Community Chat

[occasionalrain]

On 8/20/2014 cody said:

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

I believe that a person should donate to a charity that matters to them without needing a publicity stunt, public exposure, or a gimmick. Clearly, these people don't care that much about ALS or they would have donated last year.

And I believe that these same people did not donate last year because they didn't even know anything about it. The ice bucket campaign has made more folks aware of the desperate nature of the disease and the need for funding. That is a great!!!!

Again, one word, Insensitive. Many of your fellow posters have shared their stories of friends and families having lost the battle to ALS on this thread. Have you absolutely no campassion? Just because YOU don't care, doesn't mean that other's don't.

No need to get huffy about it. I never posted anywhere that I don't care about ALS. All of us have lost loved ones to some ailment or another. That doesn't make us any more or less special or deserving of sensitivity.

[terrier3]

On 8/20/2014 Opurrra said:

I feel the same about society charity "balls" - you donate $1,000 to purchase a ticket, you dine on lobster and filet mignon in the ballroom a 5 star resort, you buy a fancy gown, wear your best diamonds, get your hair don, get your photo taken for the society page, and in the end about 1/10 of your donation went to the charity. The rest was spent on the lavish dinner, big band, raffle prizes, photographers, etc. Something isn't right with that picture!

That's just an excuse to socialize and climb the corporate and society ladder.

I once saw an "Imaginary Tea" fundraiser. They mailed you a teabag, asked for a donation and said that everyone should stay home, relax and send a prayer to the sick kids with CF on a certain day at Noon.

[NoelSeven]

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

I believe that a person should donate to a charity that matters to them without needing a publicity stunt, public exposure, or a gimmick. Clearly, these people don't care that much about ALS or they would have donated last year.

The fundraiser is to promote awareness of ALS, first and foremost.

That's a really big deal because most people have no clue what it is. The same is true for other orphan illnesses.

[cody2]

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

On 8/20/2014 cody said:

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

I believe that a person should donate to a charity that matters to them without needing a publicity stunt, public exposure, or a gimmick. Clearly, these people don't care that much about ALS or they would have donated last year.

And I believe that these same people did not donate last year because they didn't even know anything about it. The ice bucket campaign has made more folks aware of the desperate nature of the disease and the need for funding. That is a great!!!!

Again, one word, Insensitive. Many of your fellow posters have shared their stories of friends and families having lost the battle to ALS on this thread. Have you absolutely no campassion? Just because YOU don't care, doesn't mean that other's don't.

No need to get huffy about it. I never posted anywhere that I don't care about ALS. All of us have lost loved ones to some ailment or another. That doesn't make us any more or less special or deserving of sensitivity.

Huffy doesn't describe what I am feeling. Your last sentence sez it all. I rest my case.

[Catitude]

On 8/20/2014 terrier3 said:

On 8/20/2014 Opurrra said:

I feel the same about society charity "balls" - you donate $1,000 to purchase a ticket, you dine on lobster and filet mignon in the ballroom a 5 star resort, you buy a fancy gown, wear your best diamonds, get your hair don, get your photo taken for the society page, and in the end about 1/10 of your donation went to the charity. The rest was spent on the lavish dinner, big band, raffle prizes, photographers, etc. Something isn't right with that picture!

That's just an excuse to socialize and climb the corporate and society ladder.

I once saw an "Imaginary Tea" fundraiser. They mailed you a teabag, asked for a donation and said that everyone should stay home, relax and send a prayer to the sick kids with CF on a certain day at Noon.

Love it!

[NoelSeven]

IMO, clearly the naysayers haven't thought this through.

[sidsmom]

I think the ALS bit needs to be reeled in a little bit. The awareness and education is no longer there. To the layman, this campaign is all about the Ice....and not enough Education. Yes, it's serving the purpose of raising lots & lots of $$$, thus the "Ice Bucket 2014" was a success.

[NoelSeven]

On 8/20/2014 sidsmom said:

I think the ALS bit needs to be reeled in a little bit. The awareness and education is no longer there. To the layman, this campaign is all about the Ice....and not enough Education. Yes, it's serving the purpose of raising lots & lots of $$$, thus the "Ice Bucket 2014" was a success.

Yes, it is. That's exactly what the ice bucket gimmick is all about.

ALS is classified as an Orphan Disease, which means it's not one of the common diseases that has enough funding and research. This one bit is changing that by bringing awareness and funds.

[terrier3]

On 8/20/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

I believe that a person should donate to a charity that matters to them without needing a publicity stunt, public exposure, or a gimmick. Clearly, these people don't care that much about ALS or they would have donated last year.

The fundraiser is to promote awareness of ALS, first and foremost.

That's a really big deal because most people have no clue what it is. The same is true for other orphan illnesses.

It has done wonders for ALS research - and awareness too.

My cousin died from ALS...she was a mom with 7 children. I was surprised so many posters had a family member of friend with ALS.
It's a horrible disease...luckily my cousin went out on her own terms from pneumonia - she refused a ventilator and died peacefully at home.

I cannot imagine why people are such spoilsports about this campaign....it's original, fun and it's working!!!

[NoelSeven]

On 8/20/2014 terrier3 said:

On 8/20/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 8/20/2014 occasional rain said:

I believe that a person should donate to a charity that matters to them without needing a publicity stunt, public exposure, or a gimmick. Clearly, these people don't care that much about ALS or they would have donated last year.

The fundraiser is to promote awareness of ALS, first and foremost.

That's a really big deal because most people have no clue what it is. The same is true for other orphan illnesses.

It has done wonders for ALS research - and awareness too.

My cousin died from ALS...she was a mom with 7 children. I was surprised so many posters had a family member of friend with ALS.
It's a horrible disease...luckily my cousin went out on her own terms from pneumonia - she refused a ventilator and died peacefully at home.

I cannot imagine why people are such spoilsports about this campaign....it's original, fun and it's working!!!

My father was a big-time sports fan and loved his baseball. I heard about Lou Gehrig from him when I was a little kid, and the terrible disease that took him down.

That was years ago, and I'm sorry to say that in the intervening years, there has been close to nothing about it by way of public education or research funding. It never paid off in profits for medical researchers because not enough people suffered or died from it.

I'm thrilled so many now at least have a clue what it's all about.

And thanks to people who shared their stories here.