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Planking is the new craze here in Australia. As soon as I saw it, I knew it: finally I had found the right sport for me.

This week we had the first death by planking in Queensland, and another planker in a coma in New South Wales. Both were, however, contenders for a Darwin Award.

My planking partner Emilie and I are strictly into Safe Planking. (Because we're sensible and also because we're not that intrepid.)

Seems to me that planking is a nice recipe for disaster.

Maybe someone should write a book on it.

I have the perfec title : Planking for Plonkers

Hahahahaha. Funny what things catch on.

The current craze around here is resting on a surface, butt on the surface, knees bent, feet on the floor. It's called "sitting" and some people have gotten really good at it!

The fatality made the news here earlier this week and so I looked it up.

Some people certainly have made it into a high-adreneline activity. There are some where I find it hard to imagine how they got into those locations in the first place. Some are really cute and funny though - there was one of a whole row of planks on a train that I liked.

Still too much effort for me though.

Images don't show up immediately as attachments until I come and upload them and host them as hosted images. Thanks Sandy!

I was somewhat amused by the news stories about the Planking death. Not the death itself, but the way everything was followed the patterns of comments that are usually used for some new lethal drug craze.

Friend: It was just a bit of fun, we didn't thnk anyone would get hurt...
Cops: These young people are just out for some fun, but please, think about the consequences...
etc. etc.

Planking itself is fine, IMHO, but 7th floor balconies are not the place for it. Of course, as soon as this hit the news, twits were planking on 45th floor balconies and such.

Of course, sensible people like dwellars would only plank across, say, a white generation three Subaru outback limited edition model. Nice.

I'm fixing to do some Olympic planking on a Tempurpedic mattress in a few minutes.
Going for the gold!

If I am ever that bored, I'm going to dig out my old Pet Rocks for fun.

eta: or shoot myself in the face

(snort---bored, board...pun not intended, but hey...)

Oh, she's on top of the car.

Than what's that thing planking on top of the building?

I know all you chaps are joking.
But if you're ever really interested, check out planking and Australia.
Eventually you'll find something death-defying.

I know it's funny to suggest it's the same as sleeping.
But the Ozzies are pretty full of spunk.
And lager.
And stupidityness.

Photos do go from ha ha ha you're lying down, to ha ha ha you're about to die.

'tis a mullet:

"The grandly named Promontory Gate Hotel, better known throughout the world as the Fishy Pub. It was built in 1939 to replace a former timber building destroyed when Victoria was ablaze with bushfires. History tells us that it is the fourth hotel on that present site since 1893. The seven metre long mullet that reclines on the hotel roof is the work of Venus Bay artist Colin Suggett. Colin saw his fish as a stunned mullet, something that had been valued but discarded and left to die, abandoned. The mullet is built on a steel frame with aluminium, iron and fibre scales. It was created on site at a Mount Gambier quarry in 1990 and transported to Fish Creek where it has found a home on the roof."

Picture from a better angle here.

I could sit on the wing of a flying plane, that would be death defying.

Everyone's doing it: SITTING. Don't be left out! You can practice almost anywhere, to build up to the plane.

Okay, this is getting silly.

Students have been disciplined in several schools, in South Australia and Queensland, for planking in school grounds.

At least four shop assistants have been fired for planking at work.

And Casi seems to have missed that the car I was describing is the one featured in the original post i.e. Sandy's Possum-mobile.

Seriously, this is following all the patterns of a new drug craze and the resultant hysteria. I have a sensitive sense of the absurd and this is making me

ETA especially the guy planking across two camels. Camels make everything funnier.

Once again, The Cellar is ahead of the local news curve. There's some wack-job in Philadelphia that planks around 30th Street station and gets security called on her a lot. She was interviewed, and filmed planking in a number of extremely uninteresting places (floor of main concourse and on a table in the food court. ho hum). The story ran last night (Friday. Or maybe it was Thursday. In any event, it was after the initial IOTD post).

