For what seems like an eternity, my Facebook and Instagram feeds have been clogged up with videos of people dumping ice water over their heads. My initial reaction to these clips was, “Um … what?”
Without giving a care, I ignored them. One by one more of these idiotic videos kept popping up on my social media feeds and the confusion kept growing.
If you can’t tell, I became a hater.
“That’s so stupid,” I thought. “It probably won’t even raise any money anyway.”
According to a report on Forbes, the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” has raised $100 million—up from $2.8 million raised during the same time span last year. For those who don’t want to do the math, that’s a 3,500 percent increase.
Ouch. Now my cynical attitude toward the Ice Bucket Challenge makes me look cold as ice.
Raising $100 million because of a viral video sensation is a real testament to the power of social media. It’s refreshing to see people using it to raise money and awareness for something rather than attacking celebrities or taking articles from The Onion way too seriously.
ALS is a disease that affects nerve cells in people’s brains and spinal cords. According to als.org, the motor neurons that allow people to move muscles voluntarily degenerate over time, which can leave some patients completely paralyzed in later stages of life.
So then, it’s worth saying the Ice Bucket Challenge goes toward a worthy cause, wouldn’t you say?
It’s not like people are dumping ice water on their heads for no reason, or to start some miniature political revolution that will inevitably fail. The money raised from this viral sensation goes toward making lives better, both now and in the future.
San Diego State has its own ties to ALS. Men’s basketball head coach Steve Fisher has a son who was diagnosed with the disease in 2011. Recently, the team took part in the challenge in front of some of the student body. While no reports said the team donated any money toward the cause, I’ve got a hunch the basketball program chipped in a decent amount of cash, especially considering coach Fisher’s personal ties to ALS. At least, I hope that’s the case.
The unfortunate side of the Ice Bucket Challenge is that it reminds us many people need motivation to help a cause. People are unfortunately just as likely to jump on a viral twerking bandwagon as they are something like the ALS Challenge. It all depends on who starts the movement. It’s more than just chance the ALS Association raised 3,500 percent more money than it did last year—Americans are trendy people and will join each other at a moment’s notice, whether it’s to twerk or donate money. The ability to come together in masses is part of what makes our country so great, and right now, the ALS Association is benefitting from that ability.
On the flip side of this challenge, there are people who call it out as a waste of water, especially in times of drought.
Admittedly, that point is pretty hard to argue against.
But I’m going to do it anyway.
It really depends on what you call a “waste.” At least with the Ice Bucket Challenge, money and awareness are being raised for a legitimate cause. It’s not like people are dumping buckets of ice water down the drain for laughs and snickers. Watering the lawn during the middle of a 100-degree day? That’s a waste. Leaving the faucet on while you brush your teeth? That’s a waste.
This might land me in hot water with some of you, but by the time drought completely annihilates our water supply, you and I will probably both be dead.
So stop hating and go dump some ice water on yourself, would you please?
