Ok. This guy wins.
Although I’m not big on the planking craze that the bulk of Black Twitter discovered this week, I have to admit; it’s really funny when it’s either ridiculously absurd or when it goes terribly wrong. For those who are not internet geeks like myself, here is the unofficial definition of planking, written by yours truly: The photo above with the McDonalds arches illustrates my point about the absurd. The video below
Planking (v) – The act of lying totally flat on your stomach, preferably in the most random f*cking place conceivable.
Most people taking planking photos have them taken at home or at work. The photo above with the man planking on the McDonalds arches however, illustrates my point about the absurdity of the location being pretty funny. Below, the video I’ve embedded is an example of how failure is and always will be funny, especially when doing something as silly as planking. Everybody already knows what’s going to happen, yet it’s still hilarious.
Video courtesy of ladidahdi.tumblr.com
Now, a lot of people are trying to say that planking had something to do with the Middle Passage, where slaves were stacked on top of each other on slave ships for months during their cruel, perilous journey to America. As much of a history buff and occasional angry Black man as I am, I think people are reaching with this comparison. I did some research and found nothing about slave owners using the term “planking” to describe what they did. Hell, the only other use for the term planking involving human beings that I’m aware of is the exercise used to strengthen core muscles. As far as folks making the slavery comparison, I’d say that these people need to cut that overly sensitive pseudo-intellectual bullsh*t out and let people have their fun.
My only issue with planking is that people have already taken it too far and begun beating a dead horse. I guess overkill is inevitable with any type or internet craze or meme. It sucks that some people actually died attempting to plank. Then again, at the risk of sounding insensitive, if one loses his or her life doing something absolutely ridiculous, it wasn’t tragic; it was meant to be. God’s way of raising the collective intelligence of society was by calling your dumb ass home.
For the record, the plank exercise itself is executed differently than the internet trend. For those of you interested in getting some pool party-ready abdominal muscles, the clip below will show you how to properly plank. You’re welcome! Oh yeah, I have no idea what type of accent this woman has, but if any of you know, feel free to share. Not being able to place it slightly vexes me for some odd reason!
Tweet
You were too soft on the fake blackademics claiming a connection to slavery. There is no connection, they are peddling bogus history in the name of righteousness.
I amended it since I realized I repeated myself in that paragraph. You’ll probably like the last sentence a lot better now.
sounds like a faint eastern european accent. she kind of sounds like heidi klum
I was thinking Eastern Europe, too…
I am 99 percent sure someone will try to plank on a federal monument/building in DC this weekend.
I used to work on a cruise ship with people from all over the world speaking English with many different accents and I’m about 90 percent certain that’s a mild Scandinavian accent of some sort -probably either from Sweden or Norway. It’s a bit like Lawrence Welk’s accent the way it’s kind of swingy and and there’s a little extra hiss at the beginning of each S. And the way she says “to” too.
I can’t never get enough of seeing vid of the dude falling off the fridge and ending in Peter Griffin style…LOL
p.s. Dude is a cutie
This is the Best. Quote. Ever. “God’s way of raising the collective intelligence of society was by calling your dumb ass home.”
Stealing it.
I do planks regularly in the gym, 3 sets holding 30 seconds each in 3 positions LOL.
What’s next, cliffhanging in the plot-line form, or maybe “batmanning,” hanging by your feet from a potentially dangerous height ranging from 4 inches to around 50,000 feet.