The Selfie Olympics
January 4, 2014 6:05 PM Subscribe
The best athletes in the Selfie Olympics (origin)
There is some overlap in all three links but each one has original pics.
There is some overlap in all three links but each one has original pics.
I've been watching the recent Selfie Olympics explosion on tumblr with absolute delight and I'm really glad someone put these together.
It's almost as if, now bear with me because this is a wild proposition of an occurrence never seen before in society, but it's almost as if when a bunch of people who don't know them tell a bunch of young people that they're Vain and Bad and Wrong for a certain habit -- taking selfies, for instance -- that the reaction won't be the obsequious "yes, sir, you're right" that I guess was being expected and instead a hilarious and creative series of "Fuck You"s.
I'm so glad to be here to witness this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon of what happens when someone tells people not to do a thing they're having fun with because it runs contrary to what is expected of them by people who forgot how to have fun.
posted by griphus at 6:14 PM on January 4, 2014 [33 favorites]
It's almost as if, now bear with me because this is a wild proposition of an occurrence never seen before in society, but it's almost as if when a bunch of people who don't know them tell a bunch of young people that they're Vain and Bad and Wrong for a certain habit -- taking selfies, for instance -- that the reaction won't be the obsequious "yes, sir, you're right" that I guess was being expected and instead a hilarious and creative series of "Fuck You"s.
I'm so glad to be here to witness this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon of what happens when someone tells people not to do a thing they're having fun with because it runs contrary to what is expected of them by people who forgot how to have fun.
posted by griphus at 6:14 PM on January 4, 2014 [33 favorites]
I actually burst out laughing at the safari one. Well played, sirs.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:15 PM on January 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:15 PM on January 4, 2014 [9 favorites]
The sad puggle in the background of the wrecking gumball one is delightful.
posted by elizardbits at 6:16 PM on January 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 6:16 PM on January 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
The safari one is most excellent.
posted by fshgrl at 6:18 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 6:18 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
So it's official: everyone in America has the exact same sink.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:21 PM on January 4, 2014 [15 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:21 PM on January 4, 2014 [15 favorites]
Oh my god, the puns. Never have I ever considered my sink as a blank canvas for glory before but clearly I need to up my game.
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:26 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by jetlagaddict at 6:26 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Guys, my dicpic keeps getting removed from this thread. Sorry.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:30 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by cjorgensen at 6:30 PM on January 4, 2014
How'd you get it to hold the phone like that?
posted by TwelveTwo at 6:37 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by TwelveTwo at 6:37 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
So it's official: everyone in America has the exact same sink.
And basically the same white paneled bathroom door.
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 6:50 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
And basically the same white paneled bathroom door.
posted by Hey Dean Yeager! at 6:50 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think some of the competitors are doping.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:52 PM on January 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 6:52 PM on January 4, 2014 [10 favorites]
So it's official: everyone in America has the exact same sink.
I didn't see where these were all American.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 7:01 PM on January 4, 2014
I didn't see where these were all American.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 7:01 PM on January 4, 2014
The safari one is only missing Brian Fellows to be absolutely perfect.
posted by TwoStride at 7:03 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 7:03 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Love these.
posted by rtha at 7:08 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 7:08 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, I had no idea that standing on your doorknobs was a thing. Is it this year's planking?
posted by TwoStride at 7:09 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by TwoStride at 7:09 PM on January 4, 2014
OK, I was ready to click this link, but if E.T. is involved I'm out.
posted by Sara C. at 7:12 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Sara C. at 7:12 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
I didn't see where these were all American.
Good point! Everyone in the WORLD has the same sink! We're all in this together!! WE ARE THE WOOOOOORLD, WE ARE THE CHIIIILLLDREEEENNNNNN!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:14 PM on January 4, 2014 [21 favorites]
Good point! Everyone in the WORLD has the same sink! We're all in this together!! WE ARE THE WOOOOOORLD, WE ARE THE CHIIIILLLDREEEENNNNNN!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:14 PM on January 4, 2014 [21 favorites]
I don't understand the gumball one. How is he doing that?
