4 ms·

I always thought it was odd the selfie stick was so hated. It seems like a clever solution for getting a better photo, and it’s not like it bothers anyone else

by xwdv 6y ago

I always thought it was odd the selfie stick was so hated. It seems like a clever solution for getting a better photo, and it’s not like it bothers anyone else around. But I feel that’s why people hate it, it’s too clever. Seems to get derided the same way a nerd kid gets beat the fuck up in school.

cassepipe 6y ago
Idk know about it being "so hated" but it is sure enough the object of mockery because it means you actually spent money on it/ bothered to carry it around for the purpose of taking photos of your face, which, without thinking people taking selfies are monsters, I personally don't understand the appeal. I have no interest in taking pictures of myself even more so sharing them. I kinda see it as I see that thing that you're supposed to grab ice cubes with or elaborate beer-bottle openers. Those object kinda of make you feel that some people feel that they don't fully exist if they don't own things.
- staticassertion 6y ago
  I think the idea is that you want to be able to look back not just at the places you've been but also at yourself. I think it makes sense. Seeing pictures of myself as a teenager certainly has a different impact than seeing pictures of where I went as a teenager.
  - cassepipe 6y ago
    When I look at pictures of me when I was younger, I am like "Wow I looked different at the time" for two seconds and then I move on with my life cause it did not learn me anything and I don't really know what to make of it. I guess I havent much interest in my past looks. I have a pretty good idea of who I was at various stages of my life and even if I had not, those would not help much. So I guess I am uninterested in pictures in general.
- collyw 6y ago
  > I have no interest in taking pictures of myself even more so sharing them As an old git (45) it seems strange to me that today's youth have known nothing else but a world where sharing pictures of yourself on social media is the norm. It's like its part of the reason for living.
  - cassepipe 6y ago
    The problem I have with images is that it is so easy to say things with them without having to take responsibility for any speech. Just imagine an Instagram feed but instead of pictures, it would read "I am so much more wealthy than you all" or "Look at me, I am happy" or "Hey! See how many friends I have?!" or "I've got such a beautiful body"? That would be more fun.
  - cassepipe 6y ago
    But you uttered the word, it is the Norm. And most people only feel comfortable in the Norm. I guess time is better spent attacking the Norm than taking a grudge against all of its followers.
- xwdv 6y ago
  The pictures aren’t for yourself, they’re for other people. Imagine passing away and no one has any photos of you except for things you took pictures of, which are likely things other people have already taken pictures of anyway. Some may even question if you really were at all those places. That said, it can be taken to an extreme. Photos of yourself should always try to be as candid as possible, and you shouldn’t be the main subject every time.
  - cassepipe 6y ago
    I don't really mind people not having photos of me after I am dead. I don't think I will care much by then. We are maybe not just that important and even if you are, a Wikipedia article is a better legacy than any picture of your face.
- monksy 6y ago
  It puts you above the background. See this amazing acquaduct? Well it's in the background of me. You are the subject of the photo.
throw1234651234 6y ago
The selfie stick is a literal extension of narcissism.
- xwdv 6y ago
  It is less narcissistic because by holding the camera farther away you capture more of your surroundings and you are smaller in the picture.
- gowld 6y ago
  metaphorical. Physical, but metaphorical.
collyw 6y ago
It signals narcissism.
seattle_spring 6y ago
> and it’s not like it bothers anyone else around. It absolutely bothers people around. If you're in a crowded place, selfie sticks are awful.
abruzzi 6y ago
I don't hate the selfie stick due to the users of them. I first heard about a selfie stick when I was on vacation in Rome near the Roman forum. I couldn't walk ten feet without another street vendor trying to convince me to buy a selfie stick. It was constantly aggravating. I wanted to be left alone to enjoy myself, and I was constantly hearing people hawking selfie sticks to me. That made me really dislike the things. (I'll admit to also disliking selfies, probably because when I look at photos, the last thing I want to see in the photo is me.)
Larrikin 6y ago
They're banned in most theme parks and a lot of other places because they do bother other people. There seems to be a serious overlap of people who spend money on them and a complete lack of awareness for surroundings. I think the main reason initially was people trying to take selfies on things like rollercoasters but the ban spread more from people taking them in other dangerous places and disregarding others around them to get the selfie.
- catalogia 6y ago
  Even in cases where there's no meaningful danger, possession of selfie sticks seem to correlate with narcissistic behavior like standing still in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare.
abstrakraft 6y ago
Taking a selfie requires no preparation. We've all got cameras on our phones, so it's easy enough to do. I'm not really a selfie person, per se, but in the right place and context, I might snap one for posterity. A tourist walking around with their phone in a selfie stick has put preparation and forethought into the endeavor. Before leaving their hotel to see some wonder of the world, they consciously thought, "I'm going to take a bunch of selfies today so I can post them on social media and gain influence because I'm somebody." This attitude represents everything many people blame for giving rise to the modern overcrowded tourist destination experience. I'm sure there exceptions, and some people just like pictures with themselves in them, but this is the impression it gives off. You asked why people hate selfie sticks, and this is a likely reason.
- ketzu 6y ago
  > "I'm going to take a bunch of selfies today so I can post them on social media and gain influence because I'm somebody." There is a huge leap from being prepared to take a slefie at a famous place to this mentality, posting it anywhere on social media, and especially gaining influence or being somebody.

