Practical jokes can be a dangerous thing. My colleague Mark notes that lots of executives think those jokes are unsuitable for the office, which is worth keeping in mind as April Fool’s Day arrives.

I’ve experienced this phenomenon — let’s just say that I will clam up if you mention the phrase “Barbie doll” to me — and if you think journalists somehow get a pass in general on this sort of thing, you might want to remember the Blue Ball Three.

So be careful out there April 1. I’m sure my employer will air an April Fool’s joke or two — jokes that rarely translate from on-air to online, by the way — and I’ll stay quiet and keep in mind my favorite April fool’s hoax of all: