It's that time of year, my facebook feed is a flurry of a 'fun' game to raise awareness. I suspect it's to raise awareness of who has a tattoo and who is getting one, or probably breast cancer, but as I steer clear from these games, they don't make me very aware of anything. In fact, if this is a game for Cystic Fibrosis or Depression or Mental Illness, it's raising even less awareness, because I'm just assuming it's for breast cancer.
I know heaps of people like this game and feel they are doing some good with it. I won't be all Negative Nelly, but can I make a suggestion? When you alter your status to raise awareness, can you at least include a link for people to donate (if you aren't donating yourself) or a link to a blog of someone going through cancer (something that will actually spread a substantial awareness, and maybe help in someone in some more tangible way).
I learnt more from Nick Greiner's candid admission about why he got a mastectomy, than any of the recent facebook status games. I was unaware that men got mastectomies (though I knew they got breast cancer) and I was unaware it started sometimes with bleeding nipples, not the lump that we are taught to look out for. And to any men who read this blog, don't ignore such signs!
You can call me a party pooper, and I know it's just a bit of fun, but I just think there can't be any harm in trying to actually raise money at the same time. If I've missed how this game works, let me know, because maybe I'm missing the point in ignorance...
Linking with Kirsty on Monday for I must confess on exercise...(for those of you questioning my early posting with this, if you haven't worked it out already, I am in fact, a Timelord, and am not bound by the conventional calendar and clocks of mortals). Also linking up with Paula for the No Rules Link up party
I am not affiliated with any of these, but felt I should practice what I preach:
Donate to Australian Cancer Research Foundation
Donate to National Breast Cancer Foundation
Donate to the Cancer Council of Australia
I've known you are a Timelord for ages and ages and ages - I love your timing for the 1st of the month - always !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend - wherever you are !
Me
you do know I wrote that just for you!
DeleteWell done on practicing what you preach. Sometimes it is hard to make this step.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100% I find these cryptic messages on social media which are supposed to "raise awereness" about some kind of cancer extremely irritating. I am already aware of cancer.
ReplyDeleteI too find the 'raising awareness' idea quite absurd, particularly when it's shared en masse by people who really have no idea what they're sharing or it's origins. A friend of mine wrote a really good rebuttal as a public Facebook note, hope it's okay to link as I think you'll relate to it but if not, delete the link :)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/notes/rachael-ouwejan/another-day-another-facebook-breast-cancer-awareness-meme/10150826136823493
More than fine to link it. It's very thorough and got lots of useful information. Unlike "On the sink" or whatever it was...I also like the anti men sentiment that she mentions, because I never really got why men were excluded in the awareness bit in the first place....
DeleteI'm glad you found it interesting - I often reference it as she's included such great links to studies and ACTUAL information as opposed to viral internet rubbish!
DeleteAnd a witty and clever time lord at that!!!
ReplyDeleteI must get back to linking up with Paula for her no rules party. I've been avoiding Facebook as much as possible this last week. Such a time waster.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the FB games just desensitise and don't actually help the cause at all.
ReplyDeleteI do play a few games on my ipad via facebook but they are for nothing more than boredom busting purposes... If I am passionate enough about a charity than I just go ahead and open my wallet..
ReplyDeleteMy Aunty (she's not particularly bright) proved why these games are stupid a few weeks ago. It was a bunch of outrageous statements and you could pick one to post as your status. She decided to choose 'I just found out I've been cheated on for the last 8 months'...she saw no issue with it even though her sons rang her upset because they thought their Dad had done it. My uncle even got his tyres slashed over it. She's and extreme case, because she's stupid but I don't think people really think through the implications that these games can have IRL.
ReplyDeleteA friend posted one from that one, and I was all concerned (can't remember what it was but it was being sick or in a car crash or something) and I asked if I could help...and then I thought I'd never bother to help her again (as did probably everyone else who showed concern). Your poor Uncle!! He'd have his sons abuse him and wouldn't know why!!
DeleteI must have missed this latest game but it's like the thing going around a few months back about sharing a photo of yourself without makeup to cure cancer. There's no point in doing any of this if you don't follow through with a donation. Full stop. End of story.
ReplyDeleteDon't start me on that one - 'oh women, you're so incredibly hideous without make up that it will be humiliating for you and hilarious for all your friends to see you without make up - how brave you are...' and yep, does nothing...
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