# Are the Reporters and Politicians in your state taking the ALS Ice Water Challenge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 15, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578 "2014-08-15T02:54:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/1 "2014-08-15T02:54:18Z")
Such a wonderful idea to help support ALS research. It seems to have caught on everywhere. 4 million raised in just two weeks. Here in Arkansas all the anchors at KATV 7 have taken the challenge and posted videos. Several candidates running for office and [even our governor has participated.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqd97f6m8jo&feature=youtu.be) Are prominent people in your state participating too? You’ll probably find links to their videos on social media like twitter and Facebook. [http://www.alsa.org/news/archive/als-ice-bucket-challenge.html](http://www.alsa.org/news/archive/als-ice-bucket-challenge.html) > [@](#): > > In the last two weeks, the Ice Bucket Challenge has quite literally “soaked” the nation. Everyone from Ethel Kennedy to Justin Timberlake has poured a bucket of ice water over his or her head and challenged others do the same or make a donation to fight ALS within twenty-four hours. > > Between July 29 and today, August 12, The ALS Association and its 38 chapters have received an astonishing $4 million in donations compared to $1.12 million during the same time period last year. The ALS Association is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from those people who have been doused, made a donation, or both. Contributions further The Association’s mission to find a cure for ALS while funding the highest quality of care for people living with the disease. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/2 "2014-08-15T02:55:57Z")
Nope. SDMB is the only place I’ve seen it mentioned ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/3 "2014-08-15T05:03:39Z")
The local newscasters have all been doing it. So has my daughter and her friends. Among the politicians, though, response is more muted. Our local paper shows one state rep taking the challenge – with a bowlful of water. It’s hard to make him seriously, especially when, on the facing page of the paper, people are dumping entire huge buckets of ice water over themselves: [http://saugus.wickedlocal.com/article/20140814/News/140819075](http://saugus.wickedlocal.com/article/20140814/News/140819075) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/4 "2014-08-15T05:15:43Z")
Aceplace57: Before asking about others doing it: have you done it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/5 "2014-08-15T05:25:58Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Nope. SDMB is the only place I’ve seen it mentioned Same here. Heard about it on The Dope. Got a call about 2 hours ago from a real good friend. Diagnosed with ALS recently. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/6 "2014-08-15T05:56:14Z")
I’m not a celebrity or a politician. But, you’re right I can and will make a donation to ALS research. > [@PastTense](#): > > Aceplace57: Before asking about others doing it: have you done it yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/7 "2014-08-15T07:13:31Z")
I don’t understand how this is supposed to work. Wouldn’t it make more sense for Justin Timberlake to promise to dump water on someone else’s head if you give to the ALSA? Instead, he dumps water on his own head and … doesn’t give anyone any money? I’m glad it’s working, however it’s working. It’s a worthy cause. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/8 "2014-08-15T07:41:35Z")
The idea is you challenge a friend or peer. Most people issue three challenges. So I do it and challenge my friends Ted, Bob, and David to do it within 24 hours. They do the same thing. It has spread across social media. Most people will do it for a great cause. No one wants to be the spoil sport that ducked a challenge. I’m not sure if there is a set amount to donate. I’d guess whatever someone can afford. I’m not plugged into social media. I follow a few celebrities and my local news on twitter and thats it. I will donate but can’t issue challenges. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/9 "2014-08-15T11:30:17Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I don’t understand how this is supposed to work. Wouldn’t it make more sense for Justin Timberlake to promise to dump water on someone else’s head if you give to the ALSA? Instead, he dumps water on his own head and … doesn’t give anyone any money? > > I’m glad it’s working, however it’s working. It’s a worthy cause. I nominate you. You take the challenge and dump the water. You have to donate $25 and get to nominate 3 people. If you chicken out you have to donate $100. Of course there isn’t an actual regulatory agency ensuring you comply. Here that piece of shit Chris Christie did it and challenged Mark Zuckerberg who accepted. I hope he donated more than $25. