The Reddit Takeover Prank
A comedy article
by Harmon Leon  2,232  7
11/09/2010 12:17 AM 12121 views
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You might remember that we recently pranked the San Francisco offices of Digg for the mere cost of $9.95. The execution involved posting large Banksy-style street art displays of the Reddit Alien logo on the front doors of Digg, because nothing makes Digg users more frustrated than being compared to Reddit.
Some of you liked it, apparently.
To show that ZUG does not play partisan favoritism when it comes to social news sites, we decided that next we would prank the corporate headquarters of Reddit.com, which shares offices with Wired magazine at 550 3rd Street in San Francisco.
The users of social news site Reddit pride themselves on their independent thinking, and the freedom to voice their ridiculous opinions. I'm sure these freethinkers aren't too happy about their current corporate parent, the giant publishing company Conde Nast, in the same way they weren't happy when LOLCat mastermind Ben Huh offered to buy their beloved website. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian replied to Huh's offer by saying that he would be "very surprised" if Reddit were sold ... so we felt it was time to surprise him, by selling Reddit.
How would the freethinking employees of Reddit react if their company were to be sold to another megacorp ... such as News Corporation, the world's third-largest media conglomerate/propaganda machine? It's time to prank the offices of Reddit, and put the fear of Murdoch in them.
It could happen.
Supplies Needed to Prank Reddit Headquarters
- Large banners welcoming Reddit into the News Corp family ($5.47)
- Flyers that explain how News Corporation has agreed to purchase Reddit, Conde Nast Publications and all its assets
- Agendas that explain the takeover transition and the important meetings Reddit employees will need to attend
- Duct tape ($2.99)
- Scotch tape ($1.99)
- Pencil/pen
- Digital camera
- A delicious flan (very important) ($1.50)
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step One: Pick up the delicious flan from a local taqueria. Its pudding-like consistency and caramel topping is simply delectable.
Step Two: Go to Kinko's and pick up the aforementioned banners and flyers. Pay disgruntled Kinko's worker money. Wring hands together and let out a maniacal laugh. "Brew-ha-ha-ha!"
Step Three: Take time out for some delicious flan. MMM. Now you have the energy needed to properly prank the offices of Reddit.
Step Four: Jump into your car and head to the Reddit offices at 550 3rd Street. NOTE: If you are planning to prank the offices of Reddit, just remember that 3rd Street is a one-way road so you'll need to take 4th street towards Pac Bell Park.
The News Corporation banner makes for an ideal, quiet passenger.
Step Five: Make sure to hit the Reddit offices early, before most of the employees arrive for work. Beware of the security guard who will probably be stationed in the lobby directly in the entrance. Prep the prank by putting tape on all the flyers/banners that are to be hung inside the building.
Step Six: Start by hanging banners directly outside of 550 3rd St.
The luxurious, glamorous Reddit headquarters.
As I was in the midst of securing a sign to the building, the security guard walked out. "What are you doing?"
Thinking quickly, I responded, "I'm taking photos for a client." (Not entirely false. I'm sure he's used to the unconventional ways of the Wired staff.)
The security guard paused. Then: "Well, okay."
He went back inside the building. I kept putting up banners.
Step Seven: Entering the Reddit HQ, give a friendly nod to the security guard. You're friends now.
"I've got to take some more photos for a client," I assured him. With that, I slapped a banner near the elevator and snapped away.
Step Eight: Make your way to the 3rd floor, where Reddit shares an office with Wired. Along the way, hang up News Corporation banners wherever you can.
A Reddit employee came around the corner at this point, as I was affixing a banner to the door near the stairwell.
"Excuse me," he said in passing.
"Just taking some photos for a client," I relayed.
Step Nine: At the doorstep of Reddit/Wired, hang a few more News Corporation banners, along with a few flyers informing Reddit employees that News Corp has purchased their company, and that the new dress code requires clean, presentable clothing. (Please, no denim.)
Also hang an agenda that states how this transition period will be made easy by such things as a Rupert Murdoch Q&A, and a new work process called "dreamgineering." Stuff the rest of the flyers under the Reddit office door.
On my way out of the building, I passed Reddit employees arriving for work.
"Welcome to News Corporation!" I said with a smile.
Step Ten: Enjoy the last of your delicious flan. Brew-ha-ha!
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Like This? Rate It!
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Hilarious
14 votes
4.5
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179428
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Also Recommended on ZUG:
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Chuckleworthy
3 votes
2.7
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179429
Thud 68,525  19
11/09/2010 12:37 AM
Rock on.
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Funny
4 votes
3.2
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179430
Dogs Akimbo 211,626 32
11/09/2010 01:55 AM
Where are the hordes of the outraged geeks storming the building with torches and pitch forks?
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Funny
4 votes
3.0
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179432
~ Jeeni, lurking clickie faerie ~ 47,815 51
11/09/2010 02:25 AM
Horray! Free milk! Oh wait - is it organic or is it filled with puss and antibiotics?
Great follow-up article, Harmon!
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Funny
4 votes
3.0
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179440
Johnny Plankton 4,102 27
11/09/2010 09:49 AM
Reddit - Now Fair and Mentally Unbalanced!
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Funny
8 votes
3.8
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179565
TurkDuckChakens 286,642 61
11/10/2010 08:18 AM
You should go and run the meeting for the full effect.
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Funny
5 votes
3.6
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179593
Spicey McHaggis 117,791 37
11/10/2010 12:06 PM
Whats missing from this prank is the payoff. Did anyone actually believe they got bought by News Corp? Was there discussion storm on reddit? Did the flan give you diarrhea?
You really left us hanging. It's not funny if you do a prank and the response is "meh". We need a reaction.
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Funny
4 votes
3.2
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179602
TurkDuckChakens 286,642 61
11/10/2010 12:15 PM
reacts to spicy mchaggis
needs salt
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Funny
2 votes
3.0
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179609
Spicey McHaggis 117,791 37
11/10/2010 12:30 PM
I'm already pretty salty. You might have an electrolyte imbalance. Next time you go see Dr. Jellyfinger you should ask him order a blood test.
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0 votes
0.0
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179628
John Hargrave 128,751 73
11/10/2010 02:18 PM
You know, I have stopped reading comments on social news sites (ZUG excluded, of course) because I have better things to do with my time, like working on my Nazi miniatures collection.
But if someone can read through this and give me the upshot, I'd appreciate it. Maybe we can feature it in the article if there's anything particularly ridiculous.
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Funny
2 votes
3.5
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179635
Midgets 96,151 48
11/10/2010 02:35 PM
No one seems to know what the hell a zug is They all thought it was a great prank.
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Funny
4 votes
3.2
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179638
KChiki watches you while you post! 128,446 98
11/10/2010 02:42 PM
They aren't impressed, but they also sound like a barrel of laughs (excuse me while I mop up my sarcasm).
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Funny
4 votes
3.0
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179640
KChiki watches you while you post! 128,446 98
11/10/2010 02:43 PM
Okay, I thought I was done, but I have to add that that's the first time I've ever actually gone to Reddit.com and the site design is TERRIBLE! It hurts to read it!
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Amusing
3 votes
1.3
/live?func=new_user&msgid=1054179644
TurkDuckChakens 286,642 61
11/10/2010 03:02 PM
Read the page.
Only thing is they quoted Rob Coleridgeerham as the owner of Zug.
We all know it's Jeff Hargrave.
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