Those Self-Absorbed Selfie Takers

Continuing with my blogs about people-watching and characterizations. This week I want to concentrate on not one person, but numerous who fit this description: the ever-loving, selfie-taking, posting-pictures-of-themselves-on-social-media people.

We all know at least one. Most of us know several people like that. And let’s face it, they are normally good-looking people. Although a few aren’t, yet they must think they are. One I know posts a different picture of herself every day and sometimes more than once a day. Maybe she was pretty in her younger days, but not so much anymore. But don’t tell her that. Someone did ask her one time at a social gathering why she posted so many pictures of herself. The next day she posting all over social media about how her feelings were so hurt.  What did she accomplish by doing that? Just what she wanted to accomplish. People were consoling her, telling her how they loved all her pictures, criticizing whoever could say such a cruel thing.

It is terrible when older, mature people, especially Christians, behave like they’re still in high school. But what great fodder for writing – the self-absorbed-with-their-looks characters. Of course, people can become absorbed or obsessed over many things: their intellectual prowess, their money, their fame, their physical ailments, their romance, their children, their accomplishments, and so on.

What would we see if we could look into the heart and soul of these people? Pride? Arrogance? Insecurities? Selfishness? A cry for love?  Loneliness? A need to be noticed? Constantly needing praise and affirmation?

Please don’t mistake my example for those of you who post a different picture once a week or so. I am not referring to you. But, just think of the twists and turns your story could take with a person continually taking selfies.

And of course, if I was young, gorgeous, and hot maybe I would be posting selfies every day, eh?

If My Fiction Characters Were On Facebook

I love developing characters in fiction writing. I know, I know, I’ve said that before but it’s true. The only thing you, the reader, will ever know about my characters is what I share. Even in a biography or memoir, you only truly know facts about the person that the writer reveals.

Recently Facebook celebrated its 10 year anniversary. They provided a link where you could view your personal FB history: posts, likes, pictures, comments, etc.  As I viewed mine, my reaction was: This is important enough to me to put on Facebook.

It got me to thinking, if my characters were on FB, what would it reveal to others about them. BUT, more importantly, those of you on FB, what does your FB reveal about you. If a person never met you, if your FB was the only evidence to your character, what would it reveal about you?

I have almost 700 FB friends. Sometimes I scratch my head over what some people share. For drama lovers, it’s a virtual paradise. It truly is a glimpse into a person’s psyche. Names/initials have been changed, but here goes.

R always posts about how she’s angry with someone: the mechanic, store clerk, her kids’ teachers neighbors, etc. Every day! Sometimes more than once a day. My advice – lighten up. You’re going to get an ulcer.

M always posts scripture, or inspirational quotes. Every day. I like that. Numerous people do this, also.

K always has some physical ailment. Always!  I wonder how someone can have so much wrong with them and still be alive. They are not an invalid or bedridden. My thought: This person needs the attention. 

A is always ranting and raving about someone or something, even her co-workers. This is not someone I care to hang out with.

B posts every little thing her kids do throughout the day: where they go, what they say, what they eat, what they’re wearing, etc. At least 10 times a day. This is a mother who never gets out. Well, except for doctor or other appointments for kids, which she thinks we all need to know about.

F always post negative things. It’s always a “Woe is me, guess what’s wrong in my life now?” Bless her heart! Find some joy in life, honey. Believe me, it’s there. No wonder things are bad when you only see the negative. 

C posts about food every day, throughout the day. I know for a fact she has an eating disorder. She hardly eats and is obsessed with weight gain. But if you read her FB posts, she eats delicious food throughout the day. It’s a smoke screen.

P posts about how blessed she is with amazing family, friends and co-workers. She shares all the activities she does with these wonderful people. Every day, sometimes more than once, she shares something about these amazing people who love her and love to hang out with her. I know her, and she is a sweet, caring, fun person. So? Is she trying to convince or reassure herself that she’s worthy?

S shares political posts repeatedly throughout the day. How can we say we're a Christian, yet post such hate-filled things? We can have conservative, God-pleasing views, but not spew hate. What does that say to the world? I believe in standing for truth and what's right, but not when the motive is pure hatred.

Truthfully, most people are well-balanced. Or balanced enough. Facebook is a small window of what’s important in their lives. But, a word of caution. What does your FB posts say about you?