What is a Hoax?
A hoax is an act of deception which is designed to trick people into believing or doing something. Many hoaxes are designed as light-hearted practical jokes, although have a more serious purpose, and are intended to raise awareness about an issue or to get a community actively involved in something. These uses contrast hoaxes from cons, acts of deception which are perpetrated for financial or personal gain. Many people point out that cons are often harmful, in contrast with hoaxes, which are embarrassing but usually cause no permanent damage.
The word “hoax” has been in the English language since the late 1700s, and it is believed to be derived from hocus, meaning “conjurer.” Obviously, people have been perpetrating hoaxes for much longer than this, but the 19th century was so filled with practical jokers and new opportunities for hoaxing that the hoax really blossomed during this period, making it convenient to have a brand new word to describe the phenomenon.
There are a number of types of hoaxes, and some involve coordinated effort on the part of people and organizations. For example, a hoax might involve an object which is supposed to do something astounding, and does, when demonstrated by the person perpetrating the hoax. In the modern era, a hoax can be sent in an email; many email hoaxes contain images which are purported to be real but are in fact heavily modified. Typically, once a hoax has been accepted, the people behind the trick unveil the truth.
A traditional time for hoaxing in many countries is the first day of April, also known as April Fools' Day. Practical jokes often abound on this day, and in some regions, governments and news media can get into the fun. The BBC, for example, aired a riveting story in 1957 about the Swiss spaghetti harvest. Hoaxes are also included in graduation festivities at some colleges, with fun-loving graduates playing pranks on each other and the surrounding community.
Some famous events in history such as the moon landing have been called hoaxes by conspiracy theorists, despite ample evidence to the contrary, and some people have suggested that hoaxes can be used for more sinister purposes. For example, a government could hoax its populace into believing that a war was necessary, or a hoax which was designed to raise awareness about a social issue could go too far. Some journalistic hoaxes have also been quite harmful, undermining the reputation of specific newspapers and the journalistic profession in general.
Written by S.E. Smith