All the kids are planking these days. It's just a passing fad, and taken in the correct context, it is pretty funny.

I think the hysteria is stupid.

Here's a couple of pics of my kids planking.

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Quote:

Plankers not deterred by Brisbane man's death

[From Monday May 16th]

Australian plankers are vowing to continue despite the online craze being taken to a "dark point" by the death of a young Brisbane man.

Acton Beale, 20, fell from a high-rise building in Kangaroo Point on Sunday morning when he tried to plank on a balcony railing.

Planking involves a person lying face down in a rigid position at unusual locations. Photos of the act are often then shared on social networking sites like Facebook.

The Queensland Opposition has joined the state's police in calling for people to stop participating in the dangerous craze - a move one expert labels "counter-intuitive".

But Richard Litonjua, who created the Brisbane Planking Association (BPA), says despite the fatal fall, plankers will "absolutely not" stop.

"Accidents happen every day. It's a tragic thing to happen to somebody and a really tragic way to go, but if people crash their car and die, we're not going to stop driving our cars," he said.

"We can't just lock ourselves up and stop doing things just because something's been taken to a really dark point."

Users of the Facebook page, which has attracted thousands of members, echoed that opinion.

"So one guy dies and the planking police come out! Who is next, the walking police? Or what about the driving police? The swimming police? Anyone else?" wrote Rhiannon Downie.

"So we should all stop doing the things we think is fun because we can die doing it? Say goodbye to almost every sport in the world! Is that really what u want?" wrote Ron Adrian Blomstervik.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says plankers must learn the difference between "a harmless bit of fun ... and taking a risk with your life".

Mr Litonjua agrees plankers can no longer afford to ignore the safety aspects of the craze.

"There is extreme stuff going on, and being from a construction background I get safety pushed on me every day. A lot of people don't even think about it," he said.

"I've noticed the Gladstone planking page was pulled immediately offline even before the media caught hold of the story. We took the tack of keeping our page there and really letting all the people who watch us know to do it safely.

"The Brisbane Planking Association is all about planking smart and planking safe. It's not about being a hero or a daredevil. Think before you plank, and don't drink and plank."

Memorial planks

Beale's Facebook page is awash with messages of condolence. Facebook friend Hna N Skip describes him as a man who "made everyone feel loved and welcome like family".

But there are also many posts from trolls that mock his death and the planking craze.

Mr Litonjua says some plankers on Facebook have suggested holding events to honour Beale, who is believed to have been involved in planking for just one week.

"We've had a few suggestions come through and we haven't really pushed that point because it's quite a sensitive matter for the family involved," he said.

"Because the way that he passed away was involved in that, I don't think the family would really appreciate that point being pushed - they want to remember him for who he was, not the way he passed away."

While some have described it as a new fad, Mr Litonjua says planking has actually been around for quite some time.

"It all started actually in 2007 overseas, in Europe, and it was originally called the laying down game," he said.

Nicholas Carah, an expert in new media at the University of Queensland, says planking shot into the spotlight last week when police issued a Gladstone man with a court appearance notice after he was discovered planking on a police car.

"Attempts to control phenomenons (sic) like this inevitably amplify it," he said.

"The police were trying to make a stand but counter-intuitively it gave it much more publicity."

Quote:

Woolworths sacks workers for planking

SCORES of Australians suspended or sacked for planking have taken to Facebook to vent their frustration.

Woolworths, the country's biggest employer, has axed eight employees in three states for performing the potentially dangerous stunt on top of meat grinders, display shelves, trolleys and stacks of milk crates and then boasting about it online.

The sackings comes after Acton Beale, 20, from Brisbane, tragically fell to his death as he tried to plank the seven-storey balcony of his high-rise unit on Sunday.

The report of his death highlighted the internet craze and triggered a crackdown.

Woolworths said its sackings were due to staff putting their own safety, as well as that of other staff and customers, at risk.

