At the risk of beating a dead horse (what the heck, it's kinder than
beating a live one, right?), I'll just add my $.02 here.
I can totally relate to the predicament Bob was in, from a personal
experience in which I was expected to go along with a prank a friend
was pulling.  It was a very similar sort of thing.  The friend didn't really
mean to hurt anybody, she just hadn't thought it through.  I didn't
want to perpetuate the prank, but I didn't want to humiliate my friend,
either.  I just wanted to end the whole unfortunate business and
smooth over everybody's bruised feelings the best I could.  In these
situations it's very hard to know exactly what to say.  I know I failed
miserably.  I think we should give Bob a break.
As for myself, I assumed in the beginning that it was a joke, based on
a combination of Kirt's recent hell story and Bob & Doug's
conversation on blood transfusion, the sort of off-handed way in
which Doug reported it.  I think he meant for people to realize it was
a joke.  I kept expecting a post from Bob saying that rumors of his
demise had been greatly exaggerated.  It wasn't until Ward joined in
that I believed the story.  That Ward can just sound so plausable!
I'm just so glad Bob's still with us!
I'd like to plead for leniency for Doug & Ward, just as we can forgive
someone who hurts us unintentionally a lot easier than if it was
intentional.  Especially Ward since he apologized.  I miss them!

Cheers,
Martha