by Wolf Bird » Thu Aug 21, '14, 1:54 pm
I guess I might be the only one who on some level, agrees with Aero.
Now, this is all great, that all this money is going to ALS awareness. I have to preface everything I want to say with that. The short-term impacts of this are pretty undeniable. But I'm afraid I've got plenty of concerns here, one among them being...how much of that money is actually going to where it really needs to get to, I.E., the researchers looking for treatments or even cures?
Secondly…the big spectacle it's become. It's become far more about the people doing it and a big publicity stunt than about the actual cause it's helping. At least that's what I think whenever I read stories about it. It has, unfortunately, gained an air of "Hey, look at me!" and just seeking attention whenever anyone does it.
Third…big publicity things like this, very rarely, result in long term, sustained interest in some cause in the public consciousness, no matter how worthy of such interest it might be, and ALS is certainly deserving of that. I fear once this ice bucket challenge is old and no longer interesting or entertaining, it and ALS are just going to fade away into the background again.
Fourth…well, stunts like this (but oftentimes not the cause itself…and I fear that's becoming the case) draw away attention from other things that are important, such as the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa that Aero mentioned. It seems a lot of media outlets and causes aren't touching that at all, nor other important things such as climate change, but will eagerly report on the latest celebrity doing the ice bucket challenge.
Don't get me wrong. It's great that ALS charities are raising money like this in the short-term. But as a way to sustain and maintain interest in ALS, as well as donations towards it? I'm skeptical.
Next Pokemon game(s): Pearl
Last finished Pokémon game: Shield
Other games: Skyrim Special Edition (Switch), Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Switch & PS4), Okami (Switch & PS4)
Other gaming goals: completing a Living Pokedex (minus some event Pokes) and going through at least 1 game per generation