If you're not (yet) familiar with the selfie stick, it is a long device people are using to take cell phone "selfies" that include more than they could fit in the picture by holding the phone at arm's length. Here's a photo from Wikimedia:
Selfie sticks began appearing in any significant numbers only last year, but they're already sparking a backlash. Several commentors on Reddit this week complained about selfie sticks at the Walt Disney World Resort:
On our trip just before Christmas somebody was using a selfie stick on Splash Mountain, and a CM came on the intercom no less than 7 times throughout the ride telling them to keep their camera in the boat. It was very disruptive because the announcement cut out the ride audio every time.
I was super annoyed with anyone that was carrying a stick after that.
I saw so many on my trip last week! I didn't realize they were so commonplace now. I was on line for Rock n Roller coaster and the cast member couldn't send off the next car because some guy was using one, fully stuck out. How could you possibly think that's a good idea? He like, moved it a few inches down when she told him to put it away, but was reluctant to fully put it away.
Others defended their use:
I have a selfie stick. I try to be considerate of others. I plan on taking it at the end of the month when we go. I've never considered using it on a ride. Seems a little dangerous on some. There is a time and place for everything. I call it my "narcistick."
It's tempting to compare selfie sticks with tripods and monopods, other photography accessories that some parks have banned or restricted. While all the devices mount cameras, they affect people around them in different ways. Tripods and monopods create stationary obstacles wherever they're set, but their size dictates how much they intrude on others' personal space. A monopod might not intrude on others' space at all, simply extending to the ground directly below the camera, where a tripod's legs can stick out a couple feet in several directions around the camera and photographer.
Selfie sticks are by their nature, however, an extension into the otherwise public space around a person. Their entire purpose is to extend beyond arm's length. While this isn't an issue in an uncrowded park where everyone has plenty of space around them, selfie sticks can lead to conflict in more crowded places. And will parks need to amend their safety spiels to say, "please keep your hands, arms, and selfie sticks inside the vehicle at all times"?
The frustration with selfie sticks is leading some theme park fans to call on parks to ban the devices. What do you think? Are selfie sticks so inherently problematic that they should be banned? Should parks stop short of banning them, but try better to restrict them? Or should parks just leave them alone, and let people use them to their own enjoyment?
It's time for the Vote of the Week.
Please tell us in the comments what you think about selfie sticks? Do you use one? Have you seen them in the parks?
What happened to common courtesy?
Flash photography on dark rides is a big problem, but you wouldn't ban cameras in the park because it's not the cameras that are a problem. It's how people use them.
I saw other people using selfies stick as an elevated camera tripod during a couple of parades. They did not block my view, but they did not seem to care about how they were effecting those standing behind them. If this kind of behavior becomes commonplace, I believe they may need to starting making an announcement before projection shows, fireworks and parades asking folks to please be considerate and not do anything that might obstruct the view of those behind them during the presentation.
She didn't intend to block anyone's view, but she didn't think about anyone else when she was doing it.
I do think an announcement before the show would help. Those who don't think about it would be made aware of it. You'll never stop the inconsiderate people who just don't care what effect it has on others.
However, selfie sticks should never be used on attractions or during shows. Unlike flash photography, which is mainly an annoyance, using a selfie stick on a ride is outright dangerous and could result in damage to the attraction and/or injury to guests. During a show, use of a selfie stick is just rude and inconsiderate to those behind you. If the inappropriate use of selfie sticks gets to the point that it negatively affects the experience of others, I do think parks should ban them.
Also, as far as the discussion of using tablets as cameras...don't do it. It's annoying to others and makes you look somewhat silly. I don't even understand why people bring tablets to parks when a smartphone can do everything you'd need to do while in the park.
Narcistick . . . brilliant. That just may be the funniest thing I've heard all day.
Mike from Mass
I think people have to use their common sense a bit. If a ride states that you should keep your hands inside a ride, that would include selfie sticks.
I also do video logs and the stick will let me put my camera another foot away when filming; I don't film around people though.
I find people to be largely rude and self-absorbed. It no longer amazes me when people do things like stick tablets in the air to film, or put their kids on their shoulders, or wear tall or wide hats blocking the view of all behind them.
But I've also seen people walk into a sea of seated people in the front of an event, and then stand there. In my perfect world, people would allow shorter people to get in front of them, and would not move side to side because that keeps blocking people behind them. But in my perfect world, people in the left lane move over when faster cars are coming, and don't pull out to pass if it will block someone, and actually pull off rural roads if a faster car is stuck behind them. This is how I live my life, but most people simply are unaware of how their actions impact others.
I've used my monopod to put my camera 10 feet high to film -- but when I do, I'm either in the back of the crowd, or standing right in front of a pole which is already abstructing the view. And if I'm going to film something where I need to be in front, I always set up my camera at the height I'm going to use, NOT over my head, and keep it there so people coming later understand exactly what the sight line will be.
