Suffering from selfish selfie syndrome? Cure is as simple as setting cell phone down
Enough already with the selfie syndrome! I’m sick of it.
Oh, I get that you want permanent proof of those precious moments in your life, so you can post them immediately on TikTok or Instagram, where, a week from now, they’ll probably never be seen again.
Likewise, I understand that you may never, ever even look at those pictures again yourself, and I’ll bet you’ll never print them to put in a photo album. (I’m dating myself here.)
But even so, the urge is so strong for you to record that image of yourself and others in front of the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, or Nitt Witt Ridge in Cambria, or the view of Morro Rock from the Black Mountain trail, or even in the iconic men’s restroom at San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn.
Even though, by doing so, you’re interfering with the ability of others to enjoy the view and remember those moments with unfettered pleasure.
Arrgh!
By the way, while you were so busy gathering everybody together for that selfie — posing them this way and that, taking multiple shots just to make sure you got the perfect photo — did you ever really take time to look at that view behind you?
Or do you need to capture those images to remind yourself later about what you never really saw, enjoyed or appreciated because you were so entranced with putting yourself in the picture?
To me, the selfie syndrome is just the tip of a “me first,” self-entitlement scourge we’re all facing in so many ways and places these days.
The single-minded focus on that “gotta get the selfie” moment is only the most obvious and pervasive evidence of your innate certainty that the universe revolves around you and only you.
The subconscious thoughts that must run through your head disturb me:
“It’s OK for me to have my dog off leash on this public trail or in this community park, even though there are signs telling me I can’t.”
Never mind that I know my pet will chase after anything that moves.
“I don’t need to pick up my trash after I’ve been having fun in public spaces. I have better things to do with my time, and besides, I’m sure ‘they’ have people to do ‘that sort of thing.’”
Never mind that a tsunami of trash is spoiling the view and endangering the environment.
“I’m in a hurry, so I’ll just leave my car door open, even though it’s sticking out into the busy lane of traffic.” Likewise, leaving your grocery cart in the middle of the aisle. Or your own body in the way of other pedestrians, many of whom are equally self-involved, more’s the pity.
OMG.
There’s just one word for people like you: Selfish.
When your self-centeredness threatens the well-being of others, it becomes absolutely unforgivable.
“I only had a couple of drinks. I can drive.”
“I can ride my ATV all over this beautiful property if I want to. It’s protected or privately owned? So what? Damage? What damage?”
“I’ll just run into the store for a minute and leave the baby (or the dog) in the car. It doesn’t matter that it’s parked in the sun and the temperature is in the 90s.”
“Whee! It’s such fun to drive 100 mph on this road!”
“Bicyclist? What bicyclist?”
“I don’t need to wear a mask to help better protect me and others from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Pandemic? What pandemic?”
You need to get your head out of your … ego. Look around you. Really consider for a minute the possible impacts of what you want to do, before you do it. Realize that what you do can and does affect other people, very often with negative results.
And think how you feel when another selfie-syndrome somebody does to you what you’ve been doing to others.
Not much fun, is it?
Yes, these are tough times. We really do need to focus on taking care of ourselves, not just for selfish reasons, but so we’re better able to take care of others.
Even when we’re not supposed to be around them.
This coronavirus stuff is mind boggling. Depressing, even.
So, why make it worse for everybody by being a spoiled brat?
Grow up, why don’t you? Just put the damned smartphone away. Show how much you do care about other people, even those you don’t know and never will.
Be responsible. Be kind. Be a good human.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
