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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think some people need to lighten up!

84 replies

daisy0chain · 18/03/2014 23:25

The makeup free selfie thing on FB.

Been on FB and seen a lot of comments saying 'what's the point, it won't cure breast cancer' etc etc.

Obviously it won't, it's about raising awareness. Ok so you might go in FB and see a bunch of girls with no make up but I see my entire news fees talking about breast cancer awareness.

It's amazing marketing for an amazing charity and best of all its free. It's coming up for the end of the financial year when a lot of people in companies are discussing which charity to support in the coming year.

I accept not everyone is up for having a pic of themselves minus the slap but it's a bit of fun to get people speaking about a good cause!

OP posts:
LtEveDallas · 19/03/2014 12:26

Remember the "Change your profile photo to a cartoon in aid of the NSPCC" FB game? That was 2 years ago.

I'm so glad that so many people did it, I mean, no child has been beaten, abused or killed since have they?...... oh, wait.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 19/03/2014 12:30

It's nothing to do with lightening up

This was not started by cancer research, it's a silly fb gimmick.

As someone who nursed their dying mum through lung cancer I feel there is nothing enlightening about cancer.....just donate quietly or do a sponosored even.......a photo with no slap on is just ridiculous and people are just doing it because they are a load of sheep.

KatnipEvergreen · 19/03/2014 12:30

I note there is a direct correlation with people posting the selfies on my timeline and those who write "So sad", so that others write "What's up, hun?"

Nuff said.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 12:32

I'm glad I don't have the people you lot have on your FB. I just assumed most would be posting along the same lines as the people I know.

OP posts:
LouiseSmith · 19/03/2014 12:42

I will tell my grandfather to lighten up when he was suffering day in day out with this horrific disease and I had to watch him disappear right in front of my eyes.

Cancer needs funding, there are many things we can do for awareness. Donate, fundraisers, fun days, running race, shaving heads, comedy nights.

Posting a picture on Facebook with no make up on is stupid. If the caption had "I'm insecure. Validate me" you wouldn't be impressed. It's a way of doing nothing but giving the right impression.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 12:46

I think it's quite clear the lighten up was regarding the people who focus more on how much they dislike the selfie

OP posts:
Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 12:50

And as I've said my news feed had been extremely different to some of those described here.

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Ginnytonic82 · 19/03/2014 12:54

I know that's what you meant daisy, but it does seem a bit flippant given the supposed purpose of the selfies is to raise awareness of one of the most horrific, painful, dehumanising disease, which many people will have been directly affected by. Could I also ask you to look at MissHobart's comment in the "to not get..."thread (can't link sorry on phone). It's the view of an actual cancer sufferer.

Joysmum · 19/03/2014 12:57

Threads like this have proved the campaign is working. Yes the message has got list for many, he'll I started off theirs morning being anti and really irritated by it.

Then I realised that all the selfies, even the ones without the message ARE raising awareness! They got me thinking from an attitude of annoyance and now I'm spreading the word that they should be spreading the message to check their breasts for abnormalities and donating if possible.

I don't care if you agree or not, hopefully you'll be talking about it, if only to moan about people who don't include the message and that does raise awareness and will result in people donating, even if you don't!

To think some people need to lighten up!
Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 12:58

As I have said Ginny I have been affected directly by the disease. I am acutely aware of how harrowing it can be.

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MammaTJ · 19/03/2014 12:58

I don't think it is appropriate to tell someone who is offended by this because they have cancer that they need to lighten up.

Do it/don't do it, no sking off my nose, but then I am not going through it.

I have one friend on my FB who has cancer and is offended by this, another who has cancer, did it and tagged me, so she wants me to do it.

Dilemma. Well, not really. I will do it and only show it to certain people and make a donation on pay day.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 12:59

Great post Joysmum

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Sallystyle · 19/03/2014 13:01

Lighten up?

My kids will come home from school soon, one will be depressed, on and off crying because he recently lost his father of cancer.

I will talk to his widow today, more than once and witness her pain while dealing with my own.

So no, I won't lighten up about doing stupid shit that doesn't raise awareness and treat cancer like it is some fucking game.

Ginnytonic82 · 19/03/2014 13:03

Sorry daisy I didn't mean to suggest that you were ignorant of cancer and it's effects, I worded my post badly. I meant to suggest that people may see the title as flippant as they will feel that as the selfies are supposed to promote awareness of cancer, the two are intrinsically linked. As such the term "lighten up" could be viewed as inappropriate, given the subject matter. Apologies again, I did not mean to criticise you personally.

whyyougottabe · 19/03/2014 13:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 13:04

As I have said many times the lighten up comment was to people focusing solely on the selfies.

I was a child when my Dad had cancer and personally I think that anything that will get anyone donating is a good thing.

I won't change my mind on that.

I am sorry for your childrens loss

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Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 13:06

whyyougottabe

I've seen people doing this too. It's a great idea. However maybe one that not so many would participate in without it having been all over FB.

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Sovaysovay · 19/03/2014 13:07

What's 'awareness' anyway? We all know it exists. What is this, a reminder? People don't die through not checking, they die because of postcode lotteries for treatments and because many drugs are too expensive for the NHS.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 13:07

It's ok I'm not offended Ginny

I apologise for anyone who has been offended by the title but the meaning of it has been taken out of context.

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Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 13:08

People don't die through not checking

Hmm Really sovay? That's a tad naive.

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 19/03/2014 13:36

Thing is I don't think people are donating. My fb feed is full of people posting selfies with loads of replies along the 'gorgeous pic hun', lines. No-one has mentioned anything about donating.

I want to ask in my status how many people putting up these pictures have actually donated any money too.

My Dad died of cancer btw.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 14:18

You could ask. You may get a few tactical big fat lie responses mind you.

Sorry for you loss. It's a bloody horrible disease.

OP posts:
littleballerina · 19/03/2014 14:35

Last time I logged on to fb today I had twenty something selfies on my time line and just two that mentioned donating.

Selfies are selfish imo. It's more about likes and look at me status' and nothing to do with awareness/ donations/ research.

Original poster
daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 14:42

Two more than would have without the selfies though possibly.

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littleballerina · 19/03/2014 14:49

True I suppose.