Serious I hate breast cancer awareness

[Ethics]

I don't know if this is where this is supposed to be posted, but I did not think it belonged in religious debate either. Move it or delete it, I don't really care.

To start off with, I don't give a rat's ass if anyone flames me, negative reps me, or whatever the hell the lot of you do when something irritates you. So have at it. To be fair, it's two bit people like that who I'm going to be ranting about anyways.

Why would someone hate breast cancer awareness? It's really pretty fucking easilly, actually. It's a good cause, sure, but most people aren't that good of people and I can't stand watching them pretend they are better people than they are for a month. Get a fucking grip. If you're a cheap shmuck, then be damn glad you are. If you aren't, show off your pink ribbon, button, bumper sticker or whatever the fuck you did to support breast cancer. In fact, I'm proud of you if you DID do that.

I do believe taking action against breast cancer is a good thing, and should be continued. It's just that, though, 'action'. Making a half assed attempt to dress up in pink, and donning that pink t-shirt you bought with your significant other 3 years ago for valentines does NOT cut it. You are NOT a good person for wearing pink. You are NOT a good person for simply sitting aside and nodding your head at awareness groups. If you support it, then damn it, literally support it.

It's these bastards like this who sit at home and bash things all day, but take no action to fix a damned thing. They're simply content with spectating instead of improving. A perfect example being: how many people do you know that bashed Bush even beyond his years in office? No, how many of those people do you know that voted for a different candidate? That amount, I assure you, is unbelievably low.

Just to clarify this all, I do NOT hate breast cancer awareness. >.> I just hate the worthless cunts who try and jump onto the bandwagon and don't do a god damned thing to help a single soul.

Grow up or shut up, people.

 

[Harlequin]

There are other ways of supporting a cause other than financially. 'Awareness' is just that, if I wear pink people are likely to know why I'm wearing pink seeing as I'm supporting the building of awareness. Sure I could donate and support it financially but ultimately how many causes should I support? What about child abuse? Famine? Other cancers?

Wearing pink isn't necessarily being pretentious. If you're not going to support it financially chances are you would have never supported it. Wearing pink is getting people who wouldn't get involved to invest some sort of secondary support.

 

[Big Casino]

There are a lot of people out there who donate money to try and make themselves look better. Honestly who gives a fucking shit whether they care or not. If theres money going to help treatment and to help victims who have had cancer then its fine. I couldnt give a rats ass whether thyre doing it for publicity or not.
Having seen my mum through suffer through breast cancer for 2 years its something i feel strongly for.
What makes you care so much? How does it affect you? Answer is it doesnt affect you at all now does it? Perosnally even if someone doesnt donate i still think its a good thing that they show some support in some way whether its wearing pink or not. At least theyre not moaning about how everyone is a hypocrit.

 

[blakstang98]

Well, as some people have already said, it's all about support. It doesn't have to be financial support, but so long as people are acknowledging it, then I don't see an issue with it. By being one of the founding members for the idea of our staff here at FFF to go pink for the month, I'm actually quite happy about it. I've never done anything for charity in my life, so helping to develop this idea, helps me feel like helped in doing something noble. I think it's great to show support for other people in the world (insert obligatory "can't we all just get along?"), especially when they're suffering from an awful illness.

People will always feel the need to throw it in other people's faces that they're better than you. I think it's sort of unfair to single out breast cancer awareness as the one to be hated. When there's AIDS awareness month, the same thing will happen. People will always feel the need to act like they're the king/queen just for extra publicity. Unfortunately, it's the way of the world. Believe me, I would love to change the attitudes of people that are selfish like this, but there is nothing in our power we can do to change people. But that's more of a broad topic that can be used as a basis for arguement for almost everything in life (and for the sake of staying on topic, I'll refrain from going into that).

 

[King Sean]

O_O

I know that we can do all that we want to support Breast Cancer awareness, and still, at the end of the day, if we were devils we will still be devils. But we can at least show support for a very important issue that is plauging us right now. I understand that the people who are just saying things about the importance of it aren't as important as the ones doing it, but everyone can show support in their own way. As someone previously said, you don't have to give money to some charity program to be seen as helpful. Just support it as you can and don't flame those that support it in any way they can.

 

[Harlequin]

I think the idea Pockets was trying to put across was the perception of self righteousness people gain from contributing little effort in regards to the cause.

Ultimately, every human action is governed by the element of self interest. Even the most 'selfless' acts have a sense of self benefit and validation about them. It's easy to blur the line between the two but I feel tragically there is no way of avoiding it.

 

[blakstang98]

Probably another thing I should have mentioned too is that supporting breast cancer awareness is optional. You don't have to support it, and if you don't, then that's your choice. If it's something that doesn't float your boat, then maybe there is an awareness that does. But as I stated before, it's not fair to dump on this (or any other) cause that you're not on-board with.