Maybe I have too much commonsense, but I can see sitting naked atop a gumball machine ending badly.
But it's okay. The dog can then eat him if help doesn't arrive.
posted by Mezentian at 7:18 PM on January 4, 2014
Maybe I have too much commonsense, but I can see sitting naked atop a gumball machine ending badly.
But it's okay. The dog can then eat him if help doesn't arrive.
posted by Mezentian at 7:18 PM on January 4, 2014
The stove though
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
These are amazing. I love the ramen guy, and PBJ guy. Whatever we're calling this generation who is in their 20s right now, I love those guys for giving me so much hope in these bleak times. They make me tear-bend with hope.
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:23 PM on January 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:23 PM on January 4, 2014 [6 favorites]
the stove made me so happy
posted by elizardbits at 7:27 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 7:27 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
That Jesus selfie is pretty good.
posted by prototype_octavius at 7:28 PM on January 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by prototype_octavius at 7:28 PM on January 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
Oh my God, the guy sitting on the bubble gum dispenser with the lemons taped to his tits looks like my cousin.
posted by phaedon at 7:33 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by phaedon at 7:33 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
These are amazing. Inventive, clever, brash, silly, surreal. I AM IN LOVE WITH INTERNET CULTURE.
posted by mistersquid at 7:36 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by mistersquid at 7:36 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
I also love the meta in "My boyfriend was trying to take a picture of me."
posted by mistersquid at 7:52 PM on January 4, 2014 [14 favorites]
posted by mistersquid at 7:52 PM on January 4, 2014 [14 favorites]
the technical term for that is "lol bae caught me sleepin"
posted by elizardbits at 7:56 PM on January 4, 2014 [14 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 7:56 PM on January 4, 2014 [14 favorites]
According to Mefi's Own Cupcake: 2013 SELFIE AWARDS: WINNER OF DUDE CATAGORY: @LeavittAlone for incredible collection of vintage suits. Runner Up: @mmongkoll for creativity.
So there suckahs.
posted by The Whelk at 7:59 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
So there suckahs.
posted by The Whelk at 7:59 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
griphus - I actually disagree. When I was that age, I simply didn't care what people outside my cohort thought about what I was doing. I think these kids are just doing their own awesome thing. We'd like to think our commentary (or even laughter) matters to them, but why should it?
Separately - I've long thought there's no better age for comedy than your late teens/early twenties. Younger doesn't know enough about the world yet. Older has already absorbed what fucks to give and when they should/should not be given. Hit that sweet spot though, and you get that perfect answer to "who would even think of that?" and "ok, but who would actually do/say that?" - which is of course - university students.
Also, I don't know if standing on the door knob was started by or inspired the guy who was all "Came in like a wreeecckkiingg baaalll - but that's really just genius.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 8:05 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
Separately - I've long thought there's no better age for comedy than your late teens/early twenties. Younger doesn't know enough about the world yet. Older has already absorbed what fucks to give and when they should/should not be given. Hit that sweet spot though, and you get that perfect answer to "who would even think of that?" and "ok, but who would actually do/say that?" - which is of course - university students.
Also, I don't know if standing on the door knob was started by or inspired the guy who was all "Came in like a wreeecckkiingg baaalll - but that's really just genius.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 8:05 PM on January 4, 2014 [4 favorites]
The safari one was fantastic. The guy with his head in the toilet bowl is showing dedication.
posted by arcticseal at 8:13 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by arcticseal at 8:13 PM on January 4, 2014
I'm hoping Charlie Brooker is at work on a Black Mirror script damning us and our selfies all to hell.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:35 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:35 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
elizardbits: "the technical term for that is "lol bae caught me sleepin""
pedantic but it's actually "lol bae caught me slippin."
posted by lazaruslong at 8:36 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
pedantic but it's actually "lol bae caught me slippin."
posted by lazaruslong at 8:36 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
In the future most people will be Twitter famous for about 1.5 seconds.
posted by Mezentian at 8:42 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Mezentian at 8:42 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
The future is now. And it is glorious.
