Ice Bucket Challenge

why do I feel like a lot of people are just trying to raise awareness of themselves?

If they just donated money, no one would notice or care, with this people all over the world are noticing

As usual, when someone does something generous or charitable, some readers have to be critical. Masayoshi Son's generosity is well-known. For example, he is donating his salary for the rest of his life to the victims of the Tohoku disaster.

In this case, he was probably asked by the organizers of the Ice Bucket Challenge to participate, just as the other celebs were in the related story. I'm sure he was happy to do so. What do critics think he should have done? Say no, or do it in secret so no one knows about it?

The cost of a bit of ice and water is more than offset by the worthy cause of fighting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Personally, I'm glad to see a major Japanese executive involved in the cause.

@BrainiC some JT readers will always find something to be grumpy about. The ice bucket is just what they would need to cool off their heathen minds. I'm not particularly a fan of SoftBank but it's good to hear that the CEO is a generous person.

roughneckAug. 20, 2014 - 02:11PM JST

Why not waste energy to make ice and just donate the money?

More than a week after the Ice Bucket Challenge first went viral, people keep dumping ice on their heads, and the ALS Association keeps collecting money. The organization has received $5.5 million for Lou Gehrig’s disease research since July 29, compared to $32,000 in the same period last year.

President Obama has donated money last week. Bill Gates have raised tons of money last week. I did my share of Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money last month. My brother had suffered with ALS over 18 years who passed away in April. It is a terrible disease. We can use every penny for the cure. I would like to see more people participating to raise money. Please send money directly to ALS. org.

Well I suppose its better than my 'Burn Tires Challenge' to raise awareness of global warming. Seriously though, it's all harmless fun, and helps pad out Youtube's Fail compilations

to pique people's interests I suppose. its more effective to go viral these days.

It's good to hear that the CEO is a generous person.

Apparently a rather extraordinary person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masayoshi_Son

That's fine. Here's the heartwarming story how the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS Awareness started:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11366483

globalwatcher -- THANK YOU. Unless you are here in the U.S. it is really impossible to truly understand how this simple grass-roots action by a friend of a former-Boston College baseball player has captured the spirit of the entire country. With the help of social media, it has become a phenomenon in less than a month. But you did a great job trying to politely make the cynics and nay-sayers here understand how small their comments are.

As an update, here is the latest information on how much has been raised:

As of Tuesday, the ALS Association had received $22.9 million in donations nationwide compared with $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to Aug. 19), according to the organization’s website. - See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/aug/20/falling-buckets-of-ice-raise-millions-to/#sthash.NoGBvbeT.dpuf

It would be great if the posters on JT could get into that spirit of charity, rather than attempt to score "points" by nit-picking and displaying how witty they think they are.

Nice picture. What a technique.

CoolBiz - latest version !

Have a look at Charlie Sheens version to understand how it should be done.

The water bucket challenge does get people's attention and in the short run is probably a winning strategy. However the most affective appeals are when the charity can do something that adds value to the donor which can provide opportunities they want to meet and eventually do business deals with. Those kinds of appeals are going to have greater power than the ones that struggle to get your attention.

This became annoying after seeing the 2nd person doing it. Just give the money and stop it with the stupidity. It's old.

It's amazing what people can be negative about. Here is an idea that so far has raised nearly 23 million dollars , but still we hear people complaining about it as misguided and an exercise in vanity. What kind of mind processes information this way? I think it's just sour grapes - people unconsciously angry at their own lives of social isolation. I say more power to anything that raises awareness and research funds for this devastating disease.

Anything to help charity. Can't fault people who are doing the right thing.

(Posted this before in another thread but JT mods deleted it:)

http://time.com/3100272/als-ice-bucket-challenge/

http://www.alsa.org/news/archive/ice-bucket-challenge.html

As a part of the so-called “ice bucket challenge,” started by a Massachusetts resident who has lived with ALS since 2012 to raise awareness for the disease, after posting their own ice-bucket videos, participants nominate others to get drenched via social media to keep the cycle going.

Ice Bucket Challenge Donations Continue to Exceed Expectations. As of Monday, August 18, The ALS Association has received $15.6 million in donations compared to $1.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 18). These donations have come from existing donors and 307,598 new donors to The Association.

ALS people aren't complaining.

jerseyboyAug. 20, 2014 - 09:15PM JST

globalwatcher -- THANK YOU. Unless you are here in the U.S. it is really impossible to truly understand how this simple grass-roots action by a friend of a former-Boston College baseball player has captured the spirit of the entire country. With the help of social media, it has become a phenomenon in less than a month. But you did a great job trying to politely make the cynics and nay-sayers here understand how small their comments are.

Thank you for a positive note. ALS cure is a personal issue to me as I lost my loving brother to ALS who was trapped in his own body for the past 2 decades. I believe we should be able to find the cure for the rest of ALS patients in the world. Let's Rock & Roll and raise more money, everyone!! WE CAN FIND THE CURE!!

f they just donated money, no one would notice or care, with this people all over the world are noticing

Most celebrities who get involved in this sort of thng are doing it for self-promotion. I expect that a large number of people have now heard of the ice bucket challenge, but only a fraction will be able to link it to the underlying cause (ALS aka motor neurone disease). Of those who can, how many actually donate as a result of this. And why should they donate to ALS as opposed to cancer research or some other worthy disease.