Most people that commit to good causes aren't really genuine about the effects of their generosity. There are some good people out there who are giving and making an effort to make sure the money goes to a greater cause. But the sad truth of the reality is, most do it because it gives them a tax break, especially if they have a salary that's borderline on something like luxury tax, just to duck the extra money that'd have to pay to the government (you know, the charity that we all unwillingly pitch into ). But, it's certainly better to put that money to better use than padding the pockets (hey Pockets! ) of our politicians.

 

[Sum1sgruj]

I like it. For all the wrong reasons

Seriously though, people will hate breast cancer awareness until they or a loved one gets diagnosed. It's not like someones sending you a mandatory bill saying 'support us'.
On the contrary, it does get more attention then is actually necessary. Still, there are many people without health insurance, so there's no reason to disband it altogether.. people should be aware, right?

 

[Harlequin]

It's even the benefit of being able to say you've contributed. It's the perception of righteousness rather than the humility.

If I give I can't help but feel righteous, for without that feeling of righteousness I wouldn't have contributed. When attempting to factor in humility it becomes a paradox, as it would seem neither is true humility.

 

[Koloth]

Is there any awareness month for Ovarian Cancer? Which is harder to detect and in a lot cases is found too late.

 

[VinnieJones]

This thread has a bit of a misleading title, as it's more to do with having a problem with people 'jumping onto the bandwagon' for whatever cause that is the most fashionable.

There isn't anything we can do about these people, and we can't really tell whether they actually care about the charity, making themselves look better, or just being part of what is the current trend (I saw a girl shouting 'BREAST CANCER! WHOOO!' today...). But what is certain though is that they are helping to make people aware of what needs supporting and what needs our help, and that is at least doing something.

Who cares if there are some 'worthless cunts' who don't make donations; they're doing something to remind those that will bother to give money for the campaign. Whilst there are people who make regular donations, there are so many more that even though they do care about a certain group they need reminding. Not everyone thinks about charities all the time, we all have short-term memories of things that are not part of our daily routine. That's why it's so important for people to get involved with events such as breast cancer awareness.

Besides, you needed reminding that you dislike these types of people in order to make this rant, right? These 'worthless cunts' have helped you become aware of breast cancer. Whatever way you look at them they're grabbing attention for the charity.

 

[Amizon]

Seriously though, people will hate breast cancer awareness until they or a loved one gets diagnosed.

This post says it alone for some people.

I've never hated breast cancer awareness and it's a great thing to make people know about it. As well as getting the support to beat it, it makes women check their breasts for any lumps whatsoever.

In fact, I hate anyone who says they hate breast cancer awareness. My great auntie died of it five years ago and I was only told DAYS before she died. In fact, the short experience of going through that heartbreaking time has made me want to raise awareness.

And it includes doing this. We as staff had an actual choice of going pink and we went for the hell of it. As far as aware I know, not everyone on staff has lost a loved one to the disease and they still wanted to raise awareness. That's good in my books. I slam anyone who hates hearing about the awareness.

 

[Eight]

I know what you mean about them cringey folk, but, hey, at the end of the day, as long as it ends up benefitting the cause in some way, which it more often than not, does in the end. If they think flaunting it makes them looks a good person, then might as well make a use out of them so in the end the cause does benefit. Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons...at least the right thing is being done in the end, I guess.

But in the end, as long as they haven't made you think that breast cancer awareness overall is crap, I'm just happy you can tell the difference between the thought and the people who use it to look good.

 

[Harlequin]

The problem is what makes this particular cause significant from the others?

I have no problem with breast cancer awareness and I've never had one. I've had family members die from a range of illnesses and never have I been spurred to raise awareness for those particular ailments.

In any case, I feel there are more pressing issues regardless of whether they've affected me or not. The lack of education in countries is far more tragic to me than a life threatening illness befalling a group of people. Their effects on society are far more profound than death which is completely inevitable.

 

[Channizard]

Is there any awareness month for Ovarian Cancer? Which is harder to detect and in a lot cases is found too late.

There is actually. It was September. September was also Men's cancer (Prostate) and Childhood cancer awareness month. September is the home to THREE cancer awareness's.. yet gets no recognition, but October is reserved specifically for Breast and nothing but the Breast.

The problem is what makes this particular cause significant from the others?

I have no problem with breast cancer awareness and I've never had one. I've had family members die from a range of illnesses and never have I been spurred to raise awareness for those particular ailments.

In any case, I feel there are more pressing issues regardless of whether they've affected me or not. The lack of education in countries is far more tragic to me than a life threatening illness befalling a group of people. Their effects on society are far more profound than death which is completely inevitable.

