Posted on 08/17/2014 12:43:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
YouTube has known its fair share of dangerous, destructive and ill-advised trends, but even by those standards, the fire challenge hits new lows.
The so-called challenge consists of pouring rubbing alcohol on oneself, lighting it on fire, and putting the resulting blaze out before you sustain third-degree burns and/or burn your house down. Needless to say, not everyone succeeds a 15-year-old in Kentucky sustained second-degree burns this week.
Why, precisely, would you do such a thing? In the words of one enraged YouTube vlogger, whose rant against the trend has earned almost 10,000 views: Are you dumb? No, seriously Its mad dumb, but yall are doing it like its an [expletive] trend.
The thing is, it is a trend and the overwhelming forces of peer pressure and desire to belong will compel many teens to keep following it, regardless of the (very obvious) risks. In fact, the fire challenge is no outlier its just the latest in a string of reckless social media challenges. Remember the cinnamon challenge? The condom challenge? Neknomination, the online drinking game that allegedly caused several deaths?
Its impossible to guess what the kids will dream up next as long as they have cameras and underdeveloped prefrontal cortexes, theres really no saying. But as the fire challenge gains steam, we decided to take stock of some of the more popular social media challenges theyve come up with thus far.
The Cinnamon Challenge
Challenge: Swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in less than a minute, sans water. Tweets at peak: 283,576 in January 2012
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Some idiot should do the cinnamon and fire challenge together at the same time!
One way to thin the herd.
Not that I ever have.
You have no proof.
The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarter's Expenses?
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
If kids were busy at summer jobs and jobs after school like back in the “good ol’ days” they wouldn’t have time for such stupidity.
Oh yes and CHORES the word that today’s free ranging, helicoptering modern non-parent loves to hate!
For the record, I do not know anyone who dressed in a heavy canvas coat, wore a wool watch cap pulled down over his face and neck, had his friends saturate him with Axe, and set him alight to run through the mall, in one entrance and out another.
Nor did he latter tell me that Richard Pryor was 100% correct, when you are on fire, people really do get the heck out of your way!
Yep, it’s EEEEVILL :) according to today’s libs and pscychobabblers.
The same people who think putting kids on mind bending ADHD drugs are safer and more effective than a good ol’ fashioned paddling.
LOL
My 80 year old father has a scar the size and shape of a pack of firecrackers on his left buttock. Childhood pranks and dares have been going on a long time.
When we were kids, two guys would put their forearms together and drop a lit cigarette in between, to see who would pull away first. It was a different time.
I’m trying to get folks to record themselves doing the “Boiling Water Challenge”, the “Port a Potty Challenge”, and the “Die Hard With A Vengance” Challenge. The last one can be played in Ferguson, MO for added fun.
I saw one of the fire videos.
It reminded me of Richard Pryor, who was on stage reminiscing about when his crack refining blew up. “When you run down the street and you are fire, people pay attention!”
The guy who did was really hopping around... jumping into a tub of water didn’t put it out immediately.
Amen!
Is voting Democrat among them?
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