Planking

UPDATE: Some of my readers pointed me to a very unfortunate planking accident involving a young Australian man. It was in no way my intention to upset anyone with this post. I simply thought it was humorous in its absurd nature. Of course, I would never endorse any dangerous ‘planking’. My heart goes out to the Australian family that lost their son.

(via devour)

18 Comments leave a comment below

  1. Hahaha —– funny!
    I want to plank.

  2. You too? My snowboarding house is already figuring out how they will incorporate this into next year’s ramp. Interesting to see how these trends get around. Perhaps a viral campaign by the physical fitness industry?

  3. Tina that is some bad taste and I guess you were not aware of it!? The death of that young guy should be enough not to publish this!

  4. Really?? Is there a better way for people to show how stupid they are? What’s the point of this? I’m embarrassed to be human right now.

  5. @Phatty, @Mark:

    It was in no way my intention to upset anyone with this post. I had no idea about the accident. I simply thought it was humorous in its absurd nature. Of course, I would never endorse any dangerous ‘planking’. My heart goes out to the Australian family that lost their son.

  6. I think we’re being a little TOO sensitive. Yes it’s tragic for the family involved but it’s no reason for the rest of the world to “stop” doing something. Publish away.

  7. oh come on mark and phaty… that crap is hilarious. go change your tampons.

  8. Guess we should stop posting videos of snowboard tricks, BMX tricks, skateboard tricks, skydiving or probably any Olympic sport. Think of all the people who died!

    Tragic death is an incredibly sad loss, but over caution to the point of petrification and cultural sterilization is far more tragic to humanity. I think these participants would agree.

  9. @Marcel

    I couldn’t agree with you more. I am from Australia and, as per this video, this craze has been all over the news lately.

    There have been calls from authorities to discourage or ban the activity, and to prosecute or fine the participants (certainly in light of this recent unfortunate tragedy), but like any viral fad this would be impossible to police, and planking is an inherently risky activity, as participants attempt to outdo one another.

    Just because someone has died doing something that they obviously thought was fun, does that mean we should ban this or other activities because they might be fun and carry a risk of injury…or even death?

    People have died driving cars–so we should ban driving?

    and Tina–as a designer myself, I appreciate your point of view, and that the aesthetic juxtaposition of a well-planned or executed planking exercise can be quite interesting.

  10. @swiss-miss, don’t give in for this kind of abusive power. People get “offended” just to put someone else down.

  11. Practice safe planking.

  12. It’s very silly, but it’s quite funny too. Just got to shake my head at those who are ridiculously sensitive.

  13. I sure hope you never post a humourous video of someone doing something in a car.

    Or on a bicycle.

    Or in a plane.

    Or walking.

    Or living.

  14. I can’t believe you don’t monitor the entire world’s news for bizarre and tragic accidents caused by the products you endorse. SO irresponsible.

    Anyway – planking! How completely absurd. I love it. And I love your readers that understood the intent of posting this. (The ones who don’t are the same ones that have made playground equipment so very, very, VERY boring over the years. So there.)

  15. K, Daniel, changed, still stupid. Now what?

    I wasn’t even referring to the kid who died. It’s not about being sensitive. (Besides kinda funny you’re all being so sensitive to me being too ‘sensitive’). I’m talking about the ‘activity’ of lying down on something. Is there supposed to be talent involved here? Why does everyone think it’s so funny? What am I missing? Is it like riding a bull? Are you supposed go for eight seconds? Is there a time limit? Are you supposed to fall asleep?Here’s something super creative, it’s called ‘Reverse Planking’. Get this, you lie on your back! I’m freaking LOLing just thinking about it!

  16. @Mark

    “Why does everyone think it’s so funny?”

    Because it is silly. Like farting.

    And like with all risk taking endeavours (dangerous planking), if it works out its great and you are a hero, if it bombs, you are an idiot. No in-betweens.

  17. lol. one less stupid gene in the pool.