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There's nothing quite like a good prank. Whether you're simply channeling the summer camp classic of sticking a sleeping bunkmate's hand into a cup of warm water or plotting an elaborate Ocean's Eleven heist-like scenario to pull one over on a buddy, when it all comes together in hilarious humiliation, you can't help but crack a proud grin.
炮制一出高妙的惡作劇給人的滿足感實在無與倫比。不管你僅是套用夏令營經典惡作劇招數，將熟睡室友的手放進一杯溫水里，還是對好友上演《十一羅漢》里那精妙設計的攔路搶劫劇情，只要讓他人丑態畢露，引發爆笑，你總會禁不住自豪地奸笑起來。
And there's no better time than now to talk to a couple experts on everything you need to know to appropriately bask in the tomfoolery this year.
而此時正是向專家們請教今年該怎樣盡情“愚人娛己”的最佳時機。
So, why do we pull pranks anyway? According to Tim Nyberg, author of The Practical Joker's Handbook and The Practical Joker's Handbook: The Sequel, such wanton acts of entertaining deviousness break the monotony of the everyday. "Pranks are the part of the seasoning that makes life interesting," he said. "A sure cure for boredom is planning and executing a creative practical joke."
話又說回來，我們為何要開玩笑呢？根據《惡作劇者實用手冊》和《惡作劇者實用手冊（續）》的作者蒂姆·紐伯格的說法，這些淘氣的娛人詭計打破了日常生活的單調。“惡作劇是為我們生活添加趣味的調味料，”他說，“要打破沉悶，一個絕對有效的做法就是策劃并實施一個富有創意的惡作劇?！?br />
Nyberg cited a number of motives from "just for the hell of it" to the joy of preying on a friend's gullibility. Or, for revenge, of course. Ah ye the payback prank. While the phrase "an eye for an eye, makes the world blind" is often attributed to Gandhi, we're pretty sure that even Mahatma would return the favor of a whoopee cushion slipped onto his seat by sprinkling itching powder into the perpetrator's jockstrap.
紐伯格列舉了形形色色的惡作劇動機，從“就為了好玩”，到享受輕易騙到朋友的樂趣。當然還有，為了報復。啊，對了，還有報復惡作劇。我們都知道“以眼還眼（即以牙還牙），世界只會更盲目”的名言出自甘地，但我們還是能肯定，如果這位圣雄也遭遇過坐上放屁墊子這樣的惡作劇，他也會回敬這位始作俑者的——在其運動內褲里撒上癢粉。
"Is there any motive other than revenge?" said comedian and CollegeHumor.com writer Streeter Seidell, whose years-long war of escalating pranks with fellow CollegeHumor employee Amir Blumenfield have become an Internet sensation. "Even the initial prank in a war is likely spurred by some offense you feel needs to be rectified," he added.
“除了報復，惡作劇還有別的理由嗎？”喜劇演員、“大學幽默”網站的作家史崔特·賽德爾說道。他與“大學幽默”網站的同事阿默·布魯曼菲爾德之間那長達數年、不斷升級的惡作劇大戰在網絡上引起熱議。他還說道：“引發惡作劇輪番大戰的第一個捉弄把戲很可能不過是別人一次不經意的冒犯，但卻激起了你的‘報復’心理。”
But maybe you don't have any grievances that need to be addressed. Maybe you just want to have some devilish fun at another's expense. In that case, Nyberg advised setting your sights on your friend preferably one with a good sense of humor. "It's always best when both parties (eventually) find humor in the prank," he explained.
不過你也可能沒有什么冤屈特別需要平反的。你可能只想從別人身上獲得這種邪惡的快意。如果是這樣，紐伯格建議大家把對象限定在朋友圈里，最好是富有幽默感的人?！叭绻p方（最終）都能從惡作劇里找到幽默的樂趣，那就再好不過了?！彼忉尩?。
Speaking from the perspective of someone who has been on both ends of the joke, Seidell echoed Nyberg's suggestion. "I can always forgive Amir for whatever caliber of prank he pulls because he's my friend and we work together every day," he said. "But if some random person decided to pull something on me just for fun, I can't say I'd be as forgiving."
站在惡作劇施受雙方的角度，賽德爾也贊同紐伯格的建議?！盁o論阿默開什么玩笑我都能原諒他，因為他是我的朋友，我們每天在一起工作，”他說，“但如果是一個隨便的什么人想來愚弄我，拿我尋開心，我可不敢說我會如此寬容?！?/p>
