I was walking around the annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival yesterday and was flabbergasted at the sight of so many people taking countless pictures of themselves. I sat and watched one couple go from one spot to another where the guy kept taking pictures of his lady friend who would make only the slightest variation of poses - cocking of the head and flashing a cheeky smile, holding up her drink, putting her drink down - between each picture. In each spot they visited (probably only 10 feet from the last), he took about 10 pictures of her. Whhhhyyyyyyyy?! Seriously? Your girlfriend is going to look the same in each picture! She's not a model by any means, so what's the point?!
With as many pics as they were taking, I didn't think it would bother them if I took one. Notice they're also wearing matching orange shirts. |
Later, I went to the Airport Plaza shopping mall to go to the cinema. I was sitting outside of Starbucks as I had an hour before the movie started, when three people - in their 40's I would assume - sat down at the table next to me. They kept switching seats, one would get up and take a picture of the other two sitting. Then another one would get up while the first sat down, and take picture after picture. This went on for a good 15 minutes.
THEN...before my show started, I headed to the ladies room before sitting in the cinema for a good 2 1/2 hour movie. As I was washing my hands, I noticed a Thai girl in her school uniform taking pictures of herself in the full-length mirror in the public restroom. Seriously? Do you really think it's cool to take pictures of yourself - in a mirror - in a public restroom?! What is wrong with people?
The first two, I see more often than not around Southeast Asia. Maybe it's an Asian thing. The last one, though, the one about taking pictures of yourself in the bathroom, has pretty much extended globally with young people. My mom's neighbour is now 15 years old. He has spent probably half of his life locking himself in his mom's bathroom taking pictures of himself in the mirror. He will sit on the sink to take pictures, he will stand on the counter to take pictures, he will make silly faces, serious faces, douche-bag faces, turn his hat backwards, frontwards, sideways, change clothes...etc, etc. Then he puts all of them on facebook. As do his other friends.
Maybe is narcissism. Maybe it's a need for their friends to make comments on how hot or cute they are to boost their self esteem. Whatever it is, it's ridiculous.
Again, maybe I'm just getting old (but c'mon, I'm not that old), or the world is developing far more quickly than it did 20 years ago. Wouldn't you agree that life was much more simple before the digital age of cameras and technology? I genuinely miss those days.
Anyways, here's a few photos from the Flower Festival!
A color of orchid I've never seen before. Beautiful! |
One of the many photo opps in the Flower Festival - merely encouraging young folk to participate in their favorite narcissistic activity :-) |
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