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Author Topic: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"  (Read 10428 times)

PeterAit

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A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« on: September 11, 2013, 09:33:04 am »

As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.
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Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2013, 09:47:55 am »

As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.


Um... so what's wrong with snoring on your own? It's the kindest, most considerate way to sleep.

Rob C

Iluvmycam

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2013, 10:02:11 am »

I don't care. Selfie is as good as any other.
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Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2013, 10:14:08 am »

I don't care. Selfie is as good as any other.


Well, say what you like, you certainly can't beat the timing.

Rob C

Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2013, 01:15:38 pm »

I think "selfie" is a useful word, not to be confused with "self-portrait," which is much more general. To my mind, a "selfie" is taken with the simplest of equipment, on the spur of the moment, with the intention of posting it to a "social media" site. Sort of a way to say "Look at me!" for people who have little better to say to the world.

The few "selfies" I've seen tend to be crude and ugly, and involve silly mugging for the camera.

Rembrandt made some lovely etchings of mugging self-portraits, but he didn't have either an I-phone or a Facebook page, poor guy.

I took a snapshot just a couple of days ago of someone making a selfie, out on the rocks at Halibut Point in Rockport, Massachusetts. I haven't seen the selfie that was produced, and I don't think I'd care to either.
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2013, 01:33:58 pm »

Oh, my god, Peter, how can you be against such a perfect little word!!!??? It is a new animal, it is not a replacement for self-portrait, nor it is used in that context.

Besides, "self-portrait" does not rhyme nearly as well with "selfish" as "selfie" does, thus perfectly reflecting the dominant theme of the the new (anti) social media subculture.

Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2013, 03:08:13 pm »

Oh, my god, Peter, how can you be against such a perfect little word!!!??? It is a new animal, it is not a replacement for self-portrait, nor it is used in that context.

Besides, "self-portrait" does not rhyme nearly as well with "selfish" as "selfie" does, thus perfectly reflecting the dominant theme of the the new (anti) social media subculture.


And it's not in the slightest way as pretentious an expression as self-portrait!

Don't know it has much to do with selfishness, though. Maybe more to do with the lack of funds with which to pay a good photographer?

Rob C

AFairley

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2013, 05:10:06 pm »

I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2013, 05:41:41 pm »

I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
+10.
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Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2013, 05:52:57 pm »

I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.


Correction: not two weeks ago, when it meant make or break that I get a new passport.

;-)

Rob C

Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2013, 11:48:26 pm »


Correction: not two weeks ago, when it meant make or break that I get a new passport.

;-)

Rob C
Did they turn you down because you provided a selfie instead of a self-portrait?
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2013, 01:28:41 am »

Peter,

Deepest apologies, but I am with the others in supporting the word selfie!

This being said, here are a few questions to stir the discussion (wild stuff!):

- Now, does a selfie also include snaps of family members or is it really just about oneself?
- Is it about the camera being used or is it about the publishing media?

Cheers,
Bernard

Jeremy Roussak

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2013, 03:43:51 am »

As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.

Before embarking upon a task of this magnitude, I think you should practise with something simpler: sit on the beach and order the tide not to come in.

Jeremy
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Peter Stacey

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2013, 03:57:14 am »

I think selfie will soon give way to Twerking a selfie.

I don't mind. It's just a word.
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Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2013, 05:43:10 am »

Did they turn you down because you provided a selfie instead of a self-portrait?



Not yet, but that may come: I had to 'selfie' because the standard sized Spanish documentation snaps that all high street businesses do with multi-shot-in-one-exposure cameras (and find profitable because of the incredible bureaucracy, paperwork and form-filling for everything) don't match the British requirements. I did my selfie on the D700... maybe it's too good?

Worse, no longer can one get one's replacement passport from the UK representatives in Madrid, one now has to send off to BELFAST! You know what it costs now, to send your passport application from Spain? £147.86! (Thanks for the link to the quid symobol!) And for a document that's one's by right.

Rob C

kaelaria

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #15 on: September 12, 2013, 08:16:57 am »

I fully support selfies especially when they involve boobs :)
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PeterAit

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #16 on: September 12, 2013, 10:10:52 am »

Maybe you guys are right - there may well be a use for "selfie" particularly when applied to the thousands of banal photos one sees on Facebook (here I am eating a hamburger, here I am at the park, here I am taking a selfie (LOL!). You gotta love the English language!
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Rob C

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #17 on: September 12, 2013, 10:27:34 am »

I fully support selfies especially when they involve boobs :)


+ +

8-)

Rob C

Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #18 on: September 12, 2013, 01:31:35 pm »

- Now, does a selfie also include snaps of family members or is it really just about oneself?
- Is it about the camera being used or is it about the publishing media?

Cheers,
Bernard

Definitive answers, Bernard:
1.     No, a selfie can't include family members, except as background to the photographer doing the selfie. A crude, spontaneous photo of a family member is a Familie, not a Selfie.

2.     Yes, it must be a camera or cell phone held at arm's length. An 8x10" Deardorff cannot be used for a selfie, unless it is held at arm's length on a pistol grip (no tripod allowed.)

Any further questions?

Cheers,

Eric
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: A modest proposal to ban the term "selfie"
« Reply #19 on: September 12, 2013, 07:13:10 pm »

Definitive answers, Bernard:
1.     No, a selfie can't include family members, except as background to the photographer doing the selfie. A crude, spontaneous photo of a family member is a Familie, not a Selfie.

2.     Yes, it must be a camera or cell phone held at arm's length. An 8x10" Deardorff cannot be used for a selfie, unless it is held at arm's length on a pistol grip (no tripod allowed.)

Thanks Eric, this is crystal clear.

Now, would you be interested in joining me to create a Facebook group focused on 8x10 handheld selfies? I may have to add at a later stage Betterlight scans also if that is OK?

Cheers,
Bernard
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