andy warhol would be so disappointed.

This is one of those times when I’m glad to be 50.

On the news this morning, they were showing the new viral sensation called the “Outlet Challenge.” The challenge is to take the plug part of a USB adapter, putting it partially in the wall electrical socket, and then sticking a penny to the exposed plug prongs while they’re in the socket to make sparks. Pardon my French, but what the entire fuck is wrong with people? Are they that bored that they need to risk electrocution as a form of entertainment???

Seriously, this is beyond stupid….in fact, I’m going to call this “Virtual Stupidity” (thanks, Jamiroquai!), because the goal of this intellectual exercise is to have the video go viral and have ’15 minutes of fame’, as defined by the late Andy Warhol. (“Death be damned, we’re gonna get 100,000 views on YouTube!”)

Obviously, these guys didn’t learn from Daffy Duck like I did as a kid.

I’m thankful that the injuries I suffered in my youth were from kickball games, the occasional fall off my bike, and the very random time that I ran into a free-standing bug trap while playing touch football (and yes, I still caught the pass for a touchdown. I’m still very proud of that 39 years later.)

I know it may seem hypocritical because of my being on national TV, but my opportunity was truly by fluke and by fate, and was not an organized activity risking life and limb. It saddens me that parents have to warn their kids about the dangers of using a penny against a metal prong in an electrical outlet, for fear that they may try to imitate this same asinine attempt. Even Beavis and Butthead weren’t that stupid, for Pete’s sake!

To the braintrust that came up with this “Outlet Challenge” idea……you want to do something that will hopefully go viral, and that people will want to imitate? Here are a few suggestions…..Volunteer at a homeless shelter or a senior center. Clean up trash from a highway. Show genuine kindness to strangers, even if you do it randomly. MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. These are the types of activities that should go viral, and that others will hopefully follow suit.

Mr. Warhol would be so proud.