Planking is the action of lying face down with arms to the sides, in unusual public spaces and photographing it. This online phenomenon started in Europe and Japan where it was originally known as the lying down game. The term Planking originated in Australia where it became an internet meme this year, further fueled by websites and Facebook Pages dedicated to the activity.
Planking seems to be an activity all done for light-hearted fun and entertainment but it can become dangerous. Today, an Australian man accidentally plunged to his death while doing the act of ‘Planking’. Reports from Queensland Police state that Acton Beale, 20, seems to have lost his balance and fell seven stories to his death while participating in the act. According to The New York Post, the activity becomes dangerous when “people start to outdo each other by “planking on structures or in precarious positions putting themselves and others at risk”.
It is unfortunate that this tragedy happened to this young man but what’s more tragic is that his death seemed to have spawned numerous Facebook Pages lampooning his death, such as Congratulations to Acton Beale for earning himself a Darwin Award and Planking Acton Beale’s Casket. Seriously, what’s needed right now is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
