PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Personally I think its just one more example of the self-absorbed, ego-centric culture in which we live. No one else exists at any given moment but me so how could I even know there is somebody around to help me or ask to take my picture.

Interesting thing to me is that most selfies I have seen at famous places are 90% of the person and really not enough in the background to tell where they are. Its all about me, Me, ME ! This observation really took hold a couple years back as I watched tons of people take selfies at the Grand Canyon. Not a single one had any of the canyon in view besides the upper 2 corners which was mostly horizon.

Probably good for tourism though as studies have shown a ridiculously high percentage of selfie takers could not describe anything about the places behind them even a day after they were there. So sad.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I never said I gave it to a stranger. I usually travel in guided tours, and often with a group of friends.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Used to be send a post card. Now take and send a selfie. No difference it says 'I was here'.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I'm on your page. I mainly do landscapes and close up of flowers, sea shells, and images of other natural things. I rarely do portraiture of photography of people. One exception to that is I have done a good amount of theatrical photography and photography of musicians playing and posing. Likely since my other big thing in life is listening to music and collecting recorded music.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Love the picture. Selfies are as old as cell phones with cameras.

AJFRED Loc: Alabama

It ain’t just Rome, either. Try Prague sometime.

arthurperrone

I took several selfies over 50 years ago and others have been doing it for maNYYEARS BEFORE THAT.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

You are not getting it. The people who take selfies don't care about those things.

salewis

Two other thoughts on the subject. (1) A few years ago, when the Pope came to the U.S., he visited some classrooms in Catholic schools. Bill Maher showed some pictures of students turning their backs on the Pope so they could take selfies of themselves with him. It seems to miss the purpose of a papal audience. (2) I read a couple of years ago that selfie sticks were banned at Auschwitz. The authorities felt that people taking selfies was a desecration of a place which has been retained as a memorial to the millions who died and/or were tortured there.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Most "Selfies" are not selfies at all, but a group portrait of 2 or 3 people. Selfies eliminated the need to get a stranger to take a picture of the group, or, setting up a tripod,timer and all that rot just to send a picture to the folks back home.

You guys seem to think people that take "selfies" do nothing else but take pictures of just themselves, but truth is, most of the pictures are of several people, and cell phones excel at that task. For example, my daughter moved out of state, she often sends me "selfies" of her and my granddaughter, and husband. Never does she get her arm in the pictures as someone mentioned, and since they are portraits, not landscapes, the background is very much secondary or completely non-relevant. There is nothing self-absorbed or ego-centric about it, just the opposite.

Moreover, people that take selfies also take pictures of landscapes, pets, wildlife, BIF, and about every topic known to man, and that is mostly what they do. They may be "self-absorbed" for the 2 seconds they are getting a picture for dad, but the rest of the day they spend being "self-absorbed" in other activities.

AJFRED Loc: Alabama

Good thought. Admit I never considered this aspect of the topic.

AJFRED Loc: Alabama

Point taken. My bad.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

What point?
Without using the “Quote Reply” option as I have done, we are left guessing which post you are addressing.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Actually, the "Selfie" is aptly named. It includes mainly self generated pictures including one's self as the subject (that's where the term came from). Go to Instagram, twitter or any other major social media site and count the number of times that there is more than just one person in the picture. My experience has come from years of observation at places that are somewhat 'touristy' and from friends/coworkers of the millennial group. There is also research supporting my conclusions. Your own comment that "the background is very much secondary or completely non-relevant" is exactly the point. Why take the selfie at that specific location if the background doesn't matter ? Step to the side and let the people who want to take a picture of the location get the shot. Not being aware or concerned of what others are doing/needing is the EXACT definition of self-absorbed and ego-centric ! Thanks for supporting my statements.

Are there folks that use the cell phone to document the places they are in ? Certainly ! I have no issue with those folks. But when a popular photo site is packed with people taking pictures of themselves as the main subject and no discernible location identifiers, it makes my desire to take a photo of the actual attraction nearly impossible.

I will see if I can find the shot I took of the selfie crowd at the grand canyon so you can see what I was seeing. I had asked people to turn their phones/tablets around and display the shot they just took.

AJFRED Loc: Alabama

My bad. your point is taken.