Internet fad ‘planking’ claims first victim
Idiocy takes many forms. Unfortunately, some of them are fatal.
"Stupid is as stupid does." - Forrest Gump
Take “planking,” for instance. The alleged Facebook-fueled fad, which involves having a picture taken of a daredevil lying rigidly prostrate and in an unusual location, has been blamed for the death of a young Australian man.
ABC News is reporting the death of Acton Beale, 20, who died after plummeting from a high-rise balcony.
Police say he was trying to “plank” on the balcony railing and lost his balance.
“[It] really just shows that these fads that people are coming up with really can have tragic consequences if they are not careful,” a police spokesman in Brisbane said.
Whatever happened to surfing? If you’re going to risk your life, at least do it on a beautiful beach with bikini-clad women nearby.
Police are not thrilled with the silliness, and I can understand why. Last week, Queensland Police charged a 20-year-old after he was spotted planking on a police car roof.
I wouldn’t try that in our neck of the woods.
Depending on your appetite for such things, prepare to be board/bored stiff.
One Facebook planking group has 127,000 fans, and the Australia group has announced May 25 as the inaugural annual Planking Day.
Choose your hobbies wisely people. Especially the dangerous ones.
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41 comments Add your comment
Call it like it is
May 16th, 2011
8:32 am
See nothing wrong with it. Gets rid of the surplus population, and gets the idiots out of the gene pool. Its a win win.
Bucky Kelley
May 16th, 2011
8:57 am
How do you know if you accomplished or won what ever you planked? Like how long do you have to be planked in a position, etc., to claim a win or success? Reckon you lose if you hit rock bottom…literally, like the above prone position contendee, and don’t get back on your feet!
Enemas for Science
May 16th, 2011
9:06 am
It’s called thinning the herd.
Pat
May 16th, 2011
9:16 am
Dear, person who captioned the picture. Forrest Gump’s name has two “r”s.
N8
May 16th, 2011
9:17 am
Forrest Gump. Not Forest.
heehaw
May 16th, 2011
9:18 am
Darwin award indeed, albeit a bit of a boring one. that’s the chance you take. it’s about doing it in an odd place and having a picture of it posted. it’s a fad – who cares?
it’s funny that the article says “what happened to surfing”, when in the last year or so, there was another column / article just like this one, except the topic was “car surfing” hahahahhahahahah. same deal, idiots will do it and get killed, that’s just the way it goes.
you can only pray that your child has been taught well by you, and has enough sense not to do these types of things…
Are you Kidding?
May 16th, 2011
9:24 am
I hear you Jingle Dingle…lol. Cave dwellers!
dre
May 16th, 2011
9:26 am
PeeWee – LOL, thanks for the Monday laugh!
Shane
May 16th, 2011
9:33 am
Darwin is cool and planking is for fools.
Steven
May 16th, 2011
9:41 am
I don’t really see a problem with it. These people are too stupid to be alive anyway and this way they are eliminating themselves. The earth is overpopulated as it is, “planking” will both reduce the number and at the same time get rid of the morons in our society, so plank away you idiots.