To have had enough with today's self obsessed culture

[cablewable]

I feel like all we see now is people taking pictures of themselves on every opportunity, speaking about how they feel, what they did, why they did it, where they are, what they achieved, where they went etc etc.
What ever happened to doing something because you wanted to or just enjoy it.
Who are we proving ourselves to? At we really ever doing anything for ourselves?
Does anyone ever just look at things and say -why?!?!!?!?!??!

For me- gym pics and hospital tags are the worst, along with selfies for no reason what so ever!!!

Haha my dh too

thats a long post for someone who says long posts are for people who are unhappy

Sometimes I wonder if signing up to Mumsnet somehow impairs reading comprehension

Where did I describe the length of posts as impacting happiness?

I’ve spent about 2 minutes of my life posting on this thread.
People who post pictures fishing for compliments do it several times a day every day.

People like this actually post much less frequently. Because they're genuinely insecure, they find it difficult to get pictures that they like.

And my point was that anyone who spends time being upset that people post pictures of themselves is unfulfilled in some way. Is what you said really that relevant?

Besides, do you think people fishing for compliments was caused by social media?

Seems an odd topic to get so het about.

I'm often told this. But something about it really gets me raging. I think it's the combination of inflexibility, internalised misogyny, projection, insecurity, lack of adaptability, understanding or critical thinking that gets me. Along with the condescension.

These things wind me up on their own. Altogether I absolutely cannot stand it - and nothing groups those qualities together like a social media discussion!

Sorry roses just don't see it like that at all. Also obviously totally against those things. I perceive the constant selfie taking/looking for validation as a sad by product of the effect on women of living in such a patriarchal culture that values women for their youth and beauty and not for other things. I don't judge the people doing it but I do think its abit sad. Wouldn't say anything these thoughts stay in my head (or on mumsnet)

I perceive the constant selfie taking/looking for validation as a sad by product of the effect on women of living in such a patriarchal culture that values women for their youth and beauty and not for other things.

It's interesting to consider from this angle, but beauty isn't beauty when it's paired with the knowledge of it in a patriarchal society. Have you seen the experiment where women don't downplay compliments from men? The men take the remarks back!

Women knowing they are beautiful and posting to reflect it - often to seek no kind of validation at all - is in direct opposition of the "modesty" culture imposed on women. Not to mention that social media is consistently used to reject conventional beauty standards.

IME, the "they're servicing the patriarchy" argument is held up as a smoke screen for internalised misogyny. As evidenced by the slut shaming remarks, comments implying the women are stupid, and never ever mentioning men.

But it's very rarely just a beautiful woman beaming at the camera is it? It usually involves some kind if sexualisation, be it showing off a particular body part or pouting coquetishly down the lens.

Roses, You need to stop getting so het up about people getting het up over this.

I don't do it.
I think people who post pouting selfies are fishing for compliments, which yes went on before social media but not every minute of every day.
Some women feel that they need constant validation because the world has taken a step backwards and once again a woman's value is all wrapped up in how sexually attractive she is to men.

No one I have on social media does this.
My concern is the effect it has on the mental health of our young people.

Its the pouting - its always pouting duckface, or a knowing smirk. Why?!?! I get it for the youngsters but adult women?! That said not one of my peer group bar one old school friend I never see anymore actually do this though.

Please explain to me the pouting. I look at Lauren Goodger on Instagram and I think, do your lips just go like that or are you making them like that? I'm never sure.

Jeez I can't stand the pouting

I have only ever taken a couple of selfies but I was doing something I love and looked very scruffy but just very happy in the moment and yes did share it. I run a lot and had achieved something I long hankered after and most of my FB friends are runners so I absolutely know that we support and care what each other does. No-one else will care but that's fine!

Taking selfies for no reason whatsoever when you are just in your house is just weird imo.

Agree that people have always shared this stuff in different ways, I clearly remember sitting through the longest afternoon of my life with a dear friend who had spent a year in Australia and presented a group of us with 24 bulging packets of photographs!

I have taken one selfie in my life, just one in black and white. I haven't posted it anywhere. I cut it up and used the eyes in a self portrait I was making with mixed media - that's it, my one selfie all bastardised for what I optimistically call art. My Facebook is full of cat memes and feminist stuff - so I am just as boring as the self obsessed crew in my own way.

I do think people post selfies for compliments and if they do it frequently I find it irritating but if it is once in a while I don't mind making people feel good about themselves - why not. Women especially are constantly being told they aren't good enough so I like to tell them they are and they are beautiful. I wouldn't make it a weekly comment though never mind daily (unless I was seeing them in person). I don't have many self obsessed people on my social media and I'm using it a lot less these days by choice. I think I am a bit trigger happy with my 'ignore' or 'hide' function so perhaps I don't see it all.

Roses, I think we should be best friends

Had an interesting discussion with teacher friend about duck face, which changed my mind about it. I thought it was vacant and 'porny' but my mate explained that teenage girls genuinely think it looks good - it makes it look like you have big eyes and cheekbones and full lips. And I realized it's just something I don't get as an 'old person' and maybe I should just let them get on with it without judgement!