To refuse to do the ice bucket challenge

[rookiemater]

The ice bucket challenge is sweeping our way from the US - I know because one of my friends has been nominated on FB and a bit like the no make up selfie they then choose someone else to nominate once done.

If you don't do it you're meant to donate $100 or whatever UK equivalent is to charity - not sure which charity it is but I'm sure it's a very worthwhile one.

I must be turning into an old curmudgeon as I can't think of anything worse to do. I don't want to be soaked and I don't want to give a huge chunk of money to a charity that I haven't chosen. I already do quite a lot for charity, but I hate being voluntold to do anything and I hate the way that being asked to do things or donate money seems to be all pervasive now.

WIBU to post on FB that if anyone asks me to do the Ice Bucket challenge I will refuse and that as I already donate to charity, I will not be doing the donation either? That way it saves people the bother of nominating me ?

[Frikonastick]

Wait. So the idea is to avoid paying money to a charity?

I don't get it.

[HoratioBlowfish]

Go for it!!

My FB seems to be a continuous stream of Just Giving requests at the moment - like you, I'd rather pick my charity & donate to them...

[rookiemater]

Frikonastick - I'm not sure exactly how it works, it might be like the no make up selfie where you donate a small amount if you do it ?

[hazeyjane]

www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html ALS is a neurodegenerative disease.

^^This is the charity that the icebucket challenge is raising money for. Apparently the ice bucket challenge has done a fair bit to raise awareness of a disease which little is known about and which is in desperate need of funding.

Give or don't give.

[OwlCapone]

Wait. So the idea is to avoid paying money to a charity?

I think you shou;d pay $100 dollars to not do it and $10 if you do. I"m not sure. DS1 (15) has just done it and I suspect his intention is not to pay any money at all. It all seems a bit bizarre.

[FrankelandFilly]

The challenge was originally started specifically to raise money for the American charity ALS, the UK equivalent is the Motor Neurone Disease Association. If you'd like to donate to them rather than ALS you can text ICED55 £5 to 70070.

[rookiemater]

I think it's one of those young people and celebrity things that I will doubtless be dragged into because I use Facebook to keep in touch with relatives and friends who live abroad.

[FrankelandFilly]

And yes, the original premise was donate $10 if you do the challenge or $100 if you don't.

[Vivacia]

I don't want to be soaked and I don't want to give a huge chunk of money to a charity that I haven't chosen.

If only there was a third option damn it!

[Frikonastick]

Oh. Ok.

[EduCated]

I had Macmillan pop up on my newsfeed yesterday encouraging people to donate to them as part of the ice challenge. I don't really blame them for trying to raise money wherever possible, but it seems a bit off to try and gate crash when it's been about ALS/Motor Neurone Disease [confused[

[chubbyhez]

I've seen McMillan promoting it for donations to them.

I hate that sort of thing.

[andmyunpopularopionis]

YANBU

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do... Especially if it requires throwing a bucket of freezing water on yourself. Bloody stupid in my opinion...
If you want to donate that's grand... If not then that's your choice.

[rookiemater]

The third option vivacia is to look like a stingy grump on FB, which is probably what I'm going to do.

Oh and the charity does sound very worthwhile - I have no issue with that at all, I just don't like the fact that I could be nominated.

[treaclesoda]

the challenge is sweeping my Facebook too but not in the same way. The one that is going round my Facebook is ' do the challenge AND donate £3 to MacMillan. '. No one has nominated me and I don't think they will. I never respond to facebook chain things. If they do, I'll make the donation but I'm not pouring water on myself, getting wet with clothes on totally freaks me out, I think I have some weird sensory issue with it, I can't even bear to get my cuffs wet if I wash my hands.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

Everyone ive seen do it in the uk has donated to mcmillan, i was wondering how ALS somehow changed to them? Anyone know?

[Floop]

Yabu. Don't post anything - you'll draw attention to yourself.

If anybody nominates you, just ignore it without a fuss. No harm done. Easy.

[Blu]

You are a grown adult. You do not have to do anything just because someone 'nominates' you on your FB. Page,

[FrankelandFilly]

I don't know how Macmillan came to be associated with it. Perhaps they saw that ALS was a US charity and thought that they could encourage British folk to donate to them instead, which is a bit off in my eyes.

[Snowflakepie]

I've been nominated, and am ignoring. I give money to the charities of my choice. I very much doubt anyone will notice whether I post anything or not tbh. Don't let it bother you, the next craze will be along soon.

[MsVestibule]

What floop said ^^.

No need to make a drama about it on FB. And if somebody does nominate you and is then rude enough to chase you up, just say "It's not a charity I'm choosing to donate to at the moment."

[rookiemater]

You're right - I won't post anything, will just ignore it if it comes

[Notso]

DH just ignored it.
His brother nominated him but didn't donate. He has reused the same Poppy since his school days to avoid 'forking out 20p' every year

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Wow I've seen people doing this for months now. (I follow some Americans on Instagram who did it ages ago) and more recently some English friends have done it. not one of them has mentioned the charity aspect.

[Inertia]

Surely you can just ignore it on Facebook ?