Bored with existance?

[Dirty Hipsters]

A few days ago a guy who I went to high school with died. Cause of death? He got drunk, tried to plank on the railing of a balcony, and fell off. Not to speak ill of the dead, but this is quite honestly the stupidest way to die that I've ever heard of.

This really made me think though, what the hell is wrong with our society that we've created planking? Are people really so bored of their own existence that laying down on top of something stupid and taking a picture of it can be considered a legitimate pass-time by many? Why do people keep doing something so pointlessly stupid after so many people have already died doing it? I mean really, there have already been tons of news stories about the EXACT SAME THING happening (guy getting drunk and falling off a balcony while attempting to plank), so why do people keep attempting to do this?

It's not like this guy's death was particularly shocking for me, or for anyone. In fact, if there was a yearbook category for "most likely to die doing something stupid while drunk" this guy would have been one of the front runners in the vote, if not the winner, but I still feel bad for his family, and everyone affected by his death.

It really makes me wonder why people die over things that are so blatantly pointless.

I don't really know if there's a point to this thread, or any discussion value to it, but it's something that was on my mind today.

 

[Crazy Zaul]

Are people really so bored of their own existence that laying down on top of something stupid and taking a picture of it can be considered a legitimate pass-time by many?

Since they went on to do owling, coneing and probably frogging, definitely yes.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

people are idiots and or wanna be remembered.

or they just got that daring nature.

I can understand a daring nature. If the guy had died sky diving, or racing motocross, or something along those lines, I could definitely understand. But dying planking? Really? That's not daring, that's retarded.

 

[x EvilErmine x]

What the hell is this 'planking' thing? Do.not.understand.com :-s

 

[Neverhoodian]

What the hell is this 'planking' thing? Do.not.understand.com :-s

From what I understand, it's the practice of lying face down somewhere, usually in an unusual and/or dangerous spot. The more unusual/risky the location, the better. They call it "planking" because your desired pose is reminiscent of a plank of wood (straight and rigid).

No, I have no idea why this became popular.

I suppose people just want to try something new. Couple that with the youthful sense of invulnerability ("It won't happen to me! I'm special!"), and you have the recipe for potential disaster.

 

[JesterRaiin]

It really makes me wonder why people die over things that are so blatantly pointless.

Too many things to worry, too many negative information to process, no reasonable rewarding/achievement system equals lack of engagement, boredom and subconscious drive to escape this flawed reality.
It's a possibility.