Unpopular Opinion: Breaking Your Neck for Social Media “Fame” Is Plain Stupid

Have you seen the 'Milk Crate Challenge?" It's truly ridiculous and yet millions upon millions of people can't seem to pull themselves away from watching the people are sharing to social media showing themselves practically maiming themselves.

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The Milk Crate Challenge is simple in thought, but actually really difficult (not said from experience but rather from watching dozens of fail videos). The way that it works is that milk crates are stacked in for form that resembles something of a pyramid so they create steps, a top platform, and then steps on the other side.

*Note: Some NSFW language

Milk Crate Challenge Participants attempt to walk the 'stairs' of the milk crate, step on the top crate, and then walk down the "stairs" on the other side without falling. Sounds simple right? Not so much. As a matter of fact, this viral challenge has led to broken bones, concussions, and more. So why do people keep doing it? My guess is that it has something to do with the thrill and peer pressure.

When I first stumbled on the Milk Crate Challenge, I knew I've gotten older because my first thought was, "Where did they get all those milk crates? Don't even tell me they bought them all." My second thought was, "Please don't get hurt, please don't get hurt. Oh, honey. You got hurt and that looks like it was painful."

The Milk Crate Challenge has become so popular that there's a big demand for milk crates. Did you have that on your pandemic bingo card? No? Well, who would have thought that we'd be here, in late August of 2021 and people would be snatching up milk crates by the dozens, jacking up the price to about $20.00 apiece for a milk crate? And yet, here we are.

The FDA has even chimed in on the challenge, posting this to its Twitter account, " Although we regulate milk, we can't recommend you try that. Perhaps enjoy a nice glass of 2% and return all those crates to the grocery store?" This gem came after Conan O'Brien tweeted, "Waiting for FDA approval before I take the Milk Crate Challenge."

We can't. We just can't. The Milk Crate Challenge isn't a harmless one. It's not just some dumb trend that people are doing that doesn't have the potential for deadly results. Attempting something that could cause you or someone you love to break bones, smash up a face, or snap a neck just for a couple of minutes of social media attention is sick.