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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to do the ice bucket challenge

110 replies

rookiemater · 20/08/2014 08:48

The ice bucket challenge is sweeping our way from the US - I know because one of my friends has been nominated on FB and a bit like the no make up selfie they then choose someone else to nominate once done.

If you don't do it you're meant to donate $100 or whatever UK equivalent is to charity - not sure which charity it is but I'm sure it's a very worthwhile one.

I must be turning into an old curmudgeon as I can't think of anything worse to do. I don't want to be soaked and I don't want to give a huge chunk of money to a charity that I haven't chosen. I already do quite a lot for charity, but I hate being voluntold to do anything and I hate the way that being asked to do things or donate money seems to be all pervasive now.

WIBU to post on FB that if anyone asks me to do the Ice Bucket challenge I will refuse and that as I already donate to charity, I will not be doing the donation either? That way it saves people the bother of nominating me Grin?

OP posts:
FrankelandFilly · 20/08/2014 12:06

I'm waiting for Benedict Cumberbatch to do it after being nominated by Tom Hiddleston a few days ago. Apparently he's busy filming at the moment but his publicist ha said he will do it as soon as he gets a chance

It's worth saying that Benedict Cumberbatch is a patron of MNDA and has been since he worked with them in preparation for his role playing a young Stephen Hawking.

BomChickaMeowMeow · 20/08/2014 12:18

Has anyone nominated Jon Snow?

Should be no trouble, should it?

To refuse to do the ice bucket challenge
PPaka · 20/08/2014 12:20

My mum had a stroke after going in cold water

I just gave my last £20 to a friend who shaved her head for charity

I don't want to put a video of myself on Facebook or anywhere

I've given a lot to charity in my time. I have nothing to give right now

BomChickaMeowMeow · 20/08/2014 12:20

Richard Armitage has done it all before as well.

To refuse to do the ice bucket challenge
elliepac · 20/08/2014 12:22

I am doing the ice bucket challenge. I have posted it on Facebook. However I have not nominated anybody. I wouldn't dream of doing so as where people choose to spend/donate their money is an entirely personal decision. No-one nominated me to do it. I do it as a personal choice.

Motor Neurone Disease is a wicked illness. My uncle has been living with the disease for the last 10 years (the fact that he is still alive is a minor miracle in itself). It is an illness/ cause which does not garner the same public awareness as other equally wicked illnesses such as cancer and does not receive anywhere near the same amount of donations. The motor neurone association have been a complete lifeline for my uncle. They have funded equipment such as an electric wheelchair which allows him to have a fair degree of independence and carers to allow him to live independently. Without them i have no doubt he would be languishing in a care facility. And as, I am sure are aware, he is in no way ready for this as his mind is completely functioning, unfortunately his body much less so.

Myself, Dsis and DS are doing the ice bucket challenge and have asked friends and family if they could spare a couple of pounds via JustGiving. Those who are doing the challenge of personal publicity/gratification are wrong. But the sheer fact that this thread exists and that people are discussing MND goes to show there is a purpose as do the statistics given up thread as to the money raised.

Fwiw, I also think Mcmillan are wrong to jump on the challenge for their own charitable purposes. Having lost my father and consequent step father to cancer and seen my dsis battle womb cancer, I am more than aware of how devastating an illness it is and why funds are in perpetual need to fund research for an illness which blights and destroys many families. However, this wasn't their baby. And it should remain the preserve of a charity which much needs the awareness it is creating.

BomChickaMeowMeow · 20/08/2014 12:24

Yeah, MacMillan are great at marketing with coffee mornings and so on. Wrong to piggy-back and bad PR.

elliepac · 20/08/2014 12:25

Meant to say, fwiw i would ignore the nomination. I ignore 90% of what is posted on my facebook wall and you certainly not feel obliged to take part in something you do not want to.

NamesNick · 20/08/2014 12:27

I was nominated. I did the challenge. I donated.

I got the four kids to throw water over me and then I did it myself. it was funny and the children thought so too.

brightened up a sunday afternoon.

do it. dont do it. I wouldn't judge either way.