On a recent trip to DL it was extremely crowded and selfy sticks waving around were annoying a couple of times. Ban them? not sure!. I think, as a few people have said, some people just don't think, they are not necessarily bad, they just don't think, and need to be made aware. On my recent trip to DL we took a couple of people who have never been to Disney. We ended up sitting apart on Pirates of the Carib and to my horror one of them kept using a flash, I was trying to get their attention but no luck. Afterwards when i explained to them how the flash ruins the ride for others, they were horrified at what they had done. I do think Disney should have announcements/signs explaining. I didn't see or hear any but I thought they used to have them? To us regular visitors it's obvious but to novices it may not be, of course there will always be some people who just don't care. I think Disney could have more signs or announcements about flash photography and sticks on rides and visual obstructions during fireworks....etc, I am sure it would help
Yes, but I'm willing to compromise.
If a theme park doesn't want to ban selfie sticks, I should be allowed hit anyone who is using one or at least make fun of them.
I turned off all the lights and sounds on my gopro, and only used the stick when walking around in the park. To use it on rides, I took the camera off the stick and handle bar mount and looped a piece of quarter inch thick rope through the holes in the case where the mounting screw attaches. I then tied the rope off on my belt loop during rides, so I could get footage on the rides without having my arms or stick hanging out of the ride vehicle. I know that sounds confusing, but if you have a gopro, you know what I'm talking about.
The lighting in shows makes for terrible camera footage. I'm a stagehand, so I know exactly what they did to make it hard for you to get good video footage during shows.
It comes down to being considerate of other park goers. It was a very special trip for us because it was our 5th wedding anniversary, but everyone else had just as good a reason to go on vacation and celebrate something. Selfie away, have fun on your trip, but be mindful of the fact that other people are also trying to enjoy themselves.
Using a selfie stick out in front of Cinderella's Castle to take a photo of you and your spouse or girlfriend is fine...using it on the Rockin' Rollercoaster is out of the question. On rides, the park has to take the safety of everyone into account, and if someone is disrupting a ride's progress or operation or endangering other passengers, then a RIDE ban for these devices for those without the common sense to realize what could happen if they lose their grip on it and injure a fellow passenger with it IS in order. People spend so much effort and risk to take "the perfect picture" or video that they don't take the safety of others into account. And hindsight is 20/20 if your selfie stick takes out the eye of a child a few seats back from you. A life changed forever for a stupid photo.
But strict enforcement is what is needed in these cases. If someone continues to use such a device on a ride when they've specifically been told not to by a cast member, then that person should be escorted to the front gates and ejected from the park. There's always someone ready to break the rules. Report or alert infractions to park staff. We're all there to have fun, not be witnesses to someone else's stupidity.
Are you going to tell a father to take his daughter off his shoulders at one of these shows? I've seen people SITTING on the ground at night in front of Cinderella's Castle staking out "their" ground before or during a show (a fire regulation no-no BTW) yelling at those standing to sit down. I've turned to those people and told them that they have to stand up because they are a danger to themselves and others and I just get their abuse in response. They in turn get to see a great shot of my back.
In general Disney and other parks put the shows at some elevation from the viewing area, and MOST of the action is in the air, or the eye lines are relatively clear. I have to laugh at people when they say I'm in their way at a fireworks display. Um, the fireworks are in the air lady!!
This is not a reason to ban selfie sticks...people should be permitted to take their photos and videos within reason, should someone be permitted to jump on top of a garbage bin and shoot their photos or video? No, because if they fall off of that receptacle box they could injure themselves or others. People have to use COMMON SENSE...Disney is actually fantastic at TELLING PEOPLE what to do, but in a nice way. But as others have mentioned, sometimes the rest of us have to suffer the loss of an activity or tool, because there are morons out there.
I voted no because I think it depends on the park and its attendance, either in general or that day. Or even their projected attendance that day.
I voted no because I think it depends on the park and its attendance, either in general or that day. Or even their projected attendance that day.
I say - let the stupid people hang the stick out of ride vehicles, so when they drop/break them, we all win. Laugh at the stupid people, the stupid people might learn a lesson! :-) Too harsh? *cackles evilly in the corner*
BTW, I checked with my wife and she confirmed that I am a guy, not a woman ;-) .
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As for selfie-sticks, I love them. I love anything that quick identifies someone as a person to avoid. Selfie-sticks are on the list, like spandex leggings, t-shirts advertising clothing manufacturers, Go-Pros stuck to the head and tour guide flags. I see any of those in the parks and I make a wide berth. BTW, I'm a professional photographer and have never needed a tripod or monopod while shooting in the parks.