Some of the major news stations have carried a story about the tragic death of a 20-year-old Australian. The new craze is “planking”. It started out as silly stunts where people would lie flat on a narrow surface, such as a fence or a bench. But as it evolved and people began posting videos of their stunts on the internet, it became more and more bizarre.
People began “planking” on the edge of high-rise buildings, cranes, balconies and more. Sooner or later, something was going to happen. This young man lost his life after trying to balance on a narrow rail, on a balcony. Youth is youth. All of us have gone through phases in life where we do the absurd, and just for kicks.
We saw how a craze in Malta took off with tray-sliding, an event whereby youngsters would tie a tray to the back of a car and be taken out on a joyride. It had to take a tragic accident in Ta’ Qali to put a dampener on it.
Crazes come and go, but the danger lies in the fact that people are pushing danger to new levels for the sake of internet exposure and hits on sites such as YouTube.
As we have already said, the folly of youth will always be with us. It is part of what makes us human. Of course, words of wisdom, warning and temperance always go unheeded. Human beings need a challenge. They like to prove themselves and challenge themselves. This is why people go off on expeditions to mountain tops, it is why they dive, it is why they jump out of aircraft with only a canopy to break their fall.
It is the adrenalin rush that we all seek and need, in varying doses. But where do we draw the line? Activities such as planking are bred through urban boredom. We are not talking about a lack of parks, sports facilities and other activities, we are talking about the inane boredom of being sat at a desk with the same routine, day in, day out, that causes such crazes to sprout.
Who else in their right mind would try and balance, prone, on a balcony window some eight storeys above the ground? The internet truly is a marvellous thing, allowing individuals to be able to tap into information, real time. But when it is used to promulgate such senseless risk-taking behaviour, then one truly has to question policy. The information data highway is founded on the ability of ordinary people to tap into information as long as the activity is legal. But we should really question the wisdom of allowing people to post videos of themselves balancing atop cranes. But at the same time, do we also censor videos of people who have done a parachute jump? It’s a difficult one to call.