Thoughts on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?

[sammy_31]

What's your thought on the whole Ice Bucket Challenge, you love it, not found of it? You think they should donate and pledge their money with or without the challenge? I think it's neat but if they're raising awareness and raising money for this why don't they do the same to other illness like depression?

[CrystalMinds]

I think it's a good way to put it in the media and get more attention to it. My uncle died from it and when I told my friends (I was 12-13 when he passed away), nobody knew what ALS was. I think quite some people still don't know what this illness does to people, but now people think about it and some of them donate. I think, when it comes to things like this, it doesn't matter how silly the "game" is, as long as it gets the issue in the media and makes people think about it. It's a rare disease but a horrible one. Pharmaceutical companies don't invest a lot of money in it because it's not a very well known disease (while cancer, for example, is a more known disease). If they just had more money for research and means to find a cure or something to slow it down, it would make such a huge difference. I do think this challenge causes more donations, so I do support it.

[Tealtop1]

not for it or against it, but certainly not a fan. Like you brought up there are so many other illnesses and diseases that could've been chosen like a-fib, or cancer, or alzheimer's, i mean only 6,000 people per year are diagnosed with als when MILLIONS are diagnosed with other illnesses including the 3 i mentioned.

Don't get me wrong it's a great cause regardless, but to try to profit off of peoples need for attention and "obligation" to follow herd just puts a bad taste in my mouth.

[sammy_31]

I think that challenge should had been for whatever charity not just ALS but I think people did earn some money for others. I don't see this as negative at all the. If they did it for ALS then there should be challenges for other things too.

[Tealtop1]

I agree, I just find it sad that most people can't simply donate and be done with it. It has to be some production on social media, and in that moment it's more about that person than the actual cause. It's like making a trail of cookies that leads to a donation box. It doesn't seem very genuine to me. It still gets the job done, but 2014's version of philanthropy is pretty sad. But that's imho.

[Popnlock]

my brother did it before it went viral... and i was embarrased i was like why would you do that but then i found out about the whole charity thing and i was like ok whatever... if its for a good cause then i guess its ok but overall i think its stupid just donate the money... why do u need someone to do something stupid first before u donate it makes no sense to me at all...

[Mesonfielde]

People were jumping into ponds and died from it, and I still have a guess that the ice cold water can cause cardiological shock aka your heart can freak out and stop. Other than that risk, it is nice that charities get more attention, if it hadn't been viral most people probably still would not know about it.

[Hans222]

Well, as a way of raising money it works: if 50% does it and 50% does not, you have an average 55 USD income per person who got "challenged". So it "works".
I suppose that if they make the bill in the end the ALS leage will have collected huge funds.
Which are so badly needed to try and develop treatments against this terrible desease.

[Cobalt]

It gets people talking, which is important. I've got friends who complain that its a fad that will show no results, but from what I've read its looking like the donations will exceed $20MM before it runs its course. Not to mention that its caused an uptick in other charities for people who accepted the challenge but have their own personal favorites.

[BrianG123]

You're supposed to donate even if you take the challenge. $10 for yes. $100 for no. And while some people think it's annoying, they've raised ten times as much money as last year.

[BrianG123]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK7UUYt_vRI

If you think it's a waste of time.

[sammy_31]

What you think, that I think it's a waste of time? I never said that, I know that the money not the challenge helps..

[BrianG123]

No, that wasn't directed at you. I just wanted to share that for anyone who does.

[Hipfrog]

I think it is stooopid! It makes no diff if people do it or not. Just a bunch of herd mentality. People trying to look cooool.

[sammy_31]

I agree, it was fun at first but just donate the money but I guess seeing celebrities doing it made others want to join.

[Hipfrog]

My friend nominated me and I told him I'm not doing it and he's mad at me wtf?

[sammy_31]

Hum I see.

[SleepyChan]

It's an amazing cause. My teacher has Lou Gehrig's disease and I saw him have his attack before. He would go home the rest of the day. The next day he would come back with a cane but with the same happy smile on his face. Two days later, he would be dancing in class.

I was pissed when Ryan Seacrest only donated $100. Must be tough times in Hollywood. Mötley Crue donated $10,000.

[Vivienne07]

I think it was awesome and they raised a decent amount of money for ALS because of it. Although ice water isn't much of a challenge - I think it should have been The Boiling Water Bucket Challenge! Lol! Now THAT'S a challenge!

[Anjellygirlyeah]

idgaf. as long as people in Cali stop. we're going through a fucking drought people.

[sammy_31]

YES! That's what I'm saying raising money for a good cause isn't bad but wasting useful resources like water in California is STUPID. Most are just doing it to be famous I doubt they are donating. Just donate the money but fame is seeked by them.

[feral_shade]

I've heard very little about it.

i'm not sure how dropping a cooler of ice water on someone is gonna help with ALS research :S

[amirzag25]

Its a great way to spread the awareness in an interesting way (very similar with the pink ribbon for breast cancer)

[kairon156]

I thought the pink ribbon was all cancer like Prostate Cancer and what not.

[Hannah591]

This says it all.

thethoughtsofonee.blogspot.co.uk/.../...lenge.html

[MyUsernameRules]

It's raising the awareness really well. If someone challenges me, I'll accept it and still try to donate $100.

[Yellowbone]

I think it's fun way to get people to donate rather than just saying "Hey please donate!"

[iUnderachieve]

Well my first thought was "Better than the fire challenge" but it seems nice. A few of my cousins already done it.

[NZDSTR]

so old bite our style but you guys did it in summer. it's a winter thing US are soft with there ice challenge it's pretty funny actually

[GoldCobra]

i thought it was a great way to raise awareness for ALS. Was also fun :)