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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don't get the obsession with 'selfies'!? and I don't understand how am i supposed to respond!

65 replies

HiggledyPiggledy123 · 27/03/2015 19:58

Flicking through the oh so wonderful world of facebook this evening and there are 15 different selfies on the main page! I don't get it, why take a photo of yourself, then share it. Is it not a little self obsessive? 3 of these 15 are of the same person - not doing anything, not with anyone, just posing on their own. Am I supposed to comment? what am I supposed to say?
I say this tongue in cheek as of course everyone is free to portray themselves as they want but I genuinely don't get it (this also could be being a slightly overweight, mother of two - so a selfie would not be a good thing for me - maybe its a jealous of all these beautiful people!) And I don't even have a phone which can take photos so selfies not my thing!!

OP posts:
PoisonPension · 27/03/2015 20:00

Do these people have nobody to take their pictures?

I took a selfie once of a group of us as I didn't trust a stranger with my phone.

paxtecum · 27/03/2015 20:07

I find all very odd.
Maybe they are just desperate for 'awwww beautiful or gawjuss' comments.

Facebook is very wield!

AmyElliotDunne · 27/03/2015 20:10

I have a couple of those people too, one who changes her profile pic on at least a weekly basis, although often back and forth between the same pics, so it's not like she's just taken one she likes. If she doesn't get enough likes and comments then she'll change it gain until she gets enough 'beautiful hun's!

The pouty super-made-up selfie isn't really me, but I've had snarky comments about pics of me and my DP looking 'all loved up' or wishing each other happy anniversary etc. when I take my annual opportunity to gush about how much I luffs him in public.

I guess we all do annoying things on FB as it is inherently annoying, being solely for portraying the best bits of our life to people who may or may not be interested in real life!

BoobooChild · 27/03/2015 20:11

Just the word selfies makes me feel rage! Ergh and selfie-stick AngryAngry

midnightbeast · 27/03/2015 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mandatorymongoose · 27/03/2015 20:12

I sometimes take selfies of me with DS or DD. For some reason I'm always the photographer in our family and without the odd selfie if you looked through holiday albums you'd never know I was there.

and I can hold the camera at a good angle to disguise my double chin and weird neck

mommy2ash · 27/03/2015 20:18

i take them sometimes before i head out on a girls night. i only upload the to facebook if i want to use them as a profile picture

AmyElliotDunne · 27/03/2015 20:18

Exactly Mandatory. There are no pics of me at all for the 14 years I was with exH, luckily DP is a bit better at taking my photo, but before I met him and I wanted photos for my dating profile, I had to use selfies as there was nobody to take one of me naturally.

cardibach · 27/03/2015 20:19

As with so many Fb related posts, it's all about your friends. I rarely get selfies on my news feed. Having said that, I would have no problem with them or with someone changing their profile pic whenever they like. I don't respond to half the stuff friends post, though, so don't see why there is a dilemma over selfies. Say nothing unless there is something to say!

Theycallmemellowjello · 27/03/2015 20:28

Don't worry op, your judgmental response is quite the one you're 'supposed to' have here on mumsnet.

ChipDip · 27/03/2015 20:31

This is done to death every week or so. There is nothing for you to 'get'. Like/don't like I'm sure your friends won't be too concerned.

pictish · 27/03/2015 20:32

I think they like getting compliments and it's as simple as that. I think selfies are ok. I think numerous and pointless selfies aren't. I think repetitive selfies all struck in the same pose are bonkers.

dragdownthemoon · 27/03/2015 20:34

Ooh I love a good selfie! I take loads.

AnnieMoor · 27/03/2015 20:39

I think it's mostly the domain of the teenage girl, thank the Lord.

Older people generally have more wit.

Having said that, I have a selfie stick Blush. They are great for group photos.

Original poster
HiggledyPiggledy123 · 27/03/2015 20:40

Have to reflect on my hypocriticalness in that I post loads of photos of my children assuming people want to look at them.... I bow down on consideration!

OP posts:
pictish · 27/03/2015 20:45

I am quite sparing with photos of the kids. Only the best ones and only now and then. I am conscious of not being a selfie/kiddy bore. I don't have any pets but if I did I'd hold back on those photos too.
I like to see a bit of everything, but as soon as anyone starts saturating their page with any of the above I scroll on past. Too much of it makes it meaningless.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 27/03/2015 20:47

Don't respond. Especially with complements, it's what they want.

Or respond with jesus! You get uglier with every photo!

No, don't. Best not.

Has thought doing of it before now

Shockers · 27/03/2015 20:50

I have been guilty of the selfie. We (us and the DCs) have had a couple on holiday when we've wanted all of us in the photo. There's a difference compared to ones we've asked strangers to take...

I also had a selfie with a reindeer, but that was his idea... the vain git Wink.

AmyElliotDunne · 27/03/2015 20:51

I like the ones where someone posts a pic of themselves looking all toned and sucking it in, saying "need to loose (sic) 2 stone before holibobs" hoping for lots of "your gawjuss Hun"s and instead people start recommending slimming world or some exercise dvd. Makes me chuckle evil bitch that I am

lomega · 27/03/2015 20:52

IDGI either. I can understand it if you've got something amazing as the backdrop and want to take a pic, or if you take one once every now and again as a profile pic. But all the time? Just yuk

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 27/03/2015 20:57

I like the idea of a selfie stick for taking a picture of us all together. Rather than trusting some random with either my phone or my proper camera.

If they ran off or dropped either of them I'd cry.

DoJo · 27/03/2015 20:58

Is it not a little self obsessive?

Well, these are your friends you're talking about - are they?

Sallystyle · 27/03/2015 21:10

I took my first one the other week for a laugh.

I ended up cutting half of my face out and didn't notice I was standing next to a condom machine. Totally outs me if anyone is here who I know irl.

I took one the week after to show how I had improved and used that for my profile picture. I usually shy away from any photos and there are very few of me as I hate looking at myself so this was brave for me.

People who post loads of selfies constantly are annoying for sure but I don't mind the odd one, I like seeing people and if people are feeling especially attractive I like seeing it.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 27/03/2015 21:11

I've semi recently lost a shit load of weight through being unwell and suffering from anxiety, upside to this is I've discovered I have fucking awesome cheekbones. So if I've experimented with some new eyeliner and mascara or hairstyle or whatever and I've taken a halfway decent photo of the results that I like enough to put up as my profile photo then yeah, I will. I'm not fishing for compliments, I just like that after years of hiding from cameras or throwing away awful photos of myself I can actually capture myself looking ok. If I have to be the one to take the photo to get decent results then so be it, I don't give a fuck Grin

Mrsstarlord · 27/03/2015 21:12

MandatoryMongoose - exactly!!!!!

There would be no photos in existence of our family if it wasn't for me and the kids would look like they had grown up motherless if I didn't take selfies of us together!