PRANKS?

When I was young, playing pranks
Were all in fun.  Prank calls about
Catching running refrigerators--or
TP'ing someone's house.

They were never malicious, and
No damage was ever done.  Unless
You count the rain showers on
The TP'd trees--what a mess.

These days pranks and practical
Jokes have turned more sinister.
Calling in bomb threats--humiliating
People that you feel are inferior.

The worst of all is bullying
And harassing someone whether
In person or social media.  If they are
Low on self-esteem, that doesn't make it better.

It can get to the point that
Some see no reason to live--
So they end up killing themselves
When they still had much to give.

The people who pull these pranks think
It makes them look tough and cool.
When in reality, they're insensitive
And dangerous fools.

As a society and as parents,
We need to teach them better
Than that.  They need to learn
The consequences they'll face, whatever.