By Cheryl Mattox Berry
It amazes me that people will do the stupidest things for fame. It troubles me that teens are taking pictures of themselves doing dangerous tricks for Internet celebrity. I’m referring to the social media trend called the “Selfie Olympics.” It should be renamed “Stupid Tricks That Could Kill Me” based on the entries.
There was a photo of a girl hanging from a door, a boy in mid-air with his head awkwardly positioned in the sink, a boy ironing upside down, kids balancing themselves atop doors and teens doing all kinds of weird things. Who knows how many selfie attempts went awry and resulted in trips to the hospital or morgue.
I thought the Selfie Olympics were bad until I saw selfies taken while driving. Really? How does a person decide that it’s a good idea to risk her life, and possibly the lives of others, so that she can take a picture of herself and post it online?
The need for validation and obsession with celebrity has apparently robbed teens of their common sense. As my mother used to say, “If Sally jumped off the bridge, are you going to jump off the bridge, too?” That question was sobering enough to let me know that following the crowd was a bad idea.
Nowadays, impulsive decisions can be deadly. Before you get into a game of one-upmanship, ask yourself: “Would my mother approve of this stunt?” The answer should determine whether you proceed.
If that question doesn’t make you stop and think, then try this one: “Am I likely to end up paralyzed, a vegetable or dead?”
There will always be stupid contests, but you don’t have to enter or support them. Make good use of your time. Do something constructive, like tutoring a child. That counts for something. It will look a lot better on your college application than getting the most likes for doing something stupid.