Dying over Selfies
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (80635)
Daytona Beach, Florida
October 1, 2015 4:08pm CST
Can you imagine that taking selfies has become almost twice as lethal as being killed by a shark? That is what they say. The horrifying and sad but true facts are that the desire to take a photo of yourself in front of a landmark or to strike an interesting pose with a friend has resulted in more deaths in 2015 than deaths due to shark attacks.
Deaths while taking selfies can happen under any kind of circumstances. Let’s take a look at the twelve deaths seen this year:
• Two Russian men taking a selfie were engrossed in what they were doing and wound up being killed by a hand grenade.
• While taking selfies on train tracks three Indian students were killed by an oncoming train.
• An American woman fell to her death while taking a selfie with her boyfriend on a cliff in South Africa.
• A Japanese tourist died falling down a flight of stairs while trying to take a selfie at the Taj Mahal in India.
Reporters were told by a Russian government spokeswoman that in July there had been a dozen selfie taking death in Russia.
What do you think? Is it worth taking selfies if you endanger your life?
Read more:
English News Lessons: Free 26-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Selfies - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.
42 people like this
38 responses
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
30 May 17
I just suggested your post to several of my followers. I think it's very important to know about this. It's amazing what some persons will do that is actually dangerous, just to take a photo of themselves.
6 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
30 May 17
Yes, it is worth taking selfies. However, one must use common sense and be careful when doing so. Accidents happen. Like I have said before, there is no cure for stupidity.
3 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
31 May 17
@Lupita234 I wish more people would use common sense.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
30 May 17
I think my life is more important than a selfie so that I can hope to impress someone with something I've done or a place I have been. The cases you mentioned have been senseless deaths. 
5 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
30 May 17
It's amazing what some people will attempt. I can't imagine WHY they would choose to risk their lives for a photo. It makes no sense to me.
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
30 May 17
@IreneVincent I don't think that they are not deliberately putting themselves in danger. They are just not thinking. They are lost in thrill of having a picture that they can show off and forget that they are putting their lives at risk.
4 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
30 May 17
@1hopefulman That is true. Lots of people don't think bad things can happen to them and they are not thinking.
3 people like this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
30 May 17
The problem isnt taking selfies, or taking them at landmarks. The problem is obviously that people arent being smart about where they take them.
Like the one on train tracks thats just idiotic.
4 people like this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
5 Jun 17
Actually this is probably the Truth as many times, people do not take time to think about the consequences and is it safe where they are wanting to take the pictures of themselves at. But now that they have the Selfie sticks, etc it is probably one thing more people never even take time to think about first.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 17
That is so true. I only have taken selfies of myself twice one time in an elevator mirror and another time in a glass wall and that is it I certainly don't want anything happening to me @KrauseHome
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 May 17
Not very smart thing to do, risking their lives.. 
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
10 Jun 17
@IreneVincent That I don't know. But things do change as the years evolve. And at some point there will be some other technology that will change what we do now.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
11 Jun 17
@inertia4 The advances in technology are mind-boggling. Every day something new comes on the market and people scramble to get the latest thing. The biggest problem with that is the pile of discarded items that are piling up in land fills everywhere.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
10 Jun 17
Yes, it's real. I wonder who started the craze of taking "selfies?" Or who first invented that word?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
30 May 17
It is very unwise and foolish to do.
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
2 Oct 15
Definitely not worth it. And those people taking a selfie on the train track - what were they thinking?
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Oct 15
@cahaya1983 obviously not thinking at all.
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 15
@RasmaSandra Haha yeah I guess they weren't.
3 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Oct 15
I did not realize the figure was so high... but I can see why ... they get caught in the moment of trying to get a photo and forget about safety in the process... but of course there are those who go to the extremes just to get a photo... which peosonally I do not think it is worth risking life and limb for....
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Oct 15
@sueznewz2 I think that if things like this occur there should be some kind of warning put up to not take selfies or something like that.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
1 Jun 17
IT's incredible what some people are willing to risk just for a photo.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
4 Jun 17
@cacay1 Really? I didn't know that. It seems that more should be reported about these deaths, so that young people would be warned.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83577)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
4 Jun 17
@IreneVincent , There is a total ban this time of using a cellular phone in an accident prone roads and other places. Cars and vehicles' driver are ban to drive and text or do selfie. It is a nationwide ban.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
30 May 17
You are right. A lot of persons just don't use common sense. They take unnecessary chances doing the stupidest things. It makes no sense to me.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
30 May 17
... kids today ... give `em a little photography-function in their cell-phone, and all-of-a-sudden they think they're acrobat-ninja-cinematography-fairies! 
2 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
30 May 17
Yes I have read such reports. That would never happen to me. I barely even want to look at mug in the mirror every day. Let alone take a selfie and preserve it for humanity. 
2 people like this
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
12 Jun 17
Taking selfie is cool...but rising your life to take it is really insane..
2 people like this
