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Planking in Mainland China Receives Netizen Praise & Jeers

by on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 54 comments comments

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

The “Lying Down Game” is an internet meme that reached mass popularity in 2009 and recently became popular again in the countries of Australia and New Zealand under the name “planking“. It is a game in which photographs of people lying rigidly face down in public areas, hands flat by their sides and toes pointing forward are distributed online through social networking sites like Facebook. Though this game may seem pointless to some, rules of this game do exist by looking at how people play this game; as such, the best “lying down” photos are ones in which they are taken in the most public location possible with the most people involved all acting in as dangerous a manner as possible while lying in the most outlandish positions possible. Controversy first surrounded this game in 2009 when UK hospital staff were suspending for posting planking photos to Facebook, and also earlier this year when a young man from Brisbane, Australia died in an accident involving a planking attempt on a 7th story balcony.

chinaSMACK previously brought you the story of two Taiwanese girls receiving attention and praise from posting planking photos online; now mainland China has its own planking practitioner in the form of “Planking Brother”.

From Mop:

Plonk: A “Planking Brother” suddenly appears in Chengdu, planking wherever he goes

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Planking as performed throughout various locations in Chengdu, China.

Comments from Mop:

蓝色是王子:

Wow, Chengdu also has a “Planking Brother”, very amusing!!!
The second photograph, so high, how did you get up there? Anyone know??

检查菊: (responding to above)

Haven’t you already answered yourself? He climbed up there!! Brother [referring to self] laughs!!!
Some of these are really quite dangerous!!! Don’t fall down!!!

grazyenglish:

Not as stupefying/amusing as the MM [likely referring to the Taiwanese planking girls]
Because it is a brother [male], Since he is a brother/man, he has the passionate blood of a brother/man.

心若入戏:

Post more pictures of pretty girls planking!!!

li2035xuelang:

Stupid/pointless.

爱情老狼:

Seeing these pictures makes brother [referring to self] laugh!!!
Not bad, post some more!!! This guys, they’re a little crazy/stupid/silly.

wooisee:

How about showing a little dash of creativity? The Taiwanese girls also didn’t completely copy what the Japanese [girl, referring to the Tokyo floating girl] did. Is your head so stuffed with shit that you are unable to come up with anything remotely new? I predict this isn’t going to become hot/popular.

稀饭_me:

Who or what is “Planking Girls” [referring to Taiwanese planking girls]? Why are they doing this? I honestly don’t understand.

碎_片:

Quite dangerous, but it feels +_+. It’s better when its girls [doing the planking].

X竖起中指X:

If you have the guts, plank over/in a latrine pit.

超级蠢女:

“Planking Brother”, [this is for you:]

Animated heart gif

蜡笔川子:

The one on the pool/billiards table, that doesn’t fit the title [of the post], you don’t recognize a girl when you see one?

万恶的剥削者:

Might as well just die [instead of doing this nonsense].

片帆远影:

Just what ball-aching significance/meaning does this ball-aching performance art have? Someone please tell me.

潮州小白菜:

The skill involved here is not bad, too bad the brain is too stupid [meaning the skill is wasted on a stupid pointless activity].

英明神武大大哥:

Well-planked.

羔羊怒吼:

NB.

大只鸟鸟:

Ha ha!!!!!!!!!

按下JJ潜水:

When life is uninteresting, one must find some amusement for themselves.

hongshaorou_love:

Faint, let’s have one where you put your head underneath a car…

忍影忧枫:

….it’s becoming a little overdone now.

师妹别装纯:

Without a trace of creativity!!!!!!!

Foxcrot:

…..looks like something just removed from the freezer.

四座山头:

[Someone] with nothing better to do.

Xiang622848:

So funny!!! These kids [nowadays]!!!

风行一:

Fuck, I just knew when this came out that somebody would end up imitating it. You don’t fucking have any individual creativity at all, always “running behind others’ asses” [following, copying others]?

Plank me. Personals @ chinaSMACK.

  • david

    sofa king stupid

  • McCurry

    Soafffaaaa is myyyyyy. Planking is lame

  • pepsi

    are you bloody serious? this aussie crap has now received chinese craze as well. I’m an Aussie and even i think it’s stupid.

    • http://www.foarp.blogspot.com FOARP

      Sorry mate, it’s not Aussie, it comes from the north of England, so you can blame us for it.

  • Jess

    I think the whole “planking” thing is stupid, but…in the middle of a Chinese intersection? Come on. It’s not smart to even drive through one of those.

  • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

    I think the next step is for some guy to post a picture of himself planking in bed, and then some guy will ding him and say, “Haha, so niubi! Way better than Tokyo or Japan!” and then a third will come along and say, “That’s right, this brother is providing an example, we should all get to bed early so that tomorrow we may have strength to toil at our jobs.”

