Selfies, they call ’em, and that makes sense ’cause even though they’re sending these pictures to others, it still smells like selfish to me. Is that why they call it an “I phone”? ‘Cause it’s all about me me me. Like talking to hear yourself talk.
– David Duchovny, American actor and writer
David Duchovny couldn’t have been more appropriate – that selfies smell like ‘selfish’ to him.
What is ‘selfie’? It is a 21st-century word, coined about two decades ago in Australia. It’s a digital image taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone and shared via social media. The slang word, known as a hypocorism, is popular Down Under.
I had wanted to write about selfies and wefies (for the purpose of this week’s column I will refer to both words as selfie or selfies) for a long time but just couldn’t muster up much enthusiasm to write on the topic until Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg touched on them – or rather on the perils of selfies.
Abang Johari admitted last Saturday (Sept 2) that sometimes he is placed in a difficult situation when it comes to requests for selfies by the people – whether to entertain these requests or reject them – as he fears these photographs could be used for scams.
“If I don’t comply, they will say I am proud and will say they will not vote for me in elections. If I wefie with them, I fear they will photoshop the photos, and people will say I have another woman in my life …,” he said after officiating at the state series of the National Anti-Scam Tour at the Borneo Cultures Museum.
The Premier’s fear is understandable; the photoshopped pictures might be posted on social media followed by slanderous comments.
I recall incidents where friends fell victim to digitally altered images following selfie sessions. One was a general manager of a marketing firm whose image appeared in a photograph of scantily-dressed women taken in a nightclub in the notorious nightspot area of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
The raunchy photograph appeared on a social media platform much to the chagrin and embarrassment of his family and colleagues. He had a tough time explaining to them, especially to his wife and daughters. Fortunately, they accepted his explanation. He was encouraged to lodge a police report.
Another friend, a Barisan Nasional politician, obliged some of his party supporters with a selfie which was cleverly photoshopped to portray him with a group of PAS members. His party asked for an explanation, but luckily one of his party colleagues who was featured in the selfie had a copy of the original photo which made it easier for him to explain that the ones appearing in several WhatsApp groups were fake.
So, selfies can be a boon and a bane; it can help to enhance togetherness and rapport among the people and it can also create social disconnection.
I don’t like appearing in photographs. Even at official functions I tend to hide behind others when it comes to taking photos. So, me getting into selfies? Fat chance!
Taking self-portraits is a big thing in our society; in fact it has become part of the Malaysian culture. With cheaper digital devices readily available, it makes it easier to take a selfie anywhere and anytime.
Anyway, taking selfies can be a dangerous feat if one is not careful. Serious injuries and even deaths can occur before, during, or after taking self-portraits.
According to a 2018 survey, there were 259 selfie deaths involving 137 incidents globally between October 2011 and November 2017. India recorded the highest, followed by Russia, the United States and Pakistan.
The perils of taking selfies came to light in August 2014 when a polish couple fell off a cliff and died in Cabo de Roca, Portugal while trying to take a selfie. They fell 80 metres into the Atlantic Ocean.
In October 2018 a young Indian couple who were sharing their global adventures on Instagram died after falling from Taft Point, a popular cliff top more than 1,000 metres above Yosemite Valley in the United States.
And in November 2022, a man was killed after he plunged 40 feet from a rock overlooking a beach in Rio de Janeiro after losing his balance while taking a selfie. He lost his balance and slipped, hitting his head on another rock below.
Another tragic ‘selfie death’ involved a 17-year old teenager who climbed onto a railway bridge in Saint Petersburg, Russia to take a selfie at night. She fell off the side of the bridge and was electrocuted while trying to grab onto a high voltage cable.
I am sure many would have read the case of an Irish tourist who died while taking a selfie on Thailand’s death railway’ in December last year.
The 45-year-old fell to his death from a moving train in Kanchanaburi province when he reportedly opened the door of the train to take a selfie. He then slipped and fell to the ground below the railway, breaking his neck and right arm.
Finally, I reserve this for the last. Remember the case of a Malaysian student wearing Spiderman costume who fell to death in Taiwan while taking selfies?
Lee Yang Hao, 29, from Kampar, Perak, was well known among his lecturers as a cosplay fan and had worn the Spiderman costume. He was found dead on Jan 5 2018 outside the men’s dormitory in Taipei. Apparently, he had fallen from the fifth floor of the building.
Police said he was taking selfies on the balcony when he fell. They found his cellphone on the fifth floor balcony.
Now that you are aware of the perils of selfies, the next time you plan to take a selfie, ask yourself if it’s necessary. Stay out of harm’s way, for goodness’ sake. Selfies are not worth the trouble!
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
