Horseplay: A Funny Word For a Serious Lapse of Judgment

Horseplay. It sounds like such an innocent word, but then again, so does gunplay. Two people dying from “gunplay” doesn’t sound so innocent, does it?

While it can be amusing to catch someone off guard and give that person the surprise of his or her life, there’s a substantial risk that something could go wrong. Don’t give in to the temptation, even if you believe there’s no possible way the person could suffer physical injury. Why? Because there can be serious emotional consequences from pulling a prank on someone.

There’s a very fine line between “joking” with someone and getting that person extremely angry with you. You may find the joke terribly funny, but the victim seldom does. You could create an enemy and add considerable tension to your working relationships, not only with that person, but with others. And remember, you are also inviting retaliation that could put your own life at risk.

Bottom line: The cost of seeing a priceless look on someone’s face can be heart-breakingly high. That’s a risk you must avoid.