couple-bought-a-house-of-their-dreams-but-didn-t-know-it-came-with-a-crazy-stalker/). I worked in 26 years in real estate and yes, this is an illegal act and should be prosecuted, ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/18 "2019-06-17T14:31:54Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Not to mention: Who makes an offer on a house they haven’t seen the inside of? I’ve seen that happen when what someone wanted was the land. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/19 "2019-06-17T14:58:53Z")
We live in a neighborhood that everyone seems to want to live in: small 1920s-but-updated homes, next to a park on a lake, within a short walk to good schools, tons of shops and a college. Our neighbors bought their house by driving down our street every night. One evening they caught a glimpse of a piece of scrap paper thumbtacked to a door: “Willing to sell, call Ralph (555) 555-5555” They pulled over, called and told him they’d take the house. That was ten years ago. If Ralph hadn’t had title to the house, they would’ve noticed by now… ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528/20 "2019-06-17T15:24:05Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Not to mention: Who makes an offer on a house they haven’t seen the inside of? I made an offer and actually bought my condo before seeing it…my real estate agent checked it out and said it was a great price so I went for it. A lot of people seem shocked that someone would do that, but it all worked out okay (except the [previous owner left a big mess, but that would have happened anyway). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prankster-doesnt-see-what-was-wrong-with-his-prank/835528.md?page=2)