What we can learn from whoopee cushions
Technology takes us too seriously.
April Fools Day takes us beyond comic relief to some interesting observations on technology and life. It all started when I went to write an upcoming weekly Update for TeachersFirst and was not sure how to spell whoopee cushion. So… I Googled it. First, Google’s suggested offerings gave me a good laugh: 
What is a whoopy cat, anyway? Alas, despite the lure of whoopie pie recipes, I stuck with my initial whoopy hypothesis. Lo and behold, Google again corrected me:
Showing results for whoopee cushion. Search instead for whoopy cushion
But the richness of whoopy cushions could not be greater! Not only can I only find the ubiquitous wikipedia explanation; I also find Google Ad results galore. Did you know:
That whoopee cushions (the correct spelling) are apparently oriental?
That you can apparently get any size online?
That they have been around for over 50 years?
That there is something called PottyPutty (ewwww…).
That there is a best value whoopee cushion?
That Amazon places them under sports?
Wow, the things you learn about whoopee cushions from Google.
I look further:
There are images of whoopee cushions, videos of whoopee cushions, and — the ultimate in technology — a whoopee cushion widget!
As my husband chimes in:
No matter how sophisticated we get with technology, someone will teach it to make fart noises.
So, as April Fools’ Day approaches, fear not. Google can help you find humor in the serious and take even the most frivolous gag seriously. There must be a lesson in 21st century literacy buried in here somewhere, but I think I just heard a fart noise from the back of a classroom.
Your post made me smile and giggle just a bit. Maybe it’s because my son is 11 and an expert with fart noises (as well as the real thing). Thanks for making my morning!
Comment by Christine — March 26, 2010 @ 10:43 am
This Is the Best
Comment by David Jr — April 1, 2010 @ 11:45 pm
Thank you! I think that you make a bigger point than the importance of the whoopee cushion (if I spelled this correctly), but how dependent we are on technology. I don’t necessarily see this as a “bad thing” but often wonder what we ever did without Google! Did we have to pick up an encyclopedia? Or do research in a library? I just hope that my children will know what those two things are, as well as have an incredible ability to find information on the internet.
Comment by Lindsay H. — April 5, 2010 @ 12:18 am