On the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Fundraising and awareness are wonderful things. Through them people become informed about issues that can harm people as well as raise capital to support finding solutions for the aforementioned issues.  Yet with regard to the Ice Bucket Challenge I find a few points that sour the experience and will prevent me from joining in the campaign (but not from donating towards a cure). 

The first point that I have noticed through social media and tv programs that discuss this is a shaming of those that criticize any aspect of this. Seriously. There emerges a gang level mentality of those that are pro this movement (or any popular movement) where the mass erupts in many different ways to defend itself from any and all perceived attacks. An example is one that I watched happen via social media where a person I know was shamed into doing this after previously stating they would not and gave many reasons why.

But I suppose beating down a persons resolve so they can "see the errors of their ways" and become part of the mass once more is all par for the course of being a good person, right? Hell I'm absolutely expecting the shaming, the insults, the attempts to get me to open my mind and reconsider, the attempts to get me to ask forgiveness by participation. 

Good luck with that. 

And the damnedest part is that once a person rejects the course of action of the masses the individual becomes vilified and disliked. In my case I'm used to being the villain; it comes with the territory if being a ginger.

The most pressing point I have about the Ice Bucket Challenge is it wastes a finite resource: fresh water. Yes I know that it's not much per each challenge however that usage just keeps adding to the already wasteful treatment of our fresh water reserves. This challenge adds more strain on all the water wasted from poor municipal infrastructure, leaky pipes, excessive watering of lawns, filling swimming pools, and so on. 

Now we think that this is no big deal to use our fresh, drinkable water for such a good cause. Is that a case of American Priveledge? Not really as other countries have adopted similar challenges for causes other than ALS. So then is this First World Priveledge? Quite possibly yes. First world countries have access to better living conditions and more resources than others have. In turn we are more 

Iikely to indulge in excess; especially when that excess is for a good cause.

Now am I a saint that never wastes water? No way. I know I am bad about my water usage some days but I have been trying to curb excess use as much as possible. Just do some research about the area you live in and check rain fall totals as well as drought conditions. Just some cursory research can show you that our water reserves are not as strong as we perceive them to be. 

Again bringing ALS to the collective mind and generating funding to help put down this disease is a grand, noble endeavor. My challenge to those who are advocating this is as follows:

Can we come up with another way to raise awareness and generate funding for ALS without wasting our water? 

On the topic of "Guild Drama"

I don't understand why it is needed. It is a corruptive force that will eventually wreck raid groups, friendships forged online, and make other people want to leave the guild in some cases.

Today I had an guild officers meeting in the SWTOR guild I belong to and within moments of beginning it degraded into a "he said/she said" complaint fest. These complaints, while valid and important for those players involved, should have been addressed outside of that meeting with the parties involved. Frankly it was a load of kindergarten bullshit and I eventually got tired if it and firmly suggested we move on to actual business.

It comes from a pet peeve of mine; I do not like having my time wasted.

Now things kinda-sorta get back on track, we discuss some issues with policy, set raid schedules, discuss doing older content instead of just the new stuff....it concludes and people appear slaked. So I log out of the voice chat to have dinner with my wife. The meeting started at 3pm and concluded at 5pm. Just before 6pm I get a text from the guild leader that 1/2 of the officers/Co-GMs quit the guild shortly after the meeting that they happily went through and agreed on stuff. Needless to say this royally pissed me off as I now just wasted 2hrs of my life I will not get back.

I tracked down in game one of the former guildies and got his reasons (which felt valid) and got the guild masters take in it (which too was valid) and all I can think about now is why am I still playing this? I'm also thinking that it was all juvenile across the boards and I am glad that my class schedule will limit my online time so I am less exposed to this nonsense. It's frustratingly stupid. Now when I am around there is fewer geared people to actually do the end game content so I will be back on the "pick up group" express. All aboard the P.U.G.

Whoo-whoo.

Feh.

I wish all parties involved the best of luck in their gaming and new guilds. If we do meet up in game in the future....please keep your drama cooties to yourself and no longer waste anyone's time further.


Why am I still playing Star Wars: The Old Republic again?

On time management skills...

When it comes to time allotment for doing school work I feel I am capable (including procrastination time as well). However I am apparently lousy at including people other than my wife into my allotments. In other words I miss spending time with my friends dearly.

I understand that plans get cancelled by myself and others as real life and other issues arrive but I got to say that knowing this still doesn't ease the feeling that by neglecting my friends (even for real reasons) I am losing touch with them and they will fade away some and move on. That depresses me somewhat.

So it needs to be something I will address more; taking time to keep in touch more with those who's friendships I value more than they probably know. I should send an email (at minimum) to check on them but in lieu of a meet up I will call on the phone.

I will just need to start to rely less on Facebook to be a point of contact. That shit is just evil; you are connected to a small degree but it is painfully impersonal. Essentially I miss the messiness of actual interaction; it is all the flubs and mistakes that represent us more truthfully and honestly than a format where we can edit and carefully craft messages.

All I got to do now is find some time to make some calls.....