If only they came with labels. Unfortunately, the hallmark of a web-based April Fool story is that it comes clothed as a real story. They're deliberately crafted to sucker you in and convince you to read two to six paragraphs before you figure out that they're made of lies.

In other words, April Fool's Day is a linkbait competition. I think that's why it has worn out its welcome for so many people. Linkbait used to be more funny when it was rare. Now it's like celebrating Mosquito Day, or Spam Email Day.

Yours would be a reasonable suggestion if every April Fool story was submitted with a prominent label reading [APRIL FOOL]. But that would spoil the fun, wouldn't it? If there's anything less fun than an April Fool story, it's an inartful April Fool story.

Frankly I think Google raised the bar years ago when they announced Gmail on April 1. I no longer think an April Fool story is any good unless it (a) sounds like an obvious April Fool joke but (b) is 100% true.

Lighten up! It's only 24 hours. I think we can all survive.

This dodges the core issue: most people don't want that bullshit here. If you want that bullshit, there are many other news sites that will cater to your need for bullshit.

This is all recreational. But it sometimes also gives you perspective. Makes you think in a different way. That can't be bad.

Besides, those who are really bothered by the jokes and are that dependent on HN that they cannot live without it for a day seem to have a different problem.