We recently learned that both Coachella and Lollapalooza have banned the selfie stick or, as the controversial devices are becoming more widely known, the daffodil (because narcissism).
As far as I'm concerned, this is simply the first wave of the narcistick ban that should be welcomed with open arms. The Weird Selfie Craze The Best, Worst, and Funniest Selfies of 2013 [Weird &Wonderful Web] The Best, Worst, and Funniest Selfies of 2013 [Weird &Wonderful Web] This week on Weird &Wonderful Web, we We delve into the world of selfies, taking a look at the best and worst examples of this phenomenon that hit us in a big, bad way... Read More Let's stop before it's too late!
I first came across these telescopic rods located on GoPro and smartphones last year while sightseeing in Indonesia. As I rode through the heat, my attention was violently stolen by the hordes of other tourists marching in large groups, all clutching selfie sticks like they were clutching some winning lottery numbers.
These tourists were not looking at the astonishing beauty of their surroundings, but at their own reflection as his jaw dropped and he smiled at them. Not two feet away, mind you, like I manage with my biological selfie arm, but five or more feet away. Because it's obviously too difficult to ask a passerby to take a photo.
As the five-second timer counted down, the articulating model-photographer quickly adjusted his hair, and turned his body to the perfectly practiced, favorable angle. Cue another homogeneous photo of themselves, in front of something we had seen. rather see instead. At least everyone at home is reassured that, “I managed to get this close to this attraction. My life is totes amaze-balls.”
The same goes for music festivals. Shot after shot from them. Of them and their friends. Of them in front of his store. Of them drinking a beer. From them dancing to Paramore. Of them and 10,000 other people. Of them and their bracelet..
The worst, however, is the videos . Videos of someone walking around looking at a tourist attraction (seriously, people do that). And another shaky video (among hundreds of others recorded simultaneously) of the band that you're only half watching.
Unless you're making an awesome video like the one below, or shooting footage for a website or blog, there's no real reason to shoot videos of yourself with a selfie stick. And if you insist on taking one selfie after another, at least do something interesting with them! 7 Photography Projects That Could Change The Way You Look At Selfies 7 Photography Projects That Could Change The Way You Look At Selfies If you do it right, the selfie rises to self-portrait art. These seven creative photography projects might inspire you to think outside the box. Read more
I'm a crank I know. But selfie sticks? We are going to ban them from all music festivals right now. Here are four reasons why this is the right thing to do for all of our sakes..
I am not the one to take out the health and safety card in any way. I like a little danger as much as the next person. But I also dropped my phone on my face while texting in bed. The agony of having a phone fall less than two feet into your nose is enough to make you never text in that position again.
Granted, many of the "new generation" selfie sticks hold your camera pretty securely, but if you're using the cheap kit your co-workers bought as a joke (which you always see at music festivals), you may be sure your phone/camera is not being held securely. If your face (or someone else's) isn't there to painfully break that quick drop of your smartphone, chances are someone's flipped toes will wiggle.
Even if you own a secure and bulky selfie stick, it's also worth keeping in mind that many events and locations are starting to look at selfie sticks as potential weapons. According to The Telegraph:
Although we all like to think of music festivals as organized and joyous occasions, they have also been known to degenerate into terrifying riots, with plenty of danger to offer. Selfie sticks are not something you want to have at your fingertips when everything starts.
In the days of good times, it used to be the case that people went to a festival to have fun with their friends and enjoy the music. Now, people need to record every moment of it and instantly post that event record to a gaggle of fans on Facebook and Instagram.
It used to be the case that, with the weird flag waving through the crowd (as long as you didn't have a vertical challenge), you could see the stage. Remember it? You could see what you had paid to see. What a joy. Now, that expectation is a luxury reserved for those lucky enough (or timid enough) to make their way to the front of the crowd.
The rest of us are greeted by the sight of thousands of heads jumping, and hundreds of metal poles with expensive gadgetry mounted four or five feet above that. No matter how vertically superior you are now, there's no chance in hell of getting a clear, unobstructed view of that stage, throughout a good photograph.
As Sree Sreenivasan, The Met's chief digital officer poignantly points out in The New York Times, "It's one thing to take a picture at arm's length, but when it's three times your arm's length, you're invading someone else's personal space." person.". Listen Listen!
While recently shopping around for an iPhone 6, I was horrified to learn that one of these contraptions was selling for almost the same price as my MacBook Air. The same goes for the new Samsung Galaxy Edge..
Would I get precariously caught balancing my MacBook Air? 4 Reasons My Next Laptop Will Be A MacBook Air [Opinion] 4 Reasons My Next Laptop Will Be A MacBook Air [Opinion] I've never owned a Mac, and never thought I'd be in a position where I intend to buy one. Growing up, I was a die-hard Windows user, mainly because of the many hours I spent… More on thousands of drunken dancers? Of course, no. And neither should you. So why do so many people think it's okay to do this with an equally expensive phone?
Unless you get peppered with a pretty burly selfie stick, they really aren't that safe. It's only a matter of time before your closest companion, your phone, falls to the ground to hurt someone, get stomped on, or get robbed of your flimsy skill.
According to Rolling Stone, “Selfie sticks are also seen as encouraging unauthorized recording of festival performances.” There's no denying that shooting a 30-60 minute video while holding a selfie stick extended at waist height is much easier than trying to do the same thing holding a phone above your head for 15 minutes.
By removing selfie sticks from the equation, we can try to protect the professional art of videography (and its profitability). The Arrival of Decent Smartphone Cameras Top Tips:How to Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone Top Tips:How to Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone Smartphone and smartphone photography is becoming more and more popular. And no wonder. Every year, mobile and smartphone cameras get better and better, until many people no longer feel the need to carry real cameras. While... Read More almost destroyed the photography industry. Let's not let the same fate strike videography at music festivals.
Don't get me wrong, I take selfies too. I even had a selfie stick for a short time, before it broke and my phone crashed to the ground. The problem with selfie sticks used at music festivals is the display of sheer self-centeredness and disrespect towards other people in attendance.
When camera phones became popular, we tolerated the occasional handheld shot from the crowd to capture a quick shot or take a short video. But now, you can expect to see a smartphone or GoPro airborne, directly blocking your line of sight for possibly the entire performance. This causes the experience to be diluted, if not completely spoiled, for those around you.
There's a time and a place for selfie sticks (one of them is in tongue-in-cheek political campaigns, like the one above). But if you insist on taking selfies, follow these basic selfie rules. 5 Things To Avoid When Taking Selfies 5 Things To Avoid When Taking Selfies Selfies shouldn't be taken lightly, and there are plenty of things to avoid. Read more.
And really, when it comes to crisis, how much better is it to be fully present, enjoying the music rather than half-heartedly passing on? We're sure you'll agree that the effort you're putting into not keeping your camera steady, secure, at the right angle, and out of people's hair would be much, much better spent being in the moment and being able to relive that moment. from a sharp memory instead of a blurry video.
For those of you who think it's your RIGHT Use a selfie stick wherever you want? I accept your argument, but I raise the fact that the Winnipeg Museum of Human Rights has also banned drug trafficking. Which really says everything you need to know about this increasingly annoying gadget.
What do you think? Are we being too harsh on selfie sticks? And in case of being allowed in music festivals.?