(I mean there's a naked dude sitting on a gumball machine with lemon-tits. And a dog! In a bathroom!)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:49 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
(I mean there's a naked dude sitting on a gumball machine with lemon-tits. And a dog! In a bathroom!)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:49 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
THIS DUDE TOOK A SELFIE WITH A SECURITY CAMERA & KILLED DA SELFIE GAME
posted by acidic at 8:54 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by acidic at 8:54 PM on January 4, 2014
I had taken them to be rubber duckies, originally.
Now I must ponder the symbolism of this, and then write a furious 2,000 word op-ed for why this filth is ruining our children. The Daily Mail is interested, especially since I have told them there are lots of depraved pictures.
Why, I'll bet some of these people are on benefits!
posted by Mezentian at 8:54 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Now I must ponder the symbolism of this, and then write a furious 2,000 word op-ed for why this filth is ruining our children. The Daily Mail is interested, especially since I have told them there are lots of depraved pictures.
Why, I'll bet some of these people are on benefits!
posted by Mezentian at 8:54 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
i just keep thinking of the teen who has to explain to his mom why the door is broken in half.
posted by nadawi at 9:03 PM on January 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 9:03 PM on January 4, 2014 [5 favorites]
OK, I got over my concern that there could be E.T. involved (that one was pretty harmless), and now I'm just fascinated with the fact that basically every bathroom is beige with that hollowcore white faceted door and corian countertop.
posted by Sara C. at 9:23 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by Sara C. at 9:23 PM on January 4, 2014
THIS DUDE TOOK A SELFIE WITH A SECURITY CAMERA & KILLED DA SELFIE GAME
I think the Selfie Games only accept legitimate pics, not 'shopped composites. (err...unless security cameras now include HDR filter effects)
posted by ShutterBun at 9:29 PM on January 4, 2014
I think the Selfie Games only accept legitimate pics, not 'shopped composites. (err...unless security cameras now include HDR filter effects)
posted by ShutterBun at 9:29 PM on January 4, 2014
(I can tell by the pixels)
posted by ShutterBun at 9:29 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ShutterBun at 9:29 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
There are a few good tumblr blogs collecting some of these.
posted by bile and syntax at 9:33 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by bile and syntax at 9:33 PM on January 4, 2014
these are great!
posted by aka burlap at 9:36 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by aka burlap at 9:36 PM on January 4, 2014
okay seriously why are all of these bathrooms larger than my apartment where do these hilarious youngins live exactly
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:49 PM on January 4, 2014
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:49 PM on January 4, 2014
Number eight in the mashable link, thank you I now have a real life person to picture for Dave Strider.
In the safari one I love the dude almost hidden by the plants in the far left and his look of amaze. He is rocking a wild surmise silent upon a peak in Darien.
posted by winna at 10:22 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
In the safari one I love the dude almost hidden by the plants in the far left and his look of amaze. He is rocking a wild surmise silent upon a peak in Darien.
posted by winna at 10:22 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
ShutterBun: "(err...unless security cameras now include HDR filter effects)"
Given that security cameras need to work in a wide range of lighting conditions, and don't necessarily need to produce images that are aesthetically "good", I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did some processing to boost their dynamic range...
posted by schmod at 10:46 PM on January 4, 2014
Given that security cameras need to work in a wide range of lighting conditions, and don't necessarily need to produce images that are aesthetically "good", I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did some processing to boost their dynamic range...
posted by schmod at 10:46 PM on January 4, 2014
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did some processing to boost their dynamic range...
