Prank

Prank

I've been reflecting on the series of events surrounding two Australian DJ's making a prank call to the hospital treating Kate Middleton and the subsequent tragedy of the nurse who took the call  taking her own life.  

I've never been a fan of prank calls.  Playing on other peoples gullibility (or vulnerability depending on how you see it) has never amused me.  Along with prank calls I place aspects of TV shows like X-Factor where there is a need to show people who have little or no talent or ability in a way that's just pure ridicule.  I've long said that at some point someone would react badly to the ridicule and suicide would be the end result.  As it turns out I have the right outcome from the wrong activity, its a prank call that brings this bit of soothsaying by me to a truth.

For my mind it comes down to the issue of responsibility for ones actions.  The DJ's clearly did not intend to humiliate someone into suicide but that is the actual outcome of their prank call. Intended or not, they are responsible.  If we dispense them from that responsibility then where do we draw the line?  Its a dangerous notion that we would remove someone from the consequences of their actions.

Personally I think they should be charged.  It would send the right message to those who would engage in this kind of infantile kind of stunt.  Playing with peoples emotions, pounding their dreams, making them look ridiculous should all be on the cards if the consequences are accepted.

For the nurses family I feel dreadfully sorry, at the end of the day they are the only victims of this.