What is Planking for?

The latest planking craze is the hot topic this year - as photos appear of people who are joining in with this potentially dangerous pastime/activity. Some people are going to extraordinary lengths to become the best at planking.

But, what is planking?

The objective of planking is to take a photograph of yourself lying down in bizarre, or unusual places. Already accidents and a death have been attributed to the new planking craze - as they've fallen from ledges on tall buildings when attempting to take their own planking photo.

The fad has taken off since David Williams (Wolfman), who is a rugby league star and renowned planker decided to show off his skills on live TV after a try in March. He lay stretched out on the ground - and now everybody wants to do planking, but a lot are going over the top!

Planking has to be filed away under "fun", until it gets out of hand - then it becomes a risky game of Amateur Stuntman!

People are going to greater and greater lengths to outdo somebody else's planking photo. They're climbing higher, reaching further, thinking the unthinkable. They're clambering, crawling and inching their way to the most bizarre places just to have their planking photo taken, so they can post it on Facebook.

But planking's gone beyond Facebook now, now it's in the world's media as newspapers are reporting some of the more bizarre attempts, wins and failures.

Because of copyright, I can't reproduce the images here, but will provide links to the image/story. Here are some of the hilarious planking, dangerous planking or downright daring planking photos that are out there - if you know of others, let me know and I can add them for others to enjoy.

There have been a lot of accidents with people planking - when it goes wrong.

In one planking video a woman tries planking in the kitchen - but ends up pulling the stove over and on top of herself.

This just shows you how dangerous planking is for people who didn't get their full share of common sense.

For many people, the opportunity of planking at work is too much to resist - and there's been a lot of people taking planking photos in their workplaces.

People are managing to take planking photos in all kinds of everyday situations. Planking in a supermarket, planking on high buildings ... and, planking everywhere that is a public place.

Could you, would you do this?

It's OK to laugh when you see the photos, but somebody's died while planking - and there will no doubt be an increasing number of people dying for their art in the coming months. Below are links to people who have had planking accidents and they died planking, or are seriously injured. Here are a few. RIP.

Do you find planking interesting? What is planking to you and your social group - have you done any planking? Personally I just "don't get it". It's so bizarre. If the best thing somebody can think of to do with their time is to lie down on their stomach and get their photo taken so they can post it on Facebook, then the quicker the recession's over and there are proper jobs for people to go to the better!!

What do you think....? Planking will be another fad, soon forgotten.