# E. Nough. With. The. Pink. Al. Ready. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 28, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869 "2013-09-28T15:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/61 "2013-09-29T19:42:09Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > While we’re at it, what’s with all the walks? Walk for the cure, etc. They could sell candy bars, or candles, or wrapping paper or something, but instead it’s “Give me $20 and I promise you I will take a pleasant stroll through the park”. Such courage, such dedication. If going for a walk fights breast cancer then my dog deserves some sort of humanitarian prize. There’s a classic Onion piece on this topic: [6,000 Runners Fail To Discover Cure For Breast Cancer](http://www.theonion.com/articles/6000-runners-fail-to-discover-cure-for-breast-canc,176/) ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/62 "2013-09-29T20:17:45Z")
I’ve seen a tow truck in the Cary, NC area that’s painted pink. I’m not sure if it’s part of a fleet or not. Fortunately, since it’s not a flatbed, neither one of my vehicles runs the risk of ever having to be Towed for the Cure. Like **armedmonkey** , I’ve never understood the “pledge money and I’ll walk!” thing. When I was in elementary school, we had an annual “Walk-A-Thon” with the same concept…pledge money, and I’ll walk [number] of laps. Has this method actually been shown to bring in more money than simply telling people why the money is needed? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/63 "2013-09-29T21:26:47Z")
[From Wiki’s ribbon list:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awareness_ribbons) > [@](#): > > testicular cancer awareness (the actual shade of purple used for this ribbon is orchid, since the word orchid means “testicle” in Ancient Greek ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/64 "2013-09-29T22:34:24Z")
I think the reason some people assume walkathons to be more appealing than any other charity drive is because it’s not just a hand out. You’re giving to someone who actually gets off their ass and does something for your money. Shrug. Makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/65 "2013-09-29T23:41:42Z")
> [@Tequila\_Party](#): > > I think the reason some people assume walkathons to be more appealing than any other charity drive is because it’s not just a hand out. You’re giving to someone who actually gets off their ass and does something for your money. Shrug. Makes sense to me. Or not. Do you actually go with the person and count laps? Probably not. And the people who ARE counting the laps have a vested interest in making sure your little pledge hits the max. It’s a complete lack of accountability. For me, I want transponders on the walkers, NASCAR-style scoring loops embedded in the course, and KPMG auditors on site. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/66 "2013-09-30T00:54:59Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The ones that “legitimately” use the ribbon, color and come-on donate some related fraction of sales to ACS and/or Komen. There is widespread… well, is it piracy if you decide to sell your product in pink shrinkwrap during October? Let’s call it coat-tailing. Awareness drafting. Stealth awareness. It’s called pinkwashing. I own breasts, and I agree with the OP wholeheartedly. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/67 "2013-09-30T13:05:58Z")
The OP was way too kind, for my tastes. Once the NFL players take the field adorned in pink, I’ll spend all of October gritting my teeth and trying not to break things. I have no idea how breast cancer became the world’s most popular cause over the past 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/68 "2013-09-30T13:32:00Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > The OP was way too kind, for my tastes. Once the NFL players take the field adorned in pink, I’ll spend all of October gritting my teeth and trying not to break things. I have no idea how breast cancer became the world’s most popular cause over the past 5 years. In a word? Marketing. Both of the “effort” itself and in the value to retail sales, coupled with near-zero consumer resistance (maybe even positive acceptance, making that a… negative negative?) “Pink… it’s not even a queshion…” ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/69 "2013-09-30T13:42:17Z")
Breasts are popular. Breast cancer gets spinoff popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/70 "2013-09-30T14:23:37Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > In a word? Marketing. > > Both of the “effort” itself and in the value to retail sales, coupled with near-zero consumer resistance (maybe even positive acceptance, making that a… negative negative?) > > “Pink… it’s not even a queshion…” Sure, it’s marketing, but that doesn’t asnwer why its been so successful, and why so many people have responded favorably to it. I think it has everything to do with organizations wanting the public to see them as sypathetic towards women. Slapping some pink on the box/uni/whatever is just a really, really easy way to do that. Sooner or later, there will be a backlash. I’m just really surprised it has gone as far as it has. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/71 "2013-09-30T14:46:26Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Sure, it’s marketing, but that doesn’t asnwer why its been so successful, and why so many people have responded favorably to it. Well, I expanded a little on the one-word answer; marketing does have to “work,” of course and in this case I think pinkwashing sits at a perfect center of elements. > [@](#): > > I think it has everything to do with organizations wanting the public to see them as sypathetic towards women. Slapping some pink on the box/uni/whatever is just a really, really easy way to do that. This, too. Another “positive element” lifting the boat. **ANewLeaf** has a point, too: while breasts are still a bit blush-worthy as a public topic, they are also attractive to both men and women and thus easier to show public appreciation of, even in this slightly backhanded way, than colons or lungs or prostates. Backlash? Probably not. A tide going out? Certainly. Can’t come too soon for me. It’s going to be a long month. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/72 "2013-09-30T16:22:20Z")
