The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - Good Idea or Not?
ThisGeneration
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I only heard about this yesterday, but there's a new viral video craze called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
The idea is you post a video of dumping a bucket of ice water over yourself and then challenge others to do the same. This isn't a pointless craze though - it's to raise awareness and money for the ALS Association.
Here is their site: http://www.alsa.org
There are some that think that this is a great idea and will raise awareness of ALS and money for ALSA, but others think that it's stupid and say people would be better off donating to ALSA instead.
An article for the IBC:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/12/stop-hating-on-the-ice-bucket-challenge-its-raised-millions-of-dollars-for-charity/
And one against:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/08/12/icebucketchallenge_you_don_t_need_an_ice_bucket_to_donate_to_als_research.html
At first I thought it was a good idea, after all it is raising money and awareness for charity. But I'm starting to think it's getting a bit silly now and it's going to turn into just another pointless viral video craze the longer it goes on.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it a good idea or is it just an excuse for some people to get attention and be liked on social media?
The idea is you post a video of dumping a bucket of ice water over yourself and then challenge others to do the same. This isn't a pointless craze though - it's to raise awareness and money for the ALS Association.
Here is their site: http://www.alsa.org
There are some that think that this is a great idea and will raise awareness of ALS and money for ALSA, but others think that it's stupid and say people would be better off donating to ALSA instead.
An article for the IBC:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/12/stop-hating-on-the-ice-bucket-challenge-its-raised-millions-of-dollars-for-charity/
And one against:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/08/12/icebucketchallenge_you_don_t_need_an_ice_bucket_to_donate_to_als_research.html
At first I thought it was a good idea, after all it is raising money and awareness for charity. But I'm starting to think it's getting a bit silly now and it's going to turn into just another pointless viral video craze the longer it goes on.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it a good idea or is it just an excuse for some people to get attention and be liked on social media?
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Someone died after completing the challenge - they suffered a cardiac arrest.
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/562384/20140812/ansel-elgort-ice-bucket-challenge-als-fund.htm#.U-uwoZK9LCQ
There were apparently other factors involved.
"Willis Tepania, a 40-year-old father from Kaitaia, took the "ice challenge" on Saturday night. He is believed to have then consumed a large quantity of Jim Beam bourbon in a matter of minutes .. possibly as much as a full-litre bottle"
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11291475
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2Dvove7VT4
There is a young man who is going out in public and trying to stay alive until his baby is born.
If people want to do the challenge as well as donate, it's a bit of fun on top.
Liking the Deathstroke t-shirt
Agree. That's the point of it all, drawing attention to a good cause to combat a debilitating, fatal disease in a fun way. I know the juxtaposition is jarring, but that's what gets all the attention. The original idea was to either donate money to fight ALS *or* have a bucket of ice water thrown over your head, But, of course, most people do both.
Of course its a good idea. Anything to raise awareness is a good idea. Plus have you seen the names of the celebrities, athletes, and business tycoons taking part? Even the POTUS was hit up by Lebron James to do it (he declined but donated to charity). That is a lot of people with the ability to capture the public's attention.
Did you ever know anyone with ALS?
So that means that all the celebs doing the soakings are actually costing the charity £90 a time by choosing to take the cheap option. Tightwads.
Mmm I saw Taylor Swift put in $600 for the people who were doing it with her. In addition if everyone nominates someone, that adds up to a lot.
1. You're falling into the trap of believing that idiotic behaviour on social media "raises awareness" of anything. Even (or perhaps I should say especially some of those who have some of the diseases that supposedly inspire thes crazes get irritated by them. At least posting a photograph of yourself without/with make-up is harms nobody, unlike this one.
I saw the iced-water thing on the news a few times and got the vague impression it was in aid of motor neurone disease (reading their page, is it the US name for the same thing?). I never heard ALS mentioned (never heard of it before) and I never heard Lou Gehrig mentioned (never heard of him before).
Edit : it would be quite instructional to get the accountants on this - how many videos versus how much money actually genuinely paid in real money rather than grandiose 'pledge'.
Yes, because what a wonderful thing it would be for humanity to wipe out all the people who care about good causes.
$13.3 million versus $1.7 million for the same three week time period last year.
It's clearly raising awareness. I didn't know what ALS is before, now I do. So I'm officially aware. Now you can debate the level of awareness and perhaps argue that whilst people know what ALS is few actually understand the details. But I think with fund raising you generally don't need to know all the specifics for it to be valuable to the charity and attract donations. Just getting people talking about it or thinking about it is a success.
I think some of the celebs could have perhaps done a better job such as speaking briefly about ALS prior to the challenge. I think Bill Gates did that. But I don't have a problem with the challenge personally. It's been a huge success for the charity. I'd rather see someone actually DO something than just wake up in the morning and take a photo of themselves without make up.
In a way it's the perfect social media campaign. It's short, it's effective and it encourages people to watch. I mean who doesn't want to see someone drenched in ice water. It's entertaining. And the challenging 3 people bit is genius because that ensures it will spread rapidly and celebs will always nominate other celebs.. so very quickly you have a highly effective viral awareness campaign.
You're talking about it.
As a supportive point, I've seen a lot of people chucking buckets of water around, celebrities and otherwise and have read this thread, and I still don't know what ALS stands for
Yes, I know some people have provided links but so far the majority haven't and no one has bothered to explain it.
also isnt the point of the thing that some rich guy is gonna donate 100 bucks for every video posted, and those posting vids are too tight to actually donate hence them copping out and posting vid
the challenge is donnate 100$ or ice bucket , most vids ive saw is just water in those buckets
No one required anyone to hurt themselves during the challenge. People die during marathons too. It's sounding like celebrity envy to me. All those people who still look hot soaking wet.
I think celebrities coming out on various issues does raise awareness and takes some of the stigma off illnesses that people don't want to talk about.
You should read the links then.
It's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurogenerative disease that basically wastes away the muscles while leaving the mind intact. It's a very hard way to die, and some people choke on their own saliva because they can't swallow. It used to be nicknamed the nice person's disease because many of the persons afflicted were so nice, literally, caring about you when they are suffering. The survival time for most is not that long. Many people with the illness hide away. That's why the challenge was so important. Lou Gehrig was a famous baseball player who had it. I noticed a number of athletes who became afflicted.
I don't know why the millions won't get to the charity any more or less than other events. Celebrities have bookkeepers. It can spark interest in research too.
Movie stars, singers, musicians, public authorities are taking part in the challenge and it is proving to be hugely successful! Especially when the likes of Justin Bieber are asking his fans to get involved - his Twitter following alone is HUGE so imagine the potential for individuals to donate to the charity.
Everyone is aware of how this could be deemed as dangerous but we all know our limits and I think it is important to remain safe in these viral campaigns. All in all it is a great way to unite and all too often we hear negative news followed by more negative news. Isn't it about time we all had a little more fun and raised awareness for charities that change lives?
I heard this evening that Car Fox from CARFAX took the nomination and nominated the Energizer Bunny! Brilliant idea and definitely my favorite nomination yet! http://www.carfax.com/blog/car-fox-takes-als-ice-bucket-challenge/
And what is this 'baseball' thing that keeps getting mentioned?