[:en]<\/p>\n
We don’t bat\u00a0an eyelid anymore when someone takes a photo of themselves in a public place. Selfie-sticks, aka\u00a0 Naricissticks<\/a>, have become the new normal..\u00a0Estimates of daily selfie<\/a> posts range from one million to as high as 93 million on Android devices alone, according to Michael Weigold of the University of Florida. (http:\/\/businesstech.co.za<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, it’s sometimes irritating and obtrusive, but surely it’s just a bit of harmless fun?<\/p>\n Quite the opposite seems to be true in some cases.<\/p>\n In February\u00a0tourists in\u00a0Argentina removed an endangered baby\u00a0La Plata dolphin from the sea to take pictures of themselves with it. The animal died from sheer trauma and heat exhaustion.\u00a0<\/p>\n In March a tourist dragged a swan from a lake in Macedonia to take a selfie. Again the animal died.<\/p>\n The selfie trend not only endanger the lives of animals, but also humans. (though some of these might qualify for the Darwin awards<\/a>)<\/p>\n In 2015 Russia launched a campaign to warn its population against the dangers of selfies, called\u00a0\u201cA cool selfie could cost you your life.\u201d The reason? Apparently an estimated hundred Russians have died trying to take photos of themselves in dangerous situations. This includes a woman shooting herself, two men blowing themselves up with a hand grenade and people taking pictures on top of moving trains.<\/p>\n India also has a rising selfie problem<\/span><\/a>, with more citizens dying while taking selfies than any other country in the world. Mumbai now has \u201cno-selfie zones<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n In Seville, Spain, a Polish tourist fell of a bridge while trying to take a selfie. In May of 2014 a Cessna pilot lost control of the plane\u00a0and killed himself and all his passengers.<\/p>\n On Tuesday an Egyptian Airline plane was hijacked and a British man used the opportunity to take a selfie with the hijacker.<\/a>\u00a0He reckoned he had nothing to lose at that stage.\u00a0Today another Brit had to be rescued from Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. She was trying to take a selfie<\/a>\u00a0on the mountain and was\u00a0inadequately dressed for the cold\u00a0conditions.\u00a0More on selfie-related deaths on CNN.<\/a><\/p>\n What would drive a person to risk endangering himself for the sake of a “cool”photo?\u00a0<\/p>\n Maybe the need to constantly prove and compare ourselves to other people? Social media provides an easy platform\u00a0where almost instant feedback and possibly approval is given.\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael Weigold of the University of Florida published an article in The Conversation,<\/a>\u00a0in which he explores this question. He also mentions research done by psychologist Gwendolyn Seidman.<\/p>\n Dr Seidman suggests that there is a link between narcissism and selfies and she bases her statement on\u00a0two studies looking specifically at Facebook selfies.\u00a0Read dr Seidman’s article in Psychology Today<\/a>\u00a0and decide for yourself. Also let us know what you think of selfies and why you think they are so popular?<\/p>\n [:af]<\/p>\n Die\u00a0selfie<\/a>\u00a0is so algemeen, ons merk nie eers meer op as iemand in die openbaar\u00a0`n foto neem met `n selfie-stok, of te wel, `n \u00a0Naricisstick<\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0nie. Volgens Michael Weigold,\u00a0van die Universiteit van Florida, word beraam dat daagliks tussen een miljoen en 93 miljoen selfies geplaas word met Android-fone alleen.\u00a0(http:\/\/businesstech.co.za<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n Ja, dit is soms irriterend en indringerig, maar dis tog net\u00a0onskuldige pret?<\/p>\n Die teenoorgestelde blyk waar te wees in sommige gevalle.\u00a0<\/p>\n Vanjaar in Februarie is `n bedreigde La Plata babadolfyntjie in Argentini\u00eb dood as gevolg van trauma\u00a0en hitte-uitputting, omdat `n groep toeriste\u00a0selfies daarmee op die strand wou neem.<\/p>\n In Maart gryp `n toeris `n swaan uit `n meer in Macedoni\u00eb vir `n selfie en kort daarna beswyk dit.<\/p>\n Selfs al is jy nie `n dierliefhebber nie, bedreig die selfie ook menselewens (hoewel ‘n paar van hierdie gevalle dalk kwalifiseer vir Darwin-toekennings<\/a>?)<\/p>\n In 2015 loods Rusland `n veldtog om te waarsku teen die gevare van selfies \u00a0\u2014 \u201cA cool selfie could cost you your life\u201d. Inderdaad.<\/p>\n Blykbaar is `n honderd Russe reeds dood as gevolg van selfies. Dit sluit `n vrou in wat haarself per ongeluk geskiet het, twee mans wat hulle misgis het met\u00a0`n handgranaat en ander wat waaghalsig\u00a0bo-op bewegende treine poseer het.<\/p>\n In Seville, Spanje, het `n Poolse toeris van `n brug geval terwyl sy `n selfie wou neem. In Mei 2014 verloor `n Cessna-loods beheer oor sy vliegtuig en verongeluk homself en sy passasiers \u2014 vir `n selfie.<\/p>\n Dinsdag is `n Egyptian Airline-<\/em>vliegtuig gekaap en `n Britse man het die geleentheid aangegryp om `n\u00a0selfie saam met die kaper te neem.<\/a>\u00a0Hy’t gereken hy’t in elk geval niks om te verloor nie.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gister moes `n Britse vrou gered word vanaf Brittanje se hoogste berg, Ben Nevis, omdat sy nie behoorlik toegerus was vir die weertoestande toe sy `n selfie<\/a> wou neem nie.\u00a0Meer oor selfie-verwante sterftes op CNN.<\/a><\/p>\n Wat dryf iemand om homself in gevaar te stel om bloot `n “cool” foto te neem?<\/p>\n Dalk die\u00a0behoefte om onsself te bewys en vergelyk met ander? Met sosiale media is dit net soveel makliker om te doen en dadelik kommentaar en reaksie\u00a0te kry.<\/p>\n Michael Weigold van die Universiteit van Florida het `n artikel in The Conversation<\/a>\u00a0publiseer waar hy hierdie vraag ondersoek. Hy verwys ook na navorsing deur die sielkundige\u00a0Gwendolyn Seidman.<\/p>\n