    All the same, we have a dude planking on a Chinese street where people spit and with Chinese traffic that can’t see below the hood of their cars. In this case, lying down is the bravest thing to do. Ding.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Instead of “Brother Plank” it should be “Rebel Planker”. If people get the subversive message as applied to Chinese culture, this could be pretty huge, But then, lying down on Chinese street=filthier than a truckfull of food cats headed to Guangzhou.

    • Jones

      hahahahhahaha good assessment

      • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

        “Planking”: the decadent activity that has been restricted to the immaculately gold-paved saliva-free streets of bourgeoise G8 and G20 countries… until NOW!

        China, you’ve come a long way, baby. (takes a puff)

        • ybin

          I don’t know about any other G8 countries, but I know for a fact that LA streets are dirty as hell. One would not want to “plank” here either. But probably still much better than most Chinese streets though, I have to admit.

          • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

            Stars from the heavens above have come down to grace us with with concrete feet and hand imprints on the streets of LA. Junkies and pushers and prosties aside, the streets of LA are paved with… dreams!!!
            [cue intro music to some lame 80's documentary] [doesn't have to be, but could be that song by Randy Newman... you know the one]

  • The Other Guy

    It’s funny how something gains popularity after someone dies from it.
    With any luck these idiots will suffer the same fate.
    Now if only we could popularise the act of jumping off a bridge with no safety device.

  • http://www.lovelovechina.com Crystal

    Since Chinese are good in gymnastics, we can lift planking to new heights.

    • Chinaprat

      Are you “wumao”?

      • deputamadre

        Yes, a girl with a website giving advice to foreigners on Chinese girls is a ‘wumao’.

        Chinaprat are you ‘naocan’?

        • B-real

          yes because there really is nothing good but pussy that can come from Chinese girl isn’t that right Crystal? You would really think that maybe she is wumao because china is 1 giant panda scam to get wallet and send ya packin.

          • Justin

            That’s funny because my hot Chinese girlfriend pays for meals half the time in addition to cleaning my room for me without me asking. Why? Because she loves me, she’s a good, loyal person and I too am a good, loyal boyfriend to her.

            Maybe you should examine yourself in a mirror and ask why girls only want to sleep with you and take your money, and why these seem to be the only girls you meet despite there being literally millions of beautiful, loyal decent Chinese girls?

            The answer is 1.) You’re looking for (and finding) the wrong types of girls. 2.) You’re an asshole and women think you are good for nothing except money.

            So my advice to you is that if you don’t want to die alone, you should try becoming a better person that someone might be actually inclined to care about.

            Now I know you’re probably think I’m just trolling, but I’m really trying to help you (if that’s possible.)

          • http://www.lovelovechina.com Crystal

            You are getting boring, “real B”… yawning…

            I think I’ll stop noticing your little persona.

            But you, pathetic clown, can continue following my comments and replying to them.

          • http://encyclopediadramatica.com/China Elijah

            Dude…. wtf???

            She was making a joke about the stereotype of chinese acrobats and that translating into chinese people being able to excel at a ridiculous activity…

            She never once mentioned pussy, scams, money or even anything female related. Where did you get that all from?

            You’re being really stupid and rude against a nice girl for no reason.

            Crystal doesn’t deserve it.

            @ Crystal: Seriously, just ignore this crap, it’s not worth your time.

            Call me a White Knight all you like, I don’t give a crap, but some shit just isn’t called for.

          • http://www.lovelovechina.com Crystal

            Thanks, Elijah.
            You are right.
            I already decided to ignore him.

      • http://www.lovelovechina.com Crystal

        :-)

        Here is something I would ask you to think for a second.

        If the comment I did would come from a Westerner you firstly would think that it’s sarcastic.
        But since it came from Chinese, you immediately suspect propaganda.

        Should I follow a similar logic and assume that all Westerners are brainwashed, huh ;-)

        • http://mysticalmagicpages.blogspot.com/ Tommy

          Follow a similar logic and assume all Westerners are sarcastic. Also, I don’t know many Chinese who pull sarcasm off. Good job and keep trucking.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Too bad about your flame war, but you bring up gymnastics and I think that’s interesting. Pretty much all the sports China excels are deal with aesthetics and form (eg diving, weightlifting, young girls in leotards jumping around), and aesthetics are really important in china.

      Planking has to do with a new kind of aesthetic in which we re-evalute the landscape we live in and our role in it; as goofy as it is (it’s like “coma Jackass”), it’s an instant way to make “art” (pretentiousness included).

      This whole page has been calling the Chinese planker stupid, but from a Western standpoint “planking” is seen as a) old b) bereft of aesthetic value by now and c) seen as an annoyance that has been upgraded to a lethal prank. On the other hand, to Chinese planking is none of these things.

