A snipe hunt is one of a class of practical jokes that involve experienced people making fun of newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task.
Inexperienced campers or hunters are told about a bird or animal called the snipe, as well as a (usually ridiculous) method of catching it - such as running around the woods carrying a bag, or making strange noises. Since the supposed snipe doesn’t exist, the hunt never succeeds, no matter how foolishly the newcomer acts.
To extend the joke, there actually is a species of bird called a snipe. The success of the joke depends in part on the victim’s ignorance of this, as the snipe is found primarily in wetlands and the joke is invariably played in wooded areas.
Another variation of this type of practical joke, called a fool’s errand in the UK, involves sending newcomers on a work site to fetch nonexistent tools, such as a left-handed screwdriver, a can of striped paint or a tube of elbow grease.
In the Boy Scouts of America it is common for first-time attendees at a camporee (a large weekend event) to be sent after a “left-handed smoke-shifter,” supposedly a branch with a fan on the end used to deflect smoke from a campfire. In the Air Force a variant involves new airmen being sent to the commissary to purchase a bottle of prop wash.
A traditional variation of this in UK schools involves a teacher sending a pupil—usually picked for being annoying as much as for gullibility—to another teacher for “a long stand”. When the pupil arrives and delivers the request, they are asked to wait—usually in full view of the class: this is their “long stand”.
This past weekend Kristawas not a pupil in a UK school, certainly not a boyscount, she was however on a mission to discover the snipes outside her apartment. With small amounts of help from Alan and myself, Krista discovered the delight of snipe hunting! Words can not do the next 10 minutes justice, you will have to refer to the pictures below for the best understanding of this story.
With pot and spoon in hand, and of course the official snipe hunting Steak & Shake hat on the head - Krista is ready to depart for a night of snipe hunting!
She looks close and far; She looks high, and she looks low, but the snipes don’t appear to be out tonight. Deep into the woods we go…
Clang Clang….Clang…..clang… We must have used the wrong sound…”Any snipes under there?” ….”Any snipes under where?” Yeah…you just said underwear…
Tonight the snipes are hidden well, so we retreat inside for Krista google the best snipe hunting method. If only we could have caught her expression when she read the same paragraph you read above. We didn’t catch her reaction, because the camera was too busy focused on Lori’s expression of her disatisfaction concerning the simple entertainment Alan and myself provided with a simple mix of pots, spoons, a Steak & Shake hat, and Krista’s good spirit. oh…and snipes!
Well that brings us up to speed on current events. I saw Inside Man this weekend as well, pretty good, I would reccommend you viewing it if you get a few extra minutes. This week and next week are going to be extremely busy as it is musical season once again. I will be doing sound for Honk, the musical of choice for CU. Things are shaping up fairly well, and tonight is day number one with an audience. Hopefully we’ll get all those cues, effects, and everything else in place!I guess that’s all for now, some of us must go work. Then go to the musical and work some more. Oooh, sounds like a long day - anyone want to trade? Quick..before I
What you all don’t know about this photo… is that Jeff was cussing profusly on the other side of the room. The streamline of obscene and vulgar language forced me to take it upon myself to combat him with the simplist of gestures. Did this shut Jeff up? Unfortunately nothing can stop his sinful mouth. Please Pray Jeff Sickles.
Lori is telling the truth. She had no chioce.
What you all don’t know about these comments is that Lori is a pathological liar.
Please pray for Alan Isola.
What you all don’t know about these comments is that Lori is a pathological liar.
Please pray for Alan Isola.
I am dissapointed in you Jeff. Pathological liar? Is that all you’ve got?! I expected more from you Jeff… I really did. (Please don’t cuss at me!)
Bravo! incredible- its hard to believe you can still get away with these things… I’ll trade with you! In a heart beat… but I know there is an unwritten provision to that statement at the end of your blog. (unless your crazy Megan, then we’ll just compete for most busy)
-Megan
…and all I wanted was to see someone walking around in the dark banging a pot with a spoon.
Jeff, you plagiarized. When quoting a website, shouldn’t you say something like:
According to www.authoritativewebsite.com, “Snipe hunting is . . .”
? Yes, you should. Anyway, I say we should all go snipe hunting some time. I don’t think anyone’s ever caught a snipe before, and I want to be the first!
Becky…you would want to catch a snipe……..