Today's Shocking Pens, Lighters, & similar joke items are nothing compared to the shocking pranks that were made up until as late as a decade ago..
They used to give the recipient a good Jolt compared to what is available now, and the change was made mostly for liability reasons.
Inside one of today's Shocking Pens
The problem with trying to characterize shock safety is that different subjects can react quite differently to the same voltage/current shock value. Some people might react quite violently and jump back, trip over something, and injure themself, while others might just twitch a little.
So electrical physics aside, because of the unpredictable response I would say that no shock toy is really safe and would be foolish to think otherwise.
Fortunately, today's shocking devices give you just a little tingle, nothing painful or harmful.
Before we get into how to pull a good prank, let's first discuss why we love doing it in the first place. Pranks, also known as practical jokes, are often viewed as a form of play-fighting, used to cement social bonds and help you grow closer with others. They also free us from inhibition, allowing us to act candidly and in ways that are not necessarily "proper."
But there is another reason why humans love pranks, and it's not as innocent as the points mentioned above. "It's a form of superiority," says Giselinde Kuipers, Ph.D., Other psychologists continue to study this side of pranking culture, particularly as it relates to bullying and harassment.
Fortunately, this kind of mean-spirited humor doesn't account for the majority of pranks pulled. Most good-natured gags are simply designed to highlight our fallibility, allowing us to learn something, so we don't end up falling for the same stunt again.
Disgusting jokes can be perceived as funny so long as they somehow come off as benign, as not hurting anyone or anything, the study finds.
How to pull a successful Prank
A harmless prank is really the way to go. You should never aim to inflict any physical or emotional harm on whoever it is you've decided to play a joke on. Also, stay away from pranks that might appear personal or diminishing to the other person involved. If your target does get offended or angry, then be sure to own up and apologize.
Accidents happen and plans can go awry, but it's important to touch base to make sure that no one is walking away with hurt feelings. With that in mind, it's also important to know your audience. What one person considers benign could be a little much for someone else. Think about the individuals involved and try to design your prank to suit them.
Once you've figured out what you're going to do and who you're going to prank, it's time to get serious. Approach the situation with a straight face so as not to give yourself away.
Be patient and let events unfold as organically as possible. And finally, don't forget to have your phone out and ready because these are moments you definitely won't want to forget.
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