You Really, Really Need to Stop Instagramming Your Food
So, you maybe already knew that everyone makes fun of people who post too many pictures of their brunch on Instagram. It’s been a thing for a while now. Why, you ask? Well, the quick, obvious answers are because “people do it way too much,” “most food does not have inherent visual interest,” and “meals should be spent interacting with the people with whom you chose to share them, rather than obsessively documented throughout for acquaintances on social media.”
Not the worst thing a person can do in this world, by any means, but still, pretty tired. And now, both the New York Times and tourist-baiting chefs are on top of the trend, which means it’s really, really time to cut it out.
In an article that’s mostly about chefs banning customers from taking pictures while they eat (David Chang and Brooklyn Fare’s Moe Issa have both done this, though Issa will email diners food pictures the next day), the Times also managed to find a pocket of people that are very supportive of the whole thing. Namely, chef David Bouley, who not only escorts customers into the kitchen for better shots — better than having them standing on chairs or using tripods at the table, which apparently happens often — but is setting up a computer system to allow diners to receive pictures of their food as soon as they’ve finished. “People want to e-mail their photos to their friends right then and there; instant gratification,” said a spokesman for the chef.
There’s also 3rd Ward to be considered, for their actual class in iPhone food photography. Aaaah, guys! Come on! We normally like you! Is this strictly necessary?
I mean, again, there are way worse things to do with your time on earth than get too enthusiastic about a nice meal, and going out of your way to eat interesting, quality food instead of crazy high-fructose chemical poison is a positive thing. This is not, strictly speaking, the hugest scourge to ever hit humanity. Nonetheless, the evidence speaks for itself. It’s time to stop.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.
