This article is designed specifically for those people who consider normal jokes between friends too trivial and who try to give everyday life a good spice up. Choose the timing and goals of your jokes wisely, though, or you could get an undeserved reputation among co-workers, classmates, or commuters on the 8:15 am train.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Sneaky Tactics to Confuse Others
Step 1. Use long and complicated sentences
Prepare them in advance, so you can say them quickly, as if they were part of a spontaneous conversation. Choose phrases and words that make sense, but that most people can't easily understand. Here are some tips to change depending on the occasion:
- "I wouldn't tell you about it if I didn't think I'm not alone in my views." In this case, an exaggerated amount of negations are used, even if the phrase simply means "I think we agree".
- "While an athlete jumps an obstacle falls". In speech it is not always easy to identify the subject of a sentence; in this example, does the obstacle fall or is it skipped? The listener will have a hard time understanding this immediately.
- "Money is better than poverty, at least from a financial point of view." Obviously it is a redundant statement.
Step 2. Make connections unclear for your listeners
For example: "All this makes me think of the dog of my ex flatmate's father's friend". You can come up with these connections out of the blue or refer to real friends and family. If you intend to cause a slight surprise or a laugh in your listener, this is an excellent tactic to adopt.
Step 3. Show off a complex vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary and practice pronouncing a long string of complicated words over the course of a conversation. This tactic will most likely work with people you don't know well or with people who don't have a broader vocabulary than yours. Here are some example sentences:
- "Sounds like a good idea, but could you reiterate what you've come up with?" it simply means "Could you repeat your idea in detail?".
- "I came here driven by ambitions, but all in all I had a convivial experience" means "I came here on a whim, but I enjoyed it".
Step 4. Pretend that you and another person are aware of something that makes both of you laugh but that others present ignore
During the conversation, choose one of the bystanders and act as if you both know about an incredible secret. Every now and then, when another person makes some comment, turn to the chosen one and laugh, wink or tap him with the elbow.
This tactic works best if the other person is aware of your intentions, but with a little practice and skill you will be able to carry on the conversation so quickly that you do not leave an unaware interlocutor the opportunity to ask you what you are doing
Method 2 of 4: Extravagant Tactics to Confuse Others
Step 1. Prepare silly or non-consequential answers to some likely questions
A response is non-consequential when it does not follow the logic of the conversation or the responses that precede it. Here are some examples of common questions or greetings, along with some quirky phrases, which you might use as an answer:
- "He how are you?" - "You're the first person who tells me. What does that mean?"
- "Excuse me, do you know the time?" - "No, but I saw it fly that way a few minutes ago."
- "(any sentence containing technical terms or proper names)" - "I'm sorry, I don't like Pokemon."
- "Good morning" - in an angry tone "I can't believe you got arrested yesterday!" - "Eh?" - in a cheerful tone "It was nice talking with you, see you later!"
Step 2. Ask for absurd favors, only to be offended when they are rejected
For example, ask a stranger if she can lend you shoes, if she would let you adopt her dog, or if she would like to help you install your electrical cables. When she refuses, look at her with an expression of genuine shock, murmur some negative comments like "People today …" and walk away.
Use the expression "today's young people …" only when you are talking to someone clearly older than you
Step 3. Take actions that disorient others
It will work even better if you act and talk as if you were completely normal, and then surprise people with one of the following actions:
- Throw yourself on the floor and crawl or walk backwards, like a crab. Monty Python's Graham Chapman used to crawl to important dinners, and then rub himself against people's legs.
- Stand at attention and salute someone. Bonus points if you can play the national anthem on your mobile at the same time.
Step 4. Confuse someone by changing their room
Ask your friend's roommate to let you and your assistants in while he is not there. Make some changes to his room. This joke is particularly suitable for very "close" friends with a good sense of humor.
- Photograph his room, remove everything, then put everything back in its place… in a perfectly mirror image.
- Wrap all objects in the room with newspaper, including furniture.
Method 3 of 4: Confusing Passersby in Public
Step 1. Fill a jar of mayonnaise with yogurt
Clean an empty mayonnaise jar, with the label still attached, and fill it with yogurt. Take it to a public park or coffee shop and eats enthusiastically from the jar in generous spoonfuls.
