Dear Jewley,

"And nup I never did it."

Not "I would never have done it"

Revealing in itself. Would you have liked to? Or did you ever contemplate it?

I think the fact that grandparents play such a big role in bringing up children these days combined with 'liable' daycare centres they are surrounded by risk adverse people.

It is hard to break out from under words from ones mother like "If you didn't make them wear a helmet on the skateboard and they were badly injured or killed you would never forgive yourself."

Even neighbours get in on the act. When our two were jumping off our roof on to the trampoline they were straight on the phone to tell us what they were up to. Our blaise attitude horrified them.

Who is to say we are right though? It will be interesting to see how my two bring up their own children.

I have told how I ignored my own advice all my life here in this thread.
Started it not because planking can be dangerous, well not the only reason.
Thought it rather silly, still do, a need to be included to be part of any group any thing.
It could well be me being old and grumpy but I can not change that.
Those horrible days ,and nights,on the Pacific Highway, *the highway of death*
That is what the media called it,still does if looking for a headline.
I never remember seeing the result of an accident.
Every fatal miserable event need not have happened.
The dead body's, police ambos and road workers traumatized ,a tip to a very big ice berg of pain.
Those left behind suffer forever.
Once dead its over but not for those we leave.
I refrain, no you have not guessed , from telling off one dead one crippled for life in my known act of lunacy.
I know of it,did not see or take part.
See it would kill again,we drive our selves to champagne each other.
But if it kills one we love?

Csteele:”Even neighbours get in on the act. When our two were jumping off our roof on to the trampoline they were straight on the phone to tell us what they were up to. Our blaise attitude horrified them.”

I don’t like kids taking risks, I get this nasty tingling feeling all over. I’ve learnt to not watch as I get they have to do it. Or I think kids have to learn what they are physically capable of and the whole imagining and inventing... manipulating surroundings. Mostly having a damn good laugh and a lot of showing off with mates.

But yeah other adults interfere a lot and it is so patronising. Whole world full of mandatory reporters and spoil sports when it’s not extreme behaviour just fun. Older women being the worst just because something sends their heart all aflutter. I advise them “don’t watch” as well. This really upsets my mother so I use it as often as possible. Older men are bloody troublemakers, you have to keep them away from kids pushing physical boundaries cause they will suggest how to make an activity “even more fun”.

You’d get a phone call from an older male neighbour saying to put the trampoline between the house and pool.

The undertow thing I thought about but I know I am a crap swimmer and I was straight at the time. :P

Planking in dangerous places I’m still against, some poor smokers tax pays for their hospital bills.


I think if someone we love dies Belly we are sad no matter how it happened. It's game over, no blame?

And when it is all said & done I would much rather go out planking on a high rise balcony, racing a car, skydiving, or doing any of a host of other unnecessary dangerous but fun things, than lying in a nursing home bed, staring at the ceiling.

Lets deal hasbeen, I share your view.
Throw me over that balcony if my body or brain dies first I will do the same for you.
Do not worry about that flag in my hand it is just the southern cross.

At the risk of generalising (and I always do) I think the title of "PLANKERS" rhymes really well with what they really are (mostly anyway).