Men can somehow be incredibly cruel to one another, in a very protracted and public ways, and not damage their friendships at all.
Pranks are accepted in male culture. They are encouraged. Embraced.
They may actually serve to strengthen friendships over time.
The more elaborate and cruel the prank, the better.
The prank that these minor league baseball players played on their teammate, Jeff Francoeur, is hilarious and incredibly embarrassing. Not only did they make him look foolish, but they created a film to document the prank and posted it online, where it’s received more than a million views already.
Still, I have no doubt that the relationship between Jeff Francoeur and his teammates remains unaltered and unharmed. He may be embarrassed, and he may be plotting revenge, but he’s not angry.
This is how man are.
I don’t see this same phenomenon in female culture. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the elaborate prank, the public acts of cruelty and the constant attempts to embarrass or derail your friends for the sake of amusement are not things that I see women regularly embrace.
Women don’t seem to prank one another. At least not with the frequency that men do.
As a man, I’d be hesitant to prank a woman, especially in a public way.
As the father of a little girl, it makes me sad to think that she may miss out on the joy of prank culture. Some of the pranks that I have perpetrated and been victim to are some of my all-time favorite memories.
When I was 17 years-old and working at McDonald’s, my friends waited for me outside the restaurant, near the dumpster, knowing that I would be bringing out the trash soon. As I lifted the first bag into the dumpster, they emerged from their hiding places (four guys in all), dragged me to the ground, held me down and tickled me in front of fellow employees and customers for a solid minute before sprinting to their cars and driving off.
I’ll never forget it. It was horrible and embarrassing and even a little terrifying at first, but it was hilarious, too.
I have dozens, if not hundreds, of memories like that.
I’d hate to think that Clara won’t enjoy similar moments in her life because she’s a girl.
Tell me I’m wrong.
