"selfies" at funerals

At the celebration- and yes, I know about different traditions. But all the big posing made me feel uncomfortable. Didn't tell them of course- just deleted them from my wall. They are indeed a lovely bunch.

Were the selfies actually taken at the funeral or at the celebration of Mandela's life (the one Obama was at)? That might make a difference. Also, funereal traditions in SA may well be very different from the solemnity we may be used to, don't you think?

My OH's family suffered terribly at the time of Apartheid, as due to their very mixed genetic heritage, they were born in various shades. When apartheid came about, the family was split, mainly coloureds/Malays, a couple deemed black as they were darker, and OH's dad the only one deemed 'white' and OH's mum coloured- hence not allowed to live totether any more. Fortunately has father was English, the family emigrated to UK when OH was a toddler, in 1947. A terrible, terrible system- and even worse for mixed families.

Our nieces in South Africa met Mandela, or Tata Madiba as they called him, at their school soon after he became President. They worship him and saw him as a real saviour, uniter and freedom giver- and I was very supportive of their posts sharing they distress and sadness when he died, on FB. But I did feel very uncomfortable when they started sharing lots of selfies at the funeral and actually deleted them.

I was pleased that the SA Association for the Deaf were quick to flag up that there was something wrong (although I was watching and I noticed that something wasn't right, he was waving his arms around, but I was just mildly puzzled and then let it go). Soutra there are some very funny YouTube's doing the rounds, including one where he fashions a balloon animal.

As for comment on the 'selfie' this cartoon is by far the best one:

archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-obsession-with-selfie.html

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.

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!!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Yes.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.