Don’t be alarmed… the people in the photos aren’t deceased, they just look like it. 😕

So there’s this craze going around where people photograph themselves laying facedown and lifeless in random places.  It’s become so popular that it was even a trending topic on twitter earlier today.

The craze has taken the net by storm and people are going to great lengths to get that one perfect shot of them “planking” from dangerous situations.

Despite pleas from law officials to stop the dangerous act and at least one reported death, the act of “planking” has continued to surge and what was formerly a “crazy white boy” stunt has gone urban.

Flava Flav has even been spotted “planking”…

What the Phuk does “PLANKING”really mean? Find out below…

Many on twitter have said that the term “Planking” or “Plankin” derives from slavery, where slaves were transported on wooden planks while lying face down in chains….

It’s really not too much of a stretch. In fact, a quick Google search turned up the following image of the African-American slave trade with the word “Planking” in the description…

This detail from a diagram of a slave ship shows how captured Africans were stowed for shipment to markets in the New World.

Unclothed, underfed, and forced to lie on hard planking in unhygienic conditions, many failed to survive the transatlantic voyage. (source)

I have no idea if the terminology today was created with slavery in mind, but just the fact that there’s a link, makes it that much LESS funny in my opinion.

“Plank” on Planker…

To PLANK or not to PLANK? That is the question…

What are you thoughts on PLANKING?