Step 2. Fill a spray bottle with Gatorade
Paste the label of a cleaning product on the bottle. Spray it on your car windows or other object, wiping it off sporadically with a cloth. Every now and then, when someone looks at you, spray a little directly into your mouth.
It is not recommended to use a real bottle of detergent unless you are sure it is perfectly washed
Step 3. Walk with a puppet in hand
Act like you have your hands free, eating, shaking hands with those you know, and so on. When one or more people have looked at you for some time, pretend to suddenly notice the puppet and be terrified, let out a scream and run away from the hand holding the puppet that "is chasing you".
This tactic will work with any unusual items. Try looking for creepy-looking statuettes in flea markets and antique shops
Step 4. Place fake signs in a public place
Many pranksters copy the visual style of the signs found in the subway, on telephone poles or around the streets, and then modify the words or images to convey funny and funny messages. Remember, however, that placing signs on a property that is not yours could attract the attention of law enforcement or building employees and, moreover, it could be illegal.
Step 5. Act like you have a badly hidden secret
Pretend to be an incompetent spy, a time traveler, or a madman. To create as much confusion as possible, start by behaving relatively normal and gradually make more and more bizarre signs about your "true nature".
- Dress in a futuristic style, for example with a silver-colored jumpsuit or in any case with a sci-fi outfit. Act as if you are confused by everyday objects, such as trying to sniff a cell phone or trying to get on a bicycle while holding it upside down.
- Engage in a normal conversation, but pause longer and longer before responding. He starts laughing for no reason, so you suddenly make a serious face saying "now I really have to go back to the asylum". Get away by walking backwards.
Step 6. Organize a public skit or flash mob
It's easy to attract some confused glances from passersby but, with a little more effort, you can turn them into laughter and applause - without sacrificing confusion, of course. Here are some tips to get you started:
- To organize a comic sketch in a public place, start with a person dressed in a bizarre costume or with an unusual behavior who will have to attract the attention of passersby by pretending not to do anything strange. After a few minutes, bring up one or more characters, who will have to start talking to the first person aloud.
- Organize a flash mob: you can gather many people in a specific place, to dance, sing or perform another activity by mutual agreement.
- Search Facebook for any events to attend in your area.
Method 4 of 4: Confusing People with a Text or Email
Step 1. Pretend to unload a burdensome assignment or an intolerable task on someone else
Text your partner, friend, or family member, naturally asking for a totally inappropriate favor you need. For instance:
- "Hi, some internet friends who come from (randomly distant country) are in town, but I decided to take a relaxing day. I told them that you could guide them or maybe you could even give them a lift. to (nearby town)? They will arrive at your house soon."
- To a friend who is about to return from a vacation, you can write "Welcome home! Thanks for letting me stay at your house. I'll borrow your clothes for a few more days, but I'll bring the stained ones back to you by the end of the week."
Step 2. Carry on a conversation as if your interlocutor is saying something completely different from what they actually say
For example, try to start a normal conversation via text, but ignore all replies from the other person. Instead of giving meaningful answers, it progressively sends this sequence of messages, waiting at least 30 seconds between one and the other.
- Hey, where are you?
- Yes, I'm almost ready.
- I don't think he knows anything. It will happen in a few minutes.
- You clearly said grapefruit juice.
- The staircase leads Sara.
- Wait, but are we also sending these messages to (the recipient's name)? Cancel everything, we'll think about it next week.
Step 3. Distract others with unclear questions
Ask silly questions or riddles with trick questions:
- "If a cat always lands on its feet and a toast always on the side where the butter is spread, what would happen if you tie a toast on a cat's back?"
- "If a plane crashes in Antarctica, in which country are the survivors buried?" The absurdity lies in the fact that survivors should not be buried.
Step 4. Send messages with the letters turned upside down
Visit a website to convert messages and enter what you want to write. The program will automatically convert your message. Not all chat programs, email applications, and browsers can display these special characters, so the person you're sending the message to may only see a series of squares or question marks.
Advice
- If you run out of fun ideas for your jokes, do some research on the internet.
- Don't try to confuse the same person every time you meet them. At best, he will understand what you want to do and stop being amazed. At worst, however, you will make her angry and damage your relationship.
