see...now there is an example of something I was trying to think about...a prank/joke that could be traumatic..i.e., cause someone to panic, of have a heart attack...I suppose it went ok, but if I had been doing it, I'd have set up a deal where ol' Joe complained about the log being in the way...then bent over and picked it up and walked off with it!!

there is a story...perhaps apocryphal, about a circus midget who used a cane in his act, and his 'friends' dreamed up a joke where they would sneak in each night and cut ¼" off his cane...well..after 2-3 weeks, he was convinced he was growing, and since he knew no other life and had no skills, he committed suicide...true or not, it makes a point..

contrast this with the joke where a guy has a pet turtle, and every night someone sneaks in to the turtle pen and replaces it with a slightly larger turtle..until the guy is telling everyone about the amazing growth rate of his pet.....then they start back, replacing it with smaller & smaller turtles! Now there's a prank!