Article Donside Lying Contest
Summary: Two students turned a lying contest on its head by lying too convincingly.
Many college pranks are the result of careful planning, but occasionally they come about simply when a student recognizes an opportunity and goes for it. Such was the case with the lying contest prank perpetrated by two students at the Edinburgh College of Art.
The Donside Paper Company sponsored an annual contest for graphic design students. In 2000, to spice things up a bit, the company decided to give its contest a slightly different spin. Entrants were challenged to respond to one of three briefs: 1) to promote the Bermuda Triangle as a holiday destination; 2) to design a welcome pack for a shopaholics’ association; or 3) to tell a lie convincingly.
In hindsight, one can only say that the Donside Paper Company should have known better than to invite college students to lie.
The competition seemed to be going well, and many entries had already been received, when the participating colleges received a letter on Donside stationery explaining that the contest had regrettably been cancelled. Obediently, the schools began to turn away new entries. In a panic, Donside called to ask what they were doing, and only then did the schools realize their mistake. The cancellation letter had itself been an entry from a contestant who had taken the challenge to “tell a lie convincingly” to heart. Hundreds of letters and phone calls were required to rectify the situation. However, the colleges took it all in stride. One of them commented, “Isn’t it funny — it’s the ultimate lie.”
Fooled Again
Having recovered from their embarrassment, the schools hastily sought to wrap up the contest, but they were delayed when they received a fax from Donside announcing that the closing date had been moved back a month and that all entries would have to be resubmitted. Wearily, the schools began to contact all the contestants, until they realized they had been tricked again.
Donside, to its credit, took the pranks with good humor. It announced that it had no intention of punishing the mischievous contestants. In fact, it was quite willing to judge their entries alongside the others. It made good on this promise when Cleo Cobb and Colleen Pugh of the Edinburgh College of Art came forward and admitted to being responsible for the rogue entries. Bill Gore, the Chief Executive of Donside, personally awarded them prizes in recognition of their creativity.
References
- Claudia Joseph. (May 5, 2000). “Pranksters graduate in fine art of spoofing.” The Independent.
- “Fib hoax hits liars.” (March 31, 2000). The Mirror.
- Ken Banks. (March 31, 2000). “Fact and fiction blurred in liars’ contest.” The Scotsman.