April Fools' Day 2020 Inspires Debate About Pranking During Coronavirus Era

To joke or not to joke?

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Even the most resilient of positivity-driven thinkers are surely neck-deep in a struggle against resigning oneself to an overwhelming sense of dread these days, what with the inundation of COVID-19 updates and other instances of 2020 heaviness. Thus, the fact that Wednesday marks the usual day of April Fools' Day shenanigans is likely not at the top of anyone's list of pertinent information.

With some joking that Wednesday should instead be considered "March 32nd," this year's would-be edition of a 24-hour marathon of prankery has largely consisted of calls for brands and other public voices to call off any plans they had related to the holiday's typical trickery. And while most people appear conflicted about celebrating the day at all, some have stepped up to posit that we all need elaborate jokes now more than ever.

By the way, April Fools is cancelled tomorrow. Keep your jokes to yourself because this whole year has been one already. We tired.

Tomorrow is March 32nd.

— Chris J. Suggs (@chrisjsuggs) March 31, 2020

April Fools’ Day is cancelled this year in light of the COVID pandemic.

Have a heart, please. No hoaxes.#Covid_19

— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) March 31, 2020

Reminder to #brands: There's never been a better time to cancel your April Fools plans.

— Tim Stevens (@Tim_Stevens) March 31, 2020

We should not cancel April fools day. Right now a majority of us need a laugh more than ever. There is a fine line for jokes, but damn- I need something to smile at

— Heather (@heatherbimages) March 31, 2020

April fool's day is cancelled this year because no made up prank could match the unbelievable shit going on in the world right now

— 𝐃𝐎𝐘𝐈𝐍.js 🌍🚀 (@theOnlyDoyin) March 31, 2020

Nah I’m definitely pranking my loved ones. There is enough gloom and doom right now

— Sweet Dee (@hotmessexpressx) March 31, 2020

If this turns out to be an elaborate, 4 months long April Fool's I'm willing to forgive whomever just to make it go away!

— Cashier (@thee_cashier) March 30, 2020

Better still, some have jokingly wished for April Fools' Day 2020 to include the revelation that the first three months of the year have simply been a preposterously elaborate prank of sorts, meaning that the year can actually begin now:

I’m praying April rolls in tomorrow like “APRIL FOOLS. 2020 CAN START NOW!” 😩🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/9ibrOGDFfh

— Lexie Brown (@Lexiebrown) March 31, 2020

For some parts of the world, April Fools' Day 2020 has even inspired the threat of possible jail time for certain acts of pranking, not to mention the fact that Google has apparently canceled its traditional method of participation.

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