Posted on 06/01/2017 8:34:02 AM PDT by grundle
A 66-year-old Japanese tourist has died, and his travel companion has been injured, after falling down stairs while attempting to take a selfie at the Taj Mahal.
The man's death raises the selfie-related death toll this year — to 12. To put that in perspective, in 2015 there have so far been eight deaths caused by shark attacks.
It sounds like a joke, but unfortunately it isn't: The deaths are a tragic reminder to travelers that focusing on a phone screen instead of unfamiliar surroundings is not safe.
Four of the selfie deaths this year, like the tourist, identified as Hideto Ueda, were caused by falling.
The next leading cause of deaths involving selfies was being hit or injured by trains, either because the individual was taking trying to get a photo with a train or because the photo they wanted involved getting on dangerous equipment.
It's not clear if the number of daredevil selfies is increasing, but more and more tourists are making headlines because of their dangerous attempts at a memorable photo. Parks have closed because visitors keep trying to take selfies with bears, bull runs — an already dangerous activity — have had to expressly outlaw selfie-taking, and even Tour de France cyclists are concerned about selfie danger.
With no idea how far some people will go for a great selfie, many landmarks have begun banning selfies — or at least selfie sticks. As Conde Nast Traveler pointed out in their article on selfies vs. sharks, in July the Russian Interior Ministry released a brochure, warning about cool selfies that "could cost you your life." Selfie-takers are urged to take precaution with weapons, ledges, dangerous animals, trains and live wires.
"Before taking a selfie, everyone should think about the fact that racing after a high number of 'likes' could lead him on a journey to death and his last extreme photo could turn out to be posthumous," an aide to Russia's interior minister told Al Jazeera.
September 21, 2015
If criminals took their own mugshots, would they be considered “cellfies”?
Note to self: Don’t take a selfie in shark invested waters.
Like their constant projection, Schumer, Pelosi, et al ascribing what they would do to President Trump ("If I wanted to influence American foreign policy I would just give a few million to the Clinton Foundation." Pootie Poot); and their hate of hate speech, unless they are doing the hating (various hag comediennes); and, like Lieawatha starting a speech by saying she isn't going to discuss politics, but then attacks Trump; and like Hillary's forte: blaming everyone but the failure in the mirror for her fail, this is one of their classic fallacies. Obama is Narcissus.
Start a TV show called the CellFiles.
I’m not saying we should kill all the stupid people. I’m just saying we should remove all the warning labels, and let the problem sort itself out...
Best to die from taking a selfie WITH a shark.
Anyone that takes a picture of themselves on the firing line at a range DESERVES to die right that moment!
I am so tired of running from these idiots.
Danger. Watch for falling tourists.
Narcissism can be a deadly personality disorder.
Proud to say I’ve never taken a selfie.
2015 - and you posted this in “news”...yeah, figures...
Hello Darwin.
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