by xwdv 6y ago

cassepipe 6y ago

Idk know about it being "so hated" but it is sure enough the object of mockery because it means you actually spent money on it/ bothered to carry it around for the purpose of taking photos of your face, which, without thinking people taking selfies are monsters, I personally don't understand the appeal. I have no interest in taking pictures of myself even more so sharing them. I kinda see it as I see that thing that you're supposed to grab ice cubes with or elaborate beer-bottle openers. Those object kinda of make you feel that some people feel that they don't fully exist if they don't own things.

staticassertion 6y ago
I think the idea is that you want to be able to look back not just at the places you've been but also at yourself. I think it makes sense. Seeing pictures of myself as a teenager certainly has a different impact than seeing pictures of where I went as a teenager.
- cassepipe 6y ago
  When I look at pictures of me when I was younger, I am like "Wow I looked different at the time" for two seconds and then I move on with my life cause it did not learn me anything and I don't really know what to make of it. I guess I havent much interest in my past looks. I have a pretty good idea of who I was at various stages of my life and even if I had not, those would not help much. So I guess I am uninterested in pictures in general.
collyw 6y ago
> I have no interest in taking pictures of myself even more so sharing them As an old git (45) it seems strange to me that today's youth have known nothing else but a world where sharing pictures of yourself on social media is the norm. It's like its part of the reason for living.
- cassepipe 6y ago
  The problem I have with images is that it is so easy to say things with them without having to take responsibility for any speech. Just imagine an Instagram feed but instead of pictures, it would read "I am so much more wealthy than you all" or "Look at me, I am happy" or "Hey! See how many friends I have?!" or "I've got such a beautiful body"? That would be more fun.
- cassepipe 6y ago
  But you uttered the word, it is the Norm. And most people only feel comfortable in the Norm. I guess time is better spent attacking the Norm than taking a grudge against all of its followers.
xwdv 6y ago
The pictures aren’t for yourself, they’re for other people. Imagine passing away and no one has any photos of you except for things you took pictures of, which are likely things other people have already taken pictures of anyway. Some may even question if you really were at all those places. That said, it can be taken to an extreme. Photos of yourself should always try to be as candid as possible, and you shouldn’t be the main subject every time.
- cassepipe 6y ago
  I don't really mind people not having photos of me after I am dead. I don't think I will care much by then. We are maybe not just that important and even if you are, a Wikipedia article is a better legacy than any picture of your face.
monksy 6y ago
It puts you above the background. See this amazing acquaduct? Well it's in the background of me. You are the subject of the photo.

throw1234651234 6y ago

The selfie stick is a literal extension of narcissism.

xwdv 6y ago
It is less narcissistic because by holding the camera farther away you capture more of your surroundings and you are smaller in the picture.
gowld 6y ago
metaphorical. Physical, but metaphorical.

collyw 6y ago

It signals narcissism.

seattle_spring 6y ago

> and it’s not like it bothers anyone else around. It absolutely bothers people around. If you're in a crowded place, selfie sticks are awful.

abruzzi 6y ago

I don't hate the selfie stick due to the users of them. I first heard about a selfie stick when I was on vacation in Rome near the Roman forum. I couldn't walk ten feet without another street vendor trying to convince me to buy a selfie stick. It was constantly aggravating. I wanted to be left alone to enjoy myself, and I was constantly hearing people hawking selfie sticks to me. That made me really dislike the things. (I'll admit to also disliking selfies, probably because when I look at photos, the last thing I want to see in the photo is me.)

Larrikin 6y ago

They're banned in most theme parks and a lot of other places because they do bother other people. There seems to be a serious overlap of people who spend money on them and a complete lack of awareness for surroundings. I think the main reason initially was people trying to take selfies on things like rollercoasters but the ban spread more from people taking them in other dangerous places and disregarding others around them to get the selfie.

catalogia 6y ago
Even in cases where there's no meaningful danger, possession of selfie sticks seem to correlate with narcissistic behavior like standing still in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare.

abstrakraft 6y ago

Taking a selfie requires no preparation. We've all got cameras on our phones, so it's easy enough to do. I'm not really a selfie person, per se, but in the right place and context, I might snap one for posterity. A tourist walking around with their phone in a selfie stick has put preparation and forethought into the endeavor. Before leaving their hotel to see some wonder of the world, they consciously thought, "I'm going to take a bunch of selfies today so I can post them on social media and gain influence because I'm somebody." This attitude represents everything many people blame for giving rise to the modern overcrowded tourist destination experience. I'm sure there exceptions, and some people just like pictures with themselves in them, but this is the impression it gives off. You asked why people hate selfie sticks, and this is a likely reason.

ketzu 6y ago
> "I'm going to take a bunch of selfies today so I can post them on social media and gain influence because I'm somebody." There is a huge leap from being prepared to take a slefie at a famous place to this mentality, posting it anywhere on social media, and especially gaining influence or being somebody.