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'<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled --> {{AfDM|page=Computer prank (2nd nomination)|date=2009 October 3|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}} <!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point --> {{Unreferenced|date=August 2009}} {{cleanup|date=September 2009}} A '''computer prank''' is a [[practical joke|prank]] related to either the [[computer software|software]] or the [[computer hardware|hardware]] of [[computer]]s. Some are intended to humiliate, while others are comical, but not humiliating. Some pranks are "screamers," which are described by their name. Screamers are intended to frighten victims. Others involve loss of control of the computer software. Many online pranks take the form of [[Adobe Flash]] movies in the spirit of a shock site, designed to [[Startle reaction|scare]] the viewer; these are known as shock flashes, screamers (which vary in length and contain a scream within the movie near the end), or ambush flashes or sabotage flashes (flash movies that deceive the viewer into interacting or watching intently before scaring them). Although Flash is the most prevalent medium for shock animations, animated [[GIF]]s and [[video]]s are also used. Recently, screamers have also started to appear on [[YouTube]], although the latter can be spotted when users leave comments on the video or the related videos show pictures of a car, scary faces, or pop-up videos, Which is a sign that can make that this video is a pop-up video. After grabbing the user's attention, the flash is abruptly interrupted by an unexpected image, usually accompanied by a burst of sound, such as a scream, roar, or loud music. The picture can range from a crude cartoon to an explicitly gruesome image, in which case the shock comes partially from the content of the picture. In most cases, the shock is caused by the combination of a sudden scream and a frightening picture, which magnifies the fright for the viewer. The video will often gain the viewer's attention (e.g. by challenging the viewer to try and spot something so they will stay and search for it so they can see the screamer, or by playing at a low volume so the viewer listens harder or turns up their volume) so as to shock them even more. ==Common screamers== ===Kikia=== A cartoon of a kid looking at the sky, then walks down a street with buildings, with Chinese text telling a story of how he wished things were better at the top of both cartoons. Then a picture of a ghost woman from the game [[Fatal Frame]] pops up with a scream, and then the word "Kikia" appears in yellow text. ===What's Wrong With This Picture?=== Shows a regular picture of a dining room for 30 seconds, and then a scary girl with no eyes pops up with a scream. ===Subliminal Music and Images=== A video which talks about subliminal advertising. After the first two, it plays [[Cradle of Filth]]'s song "Dinner at Devent's Palace" backwards. Halfway through the backwards song, a bunch of disturbing images (a face from rotten.com, Pazuzu from the Exorcist, another face from rotten.com, a harlequin baby and a grayscale image of a mummy without wrappings) appear, ending with the message, "Never trust flashes talking about subliminal stuff!" ===Where's Waldo?=== A game that claims that it is the hardest "Where's Waldo" puzzle ever. It shows a picture from a book without Waldo. A minute later, Captain Howdy from [[The Exorcist]] pops up with a male scream. ===The Scary Maze Game=== The Scary Maze game is a prank that involves the player to navigate through a maze, in which the player must not touch the walls, thus restarting the game. Upon completion of the game, the possessed face of [[Linda Blair]] from [[The Exorcist]] pops up with two frightening screams. The game has reached popularity on the Internet. Made by Jeremy Winterrowd, Since its infamous scream is there. ===Ghost Car=== A simple video of a car driving down a road on a grassy hill as peaceful music plays, the car then passes through some trees. The camera pans over, and the car seems to be gone. Then, a zombie pops up with a loud shriek, ending with the message, "Now... go change your shorts and get back to work!" This prank was originally known as K-Fee Auto, but was edited on this version ===Ghost in the London Dungeon=== At the beginning, the text says that if you look closely at the footage that was captured on CCTV cameras at the London Dungeon, you will see a ghostly figure and that experts that have analysed