Groovee · 20/08/2014 12:45

I won't be doing it! I have a disability which when cold becomes a lot worse. But my son got nominated and he did it and I donated the £3 to MND the UK version as that was the one who I first saw it for.

EduCated · 20/08/2014 12:45

I read somewhere that having a bucket of icy water thrown over you is the closest feeling to ALS - does anyone know if there's any truth in that?

Eauneau · 20/08/2014 13:22

I know Inertia, I don't know why that didn't occur to me before, but I thought that once you were named, it had to be.

Say what now?! What did you think would happen if you didn't do it? Mark Zuckerberg would come round your house and arrest you? You wouldn't get the free iPad that Bill Gates was going to give you for liking some completely random post on Facebook?

If you want to do it, go for it - but if you don't, who cares?

Eauneau · 20/08/2014 13:26

I read somewhere that having a bucket of icy water thrown over you is the closest feeling to ALS - does anyone know if there's any truth in that?

Ah, I was going to ask why icy water. I thought it might be more to do with wanting to look sexy as the ice cold water drips off your firm topless body David Beckham

Dontgotosleep · 20/08/2014 13:31

N.Y.N.B.U. You can say no to anything. I refuse to do anything that I'd feel stupid doing whether it's for charity or not. I'll give money and that's it but making a fool of myself I would not do and I don't have to either.

Inertia · 20/08/2014 13:46

Roonerspism - you do know that you're allowed to donate to charities of your choice without anyone nominating you for anything, don't you?

icanmakeyouicecream · 20/08/2014 13:54

Or avoid all that cringey bollocks and just donate!

EduCated · 20/08/2014 23:07

Ah, Macmillan have posted a quite arsey defensive post on FB saying that they haven't hijacked it, nobody owns it etc Hmm

musicalendorphins2 · 21/08/2014 06:38

I am not dumping water on myself, but did make a donation of $20.00 to the Canadian one. It isn't much, but all those small amounts will add up.
Watch this video, I almost didn't, but am glad that I did.
www.upworthy.com/the-last-ice-bucket-challenge-you-need-to-see-and-you-really-should-see-it?g=2

AggressiveBunting · 21/08/2014 06:56

It is a bitch move by Macmillan in my opinion. It's put me right off them. Cancer charities already get such a massive slice of the individual donation market- it wouldn't kill them to leave something on the table for someone else.

StickyProblem · 21/08/2014 10:02

Musical that video is amazing, really shows what it's all about.

DizzyKipper · 21/08/2014 10:10

Completely irrelevant to the OP but I've been struggling for 10mins to remember something that I was meant to be doing and this thread has reminded me, check the bank balance! So thankyou Grin

miffy22 · 21/08/2014 10:15

I don't often post but my DMIL had MND for 2 years before it beat her - it's truly horrid as she became trapped in her own body :-( I'm very cross that MacMillian have hijacked it - there's a UK MND charity that would hugely benefit from any donations - they really helped us when DMIL was ill & it's a real shame that a bigger unrelated UK charity have taken over the US MND challenge as theirs.

www.mndassociation.org

AlleyCat11 · 21/08/2014 10:20

Don't do it if you're not into it. FB is so much about following the crowd, one can feel like a weirdo not doing so. I don't like the ice bucket thing either, but luckily am not on FB anymore. I remember hating the no make-up selfie. The whole concept is insulting to women. Nobody tagged me thank God. I would have kicked up! I do my own charity stuff, don't want to be chugged online. It works for charities, no doubt, but you don't have to feel bad about not joining in.

itsbetterthanabox · 21/08/2014 10:31

You do realise the point of it is to feel horrible? Confused do you think everyone else loves having ice water thrown at them? You don't have to do it of course but the point is to make a sacrifice. I would just donate some money it doesn't need to be a specific amount. It isn't relevant at all imo that you 'already donate to charities' they aren't all just one homogenous lump.

lljkk · 21/08/2014 11:31

The ones in California got ticked off for wasting water, and to be honest, I agree with the criticism.

Don't care about it otherwise.

Crinkle77 · 21/08/2014 11:39

Just don't do it. You don't have to give to charity or to any particular charity so don't let peer pressure force you in to doing anything you don't want to.