Selfies

Yesterday, the internet blew up with selfies. It was in response to a Jezebel article about how selfies are a cry for help, and that they aren’t empowering. I’m sure you can imagine my response. However, on G+, I posted shortly thereafter a few of my fellow feminists had posted and made a call for people on my circles to share selfies because I wanted to see their faces.

The response was incredible!

Tons of people – men and women, young and old, some who had never posted their photo on G+ – posted their photos. There were a few people who complained, stating that it was becoming like “that other social network” (Which one, I ask? MySpace, where selfies really got popular, or Facebook, where so many people still lurk?), but it didn’t harsh my buzz.

See, I grew up initially on places like forums, Yahoo! Groups, and LiveJournal, where you didn’t really share pictures of yourself. At my age (pre-teen) it was discouraged heavily – after all, what if people misused your photo, stalked you, etc.? I knew usernames and typing styles, but I didn’t know faces. When people DID post their pictures, it was like pure joy. Here! Person! You are REAL and I can see you, and it is wonderful.

Yesterday was filled with joy for me. I have been dealing with some dumb emotions, and I know a lot of people going through some hard times, but there was suddenly this burst of “Hey, look at me, I exist!” All of this beauty and love and laughter and joy. 

I don’t know if yesterday meant anything to anyone else. It meant a lot to me.





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