Im so over this Ice Bucket Challenge

[Jennasis]

That's great that you've gotten so much rain. California has been in a drought for several years. There are fines for watering your lawn outside of set hours, washing the driveway, and a number of other water wasters.

You may think it doesn't affect you, but California produces a significantly large amount of produce (over 90% of a wide variety of green veg are from CA), not to mention nuts and rice, for the rest of the country.

I'm not saying ending the ice bucket challenge will reverse the water problem, but it's like hurting one cause to help another imo. And as another poster pointed out, it is mostly teens doing this, and many are just thinking of the fun, not the cause. What lesson are they learning about conservation from this?

Then maybe those in California should refrain. Or grab a bucket of ocean water.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't see anything wrong with how you are handling it, here or IRL. I hope I didn't come across differently.

As for the tween you called you out, I'd just explain your take on the challenge to him/her. It's great for kids to learn that just because they're caught up in something, it does not mean that everyone else needs to be as well, and that not participating does not equal not caring about that or other causes.

Thanks--that is just exactly how I plan to handle it and no, you did not come off as critical of me or those of us who do not like the campaign; Tax Guy is the one who said those of us who do not like being called out are putting him and those who do the challenge down. I do not think that is the case and wanted to respond to that--I should have quoted.

This is my first post on DISboards although I have learned so much from the wonderful people on this site over the years. I find this thread very timely in light of the long overdue increase in ALS awareness. My 38 yr old daughter has been fighting this disease for over a year, and it has turned our world upside down. Yet she continues to be the best wife, mother to her 2yr old and 5 yr old sons, daughter, sister and member of her community that she possibly can be. This ugly disease has taken her Arms, Legs, and Speech, but she is determined to create memories for her boys. We have been a Disney family for over 30 yrs and are hoping to visit as a family again in November. I want you all to know that this ice bucket challenge..as 'silly' as it may seem, ..has put a bit more hope in her eyes !!!

And yes, you can be sure that I will appreciate any advice that I find here that will help us with a very different WDW vacation !!

Welcome to the DIS. I am terribly sorry that your daughter has to deal with this, and you have to see her suffer.
And, I am glad that there is more money and awareness for this--as I would be for any illness that needs more research funding and public awareness.
I just wish it had been done a little differently is all. I hope you realized I can not like the campaign while still supporting those with ALS.

 

[declansdad]

I'm not saying ending the ice bucket challenge will reverse the water problem, but it's like hurting one cause to help another imo. And as another poster pointed out, it is mostly teens doing this, and many are just thinking of the fun, not the cause. What lesson are they learning about conservation from this?

Really? You seem to be over-reacting a bit.

As for only teens doing this, I have watched for more adults take up the challenge than teens and kids.

 

[Mkrop]

That's great that you've gotten so much rain. California has been in a drought for several years. There are fines for watering your lawn outside of set hours, washing the driveway, and a number of other water wasters.

You may think it doesn't affect you, but California produces a significantly large amount of produce (over 90% of a wide variety of green veg are from CA), not to mention nuts and rice, for the rest of the country.

I'm not saying ending the ice bucket challenge will reverse the water problem, but it's like hurting one cause to help another imo. And as another poster pointed out, it is mostly teens doing this, and many are just thinking of the fun, not the cause. What lesson are they learning about conservation from this?

Mostly teens are you kidding me...this has people from all walks of life doing it, from CEOs and stars to everyday folks SAHMs to engineers to oncologists to accountants.

And once again no one has to waste water to do this, do it in your pool, use the water that you are going to water your lawn with during the times allowed, do it in your bathtub and use that water to bathe etc. There are ways if you want to do the challenge that are still environmentally friendly. Heck Martha Stewart did hers at the hair salon before she got her hair done, wet her hair and done.

 

[Lisaren]

I don't really care what cause is being promoted by this. My husband participated in the one jumping into cold water the beginning of the summer. The gimmick was - you are called out (it was really big in the fire fighter/emergency services in our area), by someone who knows you. They state you can do the challenge, post it on facebook, and donate $10 dollars to the selected charity or donate $100 to the selected charity. My husband and one of his brother fire fighters jumped in a local lake (so no wasted water there) and donated $10 to the charity picked by the person who called them out. My husband called out five of his friends and asked for donations to a burn charity of their choice (for his sister - who was badly burned as a teenager) or to pick a charity close to their hearts. Local charities received a huge increase in donations during this time period and it was great fun.

