Slacktivism

"Like and share this status to help fight Breast Cancer, Autism, Alzheimer's, AIDS, Childhood Obesity, Gingivitis, Athlete's Foot, Adult Diaper Rash, and Really Bad Boo-Boos."

Today's post is along the same lines as my annoyance with the Pink Ribbon Fad, but in this case it is limited to just Facebook users.

"If you know someone who is fighting, has fought, Is winning, or has won, is losing, or has lost, the battle of Bee-Sting allergies, then share this status for one hour. 99.9% of people refuse to share it. Will you?"

These posts annoy me because it implies that anyone who won't re-post it as their status is a heartless fiend who doesn't give rodent's rear about helpless Bee-Sting victims. It makes people feel guilty, then they re-post it, and then their friends see it, feel guilty, and also re-post it. In less than a day your Facebook news-feed has been transformed into an endless sea of guilt inducing drivel about Bee-Stings. This does absolutely nothing to help Bee-Sting victims and it makes you look like a sheep.

One of my favorite YouTube channels, Blimey Cow, made a video about this very thing, and I thought it was so funny, that it would make the perfect compliment to my post.



I didn't write this post to vilify people who legitimately care about any of these causes. If you or someone you love have been affected by one or more of the diseases that Facebook cares so much about, then by all means, get out there and spread the word! But changing your Facebook status doesn't do anything.