Selfie Sticks: Banned at Many Tourist Attractions

Posted by David Porter on Saturday, April 11, 2015 · 7 Comments

Have you encountered a selfie stick in your travels?

I snagged this photo of a young couple snapping a selfie in Salzburg, Austria. And while the allure of a greater point of view in front of some famous tourist landmark is clearly understood, just imagine the scene if everyone had one of these things.

Can you just imagine 200 people standing in front of the Mona Lisa, all with outstretched selfie sticks? I bet that would be annoying enough to cause an international incident.

And, as the sarcasm in the someecard suggests, not only are selfie sticks annoying to some folks, museums and tourist attractions all over the world have started to ban the selfie stick citing safety concerns. And just imagine this headline: Man Slips and Slashes Priceless Painting with Selfie Stick. :O

To get a better idea of this brewing problem, just do a Google search for selfie stick, or go to Twitter or Instagram and use #selfiestick. People are mad about their selfie sticks.

Here’s my thoughts: instead of potentially annoying everyone around you with a selfie stick, how about creating a nice interaction with another human being and ask them to take your photo. Sound good?

What are your thoughts?

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7 Comments on “Selfie Sticks: Banned at Many Tourist Attractions”

Andy Coticchio
April 11, 2015

Selfie sticks. If we were meant to take so many pictures of ourselves, the good Lord would have given us orangutan arms. I like your suggestion – interact with someone and have them take a pic. We have met so many nice people that way when travelling. Once again, social media behavior has us acting less than social.

Reply
- David Porter
  April 12, 2015
  
  Hey Andy,
  
  Great to hear from you, and thanks for sharing your two cents worth. 😀
  
  Reply
Janet Thaeler
April 14, 2015

The thing is when people use selfie sticks they hold everything up and just about knock you in the head with them. We go to Vegas a lot and they’re all over the strip. I understand wanting to get the perfect shot but who wants to get poked with one or see people using them. They’re annoying. I wish they weren’t. I actually want one but I think they are so nerdy. If I got one I’d try to be polite and not use them in crowds…if I can bring myself to use them at all.

Blog on
Janet

Reply
- David Porter
  April 14, 2015
  
  Hi Janet,
  
  We received a selfie stick at a travel conference a while back, but we don’t intend to use it. I think my granddaughter will enjoy more than we will. She takes a LOT of selfies. 😀
  
  Reply
Allison
July 6, 2015

Does anybody know if selfie sticks are banned at the Grand Canyon? Thanks in advance (:

Reply
- David Porter
  July 7, 2015
  
  Hi Allison,
  
  I’ve not seen selfie sticks banned in our National Parks. They’re primarily more a problem in confined spaces. If you’re headed to the Grand Canyon, have fun! :chic:
  
  Reply