Shields up!!

[delphipsmith]

I don't really understand this viral ice bucket challenge thing (are they supposed to be raising money? how does this work??) but I was hugely amused to discover the the Old Spice Guy has done his usual clever twist on it. Enjoy -- and if you know anyone named John Johnson, be sure to pass it on :)


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Comments

[madeleone]

*Snorts* God, I love the Old Spice Guy!

[delphipsmith]

I know, right?? "Helloooo, Internet..."

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Haha! This is priceless.

Here's what Slate magazine has to say about the origins of the challenge: Who Invented the Ice-Bucket Challenge?

It has changed in various ways. The charity part originally seems to have been an either/or: either donate money OR dump ice on yourself. But now it has morphed into dumping ice AND donating, plus asking others to donate/dump, too.

It's a gimmick that has apparently helped raise a huge amount for research, but I find myself a bit conflicted about it. It's the sort of thing that lets us pat ourselves on the back and feel self-satisfied when we actually haven't done much. Here's another Slate opinion on the matter: Take the No-Ice-Bucket Challenge.

On the other hand, maybe I am just being an annoying curmudgeon. People find it fun, they give money, what's the harm?

[delphipsmith]

A dumb drinking game is maybe, possibly, the origin of a fundraising drive that raised more than $50 million for ALS. How cool is that?

That really is fascinating. Reminds me of the old party game "Rumor" where a sentence got whispered down a line of people, mutating en route. Thanks!

Edit: Second to the Old Spice Guy, I like Patrick Stewart's version :)

[toblass.livejournal.com]

I was wondering as well, and then I saw this video. http://qpolitical.com/ice-bucket-challenge-end-like-rest-gotta-see/

I did see a Kermit the Frog one today as well...

Edit: and here he is:

http://youtu.be/Mmax3yEZX58

[delphipsmith]

Ha! That's cute. I like Patrick Stewart's version too :)

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

I don't get the whole ice bucket thing. If you want to donate money to a charity, just DO IT. It seems to me that staging some sort of "event" is merely to gratify one's ego. For this reason, I look askance at "races to the cure", parties that revolve around donating money to charities, and the like. I mean, if you WANT to donate, why do you need all those bells and whistles? So all your friends will KNOW that you've done it? That seems rather self-serving. But then I am a bit of a curmudgeon at times.

[delphipsmith]

Yeah, kellychambliss linked to an interesting Slate article (above) that says pretty much the same thing. My knee-jerk response when I see everyone doing something is NOT to do it, whatever it is;I figure anything millions of people like has to be some kind of lowest common denominator. (Sometimes this is true bit sometimes it isn't: I was right about Titanic but wrong about Harry Potter lol.)

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

A couple of my neignbours have done the ice bucket challenge and if you are nominated you do it or send a hundred to the charity. I am keeping well away from it.

[delphipsmith]

Oh, THAT'S how the charity gets money. But wait...that means all these celebrities getting icewater dumped on them are too stingy to pony up!

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

I love this guy. Thanks for the link. :D

[haruhi-fan.livejournal.com]

It's for ALS research (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). People are challenged to either donate to the cause (the main point is awareness since it's not one of the more commonly known disease (it's one that paralyzes the body but the mind's active-scientist Stephen Hawkings is one of the more well known victims) or donate AND videotape themselves within 24 hours of being challenged of being ice bucketed since that's the same feeling of those who have the disease feel daily. Most people go to the lengths to explain that and again for a good cause it's a good thing. Hope that clears that up and yes the Old Spice guy (Terry Crews too when he's not around to do the ads) are also pretty funny comedians.