Well, I mean it's not only that. The lighting is inconsistent - the subject in the mirror is lit with a hard spotlight from up top, meanwhile the walls are more softly lit. Also the mirror frame is strangely non-perpendicular and the shot is taken at an angle, and yet the reflected image is dead-on.
Yeah and his sweater overlaps the left side of the frame. Actually if you look very closely, it's not the entire reflection that's been Photoshopped in, it's only the person. Left sweater and pant-leg is a dead giveaway. End of nerd transmission.
posted by phaedon at 11:04 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
Well, I mean it's not only that. The lighting is inconsistent - the subject in the mirror is lit with a hard spotlight from up top, meanwhile the walls are more softly lit. Also the mirror frame is strangely non-perpendicular and the shot is taken at an angle, and yet the reflected image is dead-on.
Yeah and his sweater overlaps the left side of the frame. Actually if you look very closely, it's not the entire reflection that's been Photoshopped in, it's only the person. Left sweater and pant-leg is a dead giveaway. End of nerd transmission.
posted by phaedon at 11:04 PM on January 4, 2014 [3 favorites]
This seems like a good time for a hobbit selfie.
posted by nonasuch at 11:33 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by nonasuch at 11:33 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Someone should pen a horror movie where the serial killer sends a series of increasingly disturbing selfies to his intended victims, and the survivors eventually realize that they're coming from inside the house!
This realization would take close to two hours, since we've established that everyone in the world has the same bathroom.
posted by bibliowench at 12:19 AM on January 5, 2014 [17 favorites]
This realization would take close to two hours, since we've established that everyone in the world has the same bathroom.
posted by bibliowench at 12:19 AM on January 5, 2014 [17 favorites]
I think the Selfie Games only accept legitimate pics, not 'shopped composites.
Picking a fight with Curiosity, are we?
posted by acidic at 12:41 AM on January 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Picking a fight with Curiosity, are we?
posted by acidic at 12:41 AM on January 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Someone should pen a horror movie where the serial killer sends a series of increasingly disturbing selfies to his intended victims, and the survivors eventually realize that they're coming from inside the house!
a gruesome killer known as Duckface, with two everplump lips he ripped off his first victims' mouths
posted by threeants at 2:26 AM on January 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
a gruesome killer known as Duckface, with two everplump lips he ripped off his first victims' mouths
posted by threeants at 2:26 AM on January 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
So I work in social media which, I promise, is not a made-up job. And the best part of my job is how often living in a world where I peek into strangers' Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr/Instagram/Pinterest/EtcEtcEtc worlds, I discover that, given a medium and a prompt, humans are delightfully funny, weird, creative, and surprising.
Sure, they're also cranky, mean sometimes, prone to shallowness, and moody, but then, I reckon we didn't need Twitter and Instagram to teach us that people are prone to those things. To be regularly be given peeks into people's inner lives that remind me that our species is strange and marvelous is great professional perk.
Yeah, I love these. Selfie on, you crazy diamonds!
posted by mostlymartha at 3:06 AM on January 5, 2014 [11 favorites]
Sure, they're also cranky, mean sometimes, prone to shallowness, and moody, but then, I reckon we didn't need Twitter and Instagram to teach us that people are prone to those things. To be regularly be given peeks into people's inner lives that remind me that our species is strange and marvelous is great professional perk.
Yeah, I love these. Selfie on, you crazy diamonds!
posted by mostlymartha at 3:06 AM on January 5, 2014 [11 favorites]
Where do they get those remarkably strong doorknobs?
posted by tommasz at 3:41 AM on January 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 3:41 AM on January 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
So it's official: everyone in America has the exact same sink.
And basically the same white paneled bathroom door.
So, I am THAT GUY, but I have to explain this. Those are just about the cheapest things you can buy, and they meet all the minimum requirements necessary, so they get put into rental properties and "contractor grade" new homes. Most young people are living in rental properties, so, there you go.
