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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find the "breast cancer awareness" Facebook status thing unfunny and stupid?

92 replies

Fillyjonk75 · 11/08/2013 23:36

As far as I'm aware no breast cancer charity supports this and it's no better than a chain letter. If you want to help prevent cancer, give money to a charity. Last year it was appalling as the status updates could mislead friends and family into thinking you were pregnant, and this year it's all about getting them to think you are about to take an extended trip abroad. At best it falls flat, and at worst it could cause real upset.

OP posts:
numbum · 11/08/2013 23:38

Yanbu. Its embarrassing when someone replies to 'I'm off to Paris for 4 weeks' with 'I am glad. You deserve a break. Keep in touch'!

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/08/2013 23:42

My DM raises money for a cancer charity. Every weekend she does her thing, she's raised thousands. Oddly, she never feels the need to post her bra colour or some vaguebooking nonsense like that. YANBU, OP.

IneedAyoniNickname · 11/08/2013 23:42

They're going round in circles, i had the x months and craving y one 2 years ago.(literally within a few weeks of gettting back with dcs dad - that was funny trying to explain to him without telling him!) And the off to a for b months last year, but they are going round again and again. I'm.bored now.

MrsSippy · 11/08/2013 23:44

I've seen all this bollix on facebook, but haven't got a scooby what it's all about...can you clue me in?

TheFillyjonk · 11/08/2013 23:45

From one Fillyjonk to another, I completely agree. There was one particularly twattish one with a message being passed around that said the purpose was to "confuse men, not that it's that difficult lol". It's absolute crap - if you want to support breast cancer, write a proper message and say what you mean.

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2013 23:46

It's fucking stupid and was clearly thought up by a dimwit

They're supposed to be making people aware of breast cancer by encouraging people to type secret status'.

Yeah > good job.

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2013 23:48

Yes exactly...the 'it's supposed to confuse men' is breathtakingly sexist and downright dismissive of men's feelings.

It's as though men have never ever been affected by breast cancer...whether it's their own breasts or those of a loved one.

If you're going to raise awareness (and hopefully money) you do it by getting everyone on board...both male and female.

TheMagicKeyCanFuckOff · 11/08/2013 23:50

Why basically hide what you're doing in nonsense? If you want to increase breast cancer awareness, just say it right out, no confusion, nothing like that- just give the facts or what you want to say, not this ffs.

Winter123 · 11/08/2013 23:53

YANBU, OP. I'm sick of them!

Its extremely patronising to men and it also ignores the fact that men can and do suffer from breast cancer as well .

TheFillyjonk · 11/08/2013 23:53

Isn't it, Worra? I couldn't believe that the makers of these statuses thought it was apt to exclude and ridicule men.

I just don't understand how covert rubbish about where you put your handbag is raising awareness for breast cancer. Raising awareness for breast cancer is talking about it.

Winter123 · 11/08/2013 23:54

Oops slightly x-post there, worra

WorraLiberty · 11/08/2013 23:57

It's just preying on the sheep mentality of people with internet connection (of which there are sadly far to many).

The sort of people who take part in this are the sort of people who 'click like if you hate cancer'.

StuntGirl · 11/08/2013 23:58

I had an argument with a friend in the pub the other night about this. I think it's fucking stupid beyond belief and it makes me angry that people blindly follow it like lemmings.

WorraLiberty · 12/08/2013 00:01

Lemmings...that's the word I couldn't think of.

And to think most of them are supposedly adults.

AnyOldFucker · 12/08/2013 00:01

I absolutely don't understand it

I had one from a FB acquaintance

I thought she was off to Bahrain for 6 months or summat

I actually couldn't be arsed to ask what she meant, but it confused me and some more rather more vulnerable family members

is it meant to piss people off on purpose ? Confuse men ? How exactly does that help breast cancer ?

JessicaBeatriceFletcher · 12/08/2013 00:03

I actually posted a rant about this on my own Facebook, pointing out that not only was it sexist with its whole "don't tell the men bollocks" (bearing in mind get affected when their partners are diagnosed and men can actually get breast cancer too) but that at least one cancer charity has spoken out and said they believe it serves no useful purpose.

I got loads of "likes" and positive comments and people sharing it on their own wall. But there was, of course, one person who took offence and said "but it's fun". Moron.

WorraLiberty · 12/08/2013 00:03

I think it's because the unthinking fuckwit lemmings (thanks again stuntgirl) think that breast cancer is a bit of an 'All girls together' sort of affair.

It couldn't possibly affect silly men or smelly boys.

AnyOldFucker · 12/08/2013 00:05

In the women I have known personally in RL affected by breast cancer, the men in their lives have responded with nothing but care, concern and exemplary behaviour

I don't geddit

WorraLiberty · 12/08/2013 00:07

I expect it gives them something to do between tending their virtual farms and playing candy crush...

StuntGirl · 12/08/2013 00:08

It was a guy I argued with; he thinks 'raising awareness is brilliant!' I pointed out we hardly need to raise awareness for fucking breast cancer, we all know about it and this 'campaign' serves no purpose. It just says "Hey! Breast cancer!" No links to support, no links to donating, no links to how people can actively help, nothing at fucking all except some 'Tee hee! Isn't this silly and fun?" bullshit.

lurkedtoolong · 12/08/2013 00:09

And it's an easy way to get someone's date of birth. Probably the same silly fools who answer the questionnaires about your pets' names, mum's maiden name etc...

AnyOldFucker · 12/08/2013 00:10

There is that telly advert too

"Cancer ! Be scared! We are going to kick your arse !!

Or summat.

leaves me cold, because it is empty words

WorraLiberty · 12/08/2013 00:10

Yeah there was a similarly stupid viral thing this evening about a child going missing in Devon.

No name, no photo, no details. No-one really knew if she actually was missing...or indeed if she'd been found.

But it didn't stop everyone sharing it...

Winter123 · 12/08/2013 00:13

AnyOldFucker I hate hate hate that advert! I find it so insulting. I have lost friends and very close family members to cancer, the advert seems to make out that cancer is a person and that they weren't strong enough to fight back...

Oh, I don't think I'm explaining myself very well. I just know that advert infuriates me!!

Doodledumdums · 12/08/2013 00:14

I am so glad you started this thread as I feel exactly the same way!!

If people spent their energies on actually RAISING MONEY rather than plastering facebook with 'I'm going to Jamaica for 2 years,' then maybe we'll get somewhere.

And the confusing men thing is totally baffling. Why?! Surely if awareness is what they are after, then it is best that the 'message' reaches everyone?

Grrrrr!