Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#1

Post by kyro » Fri, May 30, 2008, 8:10 AM UTC

This doesn't really pertain to startups, so forgive me.

So I've sort of found myself amidst a pranking war, and it's getting pretty serious, ie. finding chopped up fish and roosters at my place, etc. Revenge is the only way to go, obviously, but I'm unsure as to what should be done.

I thought that maybe this community's members might have some really clever pranks/tricks up their sleeves. I know there are many of you out there that are pretty troublesome fellows. Help out a fellow yc'er in dire need of advice. Prank hack away.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#2

Post by swombat » Fri, May 30, 2008, 9:02 AM UTC

It's easy... you break into the victim's flat, and wait just behind the door with a machete.

When the victim comes into their flat, slash violently at their neck area, several times if necessary. Make sure you're wearing cheap clothes that you're willing to burn, and have a change in a plastic bag in the bushes nearby, as well as a number of towels.

In my experience, this always stops prank wars quickly, effectively, and at a relatively low cost.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#3

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 30, 2008, 9:02 AM UTC

swombat wrote: post #2

It's easy... you break into the victim's flat, and wait just behind the door with a machete. When the victim comes into their flat, slash violently at their neck area, several times if necessary. Make sure you're wearing cheap clothes that you're willing to burn, and have a change in a plastic bag in the bushes nearby, as well as a number of towels. In my experience, this always stops prank wars quickly, effectively,…

[deleted]

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#4

Post by walesmd » Fri, May 30, 2008, 9:03 AM UTC

Air Conditioning ducts, particularly of those with Central Air.

Get some catfish bait, a few pounds of shrimp, fart bombs, or even a few dead squirrels - all of these worked well for me in High School.

Squirrels are probably by far the best and I recommend combining them with another form of attack. Place a few pounds of shrimp in one location and throw some frozen squirrels elsewhere.

About the time the shrimp smell really gets bad (about 2 days) the squirrels will be thawed and start to rot themselves. You'll get a nice delayed attack about a week after they find the shrimp.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#5

Post by tgdavies » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:04 AM UTC

One of my colleagues was recently welcomed back fromholiday with this addition to his cron file:

0,20,40 * * * * /usr/bin/killall -9 java

Or is that going too far?

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#6

Post by eru » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:12 AM UTC

I once read a children's book about a company - actually a startup - that was in the service business of pranks and revenges.

You can find it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.de/Die-B%C3%A4rendienst-GmbH-Martin-Karau/...) - but it is in German.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#7

Post by swombat » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:29 AM UTC

swombat wrote: post #2

It's easy... you break into the victim's flat, and wait just behind the door with a machete. When the victim comes into their flat, slash violently at their neck area, several times if necessary. Make sure you're wearing cheap clothes that you're willing to burn, and have a change in a plastic bag in the bushes nearby, as well as a number of towels. In my experience, this always stops prank wars quickly, effectively,…

What!? Honestly, it's worked every time for me!

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#8

Post by mark-t » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:37 AM UTC

tgdavies wrote: post #5

One of my colleagues was recently welcomed back fromholiday with this addition to his cron file: 0,20,40 * * * * /usr/bin/killall -9 java Or is that going too far?

Heck, I should add that to mine.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#9

Post by pim » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:38 AM UTC

tgdavies wrote: post #5

One of my colleagues was recently welcomed back fromholiday with this addition to his cron file: 0,20,40 * * * * /usr/bin/killall -9 java Or is that going too far?

You automatically get rid of their memory leaks every 20 minutes. That's a service, not a prank.

Re: Ask YC: Prank Hacking

#10

Post by TeHCrAzY » Fri, May 30, 2008, 10:41 AM UTC

Icing sugar / flour, pour into the air intake ducts of their car. (Pro Tip: They are generally at the front, just underneath the windscreen.