Press online poll: April Fuhl must die

The Press ran a brief poll asking readers what they think of April Fool's Day prank stories in the newspaper.

Before we share with you the results, let us tell you about how the day has gone. Most phone call complaints today were from Press readers responding to today's editorial, which stated that the April Fool's jokes would no longer be published on the front page of the newspaper. These readers called before they reached the Local section of the newspaper, where they, at least, were pleasantly surprised.

A subscriber from Post Falls emailed the following to the editor:

We moved here from Spokane eighteen years ago and immediately began enjoying the Press. The localness of the stories, all the news that is important to real people, the special emphasis editions that regularly appear were so refreshing after sixty years of reading the Spokane paper.

        And now I am afraid I will be forced to end my subscription because of some Press executive who foolishly decided that this April 1st edition would have to quit printing the one thing that billions of us readers look forward to all year long, the article written by the best informed writer on your whole staff. April Fuhl.

        And yet you print numerous articles when Michelle Obama changes dress designers. Now THAT is real foolishness.

        I only hope you can weather the storm of we billions of us readers canceling our subscriptions.

        P.S About canceling my subscription, April Fool. But I still think it is foolishness to do away with these needful stories.

And now, for the poll results. A majority of readers don't like this annual spoof. Unfortunately for them, April Fuhl will remain gainfully employed at The Press.

• Stupid; stop doing them: 200 votes (51 percent)

• Delightful; bring 'em on: 127 votes (33 percent)

• No opinion on this important topic; 63 votes (16 percent)