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/10 "2014-08-15T11:46:00Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The local newscasters have all been doing it. So has my daughter and her friends. > > Among the politicians, though, response is more muted. Our local paper shows one state rep taking the challenge – with a bowlful of water. It’s hard to make him seriously, especially when, on the facing page of the paper, people are dumping entire huge buckets of ice water over themselves: > > [Wicked Local: Local News in Boston, MA](http://saugus.wickedlocal.com/article/20140814/News/140819075) He’s the one it’s hard to take seriously? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/11 "2014-08-15T12:51:39Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > He’s the one it’s hard to take seriously? 😕 The idea is to do something challenging and not terribly pleasant, but harmless by dumping a large container of ice water on your head. Wong’s dumping a small bowl on his head really isn’t that much different from dumping a single glass of water, or a thimble, even, on his head – he’s skirting the real intent of the challenge (and it’s not as if he doesn’t have access to large containers – the guy owns a local restaurant). So dumping a small bowl over his head is a deliberate choice. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/12 "2014-08-15T13:49:15Z")
My daughter plays college soccer and after their game last night both teams got together in a big group and took the challenge together. Every player made a donation, and the universities agreed to match. Not sure who they challenged… likely other teams in their respective conferences (A10 and Big East). And yes, you can’t watch the news around here without seeing someone do it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/13 "2014-08-15T15:09:44Z")
Nope. Saw a thread title about it here (which I never read) and saw a picture on Google News yesterday about Zuckerberg doing it. No idea or interest in whether my local politicians are doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/14 "2014-08-15T15:17:32Z")
I can’t believe all the people saying they haven’t seen it yet. A quick Google search shows 31 million hits and 6.8 million videos… and it has only been going around for a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/15 "2014-08-15T16:17:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Here in Arkansas all the anchors at KATV 7 have taken the challenge and posted videos. Several candidates running for office and [even our governor has participated.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqd97f6m8jo&feature=youtu.be) Funny, I’m good friends w/ the Arkansas governor’s press secretary. Might have to ask him about this. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/16 "2014-08-15T16:43:32Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I can’t believe all the people saying they haven’t seen it yet. A quick Google search shows 31 million hits and 6.8 million videos… and it has only been going around for a few weeks. Right, but who is going to google it if they’ve never heard of it? I can assure you, it’s not a thing in the Seattle area (or I am seriously out of touch). ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/17 "2014-08-15T16:43:51Z")
Any person in public life is being forced to do it, at the risk of becoming a public pariah. There are plenty of worthwhile causes, some of which I contribute to, and I would resent being expected to favor those who openly and publicly blackmail me. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/18 "2014-08-15T17:14:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Right, but who is going to google it if they’ve never heard of it? I can assure you, it’s not a thing in the Seattle area (or I am seriously out of touch). [Seattle](http://www.geekwire.com/2014/watch-5-tech-ceos-participate-ice-bucket-challenge/) represented here (Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Jeff Bezos of Amazon). Another link [from Seattle Times here](http://blogs.seattletimes.com/microsoftpri0/2014/08/13/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-takes-part-in-als-ice-bucket-challenge-video/). [Oh, and Pete Carroll.](http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/article-roundup/Tuesday-Round-Up-Pete-Carroll-accepts-ALS-IceBucketChallenge/b8d2dadc-51f0-4ca2-8b37-7c499515a466) [Video of Carroll here.](http://www.king5.com/sports/seahawks/Coach-Pete-Carroll-does-Ice-Bucket-Challenge-270961891.html) So I suppose you’re just out of touch? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/19 "2014-08-15T23:26:15Z")
ABC nightly news covered the ice bucket challenge. Talked with the guy that started it with his wife. He was the captain of his college baseball team before being struck down by ALS. The GMA crew took the challenge this morning. Glad to see it’s still going strong and generating donations. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578/20 "2014-08-15T23:30:30Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > So I suppose you’re just out of touch? Guilty as charged. I’ll stay out of threads asking about current events (other than the Seattle Mariners’ march to the World Series) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-reporters-and-politicians-in-your-state-taking-the-als-ice-water-challenge/695578.md?page=2)