Funeral Selfie

[Sheherezade]

Here's what the photographer had to say. I think he's right.


http://t.mediaite.com/mediaite/#!/en...6d0bb853415628

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[PrincessFiona]

I disagree, Angie.

I get that the photographer now claims he wants everyone to move on (but hey buddy, thanks for taking and publishing the pics that have now gone viral).

I don't think the pics got more attention than the event itself ... by a long shot....and I do find something teenager-like about these leaders taking selfies at Mandela's funeral!

[niener]

I agree with the photographer. And this quote in particular...

“In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance.”

... is exactly what I was trying to say about Michelle's "bitch face". Photos can be incredibly misleading and the news takes them out of context ALL. THE. TIME. It's infuriating honestly. Take those crazy, embarrassing photos of Beyonce shot during one of her performances that went viral a while back. If you just looked at those photos to judge her performance you'd think she looked like a complete lunatic on stage. It's so easy to capture someone at the "wrong" moment. Usually those photos get edited out of the final selection but I know a lot of press photographers are required to send everything to their editors. The editors probably went through about 600 images, cherry-picked the 6 into a humorous and attention-grabbing series of Michelle looking like an angry disapproving wife, and ta-daaaaaa, a news story guaranteed to get a million page clicks. Job done.

[PrincessFiona]

I wonder why this guy bothered to publish the pics. He must have sensed that there would be some controversy judging by the photos. He seems to have taken lousy pictures of Michelle (not of her smiling) and of the president engaging in selfies and now that he has put them back there he is surprised by the response? Doubtful.

[Sheherezade]

It was probably the editors as neiner said. It's click bait. People will publish whatever content will go viral. They need the advertising dollars and for that they need traffic. My guess is whoever published it could care less about "the truth". Maybe that was the photographer, maybe the editor. Who knows? But to say its a reflection of the truth and that it somehow defined a person's character is a stretch for me.

This may be a totally un PC thing to say, but this wasn't an event that I would see in my mind when someone say "funeral". Mandela was old and had been on the verge of death since summer. It was expected and planned. He wasn't assassinated. My grandmothers funeral after 10 years of Alzheimer's and after 90 years of life, was more like a wake. It was sad, but happy. Selfies were probably taken. My grandfathers funeral, dead suddenly at 73 from a stroke involved lots of tears. Efforts at happy memories failed. A selfie would have resulted in a fistfight.

My issue with this debate is that I personally think a selfie would have been fine at this event. Kennedy's funeral? Not so much. It's a matter of opinion and not every funeral is the same. I think we are all just using this to justify a predetermined opinion of Obama.

And I will confess that if it was Glenn Beck taking the selfie with Sarah Palin, this issue would be handled very differently in terms of who was outraged - and that's just as wrong.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[corn poffi]

Well said, Angie! Those were my thoughts exactly.

[PrincessFiona]

You're right. I bet it was the editor's decision.

As far as the debate is concerned .... I imagine there would have been outcry from the left if this situation were reversed and a republican president was caught taking selfies during Mandela's funeral. I'm curious as to how you differentiate between Kennedy's funeral and Mandela's in it being okay at one and not the other? (asked in an inquisitive voice with a smile ... not in a mean internet voice!) Personally, I think selfies are inappropriate in publich whether you are a democratic or a republican when you're an adult at a funeral. I get on my kids though for taking selfies and 'snap chatting' in public though. I just can't get on board with the mentality that goes along with it. I'm old. Bring me my VCR player. If this had been one of my kids, I would have told them to knock it off and pay attention .... and if they had kept taking selfies, I would have taken their phones away. :/ No wonder my teenagers hate me.

Kris

[diggitydot]

It was probably the editors as neiner said. It's click bait. People will publish whatever content will go viral. They need the advertising dollars and for that they need traffic. My guess is whoever published it could care less about "the truth". Maybe that was the photographer, maybe the editor. Who knows? But to say its a reflection of the truth and that it somehow defined a person's character is a stretch for me.

This may be a totally un PC thing to say, but this wasn't an event that I would see in my mind when someone say "funeral". Mandela was old and had been on the verge of death since summer. It was expected and planned. He wasn't assassinated. My grandmothers funeral after 10 years of Alzheimer's and after 90 years of life, was more like a wake. It was sad, but happy. Selfies were probably taken. My grandfathers funeral, dead suddenly at 73 from a stroke involved lots of tears. Efforts at happy memories failed. A selfie would have resulted in a fistfight.

My issue with this debate is that I personally think a selfie would have been fine at this event. Kennedy's funeral? Not so much. It's a matter of opinion and not every funeral is the same. I think we are all just using this to justify a predetermined opinion of Obama.

And I will confess that if it was Glenn Beck taking the selfie with Sarah Palin, this issue would be handled very differently in terms of who was outraged - and that's just as wrong.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yup, I agree entirely. I'm no Beck or Palin fan, but I would have the same reaction if this was them instead.

I don't think this is a big deal. It was a jubilant celebration of a great man's life. Truly, a historic event. I can see people taking pictures of others and themselves in such a setting.

[Pollyanna]

It's a matter of opinion and not every funeral is the same. I think we are all just using this to justify a predetermined opinion of Obama.

And I will confess that if it was Glenn Beck taking the selfie with Sarah Palin, this issue would be handled very differently in terms of who was outraged - and that's just as wrong.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yes this. For me it just continues to confirm my belief that Obama has the maturity and self absorption of a 7th grade boy, lol. Am I outraged, no. I'm outraged by far more important activities by our current President. This is just a blip on the radar, there are FAR bigger issues to address than this bit of stupid.

[Sheherezade]

Mandela event in pictures:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25313600

Kennedy event in pictures:
http://life.time.com/history/jfk-pho...mber-1963/#end

Best I can do to compare.

No one was selling posters at Kennedy's funeral, or wearing crazy hats. Bono wasn't laughing with a friend. It was just a very different event, because the death was unexpected and tragic. Mandela was a great man, but his death was neither unexpected or tragic. He lived a long life and did great things. His family and friends will miss him and we should honor him. Death happens though. It's a normal part of life. This was a "good" death. I don't think all funerals need to be somber. Of course, my dad has requested a New Orleans jazz band following his casket to the graveyard, so maybe I don't come from a normal family!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[diggitydot]

I'm curious as to how you differentiate between Kennedy's funeral and Mandela's in it being okay at one and not the other?

Kennedy was gunned down in a shockingly public way. Mandela lived a long life and had protracted health issues for several years. I see their passings a very differently. The shocked horror of one is a different universe to the celebration of a long life of a beloved figure.

[PrincessFiona]

Sadly, the Kennedy that came to my mind in this discussion was Ted.

[Sheherezade]

Ha! I don't even remember that funeral. Sad for Ted, of course. He doesn't rise the the level of a Mandela or a John. He was also controversial his whole dang life, so I'd imagine anything that happened at his funeral would be political fodder.

[GrayMatterWife]

What a tool.

Like usual, it's always about him.

I notice his wife had better sense.

[GrayMatterWife]

Yes this. For me it just continues to confirm my belief that Obama has the maturity and self absorption of a 7th grade boy, lol. Am I outraged, no. I'm outraged by far more important activities by our current President. This is just a blip on the radar, there are FAR bigger issues to address than this bit of stupid.

This. Exactly. I am so far beyond being outraged by his personal self-absorption…because he does so much professionally that it worthy of outrage.