Good Stuff

Liz: How I Learned To Love The “Ice Bucket Challenge”

RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE ACTIVISM … By Liz Gunn  ||  I have had a change of heart.  I was wrong.  Those are two statements you will seldom hear from me (ask my husband). A few weeks ago, my Facebook timeline suddenly started filling up with videos of people dumping…

RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE ACTIVISM …

liz gunnBy Liz Gunn  ||  I have had a change of heart.  I was wrong.  Those are two statements you will seldom hear from me (ask my husband).

A few weeks ago, my Facebook timeline suddenly started filling up with videos of people dumping ice water on themselves for something called the “Ice Bucket Challenge.”  Over the last three weeks it has reached an all-time high, with nearly everyone I know having participated.

My first reaction to this campaign wasn’t a good one.  I thought it was pointless and filed it away along with all the other examples of lazy activism we see on-line these days. You know, like “Re-tweet/ click like if you are against human trafficking.”

Really?  Who isn’t against that? And what does a click of a button to stop it?  Nothing.  But I digress.

I am also against anything that puts people on the spot or makes them feel obligated to do something.  People should give to a charity of their choice and because they want to, right?  So admittedly, it took me a while to warm up to this one.  I’ll say it again though – I was wrong.

The truth is, this is actually one of the most brilliantly marketed fundraising campaigns I’ve ever seen.  It has currently surpassed the $13 million dollar mark in donations, and has received the attention and participation of celebrities like Bill Gates, Taylor Swift and South Carolina’s own ambassador of awesome, Darius Rucker.

This campaign has even gotten kids involved.  I have seen so many of my friend’s children participating and challenging their friends – or helping them with their own challenge video.  On Thursday, FITS posted a video of Governor Haley’s kids helping with her challenge.  Not only does it make children aware of this crippling disease, it teaches them about philanthropy at an early age.

The challenge “rules” are as follows:

People douse themselves or get doused with a bucket of ice water on video, post that video to social media, then nominate others to do the same in an effort to raise ALS awareness.  Those who refuse to take the challenge are asked to make a donation to the ALS charity of their choice.

The moment I realized how clever it was happened right before I decided to write this article.  After seeing video after video, I finally gave in and googled “ALS.”  Yep, that’s right.  I wasn’t really sure what ALS was.  I am embarrassed to admit it, but suddenly I realized that’s the point.  Brilliant.  Not only are people raising money for ALS, they’re bringing awareness to the disease and more importantly the foundation that fights it on every front.  ALS isn’t ranked among charities like American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and Susan G. Komen.  I feel certain that after this challenge though, people won’t soon forget about it.

The more widely known name for ALS is Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  It’s a degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It affects roughly 30,000 Americans, usually between the ages of 40 and 70.  At this time there is no cure for ALS, but with a whopping $13 million + “pouring in” … (pun intended), there is hope.

Challenge or no challenge, I commend ALS for the creative, viral movement they created in regards to their cause.  For that alone I will be making a donation, and I hope you will, too.

Or you can take it a step further and …

UPDATE: As of August 19, the ALS Association has received $22.9 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same period last year – including nearly 430,000 new donors.

Liz Gunn is a wife, mom, author, businesswoman, travel enthusiast, food snob, fashionista, lover of great wine and the No. 1 Gamecock football fan … ever.  A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.

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23 comments

Smirks August 19, 2014 at 8:35 am

Random people getting doused with ice water rakes in $13 million for charity.

Humanity is weird.

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Yay! August 19, 2014 at 10:25 pm

For a while it was those gay pastel colored wrist bands.

Just remember that pet rocks, beanie babies, & cabbage patch kids all had their day too.

Think about how many people you know with an IQ of around 100, now ponder that half the population is even dumber that that one person. Happy Thoughts!

If you show the general population pictures of dying people in bed asking them for money you only get 1/10 of the above, so at least it’s social manipulation for a good cause.

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Lame August 19, 2014 at 9:18 am

There was no ICE in your “BUCKET”!

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Liz August 19, 2014 at 9:30 am

Actually there was, but when it’s 98 degrees at 7pm it doesn’t last long. I probably should have added more, in retrospect.

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Lame August 19, 2014 at 9:45 am

All for a good cause – just ribbing you a bit. Good job.

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g7 August 19, 2014 at 9:27 am

this is nothing more than illuminati bullsh!t, zuckerberg, bil gates and wannabe nikki haley it starts with the pop culture elite fake gods and then all their willing servants and worshippers jump on the bandagon like the mindless followers they are. basically, all your focus and will is constantly shaped by idiotic celebrities and their fake movements pimped by MSM mainstream media garbage.

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Liz August 19, 2014 at 9:29 am

Fake movements that raise $13 million? I’ll take it.

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easterndumbfuckistan August 19, 2014 at 9:40 am

I though everyone already knew this is the satanic,Gay, Illuminati initiation ritual. Once you dump ice water on your head, you belong to them.

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shifty henry August 19, 2014 at 12:53 pm

Whew..!! Glad I read your comment – just in time!

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John August 19, 2014 at 9:52 am

Next time, wear a white t-shirt ;)

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shifty henry August 19, 2014 at 12:52 pm

Liz… is a fine looking filly!

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Sleepless in Spartanburg August 19, 2014 at 10:15 am

The “Oreo” segment of Frontline, “Generation ‘Like'” — http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/generation-like/ shows that clever marketers can get people to eat some of the most heart-clogging cookies on store shelves.

Dumping ice on the head isn’t far behind — interesting, inane, but sad.

I’m resigned to waiting for some good to come of it — a robust local MILF “Like” group.

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E Norma Scok August 19, 2014 at 1:28 pm

If they want a real challenge they should pour boiling water on their heads.

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Ha! August 20, 2014 at 1:19 am

Nicely done!

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Sailor August 19, 2014 at 2:09 pm

I just wish I had been there to pat you dry!

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Bible Thumper August 19, 2014 at 2:38 pm

Liz, I like you, but your posts are not generating enough comments. You need to be more controversial, more edgy.
Suggestion:
Comparative analysis of the ALS Ice Bucket campaign to the ISIL Beheading campaign. They both use video, new media and self directed and self motivated participation. Each have catchy acronyms.

There are so many points of comparison.
“I am also against anything that puts people on the spot or makes them feel obligated to do something.” Convert or be killed if you are a man, enslaved if your a women.

ISIL is not one of those “other examples of lazy activism”

The numbers: cash raised, people killed, families affected.

“This campaign has even gotten kids involved.” The Australian man photographed with his young son proudly holding a severed head.

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Dolph August 19, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Amen, it’s rather dull.

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Liz August 19, 2014 at 3:29 pm

Great idea for my next post, thanks!

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Bible Thumper September 1, 2014 at 10:19 am

My idea was taken to another level. Two great ideas combined into one: the ISIS Ice Bucket Challenge. It is heartening to know that their are other sick minds besides me. See video.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2014/08/31/Video-shows-mock-ISIS-Bucket-Challenge-.html

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Squishy123 August 19, 2014 at 6:33 pm

The whole ice bucket thing is stupid, you’re cold for what, 2 seconds?

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Liz August 21, 2014 at 4:23 pm

Yeah I bet the 30,000 people suffering with ALS because big pharma doesn’t find them “profitable enough” to research a cure find it really stupid.

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Deo Vindice SC August 23, 2014 at 4:40 pm

Proberly from your hot tits being cooled and your husbands fantiecy. Works for me.

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