Prank flash
Also called shock flash, prank flash is a Macromedia Flash movie created specifically designed to scare the viewer, often perpetuated by direct URL links to *.swf (flash) files by unknown users without clear information about the content; many Internet users make effort not to follow even safe links for this reason. Quality varies, although most have basic similarities. The most infamous prank flashes are designed to scare viewers, and term usually does not include flash that is simply funny in a surprising way or expected from the indicated url.
Some recent movies begin innocuously, sometimes with a mundane image ("What's wrong with this picture?") or even a simple game or quiz ("Can you spot the hidden message?") designed to keep the viewer's attention to the screen. Sometimes there is little sound in the image or it is very low, prompting the user to turn up the volume on their computer. The image itself may be small to force the user to maximize their browser window. Another technique is to play a song, prompting the user to turn up the volume, with the lyrics of the song scrolling up the screen, these can be quite easily identified if the lyric scrolling speed doesn't synch exactly with the audio.
After getting the user's attention, the movie is abruptly interrupted by an unexpected (and thus shocking) image, ranging from a crude altered or real picture to an explicitly gruesome image. It is usually accompanied by loud, shocking audio, such as a scream or fart.
Prank flash movies themselves sometimes finish with a suggestion not to follow mysterious links from strangers. Some sites containing flash movies will not host them or will put them in other sections of the site with explicit warnings.
Another popular prank using Flash involves flashing black and white smiley faces and a choir repeatedly "You are an idiot, ha ha ha ha ha." When the user closes the browser window, the page uses Javascript to open a flurry of small popups which bounce around the screen and play the same Flash movie. Attempting to close these windows results in even more popups, sometimes causing the computer to crash or stop responding. These pranks are usually not functional in browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer and are impaired by the presence of a Kikia - shows a calming Chinese cartoon, then a scream and a deformed face -
- Inkblot test - shows inkblots and then Michael Jackson (!) -
- Sajjad Ali - uses soothing music from Pakistani pop singer Sajjad Ali
- http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/sajjad.php
See also
External Links
- - one of the many sites hosting the "you are an idiot" prank (Beware - this is the prank itself!)
