SocietyUnited States of America
DISNEY: No longer will you be able to parade around Disneyland wafting your selfie stick self-importantly in strangers' faces, and it's all thanks to a few idiotic tourists who thought they were above the rules.
When someone tells you that it's pretty dangerous to whack out an extendable stick on a fast-moving rollercoaster carrying you and a bunch of other people, because it could get caught in the machinery and cause a huge crash, what's the first thing you do? Get it out, obviously.
Despite it being good common sense not to stick a metallic arm out of a rollercoaster carriage, Disney has long had to enforce a rule banning the use of selfie sticks on its rides. Unfortunately, all sense deserted one woman when she pulled a selfie stick out mid-ride in the Disney California Adventure park and forced the rollercoaster to close for an hour.
That, it seems, was the last straw for Disney and a blanket ban on selfie sticks will come into force in its US parks on Tuesday and in Paris and Hong Kong from Wednesday. A Disney spokeswoman explained the decision: "We strive to provide a great experience for the entire family, and unfortunately selfie-sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast."
Because who wants to be hit over the head with a metal stick whilst dressed as Elsa from Frozen. Or whilst at a football match, or appreciating artwork at a museum, or watching tennis greats battle it out at Wimbledon. Exactly, no-one at all.
Dangerous or just a nuisance? Selfie sticks banned in US museums
Selfie sticks banned at US music festivals
