[personlurking]

It does get very tiring to be out and about with friends and they all wish to take several group photos of different sets of the people you're with, at different times during the outing/meetup, from different smartphones (ie the same photo just from someone else's phone). This happened the other day. Even as we were about to eat, they happily waited before digging in so that some pictures of the food could be taken. Mind you, these are people in their 30s and 40s.

On the other side, I've spent the better part of the last decade abroad and realized last year that I don't have much "evidence" of my life, not in photos, not on FB (since I mostly just post articles). Not only do I share your aversion to having your picture taken, I never liked looking like a tourist when traveling (even the few sets of photos I took, most got lost over the years).

I've always thought I was above the whole "being manipulated by cultural trends" thing but isn't wanting evidence part of the whole Me culture?

____

Edit: I should also like to add that Rushkoff, after watching his talk, seems to have been influenced by Baudrillard's post-modern ideas. Here's a quick run-down https://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/postmodernism/modu...

[junto]

I think taking photos when going out makers you an observer, and not a participater. You're living your life and those memories are in your head and your property. Nobody can take those away. Bravo. That sounds like the right motto for life to me.

Alternatively, people posting photos on Facebook are watching other people's lives and posting the evidence of it. That's sad.

Hence the rise of the egotistical selfie.

[q-base]

A bit generalizing, but nevertheless philosophical, thought provoking and interesting point.