I started replying in another thread (about a workplace TV that magically turned on and off when a person was in the room), but decided to start my own. It is an example of how someone can be fooled to the point that they think something paranormal is going on, and it's an example of how far people are willing to carry a prank (me in this case).
This is the greatest prank, by far, I've ever pulled off (I'm not typically a prankster)...Here we go...
Years ago, I played a joke on a guy at the workstation next to mine. We were working on maps at a very large company that also operates a very large search engine ;)
I will say first that it was common for people to screw with other people's computers if they forgot to password protect their screensaver during breaks and at lunch, so it started out innocent enough.
One day I plugged a mouse into the back of his computer and set the mouse on the floor at my feet, out of his site. There were many computers in rows on the floor and the jumble of wires masked my extra mouse cable to the point that even when he looked for it he never saw it.
I could see his screen, we worked practically shoulder to shoulder and at certain times I would slide the mouse with my foot and mess with him. I'd just use subtle movements, at first.
After awhile I could hit the buttons, either one, and select items on his screen. I got good at it and drove him absolutely nuts! We worked side by side and I could see everything on his screen. The screens were 32 inches so it was easy.
After he looked for, and failed, to find another mouse plugged into his computer (I unplugged it during our breaks, and one time he missed it even when it was plugged in), and after trying different mice, AND after having a tech give it a brief look, he started to think there was some energy in his hand that was causing this.
We tried taking the iPod out of his shirt pocket (electrical interference), removing a ring...nothing worked.
I suggested he try using his left hand, and lo and behold, the problem disappeared whenever he did! This whole thing actually went on for about 3 months - me off and on messing with him. He got really good at using the mouse with his left hand. I was a master at never missing him switching from his left hand to his right, and I always reacted accordingly - when I chose to mess with him.
At one point, he'd move his right hand slowly toward the mouse, and the closer he got the more the cursor would start to jiggle. He'd pull it away - no jiggle. This never happened with his left hand. He was literally convinced that something was going on with his right hand. He'd look at his hand and say, "somethings wrong with my hand, I dunno"
A few times we both would just watch as the cursor slowly but deliberately moved toward a menu selection and click it all by itself. He'd look at me with his mouth hanging open. I could perform the maneuvers while talking to him and watching in amazement myself.
I must say here that he and I became very good friends and he's a super great guy. I meant no harm but I couldn't stop doing it! I felt guilty about it at times but I couldn't stop. It was funny - I know I'm bad but I could not stop. One other coworker knew about it from day one, she sat next to him on the other side, and she never said a word. I did this probably a little bit every day, some more than others, some barely at all.
He'd go to click a button, and at the last second the cursor would zip away and he'd click the desktop, 10 times in a row. Sometimes the line he was drawing on the map would move erratically across the screen back and forth. Sometimes he'd start laughing really hard and just look at me like "what the...?", other times he'd slam the mouse and say, "Somethings wrong with my hand!" He'd look at me in wonderment, then start using his left hand.
A few times he got so frustrated that he'd tried another workstation, but never far enough away that I couldn't plug the mouse into that machine and do the same things. That really sold it.
Our group would always screw with each others computers and play pranks, so it wasn't unheard of, but I know I carried it too far. In the beginning when he'd suspected me of messing with him, I'd set my hands on my desk to show I wasn't doing anything - of course I was using my feet. From then on I was never suspected.
It was my greatest prank ever. I don't know if it is funny reading about this, but I laughed so hard I was crying many times, and so did the other coworker who was in on it. Finally one day somebody ratted me out and told him what I was doing. He took it well and laughed but I don't know to this day if he believes I was behind it the entire time.
So, because of my little joke I convinced a 40+ year old man that he had a strange energy in his right hand (we called it "The Force" after awhile) that affected his mouse (a wired mouse by the way). He actually began working a lot with his left hand during that time. He never figured it out for himself, and after he'd inspected his computer a few times he had no other explanation.
So moral of my story - first, I was a borderline jerk for doing this. Second, he was utterly convinced that some strange energy resided in his right hand, all because someone bothered to play a prank on him.
