The death-by-selfie Social Darwinism phenomenon is the outcome of “Me! Me! Me!” nitwitism combined with high-quality, inexpensive technology like Go Pro cameras, Iphones, etc. The shots themselves are free.
Deaths are reported all over the world. In the U.S., for example, a college student fell off a cliff while posing for a selfie. A Polish couple fell off a cliff right in front of their children after crossing a warning barrier to take a selfie. But who knows how many are killed or maimed in developing countries. The very idea behind some of the daredevil selfies seems to be to skirt as close to suicide as possible. Some selfie-bugs are simply inattentive or autistic.
The problem, experts say, is what happens inside our brain while we’re snapping the photos. Psychologists call it selective attention, or inattentional blindness. The basic concept is this: Our brain can’t possibly process all the stimuli it receives at one time.
Those sorts of initiatives could help with selfie deaths caused by unattentional blindness, says psychologist Keith Campbell, co-author of the 2009 book “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement.”
Attempting to multi-task is also a well-known problem, because it’s not something we’re mentally wired to do. Technology has evolved faster than our physiology. Yet, a 2015 survey by Erie Insurance Group found that 4% of all drivers admitted to taking selfies while driving.
In the U.S. and Europe, death by selfie, in general, is caused by inattention and poor choice of shot positioning. India and Russia have high rates of selfie deaths, with extreme daredevil behavior being the cause, as illustrated in the videos below.
Taking too many selfies means you have a mental disorder called “selfitis,” a term first coined in 2014 as a joke. It’s now being taken seriously by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which labels the obsessive urge to take selfies a genuine “psychological complex.” The APA is a fraud, but I think they nailed this one.
One of the great puzzles of our age is how hundreds of millions of high quality photos are taken daily, but there are very few high quality images of the dozens of so-called terror events of the last several years. Also notice, just to cite one example, how many of the YouTube videos we used in our Parkland analysis have been scrubbed. About the only photos available are emotion shots of solitary shoes, and people hugging.
- 1,000 selfies are posted to Instagram every 10 seconds.
- There are 93 million selfies each day.
People have been taking selfies to extreme levels in order to get more likes and viral acclaim for their photo. The temptation is there, as many of the photos are bucket-list quality given that the camera technology in new smart phones is so excellent.
Then there’s social competition. People take selfies to increase their social media status, or likes. It’s also a last bastion of expression for people who can’t communicate well verbally or in writing.
Psychologists have looked at the personality “dark triads” in terms of selfitis. It’s more about narcissism. hedonism and self-objectification than psychopathy, and Machiavellian.
Death and Injury by Selfie
Selfie deaths are a growing problem, and researchers are starting to tally the death toll.
From October 2011 to November 2017, there have been 259 deaths while clicking selfies in 137 incidents. The mean age was 22.94 years. About 72.5% of the total deaths occurred in males and 27.5% in females. The highest number of incidents and selfie-deaths has been reported in India followed by Russia, United States, and Pakistan. Drowning, transport, and fall form the topmost reasons for deaths caused by selfies. We also classified reasons for deaths due to selfie as risky behavior or non-risky behavior. Risky behavior caused more deaths and incidents due to selfies than non-risky behavior. The number of deaths in females is less due to risky behavior than non-risky behavior while it is approximately three times in males.
Here’s a Social Darwinism Award contender.
Darwin award contender pic.twitter.com/LrPDPPy1jk
— Enlargeyournerd (@Enlargeyournerd) February 19, 2019
The following video covers 22 people who died taking selfies. Many of them exhibited literal cartoon-world risk taking.
Last selfie for this narcissistic risk taker. No concern about landing on someone.
Say good bye to me, me, me — and hello to oblivion. Tip: If you’re doing something that makes others feel compelled to stop and photograph you, you might reconsider what you’re doing.
