# Futher Proof That the Western World Is Spinning Around the Drain **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033 "2015-12-21T22:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/1 "2015-12-21T22:23:51Z")
From my news.google home page: Twitter Hints at Drone Selfies With New Patent (the acual link does not work for me - it is nbcnews something something Drones AND Selfies - the most perfect match since the eraser tip on a pencil! As a person who did his own darkroom and has 50+ pounds of just camera gear AND once owned a real airplane, I shudder at both developments individually. We will now have idiots not only walking into trains while ‘selfing’, we will now have them _flying_ into god-knows-what. the (still dead) link is > **[Twitter Hints at Drone Selfies With New Patent](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/twitter-hints-drone-selfies-new-patent-n484101)** > > Forget delivery. Drones may soon have a bigger role in social media. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/2 "2015-12-21T23:24:21Z")
Link works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/3 "2015-12-21T23:32:43Z")
More for extreme sports guys. The drone is launched and follows the receiver, while snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, etc. Here’s example of one already on the market: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pFllk5VXA) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/4 "2015-12-22T00:32:36Z")
So the thrill of the (extreme) sport is not the real attraction, it’s being filmed doing it, so you can show off to other people. As I always suspected. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/5 "2015-12-22T00:47:24Z")
Naahndo, Naahndo!! Eeet ees more important to \*look \*Fantastic than to \*be \*Fantastic! An experience without an audience is like a tree falling in the forest: completely silent socially. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/6 "2015-12-22T02:59:07Z")
How long before a newly-minted pilot takes his drone to the airport to record his first solo? How long before anyone realizes that this might be a problem? How long before some CFI gets ‘fired’ for objecting to the presence of a drone over the runway? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/7 "2015-12-22T10:52:03Z")
This will get interesting for a while. FWIW: I bought my son a nice drone for Christmas. Since it’s stabilized and has a pretty good video camera, I suggested he market “selfies” to the local yachting crowd. I figure there’s a pretty good market of people who’d love a youtube video of their boat zooming across the water. Still investigating how to do this legally since it’s commercial use of a drone. Hopefully a section 333 won’t be a problem, since it’s an over water operation (and not populated areas or controlled airspace). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/8 "2015-12-22T11:06:19Z")
So instead of flying cars, we got flying cameras. Better than nothing, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/9 "2015-12-22T16:20:35Z")
Jesus Christ. This goes beyond “get off my lawn”. [![](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/e98/20b/593d76732ee5f0609b730cb85c7f6540a9-17-simpsons-old-man.h375.w560.jpg) ](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/e98/20b/593d76732ee5f0609b730cb85c7f6540a9-17-simpsons-old-man.h375.w560.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/10 "2015-12-22T20:29:09Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > As a person who did his own darkroom and has 50+ pounds of just camera gear AND once owned a real airplane, I shudder at both developments individually. Why? Because of this? > [@usedtobe](#): > > We will now have idiots not only walking into trains while ‘selfing’, we will now have them _flying_ into god-knows-what. Not that it won’t ever happen, but I think your fears are a little overstated. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/11 "2015-12-22T21:41:38Z")
When drones taking selfies take off, [with sales of these be far behind](http://www.amazon.com/Saunders-Falcon-Wrist-Rocket-Slightshot/dp/B000HE9YMY)? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/12 "2015-12-22T21:45:34Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So the thrill of the (extreme) sport is not the real attraction, it’s being filmed doing it, so you can show off to other people. > > As I always suspected. As a dabbler in extreme sports myself you are IMO somewhat right. After awhile you can detect the ones that are in it for the show and the ones that would do it even if nobody else ever knew they did it. I try to avoid the first group for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/13 "2015-12-22T21:52:55Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Jesus Christ. This goes beyond “get off my lawn”. > > [http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2013/07/17/17-simpsons-old-man.o.jpg/a\_560x375.jpg](http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2013/07/17/17-simpsons-old-man.o.jpg/a_560x375.jpg) If **usedtobe** didn’t have “Get off my lawn” he’d have nothing to say; it’s his entire shtick. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/14 "2015-12-22T21:53:44Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How long before a newly-minted pilot takes his drone to the airport to record his first solo? > > How long before anyone realizes that this might be a problem? > > How long before some CFI gets ‘fired’ for objecting to the presence of a drone over the runway? How long before anyone uses any new technology in an unintended and dangerous manner? Clearly, we ought to all just go Amish. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/15 "2015-12-23T01:16:48Z")
And as _Amish Mafia_ demonstrates, even that is not without evil. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/16 "2015-12-23T02:17:41Z")
Actually the thing about the OP which most suggests that we’re going down a drain is his inability to spell “further”. Once we don’t have effective education, civilizational disaster is but one generation away. Stop the rot before it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/17 "2015-12-23T12:08:18Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > How long before a newly-minted pilot takes his drone to the airport to record his first solo? Never. It’s a no fly zone for drones. > [@](#): > > How long before some CFI gets ‘fired’ for objecting to the presence of a drone over the runway? See the answer to your previous question. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/18 "2015-12-23T23:51:22Z")
Has anybody noted WHO took out this new patent? Had it been a maker of BASE jumping gear, or even snowboards, it wouldn’t be scary. But Twitter? (shudder) and: yep, drones aren’t permitted, so nobody will ever try to bring one… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/19 "2015-12-24T21:42:25Z")
And why exactly do you shudder if it is Twitter the one to patent and implement this idea? :dubious:😕 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033/20 "2015-12-24T21:51:53Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > More for extreme sports guys. The drone is launched and follows the receiver, while snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, etc. > > Here’s example of one already on the market: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pFllk5VXA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pFllk5VXA) > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So the thrill of the (extreme) sport is not the real attraction, it’s being filmed doing it, so you can show off to other people. > > As I always suspected. > **[Skier Marcel Hirscher almost hit by camera drone in World Cup slalom](https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/35164700)** > > Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher is nearly hit by a falling drone camera at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Italy. “Four-time defending overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher narrowly avoided being hit by a drone during an Alpine slalom race in Italy on Tuesday.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futher-proof-that-the-western-world-is-spinning-around-the-drain/741033.md?page=2)