Saturday, August 23, 2014

Is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge all about fun?

It's been a while since I have a written about something. It feels surreal that I am again finding the time to write for my so called "blog". It is quite difficult to find the mood or inspiration to write. I really do not know if I will be elucidate my point on the matter I decided to have a commentary on.  But here it goes, short and simple: 

Recently, social media platforms went abuzz with videos of "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge". Crazy videos, i must say, as they involve dumping a bucket of ice water on  a person's head. It is some sort of wild fun. It seems to be a great idea to shoot such a video and use the tag with it the phrase "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge". It is just for fun anyway. If this is your understanding of the logic behind the act, I think it would better for you to stop and do your research. 

Before you turn something into a social media fad, please take a good look of what is the original intention of such an act. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is not merely a fad. It is not just for fun. It was conceptualized to promote awareness of the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and encourage donations to research.

Yes, ALS is a three letter acronym for a disease. It is often characterized by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to  muscle atrophy (wasting away of muscles), and difficulties in breathing, speaking, and swallowing.  It is classified as a neurodegenerative disease causing parts of the body to be weaker and less able to function as time go by. Simply put, it is a progressive, fatal disorder  There is no cure for ALS.

Therefore, the tag "ALS ice bucket challenge" is not merely intended to be used just for fun. Hindi po lahat ng nasa social media ay pa-uso lang. Think more than once. Be in the know. Be responsible.