First, let us take a look at the etymology of the word itself. Everybody knows the word nomination, but what the heck is ‘nek’? The prefix ‘nek’ comes from the term “necking,” which is another word used to describe the action of chugging a beer. Shorten the word necking and add it to nomination and voila, neknomination.
Even if you haven’t participated, you’ve probably seen these videos go viral on Facebook. But, just in case you haven’t, here’s what it’s all about: one person posts a video of his or her self “necking” a beer in some creative fashion, and then passes the baton onto three other people who must post their video within 24 hours and neknominate three more people of their choosing.
The trend is thought to have originated in Australia and has since spread like wildfire across the globe. The videos and comments on Facebook make this trend look like a fun and innocent game, but there are always two sides to every story. Since the videos are posted online for everyone to see, people are on the lookout for the next video. If your video isn’t posted, you face the potential of ridicule from your peers. This creates a pressure filled situation, which is not easy for young people to deal with.
Not only is peer pressure negatively influencing the players of this game, but it has taken their lives as well. The videos posted in other countries are much more extreme than those going around the United States. Now, I haven’t seen all of the videos posted in the US, but I have seen a lot and they all show college-aged students necking a can of beer. However, the videos from Australia and the UK display people mixing three different types of vodka with a raw egg and pepper. One even went so far as to throw in a dead mouse!
There’s a lot of negativity surrounding this drinking game, google the term ‘neknomination’ and see the articles that appear. Though it’s probably just a phase, like the Harlem Shake, and it will disintegrate into digital history, but maybe its core concept can be used for something positive. Instead of nominating peers to slug a beer, nominate three people to do a random act of kindness and to share their random act – a video, tweet, Instagram, Pinterest board, blog article, ANYTHING.
Let’s stand up to this game that has taken the lives of up to 5 people and put others under immense peer pressure, and change the game.
I nominate YOU to post your random act of kindness within 24 hours of reading this post!
Photo creditshttp://callingonangelsdaily.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/553647_250871961684558_1425633828_n.jpg