Im so over this Ice Bucket Challenge

[MIGrandma]

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 boards! I am so sorry about your daughter, but she sounds like she has a positive outlook and I truly think that will help her. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with ALS (she passed away 14 years ago), after seeing several doctors and none were sure what it was until she went to the Mayo Clinic. It started with her speech, and ended up taking away the use of her arms as well. She lived a few years longer than was expected, and I think it was due to her powerful faith in God and her positive outlook.

I think ANYTHING that will help raise money for this terrible disease is a good thing. Coaches are getting iced Gatorade and water dumped onto them all the time, so I don't get what the big deal is about people being opposed to this ice bucket challenge.

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!!! Awesome!!

I have a big problem with this extortion, yes it is not a challenge it is extortion.
I have certain charities that I donate to, ones that have touched MY family and ALS is not one of them and I am not donating to them so if someone deosn't donate they get iced, it is not a challenge.

Oh, please. Extortion? Really? Good grief!!

 

[Grmnshplvr]

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.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I have a big problem with this extortion, yes it is not a challenge it is extortion.
I have certain charities that I donate to, ones that have touched MY family and ALS is not one of them and I am not donating to them so if someone deosn't donate they get iced, it is not a challenge.

extortion

 

[MrsDuck]

I highly doubt that the majority of my friends who are participating are actually donating...

That said, I'm glad the fundraiser has been so effective for ALS.

 

[descovy]

First time I saw it (a month ago) I thought it was a clever idea.

Now it's just overplayed... IMHO.

Great cause, but I'm over it. No longer clever.

 

[okeydokey]

Well it has worked wonders. Record donations pouring in. The ice is just a gimmick, something that has garnered attention and made people post on facebook about it. If you don't want to participate, then don't.

 

[TAX GUY]

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?

 

[Ceila]

I have a big problem with this extortion, yes it is not a challenge it is extortion.
I have certain charities that I donate to, ones that have touched MY family and ALS is not one of them and I am not donating to them so if someone deosn't donate they get iced, it is not a challenge.

Extortion? I think that's the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Thanks for the laugh.

Unless someone is threatening you with harm if you don't get splashed or donate, it's not extortion. If someone believes that they can't just ignore it if they don't want to participate, then that's their problem.

I have friends who have participated. I have friends who have posted on FB that instead of donating to ALS, they are donating to another charity close to their hearts, which is great. And I'm sure I have friends who have chosen not to participate, but I don't know who they are because they probably just decided to ignore it, which is also totally fine.

Frankly, the posts and news stories about the challenge are a welcome respite from the tragedy that goes on in the world. I love to see people having fun, being silly, and, yes, helping their fellow humans.

 

[TAX GUY]

Frankly, the posts and news stories about the challenge are a welcome respite from the tragedy that goes on in the world. I love to see people having fun, being silly, and, yes, helping their fellow humans.

This part. Personally, I'm sick and tired of hearing about this political party did/didn't do this or that. This country bombing that country, killing, race, etc. Its NICE to hear and see people having FUN and being goofy. Shedding some light in a positive and feel good way.

Lighten up Francis.... let them have some fun without your Debbie Downer feedback.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am basically just ignoring it. However, the person who called me out (and my entire family) did so two days ago and is a tween who is vacationing with us all next week--so I am sure we will be asked about it.

I can't blame the tween for jumping on the bandwagon of what I am sure seems fun and harmless to her. I am not thrilled with the campaign that puts me in this awkward position though. If it were set up differently--with someone pouring water over themselves (to get attention) and asking people to consider donating to the cause and why it matters--but not publicly calling for people to do the same and publicly post it as well, I wouldn't think a thing of it.

As is, no, I am NOT "calling out" people like tax guy--I have not posted anything on facebook saying so and so and so and so should do XYZ and donate to such and such cause. I AM taking part in a conversation about the campaign and voicing the reasons why I dislike it.

 

[Sabeking]

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 !!

I am so sorry about your daughter!
Your family is in my prayers.

 

[Ceila]

I am basically just ignoring it. However, the person who called me out (and my entire family) did so two days ago and is a tween who is vacationing with us all next week--so I am sure we will be asked about it.

I can't blame the tween for jumping on the bandwagon of what I am sure seems fun and harmless to her. I am not thrilled with the campaign that puts me in this awkward position though. If it were set up differently--with someone pouring water over themselves (to get attention) and asking people to consider donating to the cause and why it matters--but not publicly calling for people to do the same and publicly post it as well, I wouldn't think a thing of it.

As is, no, I am NOT "calling out" people like tax guy--I have not posted anything on facebook saying so and so and so and so should do XYZ and donate to such and such cause. I AM taking part in a conversation about the campaign and voicing the reasons why I dislike it.

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.

 

[declansdad]

For the love of God people, it is just a fun way of raising money for a good cause and bringing awareness to ALS.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

it's a huge win for ALS research.. $13M since July 28/14 --- last year same period $1M

If it takes a "stunt" to get the Job done, who can argue with that kind of success....

