Modern Technology Has Ruined the Prank Call

In a time not so long ago and a place not far away, there was once a fun activity we all enjoyed: the prank call. What could be more fun than calling your friend who was home alone babysitting and then simply breathing into the phone? Never forget the fun times calling random strangers and asking if their refrigerator was running. What about the calls to random offices and asking for I.P. Freely? Oh man, those were some great times. But now, modern technology has ruined the prank call.

Yes, we've come a long way. Modern technology has helped our lives in so many ways. We have cell phones so we can call 911 for an emergency. We have Caller ID so we can avoid answering telemarketer calls. These are all wonderful contributions to our world. However, for everything gained there is something lost. I am sad to say, we are losing the ability to make a great prank call.

You know who I weep for the most in this situation? The children. There are many innocent children out there that have never made a prank call - nor will they ever! Even if they try, they can never succeed like the generations before them. No, the prank call has been ruined.

Caller ID is potentially one of the greatest inventions of our time. We no longer have to pick up the phone everytime it rings. We can easily avoid certain people like telemarketers, collections agencies, family members, etc. The annoying people in our lives no longer have the ability to call and talk whenever they want. Caller ID can block them from ruining a perfectly good day. Instead, now they can just find you online and annoy you there.

There is a terrible downside to Caller ID. A prank call is basically impossible. Even if you do block your number from appearing on the Caller ID screen, most people will not pick up the phone if they see an unknown number. Leaving a funny message on the voicemail just is not quite the same. You can no longer pretend to be a crazed stalker and scare the hell out of people. The fun of calling and asking, "Is there a John in the house?" is over. Does anyone even call the toilet a John anymore anyway? Geez, times are changing!

While we are on the subject of ruining prank call fun, let's talk about cordless phones and cell phones. Are they useful? Yes. Are they ruining our ability to make some fun prank calls? Yes.

For example, a great practical joke is when you are living in the same house or a dorm with someone, but you have your own separate phone line. As soon as a person starts to leave the room, dial their phone. The person runs back into the room. This is when you hang up. Once they start to leave again, call them again. It's loads of fun until you start laughing and the victim walks around the corner and slaps you.

With modern technology, everyone has a cell phone. You hang up once and they just put the phone in their pocket, ready for the next time it rings. You can't really try the prank again. It is a totally useless phone prank now.

Yes, we are constantly evolving in these modern times. Some of the best classic pranks are totally worthless now. We must begin to push further and face the truth: new forms of the prank call must be created. We have to put our heads together. It is time for something new and innovative. Please share your ideas with me. We have to do it. If not for us, let's do it for future generations of prank callers.