the video haven't identified it. Then, a security camera shows the Dungeon doors. Right on the 35 second mark, a man wearing white makeup jumps up, screams, then leans backwards, out of sight. The text says, "Did you spot it?" ===Optical Illusions=== In this flash, you get to view a galley of famous illusions. At the 6th illusion, where it tells you to stare at a circle for 10 seconds, a picture of a rat with its mouth open pops up with a scream. ===Zoeken ([[Dutch language|Dutch]] for "to search")=== A flash that ask you to spot the difference between two pictures. It shows two pictures of a river, which look identical. Then a picture of a vampire from [[Fright Night]] pops up with a scream, while the picture zooms in and out. Then a picture of [[SpongeBob SquarePants]] appears with the sound of SpongeBob laughing.(Just like Compare the two pictures on Winterrowd.) ===Ghost Caught On Tape=== Ghost Caught On Tape is a 20 second long video of a room that is seemingly eerie. After a 15 seconds has gone by, a rocking chair begins rocking on its own, causing the viewer to be left wondering, generally making you lean in closer to the screen as a generic human reaction of curiosity. Then, Linda Blair's possessed face from the scary maze game with a full body, quickly crawls up to the screen along with a spooky scream, its effect maximized by the viewer having leaned into the screen. Often there are verbal or text comments on screen that encourage the viewer to lean in. ===Swearing Baby=== This video is common on [[YouTube]]. On the description of the video it usually says something like "listen and look closely to hear this cute baby swearing". The video shows a baby, seemingly asleep in its cot. However, about 10-15 seconds into the clip, the baby's face becomes disfigured and there is a loud, piercing scream. The baby's face then goes back to normal and it continues sleeping. ===Very Happy Kids=== This video shows some laughing happy babies smiling at the camera. However, near the end of the video where the last infant is shown, a man's voice says "Make a scary face!" and the girl's face morphes quickly into a monster's with an enormous scream. The girl's face goes back to normal and she continues smiling. ===Snowman=== This starts out where you have to shake the snowman until he throws up. After shaking the snowman 3 times, he will throw up, it then zooms along and says "Happy Holidays!" A face from [[The Exorcist]] screams at you. Another version which will make a face into a gingerbread man accompanied by a really loud scream. It is another made by the creator of the infamous Scary Maze game. ===Little Jerry and the Closet=== Shows a 2-3 minute long cartoon. During the cartoon it shows Little Jerry walking toward the closet in the middle of the night. When he opens a closet, horrific pictures of various gruesome characters appear. He begins having a seizure effect on the way to the closet and when he opens it it worsens. It then shows Jerry horrified for about 30 seconds and the cartoon continues. ===Michael Jackson's Ghost Spotted as Shaheen Jafargholi Sings at Michael Jackson Memorial=== Shows a BBC coverage of [[Shaheen Jafargholi]] singing [[Who's Loving You]] at [[Michael Jackson]]'s memorial service at Staples Center. At the end of the video, a face of [[Michael Jackson]] from his movie [[Ghosts (1997 film)|''Ghosts'']] suddenly pops up accompanied with a loud scream. ===Wonderpets Ming Ming Says it all=== A 40-second clip Ming Ming of [[Wonder Pets]] singing "This is sewius" several times. However, near the end of the video, a red image of a demonic skull appears zooming in and out. ===Pyzam Tic-Tac-Toe=== A classic game of tic-tac-toe. But in the middle of the game, a clown pops up shaking accompanied with a scream. == See also == *[[Shock site]] *[[List of internet phenomena]] *[[Internet meme]] ==External links== ===Guides to avoid computer pranks and screamers=== * [http://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-an-Internet-%22Screamer%22-Video wikiHow's Tip to Recognize an Internet Screamer Video] [[wikiHow]]'s tip to stay safe from screamers when watching a video (similar to the "Stay Screamer Safe" link). * [http://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Screamer-Safe wikiHow's Tip to Stay Screamer Safe] A [[wikiHow]] article on how to stay protected from screamers (no images included). [[Category:Flash cartoons]] [[Category:Internet culture]] [[es:Screamer#Advertencias]] [[pl:Screamer]] [[fi:Tietokonepila]] [[tl:Kaharutang pangkompyuter]]'