ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

[ASTalumna06]

Who has done it?!

Do you think it's a good thing? I've heard A LOT of people complain about it over the past week or two, and to be honest, it gets me a little irritated. I watched someone struggle with this disease for 7 years, and it is a horrible thing to have to endure.

I promise not to get too worked up if you don't agree with what's being done, but do you think this is a positive move to bring more awareness to ALS and the life-changing effect it has on so many families?


ETA: My cousin just shared this video on his Facebook wall… https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

[WhiteRose1912]

Yes, it's a good thing. Yes, I get annoyed with the people complaining about it. Someone on Facebook was complaining that the money and awareness should all be going to cancer instead since it affects more people.

[DrPhil]

My friend's father died of Lou Gehrig's Disease 20 years ago. It is good to bring attention and money to this worthy cause.

Why don't people like this challenge? I admit I get tired of hearing about it all the time but as long as everyone is consenting to the challenge and there are no health issues, I see no problem.

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

I lost. LOL

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

ETA: My cousin just shared this video on his Facebook wall… https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I lost. LOL

I'm glad my stupid gifs amuse people other than myself.

[33girl]

The reasons against it include a drought in California and the perception that people are just being attention whores.

If the money gets there it gets there. My favorite part of it is hearing the voices of friends I haven't seen in person in a long while.

[angels&angles]

Hmmm... I don't really love it, for both of the reasons 33girl stated above. Also, I've seen a LOT of people on my wall who just say "I got challenged to do the Ice Bucket Challenge and I challenge X, Y, & Z" and then dump ice on themselves with NO mention of donating or even ALS. I think my absolute favorite was "I'm donating to ALS to stop autism."

So basically, I think the whole thing has become so diluted that the point is lost and it's just about attention whoring now. Plus, it kind of doesn't make sense to me? Why are people proudly demonstrating that they are giving LESS or NO money to charity when challenged? Maybe I'm missing something here.

However, my FAVORITE thing about it is that it's for ALS and not cancer. No offense to anyone with cancer, but I think we're all highly aware of it now.

[AOII Angel]

Whether people are giving or not when they dump ice on themselves or whether or not they are attention whores, this is brilliant viral marketing. The ALS Foundation has raised millions of dollars more than they ever have in such a short time period WITHOUT using donated funds for advertising. I don't watch the videos when they pop up on FB. I don't usually watch anyone's videos anyway. People have to complain. This doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to educate everyone while raising money. It is what it is...a way to get a ton of people who otherwise would have never donated to this charity to crack open their wallets and give.

[SoCalGirl]

I've participated in ALS fundraiser events before and last month a former coworker passed 2 years after her diagnosis.

I'm against it for all the reasons stated: Drought, attention whoring, uninformed participants.

I do appreciate when someone clearly says they're donating even though they're doing the ice bucket challenge. But then I'm still like "Waste!". But I get the "viral marketing" thing.

If I somehow got challenged, I'd just make the donation.

TSM posted this video: http://totalsororitymove.com/sororit...t-youd-expect/

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Whether people are giving or not when they dump ice on themselves or whether or not they are attention whores, this is brilliant viral marketing. The ALS Foundation has raised millions of dollars more than they ever have in such a short time period WITHOUT using donated funds for advertising. I don't watch the videos when they pop up on FB. I don't usually watch anyone's videos anyway. People have to complain. This doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to educate everyone while raising money. It is what it is...a way to get a ton of people who otherwise would have never donated to this charity to crack open their wallets and give.

Exactly. I haven't seen any videos of people who are HAPPY they're not donating. Some people donate, some don't. Anyone who is THRILLED that they're not donating is an A-hole, and there were plenty of them in this world before this challenge hit the Internet.

I've raised awareness for numerous causes without donating anything. I'm sure most of us have done so. Heck, if I donated $100 to every cause I supported as a collegiate, I would have starved.

I threw this example at a fellow Penn Stater the other day: If a student goes out canning for THON, and they spend every weekend for months spreading the word about pediatric cancer and collecting thousands of dollars, but they never donate a dollar themselves, does that make everything they've done worthless?

Yes, there are people who will miss the point and don't know what they're doing the challenge for, but from what I've seen, most people "get it" and are raising awareness and donating to the cause.

[angels&angles]

That's a good point about helping doesn't have to equal donating. Upon reflection, I would have to say a lot of my negative feelings/general annoyance probably stems from the fact that first people I saw doing the Ice Bucket Challenge were all classic slacktivists, who are all super active in the "leave your lights on for Caylee" / "post where you leave your purse for breast cancer awareness" (because then, tee hee, everyone will think you're talking about sex! Also see above post re:level of cancer awareness).

I'm glad this is working, and lots of donations are coming in. I will probably continue to be annoyed, though, because grumps gotta grump.

[bevinpiphi]

My dad challenged me (I'm starting to regret setting up his facebook...). After he pestered me through text, I sent him the receipts of my donations to ALS and The Ovarian Cancer Research fund...both things that need more awareness.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by bevinpiphi

My dad challenged me (I'm starting to regret setting up his facebook...). After he pestered me through text, I sent him the receipts of my donations to ALS and The Ovarian Cancer Research fund...both things that need more awareness.

Definitely!