 

[TAX GUY]

Do you understand the meaning of the word "prude"? Good for you for donating to a good cause. I also donate to good causes but don't need ice water dumped on me to do so.

Sorry, "prude" was the first thing that came to mind. Obviously per the definition it doesn't fit. I should have said Kill Joy or party pooper.

And I didn't need to dump the ice water either to donate. I decided to do it in the spirit of "the challenge". Clearly I should have just donated and not asked any friends to consider doing the same. I should have also not mentioned here that I did so others wouldn't feel obligated to do the same or be subject to public humiliation.

 

[MouseClubMama]

This challenge cannot be called extortion when you obviously have willing participants.There are many young people who are having fun with this, but I think there are those who are using the challenge as an opportunity to embarrass their friends via Facebook. I refer to it as extreme fund raising, and these days it seems as though this is what it takes to get attention for a charity. Personally, I would donate, because the bucket of ice water would put me into shock.

 

[CaliBear]

Really? You seem to be over-reacting a bit.

As for only teens doing this, I have watched for more adults take up the challenge than teens and kids.

I'm not overreacting. I didn't tell anyone not to do this. I just think it's a little weird. I offered my opinion why I think that, having had to follow water rationing in CA for many years my brain just thinks a little differently on the matter, I guess. I think you are maybe overreacting to my opinion.

 

[KennesawNemo]

If I ever get challenged, I would just put a link to ALS Association on my facebook page. It serves the purpose of raising awareness as well.

 

[TAX GUY]

Thanks--that is just exactly how I plan to handle it and no, you did not come off as critical of me or those of us who do not like the campaign; Tax Guy is the one who said those of us who do not like being called out are putting him and those who do the challenge down. I do not think that is the case and wanted to respond to that--I should have quoted.

Huh? Please, go back and quote me where I said that, Pretty sure I said I challenged several of my friends and some accepted and others did not. So what? I couldn't care less if you or anyone else declines or ignores the challenge. There are plenty of requested donations I decline for a number or personal reasons. I simply requested to my friends to participate and if they couldn't or didn't want, so be it.

 

[declansdad]

I was never into it so there isn't anything to get over. If someone wants to give to charity than just give. Don't bully others into doing the same. We all have causes near to dear to our hearts. I don't go around trying to make others feel guilty for not giving to my causes, please grant me the same consideration.

There are many terminal diseases much less known and funded than als. Will they be championed as well?

Bullies and extortionists.


No one is being forced in to doing the challenge. It is no different than a charity canvassing for donations, you are always free to say no.

 

[declansdad]

I'm not overreacting. I didn't tell anyone not to do this. I just think it's a little weird. I offered my opinion why I think that, having had to follow water rationing in CA for many years my brain just thinks a little differently on the matter, I guess. I think you are maybe overreacting to my opinion.

To compare this event to water rationing in California is a pretty big stretch. As others have pointed out, there are plenty of ways to do this without wasting water if it is that big of a concern.

 

[CaliBear]

Mostly teens are you kidding me...this has people from all walks of life doing it, from CEOs and stars to everyday folks SAHMs to engineers to oncologists to accountants.

And once again no one has to waste water to do this, do it in your pool, use the water that you are going to water your lawn with during the times allowed, do it in your bathtub and use that water to bathe etc. There are ways if you want to do the challenge that are still environmentally friendly. Heck Martha Stewart did hers at the hair salon before she got her hair done, wet her hair and done.

Exactly. When I first heard about it, I thought for sure that I'd see people doing the challenge in ways that reuse the water, but that really hasn't been what I've seen. As I've quickly realized, I think differently than most on this topic. I think I'm the only person on the thread who mentioned water at all.

 

[Nancy]

ALS foundation is reporting record breaking donations in the last month....plus its kind of funny to see your friends/family/celebrities (hello Tim Mcgraw) do it. Mickey Mouse was nominated by an pro athlete, can't remember who but I'm looking forward to Disney's response. Its all in good fun. If you are nominated and don't want to do it, then ignore it.

exactly...no one is holding a gun to your head. I'm having fun watching the videos of people getting ice water dumped on them. My cousin fought ALS for close to 12 years. I already donate money to them and I personally would not dump ice water over my head.

To me this is no different than the whole "think pink" and everything being pink ribbons. It draws attention to a horrible disease that needs research.

BTW..loved Tim Mcgraws ice dump.

 

[LBIJim]

This is how it was presented to me as well.

