and look at the silly and disrespectful BISHOP participating in a photo during the memorial

Exactly. That happened at a funeral, that was a somber event, which is why I used it as a comparison. Does it happen at all funerals? Of course not. Is it terrible for happening at an event like that? Again, no.

No...

Why am I not surprised there is no reasoning behind it? haha.

Anyway, it wouldn't matter if world leaders attended the funeral I mentioned. The cameras were for everyone to use.

especially when the photographer himself EXPLAINED The atmosphere of the event, we cant seem to see beyond the context of how OUR Events are meant to occur



I just find it strange that people assume that every moment of an event that long was meant to be spent somber and staring straight ahead,


with no breaks, with no moments when nothing was on stage, with no moment to take a photo (as the hundreds of photographers around obviously could do),,,,,, its just interesting,,, I have never been to an event longer than two hours without taking a break to chat with my neighbor, look someplace else,,take a photo(if its an event that doesn't happen often),,,,,etc,,,,

in some cultures, even here in the states, funerals are not somber affairs. they are treated as a celebration. much depends on the cultural context.

I refrain from any opinion really because as Leigh pointed out there are far more important things to worry about, second, we really do not know what was going on at the time, and third we - at least I - am not aware of the cultural context

If people think it's ok....great. Not everyone thinks the same.

The topic is about opinions anyway. No proof needed....unless someone has a study on whether selfies kill brain cells or something

Good grief Charlie Brown

I think the leaders of State should hold themselves to a higher standard.

He was happy to be at home land Africa.

lovely, and to know people were living his message of coming together

It could be worse. They could have been making the duck faces

http://thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/caption-this-obama-putting-the-fun-back-in-funeral-t12517.html

His behaviour sure made the Satire-Sites,and not in a very flattering way either!
Hope Mandela's Ghost haunts him for the rest of his life!

Should they remain somber and serious, while the rest were celebrating Mandela's life?

So if you don't take a selfie then that means you have to be somber and serious? And when does taking a selfie show a celebration of his life?

Guess whenever something comes.up...say cheese

This thread makes me giggle

Of course patients think I'm crazy for giggling and they don't know why

Those who are complaining about the complainers.....it is laughable

by definition, he didn't take a selfie,, someone else took a photo of themselves WITH HIM


Its an international event with thousands that lasted for hours

it wasn't the funeral

if people really expect no photos to be taken, whether with a cell phone or a media camera, or for people not to have side conversations (which are no more or less distracting or non attentive than taking a photo)



they aren't really being realistic

Just to clarify:
1. I gave my opinion. I haven't told anyone they are wrong if their opinions are different. We all have them

2. I know it's not a funeral. It was a memorial service

3. The media is there so people all over the world could be a part of it. I don't care if people take pictures. I thought what those 3 stooges did was immature and disrespectful. They,aren't teens going to a football game

4. Symantics. The Danish PM did the selfie and the other 2 joined in.

5. I never suggested anyone be serious there. I've been to Irish wakes. It's a celebration, but I wouldn't take pictures like that. I might take pictures of the setting, etc

Not sure how taking that picture like that celebrates Mandela's life, which is why they are there.

I understand all those points

I just think a photo is a photo,(unless someone is stripping , or picking their nose, or doing something else that should otherwise be private,,lol)

whether its of a person or a surrounding,,,I didn't find it silly for the bishop to smile for a photo taken by someone and I didn't find these three smiling for a photo any more silly

and celebrating life is smiling and enjoying what we have when we have it,,,

which includes taking photos of coming together in a happy moment,, or seeing those you don't often get a chance to spend time with

Haven't you been complaining about Obama the whole time?