The most popular game and means of entertainment today among the youth is bottle flipping. Young people are so engrossed in it that when you see two or three of them gathered, they must be flipping bottles.
There are controversies about who started the game, but it is on record that Michael Senatore, a high school student in America performed a comic act for his School’s talent show on May 23, 2016, which was a water bottle flip. The original video of the event went viral with millions of uploads and the rest is history.
Bottle flipping is not just a national phenomenon but also a global attempt at catching fun among the youth but the way it is evolving and through social media platforms calls for caution, especially in Nigeria.
Some use glass bottles or plastic bottles with a third of the bottle filled with water and a screw-on cap. The cap is to prevent the water from pouring away during flipping.
How is bottle flipping played?
To play the game, a person attempts to flip a partially filled plastic bottle in the air so that it rotates and lands upright on its base. The goal is to achieve a successful flip and have the bottle land upright without toppling over.
The primary thing to keep in mind while landing the bottle is to use your fingers and wrist. Besides, as part of the technique, use your thumb, middle finger, and index finger to grab the cap; flex your wrist downward to get the momentum; flick your wrist backwards and let the bottle go off, such that it lands on its base.
It takes a lot of practicing to land the bottle properly.
The game can be played by a minimum of two players who try to outdo the other on the number of times they land the bottle. Three or more persons can also play, as well, depending on what version of the rule that is agreed upon.
Two persons can also play it as a strategy game of X and O.
You can record the game on a sheet of paper. You have to decide which player is X and which is O. Players take turns trying to successfully flip the bottle in the air and have it land so that it is standing upright. If they are successful with the bottle flip, they can place an X or O in the tic-tac-toe grid in a chosen square.
If they are successful with the bottle flip, they can place an X or O in the grid in a chosen square. After a successful bottle flip, the player performs five repetitions of an exercise decided upon before the flip. After an unsuccessful attempt, the player does ten repetitions of the exercise. Play until one player has placed their Xs or Os in a row, which could be diagonal, horizontal or vertical.
BlackCampus went to town to ask people about their views on this latest craze:
Toluwalase Samuel, a student schooling in Lagos was asked why he likes bottle flipping, he says, “I just like it because it’s interesting and I enjoy it. I have been flipping bottles now for some months with my younger brother at home to play with ourselves.”
Proponents of the game believe it has its advantages despites criticisms. The opined that in this age that the youth are glued to the TV sets, smartphones and other electronic gadgets that turn them into couch potatoes; bottle flipping is diverting their attention to make them physically active, which is good for their health.
As well, it enhances focus, builds determination, and improves eye coordination.
Through it, they are taught to be patient, by learning to wait until they are successful in the game.
It can serve as therapy for some mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression by serving as a relaxation from worries of life.
With bottle flipping young people, learn the element of Physics like mass, gravity and momentum. As a bottle is flipped to stand erect on its base, elements of physics are involved.
The game has gained so much popularity that Hasbro gaming company adopted it and interestingly, the game now has applications that one can buy online and play electronically.
The trending game encourages socialization since young people like to make friends.
Abiodun Oladimeji, a secondary school student in Ogun State said, “The way the bottle rolls in the air and its eventual landing upright on the table or floor creates excitement. He added that it is the most common way of entertainment among boys and girls in the country now.
Interesting and simple as the game may seem; many parodies have emerged, thus giving many parents and the public cause for worry; saying that the disadvantages far override whatever benefits.
Mrs Deola Williams, a teacher told BlackCampus that the game could be addictive, warning that young people need to courageously exhibit restraint when playing the game. “the moment you make your first successful flip, the excitement builds up, followed by another throw and before you know it, you are on a race against yourself” thus leading to obsession or addiction to a game”.
Teachers have also complained that the game could be distracting to academic attainments. Children are distracted during classes as their minds wander and always awaiting any opportunity to step out and play the game instead of being attentive in class. The obsession to the game was so overwhelming that a school in the US have to ban the bringing of water bottles to the school, rather, students were asked to drink from the schoolhouse at break and lunchtime.
Taking fun to the extreme: A recent bottle flipping that has gone viral on social media shows how bottle flipping has evolved into ugly dimensions. In the video, a boy and a girl were competing at a market square; the person who was able to make the bottle stand upright told the other person to take off one of the clothing on him. This continued until one of them, a girl, stripped herself to her underpants. Before you say Jack Robinson, another video was released where two girls were competing to strip the other using the bottle flip challenge.
Dapo Ayodeji, a concerned father, confirmed that he has seen the extreme video of the game on social media, saying that parents need to swiftly caution their children before things get out of hand. According to him, “If we continue to watch these children go to the extreme by flipping bottles and stripping themselves naked, the society will have itself to blame because the extent to which the new practice will go will be monumental.”
It could create public disorder: Investigations revealed that engaging in bottle flipping in inappropriate manners and locations could be potentially dangerous and lead to public disorder. For example, playing it in a busy public space can divert attention and pose risks to others.
“Interesting and simple as the game may seem, many parodies have emerged that have given many parents and the public a cause to call for moderation in the game.”
It can be destructive:
In addition, bottle flipping indoors can result in damage to fragile items. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to exercise caution, choose appropriate locations for bottle flipping, or consider alternative activities that are safe and more environmentally friendly.
Exposure to health Hazards
In another video, children lined up to flip the bottle. Anyone that was able to make the bottle stand on its base ate from a big bowl of barbecue chicken until someone else could make a successful flip. Others continued to take their turns at flipping but the moment somebody got it right, the one eating from the bowl had to leave and join the queue. The new person took over to eat from the same chicken until another successful thrower came onboard. Thus, the last thrower took the place of the previous winner and this continued until the previous winners in the queue got another chance to make a flip. This is unhygienic as some of them bit through the chicken, leaving the leftover for others to eat which is a veritable way by which infections and diseases could spread.
Bottle flipping may be harmful to the flipper and surrounding pupils, especially when the object being flipped is a glass bottle which when it lands wrongly, can shatter and cause injuries to those around.
Water flipping can cause low self-esteem in children who are unable to attain proper landing and are judged on how well they can flip a bottle.
At various times, children who are addicted to bottle flipping have taken it to the level of betting with money, which is a dangerous trend for their age.
It is a nuisance in the homes: Parents have to contend with the nuisance of bottle-flipping’s non-stop thuds and thwacks in the home.
Waste of Time: People have complained that the game is a waste of time in some cases where unattainable goals are set. The problem with this is that it leads to endless hours of futile efforts, and all the clattering that goes with it. For example, they may have to flip bottles on a moving target or narrow ledges for hours with no one being able to convert.
Schools have also complained about increase in plastic pet bottles littering the compound at the end of the day. After are packed, the following day will witness another round of litters.
It is apparent that with the rate of its evolution, other parodies will soon emerge; hoping that it will not follow the pattern of the Russian roulette where casualties may result. For this reason, parents and schools have to keep an eye on these children as they play the game.
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