The sackings follow the suspension of six school students for planking in Queensland, with police and education officials warning the fad will not be tolerated. McDonald's told its staff yesterday that planking was considered inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.

Caught in the act

In NSW, the manager and assistant manager of a Dick Smith electronics outlet - owned by Woolworths - were shown the door after the company discovered they had planked on a 2m shelving unit.

Two Victorian meat department employees were dismissed for planking on a mincing machine, while a Queensland casual worker was sacked for lying face down on a pile of milk crates.

Another three nightshift workers were sacked for planking on top of trolleys and display units. Many of those fired were employees who photographed the act.

Wade Loan, one of those sacked by Woolworths in NSW, posted on Facebook yesterday: "Only I could get fired for planking".

He has since become a fan of a Facebook page titled "Australia: The only country where lying down can be illegal".

Other Facebook reports include people fired for planking on raised forklifts and a student suspended from school for scaling a 1.8m wall.

More investigations

Woolworths told The Daily Telegraph newspaper it was investigating several other planking incidents.

A spokeswoman said the company became aware of the stunts when it was tipped off by colleagues and directed to images on Facebook.

But Woolworths risk and safety general manager Anthony Wilson said the company was not trying to be a killjoy.

Employees had put themselves and customers at risk.

"It's not about being the fun police, it's about making sure people are looking out for their own safety," Mr Wilson said.

"(Planking) is a direct contradiction of our safety and health policy. Our employees have a responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of those around them."

However, the company said today that it had sacked the workers for breaching health and safety rules, not planking.

One of the nation's leading workplace law firms, Slater and Gordon, said planking alone should not be grounds for sacking and employees could potentially sue for unfair dismissal.

Legal warning

Slater and Gordon's national head of employment law, Marcus Clayton, said that if employees were endangering themselves a warning might still be more appropriate.

Three students at Daylesford Secondary College in Victoria including the school's vice captain have reportedly been suspended for planking.

Meanwhile a "mass plank" planned in Albury on Saturday has been relocated after concerns were raised with organisers that it would desecrate a war memorial site.

More than 70 people have said they will attend, while a further 94 have been invited.

The group's members are now planning to "mass plank" the QE2 square instead of the proposed site at Monument Hill.

Members of the local RSL were reportedly worried about plankers disrespecting the site.

Police and education officials have warned the fad will not be tolerated.

Quote:

Whyalla Santos plant workers sacked for dangerous planking 60m up in the air

Attachment 32484

TWO workers have been sacked from Santos in Whyalla after photos surfaced of them planking on top of the plant's smokestacks, where they risked a 60m fall.

Their actions were viewed as extremely dangerous and they were immediately sacked from the plant.

A response from Santos was not available last night.

Employers across the nation have cracked down on the planking act, with dismissals reported across the country.

The act involves a person lying face down on an object and keeping their body rigid while being photographed.

It began as an internet craze and is being performed in schools and workplaces throughout the country.

A Brisbane man died last week while planking after he fell from a 5cm wide balcony railing on the seventh floor of an apartment building. Sam Newman also caused controversy this week after photographs emerged of him planking on the balcony railing of his 40th floor Port Melbourne apartment.

Despite the danger of the act, the Planking Australia Facebook page continues to attract followers and last night had 149,425 fans.

Quote:

Anti-planker hurt in planking demo

A Sydney woman has been taken to hospital after falling while planking.

The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was at a dinner party when discussion turned to planking.

The internet-driven phenomenon involves people lying "plank-like" in odd locations and uploading the photos on social networking sites.

A woman at the dinner party says her friend was trying to demonstrate why planking is a silly trend.

"We were just making light of it, and we balanced on a little stool," she said.

"And then it went a little further. And she fell off the wall. And it all started with why you just don't plank."

Brisbane man Acton Beale, 20, died last weekend in a planking attempt when he fell from a high-rise building, while other planking attempts have left people seriously injured.

