The fifth rule of the Civility Counts pledge is “I will honor the boundaries and views of others.” This can be interpreted several different ways, but today I’d like to speak about a trend that’s been nagging at me for a while: the selfie stick.
You’ve seen them, those pole-like contraptions designed to shoot pictures further than your arm can reach. I’ve seen them out a few times, usually toted by tourists who want to cram everything into one photo. If people want to take photos, fine. My issue is with the space taken up by these selfie sticks. They are intrusive, blocking the space and creating a nuisance.
I’ve been reading how quite a few museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, have started banning selfie sticks on the grounds that they invade other people’s space. Taking a simple photo with your camera or smartphone is fine; you’re probably not blocking anyone’s view or taking up too much room. With a selfie stick, it’s different. You take up a few feet of space. You knock into things, people included! It’s invasive and inconsiderate to the personal space of others.
If you absolutely must use a selfie stick, take care. Wait for the space to clear and don’t take so long that others are left waiting for you to grab the perfect shot.