Fainting for fun concerns school officials

The AZ Republic ^ | 08/24/02 | By Doug Carroll

[independentmind]

Does anyone need anymore evidence that ours is a culture of death?

[Glenn]

When I was in 7th grade (more than 30 years ago, okay?) we would hyperventilate and then take a deep breath and blow hard without letting the air out (if that makes sense). Guaranteed way to faint. The more adventurous would let someone grab them from behind in a bear hug to bring it on quicker. After a week everyone was bored with it. Maybe we should advertise that as an alternative to voluntary strangulation. Kids will be kids. Dumber kids will be dumber kids.

[Lizavetta]

At least seven students in the K-8 school of 400 have been involved in the activity, during which a child is choked to the point of passing out.

This is probably an isolated incident, with a small group of kids, in just one school.

That said, I'm so glad my kids are homeschooled. Today they're off with Dad for a P.L.I.N.K. day (Please Leave It NRA Klean) to pick up trash in the national forests, eat lunch, and shoot firearms. The values of today's "yutes" don't hold much appeal for them and I like it that way.

[sigSEGV]

Nothing new. Back when I was in 7th and 8th grade, kids did the same thing. That was 15 years ago.

[kstewskis]

When I was in 7th grade (more than 30 years ago, okay?) we would hyperventilate and then take a deep breath and blow hard without letting the air out (if that makes sense). Guaranteed way to faint.

Yep, did that (stupid) thing too some 28 years ago. The effect thankfully was temporary, almost like a buzz. But like you said, after a week, we were bored with it. Thank God none of us were hurt, or worse.

[EggsAckley]

Evolution in Action

[Willie Green]

When I was in 7th grade (more than 30 years ago, okay?) we would hyperventilate and then take a deep breath and blow hard without letting the air out (if that makes sense). Guaranteed way to faint. The more adventurous would let someone grab them from behind in a bear hug to bring it on quicker.

I recall a classmate doing that (also 30+ years ago) at a 9th grade party I attended.
I remember thinking that he was a little weird.
Interestingly, he later became a liberal vegetarian and a journalist.

[ladylib]

Well of course he became a liberal. He lost oxygen to his brain.

[Lizavetta]

I remember thinking that he was a little weird. Interestingly, he later became a liberal vegetarian and a journalist.

His name was Adam Clymer, wasn't it?

[Ramius]

Huh?

[NewHampshireDuo]

When I was in 7th grade (more than 30 years ago, okay?) we would hyperventilate and then take a deep breath and blow hard without letting the air out (if that makes sense). Guaranteed way to faint. The more adventurous would let someone grab them from behind in a bear hug to bring it on quicker.

Same here except closer to 40 years ago.

[Leisler]

Spinning round and round is a gateway drug. Followed by cigarettes, then marijuana , heroin addiction and finally voting democrat.

[Asclepius]

After a week everyone was bored with it.

Precisely. My experience exactly. It amused us for about, say, ten minutes.

Then we all discovered crystal meth and the fun never stopped. And I mean never. Because we never slept. Better living through chemistry.

[Willie Green]

His name was Adam Clymer, wasn't it?

LOL!
No. I haven't seen him in ages.
However, a Google search just helped me discover where he's working as a staff-writer/reporter.
It's not one of the big national major-metro newspapers, but still a recognizable paper in a well-known mid-sized American city.
As I remember him from high-school/college, he was a good friend.
A little strange, perhaps, but a decent guy that I DO consider to be an old friend.
For that reason, I don't see any constructive purpose to linking my anecdote to his current activities.
My lips are sealed.

[gitmo]

We did the same thing in Guantanamo back in the early 60's. I was in the 4th-5th grade.

[WhiteGuy]

Jeez,

And I thought lighting farts was bad......

[Arkinsaw]

Yep, kids did this back in the early 70's. One of my good friends got his two front teeth knocked out when he hit the bathroom floor. LOL. He didn't do it anymore.

Funny that this stuff was going on 30 years ago and teachers are just now finding out about it.

[Willie Green]

Well of course he became a liberal. He lost oxygen to his brain.

LOL!!!

Yeah, I suppose that's the simple explanation.
But then I have the advantage of knowing more about his background.

I suppose it's pertinent to mention that the probable reason this incident remains in my memory is that, of the 40 or so kids who were at this party, I was the one considered physically large enough to properly administer the bear-hug. I truely thought it was weird and didn't want to do it, but eventually succumbed to peer pressure (a trait that I do NOT exhibit on this forum, BTW!) Anyway, after he had recovered, everybody wanted to "see it again". But I at least had the good sense to insist that once was enough. Needless to say, they did do it again with smaller guys doing the squeezing, but the results (to ALL our good fortune) weren't quite as dramatic.

[goodieD]

I don't know what schools you all went to..But I also attended 7th grade almost 30 years ago, and I've never heard of such a thing! My goodness.. the only fads in our jr. high were fairly benign; giant marbles on string (knockers), cinnamon oil on toothpicks, vanilla extract for perfume.. don't recall any of us doing anything this stupid.