The ice bucket challenge

There is an interesting social study to be made here about the power of peer pressure.
A lot of folks are not only vain but want to make sure their friends don't think they're assholes.
Everyone wants to be the hero of their own social media account.

 

I should pitch it to BuzzFeed to earn a cool $10-20. As to my comment, it was geared to those who are choosing different charities instead of ALS.

 

I guess we can all feel better knowing this stunt was inspired by Jackass and donating to charity was not part of why the challenge was issued. The ALS Association was fortunate enough to be the charity of choice when it went viral.

 

Recall the C*cks in Socks selfies for testicular cancer.
That one was more fun for the ladies, but petered out pretty quickly.

 

Interesting article

http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/articles/charities-seek-their-own-ice-bucket-1408407006

Hell - I'm surprised the Red Cross hasn't started an "I bleed for the Red Cross" campaign for blood donations.

Always thought the shaved head for cancer and Locks of Love was a cool thing.

 

I wondered about this ...
I first saw the challenge late spring or early summer, but it was for VFDs.

 

My (non-profit) radio station floated the idea of doing an ice bucket challenge this week during out "Summer of ShareAThon" where people could donate money and pick a DJ that had to get doused.
I said I didn't think it would look good for us to try to capitalize on a viral event that is supposed get people to give money to charity, not a radio station. I think it would be really tone deaf on our part.

 

A bunch of TV and radio stations in my area are having their staffs do it. So did the major metro. I have to film a preview show for high school football later this week, and I'm afraid my ME is going to suggest we do it.
I'd just as soon plank, Tebow or Dufner, or whatever the hell the internet meme of the week is.

 

From what I see on Facebook, a lot of people are skipping the donation thing and doing only the ice bucket challenge. Because "Hey, look at me, now I'm doing it, too."

 

The compilation of people failing to do it is pretty good.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1t2zn7Ve0bw&feature=youtu.be

 

I accepted the challenge. I posted my video on Facebook and challenged three others. Didn't mention whether I donated a cent because I didn't feel it was necessary. Was proud to be a part of the move to raise awareness.

For the record, I did contribute.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Donations during the 22-day run have hit $22.9 million. That is impressive, though it is slightly below the $23.5 million the national chapter raised -- for all of 2013.

 

I've been challenged to do this twice and I've refused to do it twice.
It's not that I'm against the concept of giving money to fight ALS. What I am against is the forced social pressure of giving to a specific charity simply because they managed to get labeled "cool" and socially-approved in this viral experiment on online peer pressure.
So thanks to those of you have done it. It's cool to see so much money being raised.
But, no, I will not be participating.