Newest Crave Hits Social Networks

So,, if you have any communication with twitter, then you’re probably familiar with this hashtag: #planking.  Now, even though you may have seen this all over your timeline, if you’re like me, you have NO idea what it means.  Well, after some research, I think I have an answer for you…

Now while many people though the idea was started by some “twitter-heads”, #planking was reportedly invented in England over 10 years ago.

According to NecoleBitchie.com, the game really became popular in 2009 when a host of doctors and nurses were fired for playing the game while on duty.  Other reports claim it was originated in Australia, the country that claimed it’s first ‘planking’ death recently when a man fell from a balcony and Brisbane while his friend photographed him.

How did it get brought to the states?  Orlando Magic star Gilbert Arenas and Dwight Howard recently released pictures of them ‘planking,’ a fad that has swept the entire world in just a few years and has somehow reached the U.S in the last few weeks.

So, now that we know the history…of course we need to know the game rules, right?  Well, to play the ridiculous game, you lay down straight, face down, with your arms at your side in public on or around a random object. The idea is that the more unusual the position or location of the photo, the better. You then upload the photo to the planking facebook page or a social network and let your friends or even strangers comment on your random photo!

But before you go grabbing that camera, you might want to be aware of some of the criticism it’s been receiving.  Some has called the “game” offensive and racist, as the credit the origin of the game to slavery.  The idea is that slaves were placed side by side on a boat with their wrists chained to their side by slave masters.  The irony in all this is that it’s a game that many African American teens and young adults are seemingly participating in.

Now it’s your turn to weigh-in.  Is there a valid correlation to planking and slavery?  Or is everyone being hyper-sensitive?