"No Thanks! We're Just Takin' a Selfie"

New Phenomenon Time!!!!!!!

So, one fun thing I like to do,

is talk to a bunch of people, and then come up with a social trend that generalizes what I've discovered.

It's how I simultaneously fulfill my extrovertedness (talking) and introvertedness (judging) at the same time.

Lately, I've seen a lot of people taking selfies. 

Like... a lot.

Like an inordinate amount.

hashtag NYFW

In my post about New Yorkers, I already mentioned how there's much less selfie shame happening here in the apple than anywhere else I've ever been.

Selfies here, selfies there, selfies selfies everywhere.

And confident ones at that.

(drink when I say selfie!!!)

(or don't if you want to live!!!)

(or do if you want to party!!!)

I just assumed that this arose out of necessity.

No one to take your pic in front of the naked whatever in Times Square?

Need a picture of you in front of the subway as it zooms away behind you?

No one around when you spot Ryan G on the street & need proof that you saw (and accosted) him?

BUT....

What I didn't take into consideration is the fact that maybe the selfie itself is an aspirational aesthetic.

Maybe, people actually liked the way selfies vs. non selfies (?) (do we have a word for this?) looked.

It's taken me this long to discover, because I'd never had anyone outright tell me that they prefer their selfie to a real shot- mainly because it's still too awkward (even for me) to interrupt someone mid-selfie and be like: "Hey! Do you want me to take that for you?" 

It is not, however, too awkward to interrupt a pair of people.

Which I've done. 

No less than 5 times within the last week. 

And every single time, you know what I get back?

The exact same line.

"No thanks! 

We're just takin' a selfie."

it says a lot about my sense of humor that this is the funniest thing I've seen all week

So what is it?? 

Why are these self-taken photos more appealing to a growing demographic than something shot by someone else?

Theories?

Cheers.