Slate‘s Human Nature — which I always enjoy reading — reports:
Men are hiring photographers to surreptitiously record their marriage proposals. Photographers say the practice has been growing for three years. In some cases, the client and photographer arrange the timing and location for picture quality, e.g., where to stand (unbeknownst to the woman) so the camera can see both faces. One man choreographed his proposal so his girlfriend would “look pretty for the photographs.” Rationales: 1) It’s romantic. 2) It’s a way to “share” a special moment with friends and family. 3) “The smile on her face in that moment is something you can’t recreate.” Critiques: 1) It’s “stalkerish.” 2) It’s narcissistic. 3) It’s a self-discrediting attempt at authenticity. 4) People are putting the photos on the Internet, so the “sharing” is indiscriminate. 5) We’ve come to think that photos and video are “the only way to document something” and that “if it’s not on Facebook, it didn’t happen.” Feminist spin: It’s another creepy thing men do to women. Misogynist spin: But the women are so vain they email the photos to all their co-workers. Human Nature’s challenge: Find a guy who has posted photos of his girlfriend saying no. (Contestants please submit entries here.)