The lying down game (also known as planking[1], or face downs) is an activity, popular in Asia, consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body, and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the internet is an integral part of the game.[2] Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play.[2] The location should also be as public as possible, and as many people as possible should be involved.[3]
The game, which has been described as "Parkour for those who can’t be arsed"[4], was invented by Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon in 1997[5] and first became popular in the northeast[6], then all of Britain by the summer of 2009,[4] reaching the point by late 2010 that it was described by Andrew Sullivan as "sweeping Britain."[7]
The game made news in September of 2009, when seven doctors and nurses working at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England were suspended for playing the lying down game while on duty.[4][8][9]
The game has been described by some as "pointless".[3][10]
The term "planking" was coined in Gladstone,[11] Queensland, Australia and became a fad in 2011.[12]
The game, which has been described as "Parkour for those who can’t be arsed"[4], was invented by Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon in 1997[5] and first became popular in the northeast[6], then all of Britain by the summer of 2009,[4] reaching the point by late 2010 that it was described by Andrew Sullivan as "sweeping Britain."[7]
The game made news in September of 2009, when seven doctors and nurses working at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England were suspended for playing the lying down game while on duty.[4][8][9]
The game has been described by some as "pointless".[3][10]
The term "planking" was coined in Gladstone,[11] Queensland, Australia and became a fad in 2011.[12]
I just heard of this! Where are you? At work?
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