Sorry, Trung (his name), I couldn't help myself! We are still friends and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met, obviously, for not ripping my head off.
This is the greatest prank, by far, I've ever pulled off (I'm not typically a prankster)...Here we go...
Years ago, I played a joke on a guy at the workstation next to mine. We were working on maps at a very large company that also operates a very large search engine ;)
I will say first that it was common for people to screw with other people's computers if they forgot to password protect their screensaver during breaks and at lunch, so it started out innocent enough.
One day I plugged a mouse into the back of his computer and set the mouse on the floor at my feet, out of his site. There were many computers in rows on the floor and the jumble of wires masked my extra mouse cable to the point that even when he looked for it he never saw it.
I could see his screen, we worked practically shoulder to shoulder and at certain times I would slide the mouse with my foot and mess with him. I'd just use subtle movements, at first.
After awhile I could hit the buttons, either one, and select items on his screen. I got good at it and drove him absolutely nuts! We worked side by side and I could see everything on his screen. The screens were 32 inches so it was easy.
After he looked for, and failed, to find another mouse plugged into his computer (I unplugged it during our breaks, and one time he missed it even when it was plugged in), and after trying different mice, AND after having a tech give it a brief look, he started to think there was some energy in his hand that was causing this.
We tried taking the iPod out of his shirt pocket (electrical interference), removing a ring...nothing worked.
I suggested he try using his left hand, and lo and behold, the problem disappeared whenever he did! This whole thing actually went on for about 3 months - me off and on messing with him. He got really good at using the mouse with his left hand. I was a master at never missing him switching from his left hand to his right, and I always reacted accordingly - when I chose to mess with him.
At one point, he'd move his right hand slowly toward the mouse, and the closer he got the more the cursor would start to jiggle. He'd pull it away - no jiggle. This never happened with his left hand. He was literally convinced that something was going on with his right hand. He'd look at his hand and say, "somethings wrong with my hand, I dunno"
A few times we both would just watch as the cursor slowly but deliberately moved toward a menu selection and click it all by itself. He'd look at me with his mouth hanging open. I could perform the maneuvers while talking to him and watching in amazement myself.
I must say here that he and I became very good friends and he's a super great guy. I meant no harm but I couldn't stop doing it! I felt guilty about it at times but I couldn't stop. It was funny - I know I'm bad but I could not stop. One other coworker knew about it from day one, she sat next to him on the other side, and she never said a word. I did this probably a little bit every day, some more than others, some barely at all.
He'd go to click a button, and at the last second the cursor would zip away and he'd click the desktop, 10 times in a row. Sometimes the line he was drawing on the map would move erratically across the screen back and forth. Sometimes he'd start laughing really hard and just look at me like "what the...?", other times he'd slam the mouse and say, "Somethings wrong with my hand!" He'd look at me in wonderment, then start using his left hand.
A few times he got so frustrated that he'd tried another workstation, but never far enough away that I couldn't plug the mouse into that machine and do the same things. That really sold it.
Our group would always screw with each others computers and play pranks, so it wasn't unheard of, but I know I carried it too far. In the beginning when he'd suspected me of messing with him, I'd set my hands on my desk to show I wasn't doing anything - of course I was using my feet. From then on I was never suspected.
It was my greatest prank ever. I don't know if it is funny reading about this, but I laughed so hard I was crying many times, and so did the other coworker who was in on it. Finally one day somebody ratted me out and told him what I was doing. He took it well and laughed but I don't know to this day if he believes I was behind it the entire time.
So, because of my little joke I convinced a 40+ year old man that he had a strange energy in his right hand (we called it "The Force" after awhile) that affected his mouse (a wired mouse by the way). He actually began working a lot with his left hand during that time. He never figured it out for himself, and after he'd inspected his computer a few times he had no other explanation.
So moral of my story - first, I was a borderline jerk for doing this. Second, he was utterly convinced that some strange energy resided in his right hand, all because someone bothered to play a prank on him.
Sorry, Trung (his name), I couldn't help myself! We are still friends and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met, obviously, for not ripping my head off.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1TMVorU
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