# Poll: Would you pour ice water over your head for charity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080 "2014-08-08T02:11:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/81 "2014-08-19T14:37:07Z")
At some point, someone has to say “Hey, people are pouring water on their heads to get donations for ALS. I’ll be the guy inspired to actually make that donation.” I’m that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/82 "2014-08-19T14:40:01Z")
It seems like this thing has sort of split off into two branches (maybe there are more). In one group you have people who say you have to donate $10 if you dump the water on your head and $100 if you don’t, and in the other group people are not bothering with that $10 donation. One is obviously more useful than the other, although if it brings about more donations indirectly I guess it’s still getting something done. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/83 "2014-08-19T16:25:42Z")
I got challenged last night so I’m going to do it this afternoon! And I’ll make a $25 donation to the ALS group. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/84 "2014-08-21T23:06:43Z")
I JUST now learned about what this was after seeing it mentioned all over the place the last two days. [Apparently it’s huge.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ice_Bucket_Challenge_participants) > [@Marley23](#): > > [The ALS Association says it’s raised $1.35 million from this viral thing.](http://nesn.com/2014/08/ice-bucket-challenge-leads-to-massive-surge-in-donations-to-als-association/) It’s now at [about 41 million.](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/business/media/ice-bucket-challenge-donations-for-als-top-41-million.html?_r=0) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/85 "2014-08-22T03:28:09Z")
I don’t vote in public polls on principle, but I would have ticked No. I _might_ do it under the right circumstances, which would involve drugs or alcohol, but I find it a bit cold(heh)-hearted for someone to tell me, “If you don’t do this, we’re not giving any money to such-and-such cause despite it being worthy.” In a related development, [US envoys banned from ‘ice bucket’](http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/428137/us-envoys-banned-from-ice-bucket). I think the phenomenon has shown up in Thailand too. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/86 "2014-08-22T03:48:03Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I don’t vote in public polls on principle, but I would have ticked No. I _might_ do it under the right circumstances, which would involve drugs or alcohol, but I find it a bit cold(heh)-hearted for someone to tell me, “If you don’t do this, we’re not giving any money to such-and-such cause despite it being worthy.” I believe it’s if _you_ don’t do it, you need to give _more_ $ to ALSA. In related news, it was bound to happen at some point, one of the more unusual ones has two in [critical condition](http://www.wdrb.com/story/26338697/wvlc-two-firefighters-critically-injured-after-being-shocked-by-power-line). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/87 "2014-08-22T03:50:00Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I believe it’s if _you_ don’t do it, you need to give _more_ $ to ALSA. Good luck with that! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/88 "2014-08-22T04:52:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Good luck with that! I didn’t make the [rules](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Bucket_Challenge) [up](http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/08/12/health-local-als-researchers-take-ice-bucket-challenge/). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/89 "2014-08-22T05:46:07Z")
I meant good luck extorting more money out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/90 "2014-08-22T10:43:31Z")
I don’t think this has anything to do with awareness of the disease or generosity of spirit. It is another tiresome, viral social media stunt that happens to allow celebrities and the other self-obsessed to show how much they “care”. The charity is incidental, it’ll be shoving bananas up your arse for alzheimer’s next week and so the escalation of stupid stunts continues until people die. A byproduct is that this charity gets a load of money, good for them, they are a worthy cause. I’m sure that somewhere else other equally important charities are wondering why their takings are down and wondering why so many people are walking round with an “I’ve done my bit already” look on their face (and with wet hair…or smelling of bananas). So no, I wouldn’t do it and I’d look down on anyone who tried these pitiful blackmail tactics in order to coerce me. I hate anyone confronting me with what, when and how much I should donate to a particular cause. I’ll make my own decision thanks. Thankfully I’m not on any social media so the chances of anyone bothering me with this are negligible. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/91 "2014-08-22T15:33:00Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > The charity is incidental, it’ll be shoving bananas up your arse … Well, to be fair, some people _do_ pay good money for that anyway. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/92 "2014-08-22T15:50:54Z")
I voted no. Where do I send the check? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/93 "2014-08-22T16:03:31Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So now, apparently, there is a new thing called a “[fire challenge](http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/08/08/health-experts-on-internet-fire-challenge-dont-do-it/).” Please tell me this is a fund raiser for the Special Olympics. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/94 "2014-08-22T16:21:00Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > So now, apparently, there is a new thing called a “[fire challenge](http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/08/08/health-experts-on-internet-fire-challenge-dont-do-it/).” Much, much more stupid and potentially disastrous. > [@Shodan](#): > > Please tell me this is a fund raiser for the Special Olympics. > > Regards, > Shodan I thought it was a fundraiser for barbecue sauce. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/95 "2014-08-22T20:26:26Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > … > > (I once participated in a university “wheel-chair experience” where I was in a wheelchair for a couple hours, getting used to opening doors, etc. It was intended as consciousness-raising, and no one took it as making fun.) Good for you! I am in an electric wheelchair myself these days. So pouring water over my head out of the question. But in the old days I’d have done it. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/96 "2014-08-22T22:38:08Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I am in an electric wheelchair myself these days. So pouring water over my head out of the question. But in the old days I’d have done it. I had a kid on my caseload who had the worst joystick on his chair. The tiniest bit of moisture, and he was stuck. I’m not kidding-- like, if it was a hot day, and he sweated on the joystick, he’d get stuck. His mother put a bread bag over it until we could get him back up to Riley to demand that they replace it. Anyway, I hear you. One of the most frustrating things we encountered was people who had handicapped placards, but didn’t “get” not to park in the van lift spaces if they didn’t need them. Sometimes there wouldn’t be a van lift space, and his mother would diagonal park in two regular spaces and leave the lift down. I don’t think you actually have to sit in a chair-- if you spend a lot of time hanging out with people who use chairs, you get the gist. Although, FWIW, I’ve sat in some chairs because people needed me to move them, and it’s easier that way. The real eye-opener for me wasn’t that broken door openers suck, or streets with curb cutaways on only one side suck, but the fact that steering a chair is a real skill that needs some practice. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/97 "2014-08-22T22:47:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Please tell me this is a fund raiser for the Special Olympics. > > Regards, > Shodan What? Please explain that, and I really hope you don’t mean what I think you mean. ---
**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 22, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/98 "2014-08-22T23:50:46Z")
“Fireman fighting for life after electric shock during ice bucket challenge. Three others were also injured when a ladder got too close to power cables as they poured water over a group of university students” > **[Fireman critical after electric shock in ice bucket challenge](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/fireman-fighting-life-after-electric-4088242)** > > Three others were also injured when a ladder got too close to power cables as they poured water over a group of university students I was wondering how long it would take before someone got seriously hurt. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/99 "2014-08-23T00:17:47Z")
So wait, all these people getting doused with cold water are actually giving lesser donations, but they are the ones getting all the attention, like they’ve done something good? They post pictures of themselves getting doused, or endanger firefighters’ lives _in order to avoid giving money_? They could maintain their dignity, not be media whores, and actually do \*more \*for the charity by making a bigger donation if they refused to get doused? That’s it, we’re through the looking-glass. Real life has jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080/100 "2014-08-23T01:38:04Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > So wait, all these people getting doused with cold water are actually giving lesser donations, but they are the ones getting all the attention, like they’ve done something good? Yup, either a physical challenge or pony up cash, seems reasonable to me. However, it’s no longer limited to people. This [particpant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w4Gqt-ljb4) is awesome [marketing](http://www.popsugar.com/tech/Samsung-Galaxy-Ice-Bucket-Challenge-35538205)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-pour-ice-water-over-your-head-for-charity/695080.md?page=6)