[goodsamaritan]

[ QUOTE ]
Jay,

My financial status is irrelevant. I could have a networth of $20 or $200k, it has no bearing on whether or not this is a joke or an act of cruelty.

I can assure you the fake lotto ticket was not made to harm others, it's a silly joke designed to get a rise out of people. The reason its silly to reveal it being a hoax right away is because it defeats the purpose of the joke, it sounds like you just don't appreciate the humor behind it and thats entirely your right. Villainizing the cousins character is silly.

Remind me not to hang around you on April 1st, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

The person's financial status is incredibly relevant. Being in debt/not being able to make ends meet can put people into severe depression and even cause some people to commit suicide.

Playing this prank on someone who is in serious debt is along the lines of a doctor telling a cancer patient that he is cured and then saying just kidding. Obviously it's not as serious as that, but it's the same idea.