Challenged

From flipping on old mattress springs, to stepping on crates piled high, the so-called “’hood Olympics” may include some of the most dangerous, questionable, and ultimately stupid ideas.

As of late, the #MilkCrateChallenge, a “ghetto sport,” has captured the attention of social media audiences. It consists of stacking crates into a pyramid-like structure. The user then attempts (and often fails) to negotiate the obstacle with extra care and attention.

Some have survived the challenge without a problem. A man rolling a blunt, and rappers Blueface and Vic Mensa, finished unscathed. Others were not as fortunate. Will Obamacare kick in and help the people in economically depressed areas who will have lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and torn cartilage?

Of course not. That evil bit of legislation is much like the crate challenge itself. While the intentions purported to be good The (un)Affordable Care Act won’t do much for people to help the senseless in the projects of America.

The neighborhood hospitals will see an uptick thanks to shortsighted people who thought it was a good idea to risk breaking their necks for social media clicks and likes. Caught up in all of this, there are paramedics, nurses, and doctors who have to provide care for these people. They now face a new pandemic, only this one is the result of people making poor decisions, influenced by boredom and peer pressure. These second-handers know nothing more than to follow in the steps (literally) of every person who has attempted it before them.

While some have tried to put a stop to this foolishness, people will do what they want because they want to. There shouldn’t be a law prohibiting stacking crates like giant Legos. From the outset, this idea was wildly stupid, but the Internet loves the dumb shit.

Unlike the challenges of the past, like the ALS #IceCBucketChallenge, this phenomenon (so far) is not tied to any worthy cause. It’s just a bunch of hood boogers and celebrities doing something exhibitionist to pass the time.

However ill-advised though, the milk crate challenge reveals the beauty of America. If you’re free enough to do something this risky and stupid, you have to recognize, and celebrate the fact that individual liberty still exists in this country. Over time, (the Internet moves fast) the #MilkCrateChallenge will be a forgotten fad that will remind us of our right to risk our necks, without getting permission from the government, or our neighbors.

At the heart of this inane challenge is simplicity. People are bored. They want to be involved in something sensational. It doesn’t take much to snatch some milk crates, stack them into a plastic hill, and then traverse said structure.

We are still free to innovate activities and diversions to keep our minds focused on something other than growing tensions and attacks in Afghanistan and other places in the Middle East. The deadly seriousness of the risks associated with the challenge has transfixed thousands of people, and generated millions of views across the Web.

The list of injured is likely to grow as kids return to school, and are then sent home again for quarantine, as soon as someone in the class tests positive. The timing of the challenge is apt as kids go back to school. The irony of battle scars earned while out of school for their “safety” will be lost on pretty much everyone though.

In place of studying for their exams, they’re going to try to best their previous efforts. Instead of gaining knowledge about philosophy, history, and science, kids in the streets will be practicing for the challenge like an actual Olympian preparing for a gymnastic maneuver.

With everything going on in this world, if a #MilkCrateChallenge can foster a community of online trolls to witness digital dullards, then maybe things can always be better.