'Selfie-obsessed' generation

[Limlim]

What would a high class escort taking a selfie look like if she took one right after giving someone a discount because she knows their mothers friend from crochet club?

 

[Disaffected]

What would a high class escort taking a selfie look like if she took one right after giving someone a discount because she knows their mothers friend from crochet club?

Lol what act was she engaged in, and how much was the discount?

 

[Case]

I took selfies back when we had to develop our film rolls at the Fotomat. (US reference.) We called it "taking a picture of yourself." The act of taking a photo doesn't seem to be the issue because vanity has existed longer than the Internet.

The issue seems to be the volume of photos that some (like the OP) deem to be tiresome, boring, or maybe even so irritating that they feel it's worth a forum thread.

Point of fact: Selfies are convenient. We can click off pics of ourselves with nobody's help, and then share it with a ton of people in a matter of seconds. Humanity has been waiting for this moment like a starving person in a desert who longs for one cup of water and a banana. Are you going to deny what the mass of humanity appears to want? (That's only directed at the critics.)

Point of fact: If you post your selfies on social media, it doesn't equal narcissism, and it doesn't make you self-obsessed. It simply means you want to record the places you've been, how you looked, and then let your friends see the results. That's it. Normal, non-obsessed people take selfies. Grandmas take selfies. That is enough for me to believe that it's more than people who some people think look like cheap whores.

Two female friends of mine posted selfies of their trip to Seattle just yesterday, and it was awesome because they were clearly having a blast and they wanted their family and friends to see the fun they were having. The response from every comment was overwhelmingly positive, complimentary, and thoughtful. No one said, "Why are you so self-obsessed?" Or, "Why do you look like a whore?" (That would have gone down really well with everyone involved.) Oh, and both women are over 40. And I can attest that these two women are the least self-obsessed people in my life.

Honestly, I believe that this is a case of hating change. The opposition to selfies is akin to an older person being angry that they don't understand the Internet and lament the changing of society around them. Criticizing selfies is like saying, "I want things back the way they were." Which is a nostalgic dream that will never be fulfilled.

My suggestion is to accept selfies as a societal reality just as emoji has become an accepted reality. If you don't like someone's selfies, then there are ways to stop seeing them. Just like turning the channel when you hate a TV show, instead of making a paper-thin argument that people have gone to **** due to selfies, just stop looking at them. Problem solved.

 

[Pike Creek]

I take lots of photos with my phone, sometimes selfies and sometimes other stuff. Like I'll take photos of the dishes I cook, to remember that they turned out well, and I post them on a recipe blog. I guess in a way that's self-promotion as well because I'm proud of my cooking and baking. When I take selfies, it's either for the eyes of my boyfriend or for me to remember certain days/events, or a time in my life. I don't think there's anything really wrong with it. I mean, people have been overkill with photos of their kids since I can remember, what's wrong with taking photos of yourself as well?

 

[Rosebolt]

While i'm not a female member, i fail to see the problem. If you don't like a thing, don't bother with it. Your post also seems to contain some generalisation (Use of the word "everyone") and opinions projected as facts ( "..but something important or worth actually talking about" and "taining pictures").

I also mildly agree with Case here. New things are both fascinating and scary, usually both at the same time. Having said all this, if you feel in your heart that this change is wrong, or putting humanity in the wrong direction, then by all means, rebel against it. That's your right, always make your own mind up. Every action always has consequences though.

 

[SarcasticJuan]

I take lots of photos with my phone, sometimes selfies and sometimes other stuff. Like I'll take photos of the dishes I cook, to remember that they turned out well, and I post them on a recipe blog. I guess in a way that's self-promotion as well because I'm proud of my cooking and baking. When I take selfies, it's either for the eyes of my boyfriend or for me to remember certain days/events, or a time in my life. I don't think there's anything really wrong with it. I mean, people have been overkill with photos of their kids since I can remember, what's wrong with taking photos of yourself as well?

There's certainly nothing wrong with taking a picture of your work, especially with food, since it will be gone soon.

My problem with selfies is that some people's lives revolve around it, to me they're just so uninteresting, people would rather take a picture of themselves in closeup than a picture of themselves somewhere interesting.

One thing I thought of, how long have camera phones been out? Or webcams? how long has the camera been out for!? Hundreds of years! Yet it's only the last few years that the selfie has become a cultural phenomenon, it's all because of celebrities and viral marketing sponsored by social media sites that people post them on.

