couldn't stop laughing when i read this... sounded like an article from talkingcock.com. taken from sk's blog:

Raffles JC to warn students against 'taupok'
Source: The Straits Times (12 Jan 2005, Wednesday)

RIBS may be fractured, arms or legs broken, or ligaments torn.

But 'taupok', in which students gang up to pile onto one of their brethren, is common in schools here, though principals say they neither condone nor encourage it.

The prank starts when one student signals five to 10 others to pile on top of a targeted friend - flattening him like a piece of 'taupok', or compressed brown tofu.

Students say it is spontaneous, and targeted at boys who are good friends.

But what seems to be a game is a cause of concern for some parents.

Mr Justin Situ, the parent of a first-year student at a 'premier junior college in the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio area', wrote in to The Straits Times Forum pages yesterday highlighting the dangers of the activity.

His wife, Mrs Situ, told The Straits Times yesterday: 'These boys aren't trained to cushion the weight. What happens if someone gets seriously injured?'

At Raffles Junior College (RJC), students will be cautioned at today's morning assembly that 'taupok' may cause injuries.

Principal Winston Hodge said it was not an approved activity or part of the orientation programme. A parent had complained recently, and a teacher had to break up a 'taupok' on two occasions, he said.

In a statement, the Education Ministry said that the incident referred to in the Forum letter was 'not an approved activity' and the 'principal will take appropriate steps to advise students against such activities'.

Students, however, feel there is nothing wrong. An RJC student, who asked to remain unnamed, said it was a 'tradition in many premier schools' and 'activities like rugby and soccer were more dangerous'.

National Junior College student Chua Yu-Xi, 18, said: 'It happened in secondary school, but by junior college we grew out of it. We back off if we see the bottom person is in pain.'

But it can be dangerous for those at the top as well as at the bottom of the pile.

Said Dr Lim Lian Arn, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Raffles Hospital: 'Depending on what position they are in, the people at the bottom or even in between can suffer rib fractures, limb fractures, asphyxiation, and tear a ligament, among other things.

'Those at the top have an added risk of falling and suffering additional injuries.'
Students don't seem to be daunted by this.

Said Mark Chen, 18, an RJC student: 'I've been 'taupok-ed' before and it's actually quite fun. It's usually not painful because everyone piles on quickly and gets off just as fast.'

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Put an end to this dangerous JC 'game'
Source: The Straits Times (11 Jan 2005, Tuesday) --> the letter to ST Forum

I AM a parent of a boy studying in a premier junior college in the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio area. Recently, it has come to my attention that rowdy behaviour is threatening to compromise the safety of the students.

According to my son, the violent act is dubbed 'taupok', a reference to a highly compressible piece of brown beancurd. A student would shout 'taupok' and other students would pounce on the targeted person, drag him down forcefully and climb on top of him. Due to peer pressure, more and more students would join in until the stack of bodies is about a metre high.

This violent act is supposedly done in the name of fun but, as a parent, I feel that it is potentially dangerous and even life-threatening.

Furthermore, the 'taupoking' is not a rare occurrence. It can happen up to five times a day, anywhere and to any person.

During the orientation programme for Year One students, even a person standing on the stage during a performance could get 'taupoked'.

Supposing that an average person weighs 60kg, a typical group of 15 would weigh almost a tonne. Just as a person cannot survive without air for three minutes, I am very sure that the human backbone cannot bear the sheer weight of a thousand kilograms.

What happens if the victim's spine breaks? Or if he sustains any other injuries? Who will bear the consequences?

Fortunately, my son has not been a victim of 'taupoking' yet, but he still feels rather uncomfortable about this dangerous act. Also, he feels obliged to join in due to peer pressure, as everyone else is doing it.

Some would say that 'taupoking' is perfectly safe if one assumes the correct position, with one's elbows and forearms touching the floor so as to support the weight, like in rugby. However, not everyone knows the correct position to take, and when surprised one might also forget to assume that position.

I write this letter in the sincere hope of preventing a tragedy. Hopefully, we can keep 'taupok' where it belongs - in that delicious bowl of noodles.

Justin Situ Ren Jun