Here's the door, and here's the lovely $69 sink.
posted by sonic meat machine at 7:18 AM on January 5, 2014 [10 favorites]
And basically the same white paneled bathroom door.
So, I am THAT GUY, but I have to explain this. Those are just about the cheapest things you can buy, and they meet all the minimum requirements necessary, so they get put into rental properties and "contractor grade" new homes. Most young people are living in rental properties, so, there you go.
Here's the door, and here's the lovely $69 sink.
posted by sonic meat machine at 7:18 AM on January 5, 2014 [10 favorites]
So I work in social media which, I promise, is not a made-up job. And the best part of my job is how often living in a world where I peek into strangers' Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr/Instagram/Pinterest/EtcEtcEtc worlds, I discover that, given a medium and a prompt, humans are delightfully funny, weird, creative, and surprising.
Serious question: how often do you find something that you think cpuld seriously ruin someone's future, that is linked to their IRL name? I get the world has changed, and i don't have to like it (or live it), but how easy is it to link A with B?
posted by Mezentian at 7:33 AM on January 5, 2014
Serious question: how often do you find something that you think cpuld seriously ruin someone's future, that is linked to their IRL name? I get the world has changed, and i don't have to like it (or live it), but how easy is it to link A with B?
posted by Mezentian at 7:33 AM on January 5, 2014
For many of these, the ingenuity of getting the things together in the first place is awesome, but I think the one (so far) that looks like it could end up in a museum somewhere is the christmas tree/toaster oven/ironing board/gun/guitar/bmx/shower one.
posted by LionIndex at 8:27 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 8:27 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
> I didn't see where these were all American
True. Africa has officially joined the Selfie Olympics, and does not have the six-panel door that everyone else has (including me).
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:35 AM on January 5, 2014
True. Africa has officially joined the Selfie Olympics, and does not have the six-panel door that everyone else has (including me).
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:35 AM on January 5, 2014
a gruesome killer known as Duckface, with two everplump lips he ripped off his first victims' mouths
Poor Freddie Lounds...
posted by The Whelk at 8:50 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Poor Freddie Lounds...
posted by The Whelk at 8:50 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm confused about whether those [Country] Has Officially Joined... posts are actually international posts or just parodies of racial stereotypes.
The "Mexico Has Officially Joined The Selfie Olympics" one is a joke about gardeners, which is something it seems unlikely that people in Mexico would do, as I'm pretty sure that's an American stereotype.
And the photo includes a six-panel door.
The Africa one seems like a joke, too -- she's dressed up in the most stereotypical "African" way, with Kente cloth and buckets on her head.
posted by Sara C. at 8:56 AM on January 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
The "Mexico Has Officially Joined The Selfie Olympics" one is a joke about gardeners, which is something it seems unlikely that people in Mexico would do, as I'm pretty sure that's an American stereotype.
And the photo includes a six-panel door.
The Africa one seems like a joke, too -- she's dressed up in the most stereotypical "African" way, with Kente cloth and buckets on her head.
posted by Sara C. at 8:56 AM on January 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
I suspect people in Mexico and Africa are aware of the stereotypes.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:59 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:59 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't know, maybe if I'd seen one that wasn't an play on a stereotype held mainly by Americans? Most people I've known who live in other countries and don't have specific experience living in the US aren't quite that aware of this stuff.
I mean, I figure people in other countries are just going to do the same selfie stuff that everyone else is doing.
posted by Sara C. at 9:04 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I mean, I figure people in other countries are just going to do the same selfie stuff that everyone else is doing.
posted by Sara C. at 9:04 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm with Sara C. - it seems more like people playing on some stereotypes with the "X country has joined". I have young cousins in India who take selfies all the time and it's mostly just them in sweatshirts with captions like "look at my haiiirrrrr lol" like every other 20ish person, not like them in a lotus position wearing saris with Shiva in the background.
posted by sweetkid at 9:27 AM on January 5, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 9:27 AM on January 5, 2014 [4 favorites]
Unless they were deliberately joining in on an international thing. Either way at least it's POC making the stereotypical jokes, so no big deal there I don't think. Those are mediocre anyway, the best are the complete nonsense ones where kids brought a bunch of random crap into their bathrooms and created a scene of some kind. Really great. Good job millennials. High fives.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:08 AM on January 5, 2014
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:08 AM on January 5, 2014
Either way at least it's POC making the stereotypical jokes, so no big deal there I don't think.