      Who knows if it will take off, but yeah, Chinese have the aestheic sensitivity to appreciate these things. When Chinese aren’t calling it “forgery” and “2B’s”.

    • B-real

      im done with messing with Crystal. In one of the other post I have admitted that your are not the girl I was really targeting and have been directing my shit throwing at the wrong person. If you notice lately I have been following all your post with more up to beat things to say from now. Again i’ll say that im sorry. The girl that was after no longer post so my mission has mistakenly crept to you. You have every right rag on me for as long as you like.

  • anon

    I only found the ones in traffic or lots of bystanders to be somewhat amusing. This suggests that escalation in daring is required to achieve the same amount of amusement from viewers who have already gotten past being initially confused by what’s going on when they beheld their first planking photo.

    Planking in a latrine pit would certainly hit the spot.

  • Chad

    No matter where in the world you plank, you’ll still look stupid.

  • Alikese

    Oh my God, look at how well those people can lay down! I am shocked that this isn’t an Olympic sport yet.

    Imagine the strength, dexterity and body control it takes to lay down, I know I couldn’t ever do it myself. Maybe one day, with lots of practice, my son will be able to lay down, and if I can dream for a minute, maybe even lay down for the US National Team.

    • Marsvin

      Hey you say that jokingly but plenty of Americans couldn’t plank to save their lives, due to being too bulbous to form a straight line ;)

      • Ray

        They are not bulbous! They’re just big boned!!! (some of them at least)

    • Jones

      It takes quite a bit of mental strength and dexterity to lie face down in Chinese traffic. I won’t even run screaming through it.

      • Justin

        Try riding a bike in Beijing. If you like danger and excitement fahgedaboudit.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Yes. Servicemen of the American military willingly lay down their lives to fight against tyranny so that others may have the freedom to lay down and plank.

      • Alikese

        I disapprove of your planking, but I’ll defend to the death your right to plank.

        • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

          I’m sensing the accruement of East-West hostilities in which massive “planking” technology is hoarded as a deterrant that will ultimately result in a 1980 Olympic-stlye showdown that will later be known as the “Miracle on Asphalt”.

          (Oscar-winning moment)
          [Chinese] Kurt Russell: “”You were born to be a planker. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours.”

  • TomTuttleFromTacoma

    this is so 2009.

  • Capt. WED

    someone backdrop these bitches and let them plank in a bed 4 life.

    I’m mean and I don’t care.

  • Ray

    What this man is doing is not planking…. but loneliness.

  • diverdude

    cute & amusing, but in the roadway is not such a good idea. unless of course you wish to be squished.

  • 平凡人

    Senseless, meaningless and useless.

  • hanyucha

    So all these poor unwashed people I see laying on the street, they are not homeless they are just planking.

    FAUNA: Plus what’s the deal with all these bell-ends going around wearing glasses with no lenses?

  • Pong Lenis

    I am impressed, must have taken years of practice to develop that skill!

  • Nathan

    他们是傻屄！

  • Ryo

    Ya know, if you’re gonna copy, copy it right… The ones the Taiwanese did was “classy” because they use hot looking girls who dressed nice. It just makes it way more attractive and interesting because they look out of place. I think that’s the main point of these, right?

    These look like a bunch of hobos. They actually look like they belong on the street, sleeping.

    • Pong Lenis

      Good point, you see shitty dressed people all over the place in China.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Um, I think you just pointed out a major class difference between Mainland China and Taiwan.

      *puts fingers in ears, waits for noise of ensuing fight to tear sky asunder*

  • Suicidal tendency

    New contest:

    How long can you survive by planking in the middle of a cross-roads in China?
    The winner will get a free burial with nice gravestone sponsored by the Darwin’s Awards association!

  • http://www.qq.com/1325279774 Kedafu

    Song of the Article

    Walk the Line
    -Johnny Cash

    五毛党 4 LIFE

  • Foreign Devil

    Planking in Mainland China will shorten your lifespan. . putting your face on those filthy dirty surfaces is a deathwish.

  • http://www.makeyourownpheromones.com Michael Hughes

    I’ve yet to see planking on a plank

  • bando

    Why can’t they do something useful as providing wheelchair access?

  • http://www.uberoom.com/ Romantic Room

    Just another fad. In my opinion a stupid fad, but let people have their fun. Planking never hurt anyone. Oh wait… A kid fell off a balcony? Maybe there needs to be a height restriction in the rules.

  • http://www.cngnow.com/EN-US/Vehicles/Pages/default.aspx CNG Cars

    Now I remember doing some silly things as a teenager, but planking? I get the appeal of having something take off like this on the Internet. Time would be better spent elsewhere is all I’m saying.

  • http://best-digital.info Isha

    Amazing how people can come up with just about anything in order to amuse themselves.

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