One of the local guys at Dick Smith's was sacked for planking at work.

Its sooooo addictive, I walk along and see some random object..."I could plank that shit".

sandypossum; If you want to increase the impact of a planking may I suggest you add something to make it seem more permanent.

With respect to your farmyard style something like putting a live chicken on your back. Maybe sprinkle some feed on your back. That'll add zaniness and some animal interest. It'll look like you've been like that for hours or days. If you could have something like a pygmy goat standing on your back that would be spectacular.

For the non-farm yard effect something like a potted plant would do it. The squirrels in my yard would do it for a walnut. Perhaps a dog just sitting.

(Stating the obvious here, but I'm going to go ahead and post anyway) The planking by the Santos guys...now that is just stupid.

I'm not so sure. Firstly, he might have some kind of safetly line on, but it is hard to tell. Secondly, there is probably some kind walkway beneath him, just out of shot. So, not that stupid. Maybe.

Then again, he was goofing off at work, took photos of it, posted them on the web and so got fired. Yeah, okay, that's dopey.

Looks like two even. I'm sure he thought his argument would be, "I took all safety precautions!"

Boss:
"Yeah, but if we don't fire you we look lax on safety fool!"

I'm starting a campaign to warn people about planking. My slogans:

Planking: are you really that board?*

Plankers: as thick as two short ones.

Planking: get over it.

Plankers are a splinter group.

Planking: just because I did, wood you?

Plankers are not level-headed.

* with acknowledgement to Infinite Monkey.

On August 3, 2011, Hugh Heffner's girlfriend, Anna Sophia, talked the 85 year old into planking after a game of Uno. He was all for it, laying on the dining table in his silk pajamas.

If he was going to plank, than so were his Playgirls. He got them all arranged and gave a thumbs up for Anna Sophia's picture.

Posted on The Superficial and E Online, to name a few.

Photos credit: Anna Sophia Berglund

Wow! It's even stupider when rich people do it. I thought it was only stupid when dumb bimbos did it.

I call it "laying on a table." It's all the rage.

Too funny Mama. It does show how removed from the rest of us the uber rich are.
Took them months to catch on to a fad thats already dying off.

Actually, planking has just been in the news again. A couple of workers down south who took pictures of themselves planking at work have just been fined after losing their jobs months ago.

Planking is still in the news . . .

In May, a 20 year old in Brisbane fell off a seven story balcony trying to plank on the balcony rail and in August, a man was sent to the hospital from planking on a golf cart. The golf cart stunt was one part funny, one part sad and one part plain old dumb.

This article lists a planking anthem, as well as 11 planking videos. My favorite video is the Planking Chihuahua. The planking anthem, rap style, is pretty good with lots of good planking pictures, including one of Obama

, but don't watch it around the kiddos.

Last night, 12 year old son says he has a trick he wants to show me.

He lays down on the floor, arms at his sides.

11 year old son (who knows everything worth knowing) asks, "What's he doing?"

Mom, surprisingly informed, replies, "He's planking. A lot of people do it while balancing on things. It's more impressive that way."

12 year old quickly goes for kitchen step-stool (library stool - small round stool on rollers - maybe 20"-24" in diameter). I can't grab my camera fast enough.

11 year old couldn't quite get it. His body was kinda sagging.

12 year old got pretty close. He just didn't get his head up and in line with the rest of his body.

Dad was in perfect form. And he's never even heard of it before.

Can't wait until they hear about owling.

They will simply be liberated where they can be studied. Hawking has long proven that mini black holes must exist if the rest of black hole theory is reasonably correct,

Ever since Mom (my mother-in-law, the woman who barely tolerated the few pets her children were allowed to have, and who swore she would never have one of her own) has gotten herself Corgi, my world has become inundated with Corgi-this and Corgi-that. So naturally, this planking Corgi just had to come up!