 

[Pike Creek]

I agree that the celebrity machine definitely uses the latest technology for publicity. With the development of these social networking sites, I think people see each other in person less and less...maybe that's why they feel the desire to litter their fb pages with selfies of their every mood...or it could simply just be a pass time, self-portrait phone photography lol...I find it boring a little, but to me, to each their own.

 

[TheRealCallie]

People HAVE been taking photos of themselves for a long time. The only difference now is the word "selfie." By using that stupid word, people all of a sudden assume that this is a new trend. It's not, people are just more vocal about it.

That and now it's a lot more convenient for people to take their own photos than it is to ask a stranger or someone else to take it for them

 

[Triple Bogey]

People HAVE been taking photos of themselves for a long time. The only difference now is the word "selfie." By using that stupid word, people all of a sudden assume that this is a new trend. It's not, people are just more vocal about it.

That and now it's a lot more convenient for people to take their own photos than it is to ask a stranger or someone else to take it for them

still rubbish

 

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

I do tend to take some selfies of myself, but I don't take a lot. Why would I want a bunch of ugly pictures of myself?

I usually do it so that I can find the perfect shot for Facebook. And then I end up replacing it with a picture of an inspirational quote, or something like that.

There is no harm in taking selfies, if you are actually attractive, though.

 

[ladyforsaken]

There is no harm in taking selfies, if you are actually attractive, though.

Hmm. There is no harm in taking selfies, period. Whether you are "actually" attractive or not, why should anyone give a rats ass what other people think? At least people who dare put up their selfie pics probably don't. And it isn't about being attractive or not. It's about what people enjoy doing. If they enjoy showing off their faces to the world, let them do it, why should we make something so trivial a problem?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion about selfies, sure, but it's seriously pointless debating about it. *sigh*

 

[SarcasticJuan]

I do tend to take some selfies of myself, but I don't take a lot. Why would I want a bunch of ugly pictures of myself?

I usually do it so that I can find the perfect shot for Facebook. And then I end up replacing it with a picture of an inspirational quote, or something like that.

There is no harm in taking selfies, if you are actually attractive, though.

Well I can't stand them, attractive or not.

 

[Case]

Well I can't stand them, attractive or not.

Then, don't look at them. Why torture yourself? It's easy to avoid people who annoy you on social media sites. Just block them.

 

[TropicalStarfish]

I would like to concur that current socio-economic paradigm is seeking to profit by grooming the public for narcicism.

My proof:
1: the name of every apple Product, "I" such and such
2: "My"Space (the big one before facebook caught on)
3: all the greatest algorithms used by the biggest corporate online retailers, info-miners, and advertisers are designed to deliver content tailored to the individuals interest. (IE: they know what you want to buy before you do, literally)
4: the past 10-15 years of reality TV... Anyone remember when the discover channel, and the learning channel, and the history channel, had documentaries providing thigns to learn?

However, I can't be completely certain this is unique to a particular generation, only that the technology and implementations serving the end means are novel.

I've had book recommendations from the algorithms that allowed me access to literature i had been looking for for years, but never would have found of my own accord.

I do think it is most indicative of American Culture. I do remember the Nintendo "Wii", emphasizing a different marketing approach, seemingly based of a succesful partial competitor...

So, I have mixed feelings. On one hand It's all pretty amazing, on the other hand, it's been a bit nerve rattling for some time. Although I'm sure the atomic bomb was pretty nerve rattling for some time, probably still is, but the nuclear power plants are still keeping thigns running. Hopefully we won't see too much fall out from harnessing the power of the bit...

 

[SarcasticJuan]

Well I can't stand them, attractive or not.

Then, don't look at them. Why torture yourself? It's easy to avoid people who annoy you on social media sites. Just block them.

Once something has a huge influence on society it's impossible to just 'not watch', blocking everyone I see with it will just ruin any social life I have, only because of a pet peeve.

 

[SofiasMami]

Selfies are a pop culture fad that will go away and be replaced by something else. I don't care for selfies, but I don't like hardly any staged photos for that matter; I prefer candid photos, which tend to be more interesting and beautiful in my opinion. Plus with selfies you tend to get that upper arm jutting into a corner of every photo.
Art is to photography as selfies are to stick figure drawings.

I stay off social media for the most part so I don't see the selfies that are out there. But I suppose I will be on social media as my daughter gets older - so I can monitor her and make sure she's not posting nude photos of herself!