Have a look at Charlie Sheens version to understand how it should be done.

Was he sobering up?

FrungyAug. 20, 2014 - 05:11PM JST

Where can I sign up, that looks cooling and refreshing.

As for donating money, always be sure to vet charities carefully, often a lot of the money doesn't make it to the intended recipients and is wasted on administration.

Thank you for your interest. You do not have to sign up.

This is how it works. You tell your friends that you are participating for Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS cure 2014, And you are asking everyone's donation for a good cause in humanity. Once money is raised, you can go to the following site and send money directly to them no middle man. They accept major credit cards.. . Once payment is sent, they will send you a receipt.

https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=38CD1DE4C196800244BA5557A6F71BD9.app296b?df_id=27420&27420.donation=form1

This started here in New Zealand as the ice challenge that aimed towards donations to cancer. The Americans have just renamed it and ained it at ALS

Cool!

Thank you for a positive note

globalwatcher -- you're very welcome. And my sympathy to you regarding your brother. I had a very close friend/client suffer from ALS as well, and can appreciate your sentiments.

And:

What a charity, this is just propaganda tool for him, he will do anything to build fame around him , and if you believe him, , then, his goal is achieved .

Nenad -- your ignorence is simply appalling. Spend 30 seconds on Google before you post would you?

The outcome of this charity drive is good and it was designed effectively, though it does rely on a hefty bit of guilt-tripping and peer pressure. It's like people who are wacky on Halloween but totally buttoned up the rest of the year. Is it genuine? An act to fit in? Do they really wish to be this way all the time but are afraid to be or need a catalyst? Just doing it for the heck of it? Cynicism about this is annoying but so is the sanctimonious treatment of anyone who question it. People should be free to do whatever they want.

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BendrixAug. 21, 2014 - 03:03AM JST

The outcome of this charity drive is good and it was designed effectively, though it does rely on a hefty bit of guilt-tripping and peer pressure. It's like people who are wacky on Halloween but totally buttoned up the rest of the year. Is it genuine? An act to fit in? Do they really wish to be this way all the time but are afraid to be or need a catalyst? Just doing it for the heck of it? Cynicism about this is annoying but so is the sanctimonious treatment of anyone who question it. People should be free to do whatever they want.

Do not make it too complicated. If you are not interested in participating, you do not have to unless you live in China or Russia. Nobody are pressuring you to do so. We believe in Giving is Receiving of LOVE and COMPASSION. The post like this is really annoying to a goodness of people.

Exactly what I meant. Passive aggressive, holier-than-thou anger towards anyone who dares question it. That's not the spirit of a supposedly good cause. That's just forced charity.

BendrixAug. 21, 2014 - 03:19AM JST

Exactly what I meant. Passive aggressive, holier-than-thou anger towards anyone who dares question it. That's not the spirit of a supposedly good cause. That's just forced charity.

No, people like you is damaging a good spirit of people. The money goes to charity We do not keep it.. Please read some of these good websites people are sharing here to educate yourself. Your questions are already answered. I have not tolerance to ignorance. Did you read them before posting your stupid questions, may I ask?

People should be free to do whatever they want.

Bendrix -- exactly. And the people who are paticipating in this effort should not be subject to judgement from folks like yourself who doubt the sincerity of their actions. After all, Who are you to judge?

BendrixAug. 21, 2014 - 03:19AM JST

I have a great lesson for you. You never-never criticize and judge others as you have no idea what others have gone through in life. They have their own wars you do not know anything about.

I have lost my loving brother to ALS in April. He suffered in pain for the past 18 years with ventilator and food tube. I have all reasons to advocate for a good cause in this charity works.. I have seen enough sufferings in people with ALS..

1) Live without Pretending

2) Love without Depending

3) Listen without Defending

4) Speak without Offending.

Where can I sign up, that looks cooling and refreshing.

As for donating money, always be sure to vet charities carefully, often a lot of the money doesn't make it to the intended recipients and is wasted on administration.

Charity or not,I think I would try it myself just to refresh myself with this continous heat wave in Japan!

Sure the cause is worthy but I still despair at the mindless things that society dreams up to support such causes. agree this is as much about people self-promoting as it is about ALS.

He has been very succesful and this is a good cause. Nevertheless agree that there is a huge amount of self promotion involved in participating in these kinds of things. The continued dumbing down of the world brought about by social media is a pity.

Have a look at Charlie Sheens version to understand how it should be done.

BizNasty did the only one worth it.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/24657202/watch-paul-bissonnette-uses-helicopter-glacier-water-for-challenge

Having read about the increased donations, I will take back my earlier cynical comments, because it has raised money charity. A pretty small amount in comparison to all the fuss there has been, but it it still a substantial amount of money.

OK, allow me one last cynical swipe: well done to all those celebrities who have got their faces into the newspapers without having to even give a penny to charity!

What a charity, this is just propaganda tool for him, he will do anything to build fame around him , and if you believe him, , then, his goal is achieved .

Kind of thing he should have donated money rather than self promoting himself.

Why not waste energy to make ice and just donate the money?

Making sure he did in front of his company logo shows his true intention.