A prank call or crank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Once upon a time when cellphones and the Internet were not yet in existence, making prank calls was a means to reduce one’s boredom. Now with the plethora of social networking sites, online games, and interesting websites, it’s surprising that making prank calls has not died together with phone pals and party lines. Ironically, the Internet had made prank calls more sophisticated.
The Internet has allowed many people to share their own personal prank calls and develop into communities. Prank calls can be carried out in many ways whether live or pre-recorded. The use of social networking and the popularity of user generated content allow these prank calls to spread and its popularity to grow. Reaction videos and photo montages are also popular ways of sharing prank phone calls via video sharing websites like YouTube.
Pranknet is an anonymous prank calling virtual community responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in damage to hotels and fast food restaurants. Posing as authority figures, such as fire alarm company representatives and hotel corporate managers, Pranknet participants called unsuspecting employees and customers in the US via Skype and tricked them into damaging property, setting off fire sprinklers and other humiliating acts.
Prank calls are now easily traced through Caller ID. However, most telephone companies permit callers to withhold the identifying information. An increasingly popular option is to use some form of VOIP. With some VOIP services, the telephone number will simply not exist.
People like to have fun and some like to make fun of others. Harmless fun is okay but like all other things, there should always be a limitation. I just hope these prank callers would keep in mind the Golden Rule and would stop pestering other people!
- Glaisa PO
(entry no. 13)
The Internet has allowed many people to share their own personal prank calls and develop into communities. Prank calls can be carried out in many ways whether live or pre-recorded. The use of social networking and the popularity of user generated content allow these prank calls to spread and its popularity to grow. Reaction videos and photo montages are also popular ways of sharing prank phone calls via video sharing websites like YouTube.
Pranknet is an anonymous prank calling virtual community responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in damage to hotels and fast food restaurants. Posing as authority figures, such as fire alarm company representatives and hotel corporate managers, Pranknet participants called unsuspecting employees and customers in the US via Skype and tricked them into damaging property, setting off fire sprinklers and other humiliating acts.
Prank calls are now easily traced through Caller ID. However, most telephone companies permit callers to withhold the identifying information. An increasingly popular option is to use some form of VOIP. With some VOIP services, the telephone number will simply not exist.
People like to have fun and some like to make fun of others. Harmless fun is okay but like all other things, there should always be a limitation. I just hope these prank callers would keep in mind the Golden Rule and would stop pestering other people!
- Glaisa PO
(entry no. 13)
1 comment:
maraming tao na walang magawa sa buhay at ganyan ang inaatupag - prank calls ;)
i just remembered, my dad now has his magic jack. tapos he called EVERYONE he knows sa states to tell them that he has magic jack and that they can call them anytime (kasi as if local call lang when you call him through there). my cousins and titas who first got a call from my dad thought there was an emergency. kasi bihira naman kami tumawag sa states kasi may email, ym or skype naman. ayun. they laughed kasi tumawag lang si dad for that. parang prank call ;)
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