Not to dash the selfie - which should have never been made a real word - just to dash the idiocy of some people who take selfies.
Case in point:
Yellowstone National Park has hosted its population of bison for eons. In the modern era, since smartphones and social media become mainstays, more people are sustaining injuries because they get too close to the bison while trying to take selfies; the same thing has happened when equally as genius people at this park try to get a selfie with a bear.
Seriously. There's a word for this, and it isn't selfie, but it starts with the letter "S" - Stupidity.
This past summer (2015), five people sustained injury from the bison that inhabit Yellowstone. This surpasses bison related injuries nationwide for the years 2010 through 2014; during which one or two injuries per year were reported.
For 2015, four visitors were injured and one employee was. In three of the instances, the bison tossed them up into the air, while in the other two the individuals were gored. Thankfully, nobody died from these injuries, but it did result in four people being sent to the hospital with mild to severe injuries.
In all cases of the injuries, the people in question had gotten to close to the bison. According to park rules, you should stay at least 75 feet or more away. But the people who were injured in 2015 were between 3 and 6 feet away from the bison.
Three of the people were injured while shooting photos. And two of them get the Darwin award for turning their backs to snap a selfie. One wholeheartedly admitted to it.
But from 1980 to 1990, there were just 30 injuries from bison, in which those hurt were at least 10 feet away or further. That's because smartphones weren't available yet, and "selfie" was yet to be made an official word.
The thing is, you really have to be pretty stupid to try and take a selfie with a 1,000 to 2,000-pound animal that can charge you at 30 MPH or faster. Nonetheless with your back turned to this wild, gigantic beast in a close proximity. Seriously.
It's not just Americans who get the "S" brand, though. Russia and China both have similar issues with people getting hurt while taking selfies and doing stupid things. Both countries have created new campaigns to help educate people.
It's really simple: don't take selfies where you can get gored, run over by a train, fall off a cliff, hit by a car, with a loaded gun to your head; or while doing other stupid things (be creative).
Your friends would much rather see you alive.
I quote Forrest Gump: "Stupid is as stupid does."