That particular post was not commenting on the OP’s videos. I was commenting on @Hogarth’s points about April Fools in general being downplayed versus umpteen years ago. And being downplayed largely in the name of increased sensitivity. Which is, generally speaking, a worthy goal. Much as was just pointed out by @Miller just above while I was typing.
I’ve written then deleted several almost-posts here today. Most of which echo what @Jasmine just said a moment ago but in far less diplomatic terms.
This is what I’m really thinking vs the OP itself: I have little use for whiny entitled types complaining that they didn’t get the joke. For an Aspergery sort to complain that they never get any jokes and somehow that’s the OP’s fault for not helping them overcome their handicap in this instance is purely bunk. Whiny speshul flowers with no sense of proportion are one of many banes of our modern world.
When it comes to pranks and practical jokes in general, including but not limited to April Fool jokes, where the intention is to temporarily fool people, sometimes the joke is made with the intention to make people feel mad or embarrassed or upset when they realize they’ve been fooled, and sometimes the intention is to make people laugh and grin and feel amused when they realize they’ve been fooled. The former is arguably mean-spirited and jerkish on the jokester’s part; the latter is all in good fun.
Let me echo the sentiment that you are under no obligation to do things any differently than you did for a teeny, tiny portion of the population that didn’t get the jist of the video. Using a kind of “rule of least harm”, I think catering to those few would diminish the positive impact your video had for those that enjoyed it (full disclosure: I thought it was freakin’ hilarious, and it was greatly appreciated).
I’ve recently learned of the term “tone tags.” An example I’ve used before is putting “/s” at the end of a sarcastic statement or post to make it clear that it is sarcastic. The key point is that you put them at the end, not the beginning.
So it would seem to me that the traditional “April Fools!” statement (or similar) at the end would perform the same function as those tone tags.
Growing up, I always wore green on St. Patrick’s Day. In my elementary school, and even jr and sr high, there would be students/friends, who would be happy to pinch anyone not wearing green.
I don’t know about the U.S, but where I live now, no one knows this. It’s not part of the culture.
April Fool’s Day is similar, as it’s not part of all cultures. Something that might be funny in the U.S. might not be found funny by someone in Switzerland, as some things are not universal.
So I will agree that a successful joke depends on knowing the audience. And being able to accept that not everyone will get it.
As long as it is not mean-spirited, where’s the harm?
This actually makes a lot of sense - because in the case of very subtly crafted April Fools gags, the intent is for all viewers to be looking on and thinking “Wait, is this real?”, until the reveal or punchline - which means the experience for the person who requires tone tags is the same as the experience for everyone else.
Perhaps a more appropriate to the OP HHGTTG reference would be the fabulously beautiful planet Bethselamin and it’s solution to the threat of erosion from tourism.
Obviously not directed at the OP, but there are sometimes consequences when people aren’t in on the joke. This is an extreme example, but with the rash of people pulling practical jokes for social media views it seems that some people are lashing out.
In terms of timing the experience might be the same. But in terms of whether somebody enjoys the experience of the reveal it probably isn’t.
I can greatly enjoy a good put-on as long as it’s not mean-spirited. Somebody on the spectrum who’s militant about it will simply see the same experience as attacking them for their handicap, “triggering” all their frustrations.
For sure try the closing tone tag as @BigT suggests. Which will whittle down some of the offenderati’s whining. But the hard core people who remain offended will be the noisiest ones.
And then be happy with your overall outcome - some people simply cannot be pleased. Strike that; some people simply refuse to be pleased.
There’s got to be a bit more to that story that is being held back (either about the state of mind of the shooter, or the specifics of the ‘prank’ being the sort of thing where maybe reasonable force seemed appropriate)
Yeah, still not something to get shot over, but the nature of these prank channels is that they tend to escalate their antics over time in order to outdo their previous doings, until they end up doing something really stupid.