Selfies don't bother me as much as people who insist on recording on their smartphone every f@cking thing they do. As if it matters. To the point where they don't pay attention to anything or anyone around them.
I've been to public places surrounded by scores of people but felt incredibly alone because everyone else had to record (and yes, take selfies) instead of just enjoying it.

-Teresa

 

[Case]

Selfies are a pop culture fad that will go away and be replaced by something else.

I actually think we're stuck with selfies for a while. Replacing the selfie craze will require fundamentally changing how we take and share photos.

Selfies don't bother me as much as people who insist on recording on their smartphone every f@cking thing they do.

Yeah. Does anyone actually watch and listen to concerts anymore? Every concert I go to, it's a sea of people staring into their stupid screens. You paid $100 bucks for substandard seats, and you're going to watch your pocket television instead of the freaking stage? Oh. Don't get me started.

One musician, Jack White, is actually asking his fans to put their phones away and watch the show. Apparently, people are complying because he's also irritated by this mass of people recording a moment without actually experiencing the moment itself.

(breathes into a paper bag - then takes selfie and posts it to Facebook with the caption, "Got mad at people who take ridiculous selfies. But this one is okay, because I'm making a statement. How's my hair look?")

 

[Minus]

1839 self-portrait

I am not seeing it as new technology as such.

What puzzles me is the shift from handing the camera to someone else to have the picture taken to taking it yourself. It used to be that if you wanted a picture of yourself in front of the Great Pyramid to document your trip, then you handed the camera to a friend or even a stranger and asked them to take a picture.

While people have always taken pictures of themselves, for various reasons, it wasn't the norm. If you felt the need for the photo, you have someone else do it. They even sold a metal pole years back that would hold the camera and push the button but remain out of frame, advertised as so people viewing the photo could not tell that it was a self taken photo.

Maybe there was concern that a self taken photograph would come across as vain or at least show that a person didn't have anyone to push the button for them.

There does seem to be a change in how these self photographs are viewed. The first time i came across an instance where a self taken photograph was the preferred method was in the early days of Myspace. Maybe it just matched what the person seeing. Now it is so common that it would appear that people decided it needed it's own special label.

 

[Ymir]

Well I can't stand them, attractive or not.

Then, don't look at them. Why torture yourself? It's easy to avoid people who annoy you on social media sites. Just block them.

Once something has a huge influence on society it's impossible to just 'not watch', blocking everyone I see with it will just ruin any social life I have, only because of a pet peeve.

Then maybe you should stop spewing baseless assumptions about everyone who engages in behavior you do not like. You don't have to like stuff, but you are stepping over the line when you insult people who do.

I, for one, hate drinking. Should I start a thread about how everyone who drinks is a alcoholic in the making?

 

[ajdass1]

I take lots of photos with my phone, sometimes selfies and sometimes other stuff. Like I'll take photos of the dishes I cook, to remember that they turned out well, and I post them on a recipe blog. I guess in a way that's self-promotion as well because I'm proud of my cooking and baking. When I take selfies, it's either for the eyes of my boyfriend or for me to remember certain days/events, or a time in my life. I don't think there's anything really wrong with it. I mean, people have been overkill with photos of their kids since I can remember, what's wrong with taking photos of yourself as well?

There's certainly nothing wrong with taking a picture of your work, especially with food, since it will be gone soon.

My problem with selfies is that some people's lives revolve around it, to me they're just so uninteresting, people would rather take a picture of themselves in closeup than a picture of themselves somewhere interesting.

One thing I thought of, how long have camera phones been out? Or webcams? how long has the camera been out for!? Hundreds of years! Yet it's only the last few years that the selfie has become a cultural phenomenon, it's all because of celebrities and viral marketing sponsored by social media sites that people post them on.

Why is this a problem for you? Why do you care?

---

I do tend to take some selfies of myself, but I don't take a lot. Why would I want a bunch of ugly pictures of myself?

I usually do it so that I can find the perfect shot for Facebook. And then I end up replacing it with a picture of an inspirational quote, or something like that.

There is no harm in taking selfies, if you are actually attractive, though.

So if you're not someone YOU find attractive you shouldn't take any pictures of yourself? That's hilarious.

---

Hur hur

Ya know, I too HATE it when girls try to reclaim some of the self esteem that society is constantly trying to batter out of us with its relentless assault of advertising and put downs

How DARE girls want to take pictures of ourselves when we look good and are proud of our appearance. HOW VERY DARE WE.