28. Tie Your Friend to a Tree: With No Rope
class: tweener / prank | impressiveness: 4/5 | factors: cooperative mark, surprising end | requires: cooperative mark and a tree
This one’s similar to the “stick your friends to the bar” prank, but so much more evil. Plus: You can do it outside, and all you’ll need is a tree.
Promise your friend he’s about to try something cool, but don’t say what it is (for this to work, the victim will have to cooperate at first… and you don’t want to telegraph that you plan to totally screw him over).
Start by having him grab the tree with both of his hands, lean back slightly, and place his feet well in front of it. He’ll look like he’s straddling the tree, or trying to ride it like a broomstick. Then have him tuck his left foot in the crook of his right knee. Finally, as he slides down the tree, tuck his right foot under his left butt cheek. At this point, both of his feet should be pinned under different sides of his butt. If a foot is halfway out, lift him up and tuck it in.
At this point, give one good push down on his shoulders, and he should end up totally stuck. His feet are pinned under his butt, so he can’t use his legs to stand up, and he won’t have the leverage to pull his body up along the tree trunk. Plus, with his legs wrapped around the tree, the friction of the bark makes it even harder to move anything.
Watch Demonstration (External link)
Remember that after 20-30 seconds, this will start hurting. Sitting in that awkward spot, unable to move is exceptionally tough… so try not to be too much of an evil jerk.
Also: While you can theoretically do this on a street sign, I’ve found that the poles are too thin and too smooth. Even if you get into the proper position, anyone with reasonable upper body strength can probably pull himself up eventually.
Big thanks to Dave Spencer for sending us this idea… we’re still looking for an episode to put it in! (strangely, there’re not many trees around the bars we frequent…)