 

[Mkrop]

Extorition..oh please let's use some hyperbole!

I literally just got done watching the story of the man who started it all, Pete Frates. To see how his life and his body has changed moved me to tears, it is so sad what this disease has done.

I am proud that DS11 and I partcipated. And yes he donated himself, he took some birthday money and put it in a bucket at Chick-Fil-A that they had set up for ALS. I donated too. One of the young boys that DS11 challenged donated to Junvenile Diabetes and that was perfectly fine.

This was marketing genius at work. Just like the Pink campaign for Breast Cancer was started by a small group of woman with determination this started out small and no one I am sure thought it would take off like it did. For those that suffer I am glad it did.

And if you are sick of it, then scroll past the videos, change the channel, it is not that hard but why you have to begrudge others from doing it I dont understand.

This has brought people from all walks of life together, families had fun with it, CEOs (Bob Iger), atheletes, musicians, celebrities etc. It is a small thing that everyone can do if they choose or can from a health perspecitive (like DS11 wanted to challenge his godmother, but she is pregnant and said that might not be a good idea, it might have been fine, but I did not know so we stuck with friends).

And for those using the drought excuse or drinking water in Africa excuse, once again hyperbole. Water here is not going to help people in Africa, helping them build irrigation systems will or donating to a cause like that. And as for the drought in CA, once again try and study the water cycle, the water is evaporated right back into the sky. And highly doubt that you have never wasted water in your life, I saw lots of glasses of ice water and things left behind a few weeks ago in San Diego and DL. Go stand on your lawn that you imported from elsewhere and dump the water there. Take some water from your pool, throw in a few cubes of ice, and stand on that top step and dump it there, volia it goes right back where it came from.


Go Ice Bucket Challenge

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I am basically just ignoring it. However, the person who called me out (and my entire family) did so two days ago and is a tween who is vacationing with us all next week--so I am sure we will be asked about it.

I can't blame the tween for jumping on the bandwagon of what I am sure seems fun and harmless to her. I am not thrilled with the campaign that puts me in this awkward position though. If it were set up differently--with someone pouring water over themselves (to get attention) and asking people to consider donating to the cause and why it matters--but not publicly calling for people to do the same and publicly post it as well, I wouldn't think a thing of it.

As is, no, I am NOT "calling out" people like tax guy--I have not posted anything on facebook saying so and so and so and so should do XYZ and donate to such and such cause. I AM taking part in a conversation about the campaign and voicing the reasons why I dislike it.

What is awkward about it? You were nominated. You declined. End of story. I swear people find things to get worked up about.

 

[CaliBear]

guess it depends on what part of the country you're from because there is no lack of water in my area! We've gotten more than our fair share of rain this summer.

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?

 

[Poohforyou]

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?

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.

 

[weeniecat2442]

it makes me really sad to read that people find something wrong with this. my best friend's mom just lost her year long battle with ALS 2 weeks ago. she was a woman, whom all of our friends in high school considered to be our "second mom" and we all watched her suffer terribly the past year.
She left behind her seven grandkids, three daughters and her countless other "daughters and sons." we all miss her everyday. she basically became entombed in her own body. it was a very sad thing to watch. she was unable to hold her youngest grandson, something she wanted so badly to be able to do.

and then a couple of weeks after her passing, this "challenge" cropped up.
It was really wonderful watching all of my friends dump water over their heads, no matter where we lived, or how far away we were in her honor. and we all donated as well. it was a way for us to feel like we helped a little when there was only so much we could do to help when she was alive. and it made us all laugh a little bit as well after a long grieving period.

not only did this woman lose her life to ALS but so did her mother. And it is a fear that my best friend and her 3 sisters face everyday. she has two young children. it is a devastating disease and there is nothing wrong with people spreading the word AND raising money.
if you give money to other charities that is wonderful but why put down this one? and why put down something that is bringing a little bit of hope and power to those that are touched by ALS?
It just upsets me that people have to be negative about everything these days...is it so hard to just focus on the positive aspects and let the negatives go? especially when at its core it has done what it set out to do...raise money AND gotten people talking about it?

 

[Mkrop]

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?

If there is someone out there that wants to than I am sure there will get out there and champion it. There are tons of cancers but the best marketing/awareness campaign so far is breast cancer, do you begrudge all the attention that disease has received becasue other cancers have not.

Many people, celebrities, sports stars, musician champion causes all the time for a variety of diseases. I was never touched by Diabetes until my brother got engaged, but I was glad that Brett Micheal, a famous star, was championing the cause and using his celeb status to get it done. I never begrudged the fact that he wasnt out talking about other diseases.

If there is a disease near and dear to your heart than get out there and do something. I have a friend whose sister died of ovarian cancer, she works tirelessy for the cause and is even trying to get a law passed that if a person does not have immediate family that could take the family leave that a sibling could to care for the person. Does she wish that ovarian cancer got the same attention as breast cancer, and that everyone and everywhere was teal as well as pink, I am sure. But she is doing her small part, and even with her cause being so important to her, her family particiapated in the ALS challenge