5 Ways to Avoid Becoming an April Fool

First and most importantly, be aware of the date

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 1, 2011 9:23 AM CDT

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5 Ways to Avoid Becoming an April Fool — The first step is to realize that it's April 1st. (Shutterstock)

Welcome to April 1, “the day when every office jokester and petty prankster thinks up some gags at your expense that they think will be hilarious,” writes Brian Moylan on Gawker. “Well, not this year, jackass.” Moylan offers a foolproof five-step plan to make yourself, well, foolproof:

Know the date: You’re most likely to fall for an April Fools Day prank when you don’t realize it’s April Fools Day. But “not this time around. If you're reading this, you have been informed. Use that to your advantage.”

Remain wary: “Don’t believe anything. That’s right. Not one thing,” Moylan advises. If your friend tells you your boss is dead, don't believe her. "This is how you get punked.” March to said boss's office to verify the claim.
Don’t go on the Internet: “Everything from news websites to your friends' Facebook status updates are going to try to pull the wool over your eyes." Turn the thing off. "Read a book or something."

Click for the rest of Moylan’s plan, or check out Google’s latest annual prank. (More April Fool's jokes stories.)

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