“Planking refers to the act of lying face down with arms to the sides in unusual public spaces and photographing it to share online. Owling refers to the act of sitting in a perched position while looking off into the distance as to mimic the posture of an owl” – Knowyourmeme.com

After the massive popularity of Flashmobs, Planking & Owling have become the latest internet memes. Though the trend hasn’t hit India yet, I suspect it’s just a matter of time. Here’s a look at what Planking & Owling is all about.

Planking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded

Planking, also known as the Lying Down Game, became popular in the UK last year and has since become a global craze. From the famous “Pujie Girls” (translation: falling on the street) in Taiwan to celebrities like Justin Bieber it seems like everyone is taking part in this bizarre craze. Unfortunately some people have taken planking too far as one man in Australia fell from a balcony railing when trying to balance himself and died. So if you want to be a part of this trend make sure you don’t choose a dangerous location! According to the official Facebook page (which has an astonishing 615,523 fans) the rules for Planking are as follows:

1. You must always lay face down, ensuring your face remains expressionless for the duration of the Plank.

2. Your legs must remain straight, and together with toes pointed.

3. Your arms must be placed by your side, held straight and fingers pointed.

4. You must make it known that you are Planking. Saying ‘I am Planking’ usually get this across. Sternly announcing it will ensure a good result.

5. Your safety should always be considered. Properly thought through Planking procedures should always go to plan. Never put yourself at undue risk.

6. Every Plank that is captured must be named.

Owling

Owling is a recent phenomenon which started a few weeks ago to beat the planking fad.  Hilary Duff has already tweeted a picture of herself owling which is proof of how popular this meme has become.

What do you guys think about these fads? Are you going to join in and start posting pictures of you planking/owling or do you think it’s a complete waste of time?

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