"selfies" at funerals

That's why I assumed it was Glenys Riverwalk was talking about Ana but her response totally confused me

poor old Angela. just because she's German she's thought to be a humourless individual. She has a good sense of humour and smiles lot.
She also has a good family life with step grandchildren.

The black people of S Africa are always jolly at funerals and now at memorial services. It was obviously catching and kept off the boredom of sitting through those long speeches.

If they had asked another person to take the picture would anyone have commented? All seems a bit harmless and not very newsworthy.

Do think the man himself would not have batted an eyelid over it!

Not humourless Margaret, dignified.

As for long speeches, I think Obama's was the longest!

it was not mandela's funeral but a memorial to celebrate his life... we take photos at celebrations!

My grandma wanted photos of my grandpa's funeral ..think it is more customary in places not so bound by formal etiquette!

I suspect it boils down to the personalities involved ..... supposing it had been say

.... Palin, Dubya and Netanyahu indulging in a selfie in the stadium, would anyone be defending their right to celebrations?

IMO I think the Danish PM let down the feminist side by being frivolous on the world stage.

To me, it feels a bit like wearing an "I was there" tee shirt" - not a hanging offence, but not what I personally think of as appropriate behaviour from our leaders, regardless of whether you choose to call this a memorial or a celebration. But as I have mentioned, I am in Grumpy Old Woman mode today.

Men are never frivolous of course. Or, if they are, it's allowed. But tut-tut if a woman is thought to be frivolous, especially if she has a top job.

I'm with Bags and Aka in feeling that the Danish prime minister is the object of criticism by many here, to the exclusion of the men involved. Her name isn't Mrs Kinnock. As for the view she 'let down the feminist side by being frivolous on the world stage'. The guys were being frivolous as well, but none of the criticisms here have referred to their gender as being a significant part of their frivolity.

I can't stand selfies, even when they are of my gorgeous children, but when they are taken where people are using photo opportunities all over the place, and not in the middle of a solemn service, I can't see the problem. I like to see world leaders step out of role and be like the rest of us. They'll have learned it from their kids. It's better than them being so haughty and aloof that they miss what goes on in the world. Funny to see them shifting the blame and claiming they didn't want to be rude by not joining in.

The penny's dropped Iam64 she was referring to the Danish PM as Mrs Kinnock, when that isn't her name.

Yes.

Netanyahu was not there. He is not a big fan of Mandela who supported the Palestinians.
Just saying [river]

Anyone who is married to a Mr Kinnock is a Mrs (of) Kinnock, though it may not be the name she goes by. Similarly, since she is Helle Thorning-Schmidt, her husband is Mr (of) Thorning-Schmidt. That's all Mr and Mrs mean when applied to married couples. Mister has come to mean any man; mistress has not come to mean any woman, unfortunately. It did until recently in Scotland though.

Just a little lateral thinking to get the grey cells to wake up

I'm in grumpyoldwoman mode with you MamaCaz; I didn't like it either. I thought they made themselves look rather foolish and that's not what I want from world leaders. I loved Michelle's face though, and like to think Obama got it in the neck when they got home. He was behaving like a naughty teenager after all.

All a load of stuff and nonsense to me.

It was not his funeral but a celebration of his life. It was a very lengthy ceremony and those invited would naturally turn up before the start of the ceremony out of courtesy and leave at a reflective time also. As indeed we all do when attending memorials and services for our own friends and family.

What time in the ceremony was the photo taken?

Why would it be disrespectful if the ceremony had not started or indeed had ended and the main party vacated the stage.?

Guilty, yes, of childish behaviour but then they all do it don't they.

Joanne Harris has started a #shelfies thingy on Twitter – photos of bookshelves (with books). More interesting than you might think.

All totally eclipsed by the guy supposedly 'signing' the speeches who, again suposedly, had a schizophrenic moment (Ho Hum) and signed gobbledy-gook. Well that was his excuse anyway! The newsreader (Moira Stewart sp?) could hardly read out that snippet. I've been giggling all day!

It's all beyond me; selfies and onesies; do people do selfies in onesies and what is going to be the next 'ie'?

Tegan How about taking a selfie in a onesie, drinking a smoothie.

I found it quite entertaining and it livened up a boring day.

I don't think it was good. Tbh. But then I guess it was a different country and a different atmosphere to here.

The "signing" fiasco was hilarious - I suppose everybody thought somebody else had organised him and as they had no idea of what he was doing ,never questioned it. Red faces all round I should think! However, why any public figure should need a selfie is beyond me though with wall to wall photographers for every form of media you could think of!!

The papers this morning suggest the signer has mental health problems. He re-arranged an appointment with the psychiatric services when he was 'offered' the singing job. Some papers report he has been accused of serious crimes, including violence, kidnap and rape, though it seems not convicted. He has now been admitted to hospital. He says he was hearing voices when signing.
How ever he got security clearance to be so close to world leaders is just a bit scary isn't it.