Breast cancer awareness

[ludicmelody]

I don't know how many of you guys got the email about the new 'game' going on facebook to raise breast cancer awareness. Similar to last year's what-colour-bra-are-you-wearing and the more recent where-do-you-like-to-put-your-purse thing, women worldwide are encouraged to post a cryptic message as their status to get men and other women wondering

Comments

[bunny_phobic]

I agree, it's stupid. But the problem is that many people now suffer from tl;dr syndrome even with interesting things and stupid games is probably the only way to supposedly garner enough attention

[ludicmelody]

I'm hoping if it's a quick fact that's interesting people will spend that 10-20 seconds to read it. =/

[bunny_phobic]

It's not even an issue of time, I think it's more the fact that with texting now, any block of text longer than 3 or so line looks unhealthily long to most people :/

I'll admit it, I didn't think this through either.

[ludicmelody]

=/ then maybe people will make exceptions. idk. Fight fire with fire and all that.

[forochel]

huh, you good point. I think I got an invite to do this or something but ... I ignored it.

[ludicmelody]

I ignored it the past two times. But I realize that as long as people are still doing these games, that they're gonna keep doing this stupid thing. (and well, I get annoyed at those messages really quickly) So I figured if an alternate plan becomes more popular/popular enough then people would do the cryptic message game less.

.. if that made sense.

Pimp this around if you think it's a good idea! :D

[singloom]

That is a good idea. The Fact a Day should get a discussion going, increasing real awareness because people will be learning something.

And second about the silliness of men being excluded. Breast cancer affects everyone.

[ludicmelody]

That's the idea at least. Honestly, I hope this will garner enough attention so another 'game' won't happen a couple of months later.

Pimp this post around if you think it's a good idea~! ♥

[ashoakandthorn]

Wait, wouldn't that have been happening in October? When it's actually breast cancer awareness month? Some things are timeless, but come on people.

[ludicmelody]

You know, I realized this after I made the post. It's the freaking middle of November. ... Movember isn't even done yet, why are people raising awareness on breast cancer during the month that people are suppose to be supporting prostate cancer?

It feels as if they're doing it just to bring attention to themselves. "Prostate cancer? PROSTATE CANCER? WHY, THAT'S NOT EVEN REAL. Breast cancer man, that's where it's at. I mean, as women, we lose are breasts due to it! Our breasts are important..."

But last year, the bra game didn't happen during October either. And the purse game was sometime during the summer. I think the idea is to get people thinking about breast cancer throughout the year, not just the designated time period.

I feel like there should be a cancer awareness month instead.

[ashoakandthorn]

I would rather have cancer awareness be a constant thing. So many people are affected by it. I mean, if you've heard of six degrees of separation... everyone on the planet supposed is connected in some way be at the most 6 degrees/other people. With cancer, I think everyone knows a cancer story.

[ludicmelody]

I agree that awareness should be a constant thing, but after an extended period of "these are the horrible effects of cancer! donateeee" anyone would find it dull/be annoyed/whatever else. That's probably why these types of campaigns are usually month-long only.

We know we should be thinking about it constantly, but it just doesn't happen. =/

Just a response

[ext_333789]

Hm, I personally get a laugh out of the responses to the bra colours and the purse placement stuff. So in that sense, I would totally support it.

Also take into consideration that most people probably wouldn't be bothered with the statistics because it would follow in the same pattern as all the other cancers promoted before like lung cancer. From this perspective, this bra-purse trend seems to capture more attention because it's an atypical way of achieving awareness.

While statistics might not be the most effective approach, I guess the idealist wouldn't be satisfied with that bra-purse trend, either. I say we should learn a few things from effective advertising that gives you something simple to think about, like pictures of black lungs, or that catch-phrase "Don't die of embarrassment" for colon cancer. Maybe they should consider advertising with a bra with holes in them and we'll see how that goes.

Cindy

PS: Adding statistics after something like that might add more punch to advertising. It's just a thought.

Re: Just a response

[ludicmelody]

It's not simply stats here though. Little facts like what are the (genetic) causes of breast cancer (to appease the life science group) or something interesting about research on breast cancer (eg: treatments we're looking into, etc).

On further thought, I shouldn't have limited it to facts. Stories would also be a good way to get attention; sharing personal experiences with breast cancer may be tl;dr, but it's also interesting for those that do end up reading it.

Maybe it's because they made it so that it's a special little secret only women are suppose to know, but I feel the campaigns for breast cancer awareness on fb isn't so much about raising awareness as it is women bringing attention to themselves. Especially with this new one about relationship status (what does that have to do with breast cancer?) and the purse one (really, trying to sound promiscuous to raise awareness?). I just feel there are better, more productive/effective/direct ways of raising awareness.

Or maybe I'm just a grouch. =/

Re: Just a response

[ext_333789]

Ahhh! I see where you're coming from. =DD