Personally, the gimmick is, well, a gimmick. Not my thing, but I know it gets attention, so whatever. BUT the "challenge" or "calling out" part really bothers me.

I don'T like any sort of chain letter or take off thereof--things like "most people will not repost this, but if you care about XYZ you will" and certainly not things that publicly name people and put them in the position of "having to" donate to your particular cause or else risk looking like cold hearted jerks. The charity has made a lot of money by setting things up this way, but I think it is a bad way to go about it and will not be a part. I'll send my money to charities I care about, that also get high ratings for spending on programs and not admin (which, I admit this one does) and do NOT coerce people into donations, or encourage others to do that for them.

Go ahead and call me a killjoy; I don't mind

. Great response.

I saw on the news Friday that last year barely over a million dollars was raised for this disease, but BECAUSE of this "bucket challenge" over 9.5 million has been raised so far THIS year!!! :

Yep, and next year the donations will fall to a million again. As soon as the next trendy charity du jour comes along, people will forget all about ALS, if they ever knew what it was begin with. Celebrities will move on to the new cause de celebre to keep themselves in the news.

I must admit some good has come out of this ridiculous campaign. It's great fun reading the posts complaining about the killjoys.

Jim K
Ph.D in Killjoyness

 

[declansdad]

Yep, and next year the donations will fall to a million again. As soon as the next trendy charity du jour comes along, people will forget all about ALS, if they ever knew what it was begin with. Celebrities will move on to the new cause de celebre to keep themselves in the news.

I must admit some good has come out of this ridiculous campaign. It's great fun reading the posts complaining about the killjoys.

Jim K
Ph.D in Killjoyness

And if this was never thought up, ALS wouldn't have received this bump. So what if people move on to another charity, it still increased the amount of money ALS received this year.

 

[CaliBear]

To compare this event to water rationing in California is a pretty big stretch. As others have pointed out, there are plenty of ways to do this without wasting water if it is that big of a concern.

No, it isn't a stretch. See article.

http://dailycurrant.com/2014/08/15/...ket-challenge-participants-for-wasting-water/

I agree there are ways to do it without waste. I have not seen a majority do so.

 

[sophiagymgall]

I was not aware that the people who chose the ice bucket option were supposed to donate $10 to the foundation - I am pretty sure that none of my friends (early 20s) have actually done that. In my circle, this challenge has been just another way for people to feel good about themselves and make themselves look good on social media without doing anything that might actually help. Kind of like the "like to support this sick child" thing that used to happen on FB, except more obnoxious and attention-whoring.

As a whole, though, the concept is clearly successful in raising awareness and bringing in money for the foundation, so kudos to them. I think it was very smart of them to create a viral movement on social media, as this is the easiest and fastest way to reach people nowadays. People want to be in on the current trends and participate in whatever craze is going on, and exploiting that type of narcissism for a good cause was a brilliant idea.

With that said, if I get challenged, I will be donating to the foundation - probably not $100 as that's too much for a broke grad student like myself , but something still. I'm not crazy about how much water is being wasted because of the ice bucket challenge, and am almost tempted to donate to an organization that promotes water efficiency instead

 

[NHdisneylover]

Good grief Charlie Brown! Bunch of prudes posting over the weekend?

Its pretty simple, IF you want to donate, then donate. No one is making anyone or forcing anyone. Yes, my 11 year old son and I did the ice bucket. We also donated AS MUCH AS WE COULD. The guide is at least $10 or as much as $100 (or ANY AMOUNT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH). If you have other organizations you prefer, great. I have NO ties to ALS. That didn't stop me. Many of you posted that you shouldn't be forced or "called out" and made you feel bad if you ignored or declined? Really? I challenged several of my friends and many accepted while a couple declined. So what? What give YOU the right to put US down for participating?

Huh? Please, go back and quote me where I said that, Pretty sure I said I challenged several of my friends and some accepted and others did not. So what? I couldn't care less if you or anyone else declines or ignores the challenge. There are plenty of requested donations I decline for a number or personal reasons. I simply requested to my friends to participate and if they couldn't or didn't want, so be it.

There you go. Those of us saying we do not like how the challenge is set up are not putting you down (unless YOU created this marketing).

 

[declansdad]

No, it isn't a stretch. See article.

http://dailycurrant.com/2014/08/15/...ket-challenge-participants-for-wasting-water/

I agree there are ways to do it without waste. I have not seen a majority do so.

Tell me, do people in California have pools and hot tubs?