There are open tracks and fast-moving trains in India and China combined with very dumb people. Accordingly, the craze there involves selfies on train tracks. This young woman is swept under a train during misguided selfie.
Taking selfies on top of trains (train surfing) seems to be a growing trend, and so are electrocutions. This Darwin Award candidate escaped with severe burns.
More Darwin Award candidates- selfie mania gripping youth | Dangerous stunts on Mumbai Local Trains
The “me” generation national anthem…
The best of us talk about ideas.
Most of us talk about things.
The worst of us talk about people.
This is an attitude and approach that opens the way for criminals, scoundrels , and reprobates to ascend.
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/yosemite-national-park-selfie-deaths-13735759.php
Horrible story, feel bad for everyone involved
Once again, I am on the outside looking in – I have never, ever taken a “selfie” – how was I saved? – just by being an old guy? (about the same age as our host, I think).
I was once standing cliff side in Canada taking a photo… backed up a bit to adjust the view and almost had a nasty fall by tripping over a rock behind me – so “selective inattention” can happen in that context as well – walking backwards on a rock strewn cliff – duh! I think I learned my lesson; it was an early outing with a cheep digital camera on a hiking trip. I take very few photos – I have a “memory”! (And, of course, no Instagram account.)
Another jaw-dropping post! I thought these were “freak accidents” – I guess not! And I leave, as I often do, muttering “I had no idea!” … and here again – “cartoon world” in play! I think it is your core methodological contribution; I don’t think I have seen other researchers take it up – I think they should. (I have, but cannot count myself as a “researcher” at this time.)
Thanks!
Wow! What a strange phenomenon, and yet is anyone really surprised? Between human vanity and a plummeting IQ, is any of this news particularly shocking?
What this thread made me wonder is when CFR members and the like see this type of story do they think to themselves, “Well that was a freebee! Keep pushing those cheap (slave built) cell phones on the world and the useless eaters will do our job for us.”
The problem with this thread is that first image. Why isn’t that dude laying down on the tracks in a white dress and a blonde wig like in the Bugs Bunny cartoons? Then we would have a little suspense on this website!
That fella just does not understand the thrill of seeking self gratification, through self photography, with an aspect of REAL DANGER.
Just another reason I will NEVER own a cell phone…besides, I’m an author, not a photographer! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Combine a rampant tendency towards narcissism brought about by Facebook, Instagram with the wide angle lens used for “selfies” makes close up objects such as trains and cliff edges look further away brings new meaning to Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “Decisive Moment”.
Dear Russ,
Ref.
Scoundrel
June 18, 2021 at 5:19 pm
The best of us talk about ideas.
Most of us talk about things.
The worst of us talk about people.
Winter Watch
June 18, 2021 at 5:40 pm
This is an attitude and approach that opens the way for criminals, scoundrels , and reprobates to ascend.
I am familiar with the 3-liner-claim prior to Scoundrel posting it ;
However, your reply does not clarify if u mean the “attitude, & approach” which u disapprove of is :
A_
the best of us talk about ideas,
…
the worst of us talk about people
And, with distinction that “the worst of us talk about people” as opening the way for criminals, inter alia, to ascend ?
or
B_
the actual belief in the about 3-liner-claim as being a correct understanding of humanity as opening the way for criminals, inter alia, to ascend ?
IMO he is saying criticism of people is poor behavior. It is part of the see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil syndrome that has been sold. I say it is part of defending humanity and society.
Thanks, Russ, for the clarification of what u had originally said ;
Being a regular reader of ur website over the last 5 years or so, & introduced to ur articles by Henry Makow, this reply of ur’s prompts me to recall that u advocate no toleration of evil.
I can detect the temptation to abide by line-1, & indulgently line-2, but never line-3, of that 3-liner as being a noble code;
However, following ur clarification about line-3, I now believe that to practise observation, & reflection, & appropriate discussion regarding peoples, & when necessary about individuals, & also likewise about ideas, & things, is the actual worthy constitution.