#Arghhhhhh * (Go to the end of the article and then jump back up!)
Exactly, my expression over the last month of frenzy that has taken over the social media. If the title is not enough to break it to you, then let me simplify it to the simplest point.
I am talking about the madness which was triggered by the #ALS #icebucketchallenge. (I am such a #hashtag sucker) and then extended in India by something called #RiceBucketChallenge and now a gradually growing global phenomenon of list your 10-favourite-books-and-nominate-3-people (or more) challenge (because I don't know it's official name) ! Just how much of a bandwagon-approach this world requires to enjoy its existence is beyond comprehension to me.
Ice bucket was triggered with the intention of spreading the awareness for ALS and collecting charity funds for carrying out the R&D and further possible cure. Well that's vindicated (until I learnt very recently that 75% of money doesn't even actually go for it's sole purpose!). Think "vindicated" needs a new definition.
Rice bucket the former's relatively new cousin was triggered by a 38-year-old journalist, Manju Latha Kalanidhi from Hyderabad, India. She might've thought well let's not waste water and actually donate a bucket of rice to the needy. Kudos. But, I've seen less people actually adopting the same. Is it that the world fancies pouring ice / water buckets than actually donating rice buckets ? I don't know. Guess, we'll have wait and watch. But I won't be surprised if more than half of the population would donate rice just for their 15 seconds of fame and show the world "the niceness" they've got in them.
As if the above two were not enough, they've got a new "intellectual cousin". It's the one who cannot be named.... ( nope it's not Voldermort-ish in nature, I just don't know it's actual name). Hence, I like to call it the "list-your -10-favourite-books-and-nominate-3-people (or more) challenge" :P . Basically, you list your top 10 all time favorite reads and then nominate "X"number of people to do the same. And the chain goes on..... Yawn.
Well, the last two aren't so non-sensical as compared to the first challenge (now don't patronize me on collection of charity funds, I know that!). In retrospect the rice bucket challenge helps in feeding the needy directly without any complex structures involved and the books read challenge helps in spreading the previously unknown titles to many avid readers or even normal readers for that matter.
The thing that baffles me the most is that how many more such "challenges" will now commence or have already started as niche challenges, waiting to break out for their commercial success. Remember people, to do something nice, charitable for the society, it's not necessary to follow the model which was triggered by ALS. It's not necessary to follow what everyone is doing. Just look around your neighborhood and see how you can make life simpler and easier in your immediate surroundings.
By stating the above, I am not suggesting that you stop donating to charities that are meant for children/ women and human welfare. I am merely stating that do your extensive research, If possible, try to cut down as many "in-betweens" as possible and deal directly with the subject of your charity. And when you do, then please as a sincere request, please do not videos or photos or any proof that you've been kind.It's nice that you did, mention it to your friends / family but then don't make a poster out of it.
There is a reason why I say so. Even if you did it with the right intention of spreading awareness, 10 others will do just to outdo their peers to see whose "the kindest" of the lot. No big-deal, it's just human nature. But it certainly becomes a "BIG-DEAL" when that attitude goes viral and with it the nobility of "kindness" is lost. It becomes a commercialized poster for "do-good" and nothing more.
Think long and hard about what I've said.... You may call me a hater, it doesn't matter.
All I know at this point:
1) I have a bucketful of ice more than many of you do.
2) I have poster-lessly donated food/clothing because my family does it on an on/off basis (oops I stated this, allow me a poster ONLY this time!)
3) I will not end up reading any books unnecessarily because I am impatient and distracted (as if there isn't enough to read / worry about in this world!).
Now, I challenge you as reader of this blog to provide criticism to this post and then nominate three others to read it and then criticise your view and repeat the chain.... Cool ? Yea Right ! :P
P.S. I haven't accepted any of the above challenges and will not in the future (of the same nature), unless I feel compelled in myriad dimensions.
