My favorite prank was in college, circa 1968. The college was one of the earliest to have an on-campus computer network. Connections from the remote terminals were via phone lines and acoustic-couplers. To connect, you dialed the computer's three-digit (campus) phone number, heard the trill of the computer's acoustic port, then stuck your phone's handset into the acoustic-coupler, to start your session.
One day when I went to a favorite professor's office, he wasn't there but his office was open. On the blackboard within, I wrote the message "Please call x769 immediately," where 769 (or whatever) was that computer-line number.
He told me later that when he saw the note, the number looked sort of familiar. He wandered down the hall, asking other profs if they'd left the note (No) or knew what the number was ("Maybe the library?" one suggested). So he went back to his office and just dialed 769.
Then, he related, as soon as he heard the computer's trill, he knew who'd left the message!
I really enjoyed reading about your prank. "Call immediately" :-) The fact that it makes specific days from specific chapters of life memorable is part of what makes them so wonderful in my book.
It took planning, was memorable, enjoyed by many (and “outsiders” no harm, no foul.
My best was to leave voice messages for a favoured client, a solid golfer over 50, at a time I knew he could not answer his phone.
I said that we’d learned of his very good round and low score the weekend before at the course where PGA Senior Tour would be playing in two weeks and wished to offer him a sponsor’s invitation to the tournament.
Said my name was William Da Better Li (pronounced Lee)
Fortunately no call display back then. I said I was travelling and would try calling again.
Working with his admin, I’d call a day or two later, leaving this same message.
On the fourth call, I shortened my name to Bill da Better Li
We did speak live on the fifth call (now in the week leading up to the event) and connected in person, announcing my self as “Bill, Bill da Better Li although some pronounce it as Build a better lie”
(For the non golfers, we frown on those players who would fluff up or build, a better lie)
This is great—thanks for sharing it. Did your client believe the messages that he was actually being invited to the Senior Tour? I hope so. The coordination with his admin makes it even better.
Did have him through the first three calls, by then the lack of persistence to secure/confirm him for play created the doubt. It was all in good fun and the effort was appreciated.
My favorite prank was in college, circa 1968. The college was one of the earliest to have an on-campus computer network. Connections from the remote terminals were via phone lines and acoustic-couplers. To connect, you dialed the computer's three-digit (campus) phone number, heard the trill of the computer's acoustic port, then stuck your phone's handset into the acoustic-coupler, to start your session.
One day when I went to a favorite professor's office, he wasn't there but his office was open. On the blackboard within, I wrote the message "Please call x769 immediately," where 769 (or whatever) was that computer-line number.
He told me later that when he saw the note, the number looked sort of familiar. He wandered down the hall, asking other profs if they'd left the note (No) or knew what the number was ("Maybe the library?" one suggested). So he went back to his office and just dialed 769.
Then, he related, as soon as he heard the computer's trill, he knew who'd left the message!
I really enjoyed reading about your prank. "Call immediately" :-) The fact that it makes specific days from specific chapters of life memorable is part of what makes them so wonderful in my book.
I like the furniture moved prank.
It took planning, was memorable, enjoyed by many (and “outsiders” no harm, no foul.
My best was to leave voice messages for a favoured client, a solid golfer over 50, at a time I knew he could not answer his phone.
I said that we’d learned of his very good round and low score the weekend before at the course where PGA Senior Tour would be playing in two weeks and wished to offer him a sponsor’s invitation to the tournament.
Said my name was William Da Better Li (pronounced Lee)
Fortunately no call display back then. I said I was travelling and would try calling again.
Working with his admin, I’d call a day or two later, leaving this same message.
On the fourth call, I shortened my name to Bill da Better Li
We did speak live on the fifth call (now in the week leading up to the event) and connected in person, announcing my self as “Bill, Bill da Better Li although some pronounce it as Build a better lie”
(For the non golfers, we frown on those players who would fluff up or build, a better lie)
Gotcha
This is great—thanks for sharing it. Did your client believe the messages that he was actually being invited to the Senior Tour? I hope so. The coordination with his admin makes it even better.
Did have him through the first three calls, by then the lack of persistence to secure/confirm him for play created the doubt. It was all in good fun and the effort was appreciated.