Sack tapping
Encyclopedia
Sack tapping is a slang term for a form of bullying practiced by some adolescents as a "game" where a male participant attacks, by slapping, tapping, punching, kicking, stomping, elbowing or backhanding, another male victim's testicle
s. The term derived from 'sack', slang that refers to the scrotum
, and the activity is a form of groin attack
. This sociological manifestation of bullying can result in severe testicle injury that may require amputation
as the only form of treatment. A reported increased popularity of sack tapping, fueled in part by YouTube
videos, and the subsequent increase in hospitalization has concerned parents and urologists. It is also called "nut tag", "bag tag", and "Rochambeau", the last name coming from an episode of South Park
that featured the practice.
that resulted from a sack tapping game at school. ABC News
' chief medical correspondent
Dr. Tim Johnson commented, "the trend isn't restricted to Minnesota
", and has "gotten out of control" as per Dr. Scott Wheeler. Dr. Wheeler, a urologist in MN, has seen an increase of hospitalization caused by "sack tapping" incidents, and commented that criminal charges could be filed against the attacker as a result of the one instance. The casualty survived the surgery and can function normally with one testicle. The casualty's mother saw "what he went through every day" and withdrew his enrollment from school. "Sack tapping" has grown into a more dangerous game that can result in greater injuries. Dr. Wheeler recommend that parents warn their children of the dangers of "sack tapping".
Jack Shafer
, a journalist for Slate
online magazine
, commented that "sack tapping" is a "bogus trend". He argued that "sack tapping" is not new and has existed for some time. He states that the recent focus is simply "sensationalist journalism". He also claimed to have been "taking shots to my crown jewels when I was a 1960s teenager", that the term has "been listed in the Urban Dictionary
since Feb. 27, 2003", and that the Los Angeles Times
called it "the latest dangerous craze".
Testicle
The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...
s. The term derived from 'sack', slang that refers to the scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
, and the activity is a form of groin attack
Groin attack
A groin attack is an attempt to cause pain to the groin area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may...
. This sociological manifestation of bullying can result in severe testicle injury that may require amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
as the only form of treatment. A reported increased popularity of sack tapping, fueled in part by YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
videos, and the subsequent increase in hospitalization has concerned parents and urologists. It is also called "nut tag", "bag tag", and "Rochambeau", the last name coming from an episode of South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
that featured the practice.
Sociological impact
In 2010, a participant lost a testicle caused by physical traumaPhysical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
that resulted from a sack tapping game at school. ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
' chief medical correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
Dr. Tim Johnson commented, "the trend isn't restricted to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
", and has "gotten out of control" as per Dr. Scott Wheeler. Dr. Wheeler, a urologist in MN, has seen an increase of hospitalization caused by "sack tapping" incidents, and commented that criminal charges could be filed against the attacker as a result of the one instance. The casualty survived the surgery and can function normally with one testicle. The casualty's mother saw "what he went through every day" and withdrew his enrollment from school. "Sack tapping" has grown into a more dangerous game that can result in greater injuries. Dr. Wheeler recommend that parents warn their children of the dangers of "sack tapping".
Jack Shafer
Jack Shafer
Jack Shafer covers media for Reuters.com Opinion section. Prior to joining Reuters, he edited and wrote the column Press Box for Slate, an online magazine. Before his stay at Slate, Shafer edited two city weeklies, Washington City Paper and SF Weekly...
, a journalist for Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
online magazine
Online magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
, commented that "sack tapping" is a "bogus trend". He argued that "sack tapping" is not new and has existed for some time. He states that the recent focus is simply "sensationalist journalism". He also claimed to have been "taking shots to my crown jewels when I was a 1960s teenager", that the term has "been listed in the Urban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary is a Web-based dictionary of slang words and phrases, which contained over 6 million definitions . Submissions are regulated by volunteer editors and rated by site visitors...
since Feb. 27, 2003", and that the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called it "the latest dangerous craze".
See also
- Kicked in the NutsKicked in the NutsKicked in the Nuts is a spoof of hidden camera shows, created in August 2003 for the Channel 101 short film festival. It was written, directed, produced, and edited by Mike Henry and Patrick Henry.-Premise:...
- List of school pranks
- School bullyingSchool bullyingSchool bullying is a type of bullying that occurs in connection with education, either inside or outside of school. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or emotional and is usually repeated over a period of time.In schools, bullying occurs in all areas...
- Testicular torsionTesticular torsionTesticular torsion is when the spermatic cord to a testicle twists, cutting off the blood supply. The most common symptom is acute testicular pain and the most common underlying cause is a congenital malformation known as a "bell-clapper deformity". The diagnosis is often made clinically but if it...
- Testicular traumaTesticular traumaTesticular trauma is an injury to one or both testicles. Types of injuries include blunt, penetrating and degloving.Because the testes are located within the scrotum, which hangs outside of the body, they do not have the protection of muscles and bones. This makes it easier for the testes to be...
- Youth subcultureYouth subcultureA youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Youth subcultures offer participants an identity outside of that ascribed by social institutions such as family, work, home and school...