*Arghhhhhh : Everything is going wrong someone help why is this happening oh heck! Meaning taken from the following link : http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=arghhhh
Exactly, my expression over the last month of frenzy that has taken over the social media. If the title is not enough to break it to you, then let me simplify it to the simplest point.
I am talking about the madness which was triggered by the #ALS #icebucketchallenge. (I am such a #hashtag sucker) and then extended in India by something called #RiceBucketChallenge and now a gradually growing global phenomenon of list your 10-favourite-books-and-nominate-3-people (or more) challenge (because I don't know it's official name) ! Just how much of a bandwagon-approach this world requires to enjoy its existence is beyond comprehension to me.
Ice bucket was triggered with the intention of spreading the awareness for ALS and collecting charity funds for carrying out the R&D and further possible cure. Well that's vindicated (until I learnt very recently that 75% of money doesn't even actually go for it's sole purpose!). Think "vindicated" needs a new definition.
Rice bucket the former's relatively new cousin was triggered by a 38-year-old journalist, Manju Latha Kalanidhi from Hyderabad, India. She might've thought well let's not waste water and actually donate a bucket of rice to the needy. Kudos. But, I've seen less people actually adopting the same. Is it that the world fancies pouring ice / water buckets than actually donating rice buckets ? I don't know. Guess, we'll have wait and watch. But I won't be surprised if more than half of the population would donate rice just for their 15 seconds of fame and show the world "the niceness" they've got in them.
As if the above two were not enough, they've got a new "intellectual cousin". It's the one who cannot be named.... ( nope it's not Voldermort-ish in nature, I just don't know it's actual name). Hence, I like to call it the "list-your -10-favourite-books-and-nominate-3-people (or more) challenge" :P . Basically, you list your top 10 all time favorite reads and then nominate "X"number of people to do the same. And the chain goes on..... Yawn.
Well, the last two aren't so non-sensical as compared to the first challenge (now don't patronize me on collection of charity funds, I know that!). In retrospect the rice bucket challenge helps in feeding the needy directly without any complex structures involved and the books read challenge helps in spreading the previously unknown titles to many avid readers or even normal readers for that matter.
The thing that baffles me the most is that how many more such "challenges" will now commence or have already started as niche challenges, waiting to break out for their commercial success. Remember people, to do something nice, charitable for the society, it's not necessary to follow the model which was triggered by ALS. It's not necessary to follow what everyone is doing. Just look around your neighborhood and see how you can make life simpler and easier in your immediate surroundings.
By stating the above, I am not suggesting that you stop donating to charities that are meant for children/ women and human welfare. I am merely stating that do your extensive research, If possible, try to cut down as many "in-betweens" as possible and deal directly with the subject of your charity. And when you do, then please as a sincere request, please do not videos or photos or any proof that you've been kind.It's nice that you did, mention it to your friends / family but then don't make a poster out of it.
There is a reason why I say so. Even if you did it with the right intention of spreading awareness, 10 others will do just to outdo their peers to see whose "the kindest" of the lot. No big-deal, it's just human nature. But it certainly becomes a "BIG-DEAL" when that attitude goes viral and with it the nobility of "kindness" is lost. It becomes a commercialized poster for "do-good" and nothing more.
Think long and hard about what I've said.... You may call me a hater, it doesn't matter.
All I know at this point:
1) I have a bucketful of ice more than many of you do.
2) I have poster-lessly donated food/clothing because my family does it on an on/off basis (oops I stated this, allow me a poster ONLY this time!)
3) I will not end up reading any books unnecessarily because I am impatient and distracted (as if there isn't enough to read / worry about in this world!).
Now, I challenge you as reader of this blog to provide criticism to this post and then nominate three others to read it and then criticise your view and repeat the chain.... Cool ? Yea Right ! :P
P.S. I haven't accepted any of the above challenges and will not in the future (of the same nature), unless I feel compelled in myriad dimensions.
*Arghhhhhh : Everything is going wrong someone help why is this happening oh heck! Meaning taken from the following link : http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=arghhhh
