Why April Fools' day is utter crap

Why April Fools’ day is utter(ˈədər) crap

Admit it: April Fools’ day, a day when everyone supposedly(səˈpōzədlē) gets to have a laugh, is crap. There are many reasons for this

By Dean Burnett

It’s April Fools’ Day! Joy of joys! What could be more fun than all of society coming up with their best jokes en-masse and showing them to the world? Nothing! Apart from, maybe, pouring(pôr) lemon(ˈlemən) juice on a vicious(ˈviSHəs) paper cut.

In case that last sentence was too subtle(ˈsədl), I’m not a fan of April Fools’ day. This might surprise regular readers, given that this blog regularly features the most frivolous(ˈfrivələs) and ridiculous of non-stories (in the science(ˈsīəns) section, no less). So surely I approve of April Fools’? But no. I can’t stand it, it grates(ɡrāt) on my nerves (and I’m a neuroscientist(ˈn(y)o͝orōˌsīəntəst), so I don’t use that phrase(frāz) lightly). And, judging by most of the online reactions I’ve seen thus far, I’m far from alone in this.

Why? Why would an occasion(əˈkāZHən) which, whatever its confusing origins(ˈôrəjən), is ostensibly(äˈstensiblē) about having a laugh, be so infuriating(inˈfyo͞orēˌādiNG)? Well, there are several reasons, both social and psychological(ˌsīkəˈläjək(ə)l).

It’s too familiar
…
It’s too predictable(prəˈdiktəb(ə)l)
…

Officially sanctioned(ˈsaNG(k)SH(ə)n) fun is an oxymoron(ˌäksəˈmôrˌän)
…
It’s patronising(ˈpātrənīziNG)
…
It’s worse if you work in comedy(ˈkämədē) in any capacity(kəˈpasədē)
…

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/apr/01/why-april-fools-day-is-utter-crap