> also taught me that pranks like that from you and Dave *always* backfire.

More like "never." Pranks like that are a matter of routine in RinkChat, until then, they've always turned out just fine, whether perpetrated by me or someone else. This was just the unique combination of the wrong joke played against the wrong people at the wrong time of night.

If the difference of opinion were just that ANY joke was played, I wouldn't be as concerned. I'm careful not to play (or permit) the kind of practical jokes that are harmful; I don't have much use for people who can't take the harmless kind.