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Let me start off by saying that I think that the Ice Bucket Challenge is, in theory, a good idea. I'm sure it has raised a lot of money, and it certainly has raised awareness for ALS. However, I have also noticed that some people are using it for their "15 minutes of fame". Without donating a cent to ALS, some people are posting these "crazy" videos before passing it off to their friends, or someone they think it would be "funny" to dump the ice water on. As I have seen these videos pop up on social media, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that a lot of people who are doing it couldn't give a rats ass about ALS, but just want to post that video so they can rake in the "likes" and show everyone how awesome they are. This was further enhanced when someone nominated me and I didn't do it, not wanting to fall into this game. When I told someone this, they were shocked and said that if I didn't do it 24 hours after I was nominated, I would "have to donate money". Oookay. I said I would rather donate money than get ice water dumped on me when I was pretty sick. Couldn't believe the guy just said that.
It got me thinking about all of the rest of things that people do on social media, just for attention. I have now realized that those long posts on birthdays with pictures on social media that 20 people post per day? Almost all for attention. If these people wanted to, they could personally wish each other happy birthday or send a private message. But instead, for everyone else to see (and "like" of course), they post these things on social media as a sort of publicity stunt.
I don't know if I'm being cynical here. What are y'alls thoughts?
I COMPLETELY agree with you. This is just what I've been trying to verbalize for days. It's great that they've raised money, but I'd be interested in seeing how accurate the numbers are when discussing how much has been raised. I mean, I've been hearing that they've raised millions of dollars, but it's only been going on a few days. Certainly they haven't received most of the donations yet. Are they just estimating?
And most of the challenge videos that have popped up on my wall have said "you have 24 hours to complete the challenge OR you'll have to donate $100 to ALS." So does that mean that people are dumping ice water on themselves to NOT donate? That seems counter productive.
And fundraising aside, people keep saying that this is raising awareness of ALS. But ask anyone participating in the challenge what they know about ALS, and it's clear that they've learned nothing about the disease. I asked one colleague (who is obsessed with the challenge), and she said "it's the disease that makes you shake, like Michael J. Fox." Uh... no, that's Parkinsons.
ALS is definitely a worthy cause, but I already have a few worthy causes that I donate to. I can't donate to all worthy causes. So if anyone challenges me, I'm going to politely decline. I am not interested in dousing myself, and my money goes elsewhere. But I'm sure that makes me a killjoy. Whatev.
I think the ice bucket dump challenge is pretty silly. I have seen many people on facebook doing it and I know of only one that donated $100. She posted a photo of the check made out to ALS.
Many people are having fun with this but I don't know if it has raised much awareness for the disease.
I don't think it matters what their reasons are. The end result is millions have been raised because people did it, for whatever reason.
It certainly has put the focus on a worthy cause. Our family has supported ALS fund raisers for years, because my SIL had two siblings die from it.
I would have changed the premise a bit though. Person #1 sends the challenge to three people. If they all do the challenge, then person #1 writes the check. The three that were challenged do the same, and so on.
I have been saying the same thing. Have millions really been raised because of this? Putting the ice water over your head means you don't pay, and if you do you have to pay a hundred bucks.
Do you think all the people that don't do it pay the hundred dollars? Do the people making the video know what ALS or Lou Gehrigs Disease is?
I highly doubt it. I don't think it is raising much awareness and I would doubt it is raising much money either.
This was further enhanced when someone nominated me and I didn't do it, not wanting to fall into this game. When I told someone this, they were shocked and said that if I didn't do it 24 hours after I was nominated, I would "have to donate money".
I don't know if I'm being cynical here. What are y'alls thoughts?
THAT is the part I would be angry at and would NOT donate money, that is like a crime (blackmail?)
What annoys me is the whole idea of ordering me to do something. Fact is, I don't want to dump ice water on my head, and I don't want to contribute $100 to ALS. (Nothing at all against ALS research, but I have already determined the amount and recipients of my charitable giving.) Thus far no one has nominated me, but if they do, I guess I'll just have to be a party pooper and do neither.
I put it on the same level as those Facebook "Post this status on your wall or else you're an uncaring jerk" messages that go around sometimes. Even if I agree with the post, I don't like to be "bullied" into posting something. So I simply don't do it.
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