Not to derail and I don't think it's the hugest deal either, but I disagree that it's totally fine for "POC" to make stereotypical jokes.
posted by sweetkid at 11:10 AM on January 5, 2014
Not to derail and I don't think it's the hugest deal either, but I disagree that it's totally fine for "POC" to make stereotypical jokes.
posted by sweetkid at 11:10 AM on January 5, 2014
This is like planking, but funnier.
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:10 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:10 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Either way at least it's POC making the stereotypical jokes, so no big deal there I don't think.
I wasn't implying that the posts were racist. Just that I'm pretty sure they're not earnest contributions from the part of the world in question, and one can't use them to weigh in on the We Are The World, We Are The Bathroom phenomenon.
posted by Sara C. at 11:34 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I wasn't implying that the posts were racist. Just that I'm pretty sure they're not earnest contributions from the part of the world in question, and one can't use them to weigh in on the We Are The World, We Are The Bathroom phenomenon.
posted by Sara C. at 11:34 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I wasn't implying that the posts were racist. Just that I'm pretty sure they're not earnest contributions from the part of the world in question, and one can't use them to weigh in on the We Are The World, We Are The Bathroom phenomenon.
I agree - even if people around the world know about US stereotypes of them, it's usually at the periphery of what they're thinking about and would probably not be the first go-to when they're thinking "how do I express myself in this creative selfie competition?"
posted by sweetkid at 11:40 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree - even if people around the world know about US stereotypes of them, it's usually at the periphery of what they're thinking about and would probably not be the first go-to when they're thinking "how do I express myself in this creative selfie competition?"
posted by sweetkid at 11:40 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's honestly pretty shocking, as an American who assumes the entire world is Aware Of All American Conventions, to travel and discover that people generally have no real idea about dumb American ethnic stereotypes. "Racism is a problem in America?" sure. "Americans assume all Colombians are drug lords?" possibly. "Americans assume all Greeks own diners?" probably not.
In the event that people know about this stuff, it doesn't factor in their identity really at all. It's not like Iceland is just full of people concerned about the idea that Americans think everyone there is twee and mysterious. They have their own social structures, cultural signifiers, and memes.
I'll never forget the time I tried to explain to someone in India why I couldn't buy this t-shirt with a swastika on it.
posted by Sara C. at 11:59 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
In the event that people know about this stuff, it doesn't factor in their identity really at all. It's not like Iceland is just full of people concerned about the idea that Americans think everyone there is twee and mysterious. They have their own social structures, cultural signifiers, and memes.
I'll never forget the time I tried to explain to someone in India why I couldn't buy this t-shirt with a swastika on it.
posted by Sara C. at 11:59 AM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
To be fair, the Swastika's "no-no" status is hardly exclusive to America.
posted by ShutterBun at 4:08 PM on January 5, 2014
posted by ShutterBun at 4:08 PM on January 5, 2014
I think Sara C.'s point is that it has a different meaning in India and Nazis aren't the first thing many people there think about when they see it.
posted by sweetkid at 4:31 PM on January 5, 2014
posted by sweetkid at 4:31 PM on January 5, 2014
The gumball one looks like it's one load-bearing miscalculation away from giving the dude a long, sharp anal probing.
posted by ymgve at 5:34 PM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ymgve at 5:34 PM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's okay. Look at him! He's totally an engineering student.
posted by Mezentian at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mezentian at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
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