to think wearing odd socks does not raise awareness?

[Ilovesunflowers]

So some of my friends are wearing odd socks today to raise awareness of down syndrome. AIBU to think this does not raise awareness? Your socks will be covered all day anyway so no one will see them. Socks have nothing to do with down syndrome. Why do we need to raise awareness of down syndrome? Surely it is well understood these days? (and for those idiots who can't cope with children or adults who have SEN then a pair of odd socks won't help). I just don't get it.

[hazeyjane]

When I put the rare diseases day/global genes project on my FB status, I wasn't doing it so that I could show people how caring I am, I did it partly to show allegiance to other parents I know (through a Facebook page which is for parents of children with a rare genetic disease) and also because the friends I have on Facebook who have no experience of having a child with a genetic condition, will hopefully click on the link, and learn something.

I think getting children involved in this sort of thing is fantastic, we have raised money throughout the year for the Jeans for Genes project, through my dd's school, they and their friends have asked lots of questions about it, and every class did a lesson about genetic conditions etc.

[realnappiesmum]

I have a beautiful daughter with Downs Syndrome. I have loved seeing photos on Facebook group I am a member of for families of children with DS. Especially today of some many of our wonderful little ones and their families and friends wearing their odd socks. Wips is right,it does make us feel part of a community. It also so a very sad fact that so many decide to terminate when given a diagnosis of DS. Maybe if more people saw the joyous photos of our fantastic children wearing their odd socks today the % of those who terminate wouldn't be so heart breakingly high. Our little ones are fantastic and brilliant and tough little cookies odd socks or not. Any way of raising peoples awareness of this is fine in my book.

[Purple2012]

I like the kids do it and understand about people being different. I wouldn't wear odd socks though!

[Ilovesunflowers]

I don't know any schools who are doing anything for it. I know a lot of schools as I work in education.

[TumbleWeeds]

When he told me they were wearing odd socks for Downs Syndrome Awareness day, I asked him what the socks had to do with it (I had guessed but wanted to see what his understanding was). He said "We have to wear different socks because not everyone is the same and it's okay to be different".

Now that is really lovely :)

Just a shame that because of the the sparse coverage, very few people know about the meaning of the odd socks.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

I suppose if the schools are doing it and teaching the kids awareness, it can only be a good thing.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

It's not a 'facebook thing', all the school round here are doing it and they're having special assemblies to talk about what it's all about, I live next door to a school and my road was full of girls with their odd socks pulled up and boys wearing shorts and long socks this morning.

If it raises awareness and encourages discussion at a young age I can't see any negatives to it, really it's no different than genes for jeans day which is a big thing each year.

[sonora]

My son has DS (no odd socks today though!) Most people won't know that not only is it World DS Day today but Awareness week in the UK.

Lots of socks

Awareness week

Unfortunately coverage in the media is so poor I guess people think any little thing helps, especially if you can get your school or workplace involved.

[DigestivesWithCheese]

My DS has gone to school in odd socks today for this reason (every child in his school has been asked to do this and they are supposed to choose socks that are as different from each other as possible).

When he told me they were wearing odd socks for Downs Syndrome Awareness day, I asked him what the socks had to do with it (I had guessed but wanted to see what his understanding was). He said "We have to wear different socks because not everyone is the same and it's okay to be different". He then mentioned a close family member who has learning difficulties (not Downs Syndrome though). From that conversation, I think it's good for school age children to do, as long as the school follows it up by talking about the reasons behind the odd sock day.

[Ilovesunflowers]

Exactly Floggingmolly - no idea how they expect it to raise awareness or awareness of what.

[Floggingmolly]

I wear odd socks a lot of the time too. I haven't heard of this (not on fb), raise awareness in what sense?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

You can actually buy odd socks now.....as a pair

[Ilovesunflowers]

I wear odd socks regularly too. Especially black ones which are never the same shade as each other. I have given up trying to pair them.

I like facebook to keep up with people who I wouldn't necessarily ring, email or text but these 'like if...' posts are driving me barmier by the day.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Me and ds wear odd socks all the time, I can never be bothered pairing them.
Does that make us aware?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

So ridiculous isn't it.

I ignore all posts like that and YANBU, how the hell does wearing odd socks help any cause at all....apart from the poor sod who spends ages pairing the bloody things up !

[catgirl1976]

It's true Vito

I was

[VerySmallSqueak]

Maybe it doesn't raise awareness,unless people know why they're doing it.
But fair play to people who do this.At least they are trying to make a difference.
I suppose without publicity,once no one knew what a red nose signified.

[catgirl1976]

If I noticed someone wearing odd socks at work, I probably wouldn't say anything, assuming they had got dressed in a rush / in the dark. So I am not sure it's the best strategy to get people talking about downs.

[VitoCorleone]

"like if you wish cancer didnt exist"

Seriously? People post stuff like this to get "likes"

Im so glad im not and never have been on FB, it really sounds like its an attention seekers playground.

[WipsGlitter]

You're right it doesn't really do anything, but it gives them a sense of community and maybe helps them to talk more about what it's like to have a child with DS - like an ice breaker.

As for raising awareness, you only need to read some of the threads in here where people think a child with downs is some sort of life sentence. Something like 93% of women who find out they are expecting a child with Downs terminate the pregnancy, so there's something going wrong if that amount of people think it worth ending it.

I have a child with downs. I am not wearing odd socks.

[catgirl1976]

YANBU

Stuff like this does little to raise awareness.


And as for this FB things

I saw one the other day that said "like if you wish cancer didn't exist". Well I imagine that's pretty much everyone, but cancer isn't going to magically vanish at 100,000 likes. What on earth is the point

And I never have matching socks either

[Bluebell99]

I wear odd socks most days, so to be wearing a matching pair would be more unusual for me :) what was all that I'm going to sydney for 8 weeks about then?! I saw it, but didn't get it?!

[Ilovesunflowers]

Yes MrsKeitherRichards!

[Trills]

It does if you go around saying "look at me I am raising awareness" (which they probably will be, sigh)