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#nofilter #selfie #AnotherInternetTrend

What better topic for a blog that has consistently discussed some of the major wastes of time in today's world than the virtual highway. Cyberspace. The World Wide Web.

The average person spends 23 hours per week online. That includes everything from creeping your ex on Facebook to researching a topic you should already be familiar with in order to do your job. It's SO easy to get lost in the abundance of tabs and information and even easier to get caught up in the many internet fads and campaigns floating around.

If you've never taken part in one of those social media trends (ex. neknomination?) or hopped on an internet bandwagon (here's looking at you Kony 2012) then you better head to your local church for confessional, because you are a liar. Everyone's found themselves wrapped up in the "internet community" at some point or another, nothing to be embarrassed about folks.

So that's why I want to take a look at one of the more recent trends floating around in cyberspace right now - the whole no makeup, love your skin selfie nomination campaign.

#nomakeup #loveyourskin Selfie - Even after some research I'm not sure what this thing is actually titled or where it originated but I think it started with some celebrity. The point (from what I gather) is it involves posting a picture of yourself with no makeup on and without a filter and then nominating your friend to do the same. From what I gather, the campaign wants to encourage people to be comfortable in their own skin and confident about who they are. With all of the pressure to look beautiful (especially now that selfies are a thing) the women empowerment, love yourself stuff is kind of refreshing and I dig it. BUT, I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

I have a couple of small issues with the campaign. First of all, like any internet/social media trend, the true message gets lost in the abyss after a few people jump on board. Most of the #nomakeup selfies I've seen are followed by some sort of disclaimer - "Oh god, please ignore my pale skin and 1000s of freckles. Can't believe you guys made me post this. My eyebrows suck." - Or something along those lines. So, is the point really being made? Are we really empowering girls to feel beautiful just the way they are?

The other issue I have is - I freakin' love makeup! I agree, women are beautiful with or without it. But if you told me I couldn't wear it for a week, I'd be devastated. Not because I'm worried about how I look without it, but because it's fun and let's me be creative and artistic in the only way I really know how.

So I guess I'm pretty neutral about the whole thing. I get why people are embracing it (and it's certainly heads and tails above some of the other posts I've seen recently) but I still don't really get it.

I prefer to define people based on their personality and characteristics, rather than whatever they have smeared on their face (be it eye shadow and bronzer or chocolate syrup, I won't judge).


Wine at the time: Kim Crawford Pinot Noir (it's worth the couple extra bucks - straight out of New Zealand, it's dry and smooth)

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