Two young men, private Vladislav Lunev and first class private Nikolay Chistyakov escaped from the army troops not far from Moscow, Russia, late at night, the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily reported Saturday. Being in a very good mood, the two decided to play a practical joke on the drivers and lay down across the highway. The soldiers lay on the ground, feet touching, blocking the road. They crossed their arms on their chests and held cigarettes. At 3.20 a.m. a truck that carried milk to Moscow ran straight over both the young men. Lunev died on the spot, and Chistyakov, whose legs were smashed, died later in hospital. The truck driver did not even stop. As he later told the police that detained him, he had no idea the two figures he ran over had been real people. He said countryside boys often threw dummies — clothes stuffed by straw — into the road to scare the drivers. On seeing two camouflaged figures, the driver calmly sped on, never realizing he killed two people.

Anyone who does something that deliberately places them in harm's way, relying upon someone else to notice that they're being stupid and react in time...

Well, the FIRST rule of hoaxing is, "Don't talk about hoaxing." The SECOND rule would be, "Don't do anything that breaks the law or would hurt you or someone else."

Other than that, the sky's pretty much the limit.

Well, there's grossly offensive stuff I'd also avoid, if we're on the topic.

For instance I don't think it's illegal (and certainly doesn't harm anyone) to have a rotting pig's carcass, worms and all, driving shotgun (the driver being the prankster, making passers-by puke.) But that doesn't make it a good prank.

They were drunk, probably

Darwin award.

Cranky, you're already breaking the first Rule of Hoaxing. Does that mean you have to be disbarred now?

I think a rotting pig's carcass riding shotgun would be harmful to you, wouldn't it?

it might be harmful to the resale value of the car...

As a Penn & Teller fan, I've always considered their rule of NPD (no permanent dammage) as one of the best to follow whenever pulling a prank or stunt.

In other words, "What's the worst thing that could happen as a result of this?" And if the answer is permanenet damage to yourself or others, FORGET IT!

In this case, lieing on the road in the dark.
What's the worst that could happen?
Getting run over and killed! Forget it!

Charybdis said:

"Cranky, you're already breaking the first Rule of Hoaxing. Does that mean you have to be disbarred now?"

Well, I should have been clearer about that First Rule, I guess. I MEANT that you shouldn't talk about the hoax before it happens or while it's happening. Also, I was just making a stupid Fight Club joke.

Oh. Darnit, I was hoping for an old-fashioned disbarment.


*puts away his whackin' stick*

My grandfather-in-law, while driving his family through the lonely wilds of Mexico 50+ years ago, saw a body on the road ahead. Reasoning that someone lying there 'just so' was likely a bandit, with others waiting to ambush a car which slowed down, he sped up, and a good thing, too. At the last minute, the "body" jumped up, and started chasing the car, along with a number of formerly hidden accomplices.

Is it wrong that this story made me laugh really really hard?

Comments: Page 1 of 1 pages