Just opened my news page and got treated to a picture of a pink KFC bucket. I wonder if the pink washing will turn out like Halloween and Christmas, in that retailers will start putting themed items on the shelves months in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/73 "2013-09-30T17:23:52Z")
> [@saje](#): > > As a woman who does not like pink, I heartily concur w/ the OP. > > Yes, breast cancer is awful. So is ovarian, testicular, pancreatic, anal, bone and skin. Newsflash - cancer sucks! Agreed, but apparently, the prevailing sentiment is that only adult women matter (well, specifically a rather sexual part of said adult woman). Forms of cancer that are more widespread among gender and age groups just don’t matter as much as “save the boobies!” Incidentally, that slogan is IMO disgusting. Doesn’t matter if the woman attached to that breast dies as long as the boobie is preserved to drool at/play with, hmmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/74 "2013-09-30T17:28:24Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > I have given up on buying any -support this cause- type stuff because I have little faith that more than a pittance of the money will actually go to “the cause”. I dOnt mind buying stuff I want and that money going to pay anything that goes into running a company but I refuse to be guilted into buying something I dont want because it has been labled with some cause (and is more than likely helping to make some ceo rich). Same with charities - no money from me unless it is provable that the majority of what is given actually goes to the cause. QFT. If you (generic you) actually care about some cause, then DO something more than buying some feel-good trinket with the fashionable “see how conscious I am” labeling. That’s just slacktivism and lazy. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/75 "2013-09-30T17:42:45Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Incidentally, that slogan is IMO disgusting. Doesn’t matter if the woman attached to that breast dies as long as the boobie is preserved to drool at/play with, hmmmm? The first “Save the Boobies” style group, “Save the Tatas” was founded by Julia Fikse in 2004. While it’s possible that objectifying women was the reason she chose that name, I’m guessing there are more likely possibilities. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save\_the\_tatas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_tatas) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/76 "2013-09-30T18:18:33Z")
I don’t really feel the outrage here, but on the other hand my primary cancer-related charity giving is through the American Cancer Society’s [Relay For Life](http://www.relayforlife.org/), which fights all forms of cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/77 "2013-09-30T19:02:18Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I don’t really feel the outrage here, but on the other hand my primary cancer-related charity giving is through the American Cancer Society’s [Relay For Life](http://www.relayforlife.org/), which fights all forms of cancer. Perhaps that’s because you actually make charity donations. The “outraged” here obviously donate nothing; if they simply found breast cancer promotion tasteless, they could express that feeling by sending their money to one of the many, many other good causes out there. But they don’t… (And a few are expressing their well-known misogyny.) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/78 "2013-09-30T19:03:34Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The first “Save the Boobies” style group, “Save the Tatas” was founded by Julia Fikse in 2004. While it’s possible that objectifying women was the reason she chose that name, I’m guessing there are more likely possibilities. > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save\_the\_tatas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_tatas) Whether it was intended as objectifying or not, it came out that way, with the emphasis being on preservation of the body part, with no mention of the attached human being, which conveys the message that said human being doesn’t matters as much as that body part does. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/79 "2013-09-30T19:05:43Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Perhaps that’s because you actually make charity donations. The “outraged” here obviously donate nothing; if they simply found breast cancer promotion tasteless, they could express that feeling by sending their money to one of the many, many other good causes out there. > > But they don’t… > > (And a few are expressing their well-known misogyny.) Wow, impressive flying broad jump to smugly nasty conclusions there! You have no reason to think that those who find the whole “save teh boobieeez!!!” bit irritating do not donate to charities they feel are more deserving. Also, several female posters (myself included) are in the “this is annoying and obnoxious” camp, so the “misogyny” claim is IMO just a knee-jerk buzzword to try to shut down discussion and dismiss opinions you don’t want to address. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869/80 "2013-09-30T19:08:14Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Perhaps that’s because you actually make charity donations. **The “outraged” here obviously donate nothing;** if they simply found breast cancer promotion tasteless, they could express that feeling by sending their money to one of the many, many other good causes out there. > > But they don’t… > > (And a few are expressing their well-known misogyny.) (bolding mine, for emphasis) And you know this because… 😕 FWIW, your assumption is wrong, in my case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-nough-with-the-pink-al-ready/669869.md?page=5)