a plea for common sense

When I was young and pleading with my mother to let me do something "all my friends" were doing, even though it was probably bad for me, she would use the age old arguement "If all your friends were going to jump off the bridge, would you want to do that too?"  Even though I thought the question was kind of silly (for one thing, there wasn't a bridge for miles around) I understood it as a reminder to use some common sense.  Just this evening I heard about an internet challenge that kids are taking that leaves me absolutely appalled.  A couple of years ago the ice water challenge was a big hit and an interesting fund raiser, that didn't seem to do anyone any lasting harm, but now kids are being challenged to swallow boiling water or pour boiling water on themselves or a friend. Not surprisingly, this evening's news report told of a teen who had been seriously injured when a "friend" poured boiling water all over him while he was asleep.  Really??? Are we, or our children, so lacking in common sense that anyone would think this is a good idea?  Or do people just not have any concept of consequences?  What a scary thought that is.