Dangerous games (a vote for deprivation of liberty)

There seems to be a shocking vogue among teens for dangerous games.

In the news last weekend there was a report about the ‘Train Game’ where Colombian youths lie on train tracks and let trains pass over the top of them (see the video here)

One youth explains the attraction, thus: ‘To me, it's a way to do acrobatics by risking ourselves in a heroic way there at the bridge.’

To me, it’s a way to demonstrate what a complete tool you are.

Research shows that teenagers take more risks than those in other age groups (someone got paid to research that???), with the most risky behaviour seen in 14-year-olds (so that's why I'm suddenly going grey!).

It's been shown that while teenagers are good at weighing up the pros and cons of their decisions, they take risks because they enjoy the thrill of a risky situation more than others do – particularly when they have a 'lucky escape'.

Here are four other games teens around the world play to give them a rush/give their parents wrinkles/demonstrate their total tool-ity:

1. Vodka eyeballing – 'drinking' by pouring a shot of vodka into their eyes. Those who do it claim that it induces feelings of drunkenness at breakneck speeds, providing an instant high. Vodka is 40% pure ethanol. It causes inflammation and scarring on the eyeball and can result permanent pain and vision loss. Great game, huh?

2. Sack tapping involves punching boys in the groin and has led to teenagers having their testicles amputated. There are dozens of videos on YouTube featuring boys getting punched in the groin in this latest ‘right of passage’ initiation. Jeez, what happened to Monopoly?

3. Car surfing is where teens ride outside a vehicle while it's moving. While another person drives the vehicle, the car surfer climbs out the window and on to the bonnet, boot lid, ute tray or roof. Alternatively, they are towed while skateboarding or rollerblading. In some instances, surfers leap from one moving vehicle to another. Do I need to tell you this is insanely dangerous and a bunch of people have died doing it?

4. The Choking Game (aka the Fainting Game, American Knockout, Space Monkey and California Dreaming) involves inducing unconsciousness by holding your breath and having another person briefly put pressure on your neck or chest. It gives teens a ‘high’ and is usually done as a dare. The generations-old game has recently caused a rash of accidental deaths, especially when teens attempt the game alone and strangle themselves. What an embarrassing way to die.

Based on the prevalence and stupidity of these games, I advocate locking teens up from the time they’re 12 until they can sign contracts. What do you reckon?