To be annoyed with the ice challenges...

[MM5]

I am all for charity. I consider, pick and choose charities to support and do that in a way I see fit.

I am annoyed by people making the presumption of challenging me or others to this ice bucket thing that should be done within 24 hours.

I may get flamed here. But, a friend did the challenge and then just publically announced on FB that she challenged me without warning! WTH?! In addition, I am so against this way of raising money through public embarresment, that I refuse to reply! Now she is mad at ME!

Grrrrrrrr!

Am I being unreasonable?

I have no intention of participating, even if someone 'nominates' me. Fortunately my facebook friends all seem to be more sensible than some people. I can see that it has raised a lot of money, but I have no interest in being doused in freezing water or being filmed to be on the internet. I donate quite a bit to various charities, and don't like being held to ransom to donate to a specific one (not that I don't believe that ALS is a worthy cause, but my charity donations tend to go to projects that are particularly close to my own heart, rather than the latest bandwagon).

It might be effective at raising money but I've seen little evidence that it raises the profile of the charity. I'm not even sure who it is for - I've heard ALS but I have no idea what that is. Yes, I could google - but my point is that it isn't raising awareness. I suspect few donations have been made either.

just be thankful you are not a celeb! Can you imagine the press if George W Bush had refused.

YANBU i bloodly hate being cold.

I think it is absolutely raising awareness, I didn't know what it was - now I do (motor neurone disease in the UK). And the amount of money raised this year with all this publicity is enormous, I think last year they raised $50k, they are now well into the millions of $$$/£££.

Frankly anything that means we get to see Tom Hiddleston (and hopefully Benedict Cumberbatch should he actually get on with it grrrrrr) in a wet T-shirt gets my vote. But I'm very shallow (and I haven't been nominated myself).

I'd heard Obama has declined but will be donating.

If the queen was nominated to you think shed do it????? Actually, prince Philip probably would, and then end up in hospital
with pneumonia.

I was getting annoyed by all the ice bucket challenges too - none of my facebook friends were even filming their own but were just re-posting celebrity challenges. One friend however re-posted this video and it changed my outlook. Over $31,000,000 has been raised for ALS/MND through the ice bucket challenge and it is such a horrible disease that has to be a good thing.

I do find it horrible though that in this country the donations are now being changed to other charities such as Macmillian etc. The campaign was to raise awareness of a disease which is not very known about and which does not manage to raise large amounts of money to aid research and it doesn't sit right with me that charities which are already regularly in the public eye and already have huge amounts of money donated to them are hijacking this to raise money. Of course any money given to any charity is great but the purpose of the challenge, to raise awareness of ALS/MND, seems to have been lost here somewhat.

By the way I do recommend watching this video (watch it to the end) to see what the ice bucket challenge is all about, and donate to ALS/MND if you can (with or without pouring a bucket of ice water over your head).

chesterberry

A very eloquent post explaining what the ice bucket challenge is all about.

MND is an awful disease, I saw it take the life of a close family member within a very short timeframe. It left them bedridden, unable to move, eat or talk.

So as much as I feel angry when I see posts like this, criticising the ice bucket challenge. I have to remember it might make people more aware of this disease and give them a reason to donate to MNDA and help find a cure.

How can anyone not be aware of motor neurone disease? It's like saying you've never heard of Stephen Hawking.

MacMillan Cancer Care seems to have taken it over in the UK though and half my fb dont even know who they are donating too as ALS has been mentioned too. I havent been nominated but dd (10) has - I've told her she doesnt have to do it as I wouldnt want to do it either.

I know I am supposed to accept that they are raising a lot of money for a good cause but why do 90% of them do their bucket challenge in front of their HUGE swimming Pools?

Tbf the op didnt say she disagreed with the charity or even the challenge she just didnt want to be badgered into doing it and made to feel guilty or a killjoy for not joining In and again these badgerers are not even that bothered about the terrible disease some of them are just showing off and how dare other charities nick this idea

I should have said - I didn't know what ALS was or that they were having a big push in raising money. Not that I didn't know what motor neuron disease was .

I'm all for good causes. I really am. But I do feel a lot of celebrities couldn't give a hoot about the charity and just want to show off their 'bikini bodies' and how do-goodery they are. Yes I'm a sour, grumpy cynic, sorry.
I don't like the pressure of the nomination thing either. I was the only one of my friends on Fb who didn't do the no-make-up selfie. On principle. I could not be a sheep.

Fuck yeah, it's awful that Macmillan have raised enough money through this to fund three nurses for a year, how bloody dare they.

Donate or don't donate, tip ice water over your head or don't, but how about not getting pissy about money raised that will ultimately help support people living with cancer. If you care more about MND, then set up a regular DD to them. Nobody is forcing anyone to do anything.

I agree with you olive I am just as grumpy and cynical as you are.

It's only reading on this thread that I even know what the ice bucket challenge is all about!

What I find depressing is how it has become all 'me, me, me' and that people only donate to charity by doing something that draws attention to themselves and they can say 'look at me, I've donated some money'.
Whatever happened to sponsoring other people to take part in events and quietly donating money that way?

I'm happy that charities are reaping in the donations, but it says so much about the narcissism of today. Social scientists must be having a field day.

RiverTam I have just seen the Benedict Cumberbatch one. Have you seen it yet?

several times

There are various issues with the ice bucket challenge.

It is donor-centric - about the person doing the challenge not the cause/charity.
It is rewarding good marketing and not about people making conscious, informed choices about who to give to.
Massive campaigns like this do mean that people give less to other charities. Better hope ALS has the most cost efficient, important research lined up.
It 'rewards' not giving. That's a message!

Just send her this picture.

I agree, it is all ridiculous. Just give the money to charity without wasting water

David Niven died from MND. You can tell how it affected his appearance by looking at photographs taken over a few years. It's devastating for such active people - well, for everyone who suffers.

He was terrific and, for those who have never heard of him because you are too young, he was an iconic British film star - and jolly good looking as well. Google his name to see his photos and learn about what films he was in.

Happy have you read his autobiography? It's really funny and interesting.

I thought I read that you supposedly do the IBC or donate.

is that right?

Because I'm thinking is anyone donating of just pissing about with icy water?

I won't do it because I have a heart condition & wouldn't waste the water.