It looks ridiculous. It serves no purpose. And yet, it’s a trend that is still carrying a buzz.
It’s planking, the practice of lying flat and still – get it? So you look like a plank – on random objects in random, unusual places.
So no, beds do not count.
According to plank lore, the “game” was created in the late '90s and popularized in England. However, in recent weeks, comedian Tom Green has reminded people that he was pulling the same stunt – which he called “dead guy” – in 1994.
Really, do we need to split hairs over this?
Anyway, the rules of planking mostly revolve around common sense. Don’t spread out on train tracks, bridges or balcony railings, for example. But if you’re Usher and you want to plank your kids on the piano, well, then it’s just cute.
The main rule, though, is to make sure someone is nearby to document the act and post it online, the only real point of planking.
In the past couple of months, the trend has expanded into the celebrity realm, with personalities including Rosario Dawson, Chris Brown and Atlanta’s Big Boi and Justin Bieber taking part in the goofy ritual (just search “celebrity planking” online and you’ll see).
But the craze also appeals to mere mortals, evidenced on numerous Facebook sites, including one called Planking Atlanta.
Dr. Jaha V. Howard, a dentist at A+ Pediatric Dentistry of Atlanta, first heard about planking last month, when he saw a photo of a college friend on Facebook doing the full plank.
Though his initial reaction was that his female friend, clad in a business suit, looked completely silly, Howard was intrigued and spent part of the Fourth of July weekend checking out planking stories and photos online.
The day after the holiday, a slow one in the dentistry world, Howard and his staff had some downtime, which he intended to use wisely.
“I told them, ‘We’re not just going to sit here. We’re going to talk about planking.’ They thought I was insane,” he said with a laugh.
So the group – with staff posing as patients in the photo -- went into an exam room and Howard, clad in full uniform including mask and gloves, climbed atop a cabinet and a dentist’s chair and…planked.
“I was thinking, I hope the picture looks better than this feels!” he said, but also admitted that he enjoyed the fun, light-hearted spirit of the action.
Since his experience, Howard has posted the photos on the office Facebook page, where comments burst with “LOL”’s and other affirmative exclamations.
But although his initial attempt was a success, Howard has decided that his planking days are done.
“I think I’m a one-time planker,” he said, chuckling. “I don’t want to try to compete with myself.”
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