One of my aunt's is a Survivor of Breast Cancer, however I wasn't aware of it until a year or go. I never knew she went through it, and honestly, I can say I was an idividual who didn't give a rat's ass about any awareness... but as soon as I knew about her ordeal, I started to care.

And harl, you make an excellent point. What makes one cause greater and more important than others? Why is Breast above Prostate, Childhood and Lung? This is gonna sound awful, but because it's easily marketable. A woman is a woman and seen as a woman, if she has breasts. It's what makes her a lady. So if she loses them to Cancer, she seems less of a woman. She's a survivor, sure..

I'm pretty sure statistically, AIDS, and Lung Cancer kill more people every day over BC.. But because BC targets one specific audience, the mothers, the grand mothers, our aunts and our sisters... suddenly, it's more aware and important to us that we could lose the important women in our lives, than say... the gay guy down the street to AIDS.

 

[Dee]

Yeah, I think what we need to do here is define the term 'awareness'. That is, spreading the word, making sure people know it is one of the leading causes of death/illnesses in women, so on and so forth. There's nothing wrong with supporting breast cancer awareness. In fact, today at school we all dawned our pink gear and the school raised money by selling cookies and t-shirts, so the sea of pink was not all in vain. By wearing a t-shirt, a wristband or having a bumper sticker on the back of your car that says "Save the Tatas", we are planting ideas. Ideas are infectious and that's what the main point is here.

If you're going to make a big deal about breast cancer awareness, then you should also make a big deal when it's Heart Health month. You know, when people dawn their red attire and decorations for the exact same idea. Or maybe Earth day. It really is a good thing, so how can making sure we keep ourselves healthy be anything otherwise? I don't get what the rant is here.

 

[Ethics]

What makes you care so much? How does it affect you? Answer is it doesnt affect you at all now does it? Perosnally even if someone doesnt donate i still think its a good thing that they show some support in some way whether its wearing pink or not. At least theyre not moaning about how everyone is a hypocrit.

To start off, who said everyone? I made a clear line between those who were, and were not. Do I expect people to only absolutely love or hate it? No, it's possible to agree with something, but simply not take action on it, and that is exactly what I'm getting at. Wearing pink does not assist in saving peoples lives, people are just as likely to donate to those asking for collections for said cause wether or not they've seen a whopping 10 people wear pink.

Secondly, who are you to assume it doesn't? What, exactly, do you know about my personal ties to breast cancer? My stepmother went in for her third treatment for it 2 years ago. My father left her shortly before her kimo therapy, but I kept in contact with her because she was the same as everyone else's connections to those diagnosed, a loved relative.

Okay Holden Caulfield.

Some people do wholeheartedly support breast cancer awareness. Like me. Just because someone can't afford to give money doesn't mean they don't believe in its cause. Damn man. It's about spreading awareness so that the person passing by has a chance of donating money too.

I'm not going to pretend I know who Holden Caulfield is, let alone look it up for the sake of this. I've seen time after time, people who barely make it donate to just causes. Why? Possibly because they under, maybe because it does just as Harl says, and gives them that feeling of self rightousness, but at the end of the day, the .25 they donated does more than someone who did not, and instead drug out a pink outfit and droned about the same exact way.

Wearing pink supports breast cancer, sure, but does it raise any kind of help? No. As I said before, people are just as likely to throw some change towards the cause when asked. If you do, good for you, if you don't, then don't pretend you're doing good. Financially isn't the only way to support it, no, there are many ways to donate something to the cause. Donate time, urge friends or familly who can donate to do so. Shit, if you're so hell bent on wearing a pink shirt, the least you could is pick up the change you find on the sidewalk and grass to give to them.

Well, as some people have already said, it's all about support. It doesn't have to be financial support, but so long as people are acknowledging it, then I don't see an issue with it. By being one of the founding members for the idea of our staff here at FFF to go pink for the month, I'm actually quite happy about it. I've never done anything for charity in my life, so helping to develop this idea, helps me feel like helped in doing something noble. I think it's great to show support for other people in the world (insert obligatory "can't we all just get along?"), especially when they're suffering from an awful illness.

People will always feel the need to throw it in other people's faces that they're better than you. I think it's sort of unfair to single out breast cancer awareness as the one to be hated. When there's AIDS awareness month, the same thing will happen. People will always feel the need to act like they're the king/queen just for extra publicity. Unfortunately, it's the way of the world. Believe me, I would love to change the attitudes of people that are selfish like this, but there is nothing in our power we can do to change people. But that's more of a broad topic that can be used as a basis for arguement for almost everything in life (and for the sake of staying on topic, I'll refrain from going into that).

Acknowledging the issue isn't solving the issue, unfortunately. If it were that easy, AA would have been forgotten about years ago (that was a joke, of sorts). You put up a banner, Dan, and that's great and all, but does it really donate? I'm not saying you should donate, no, that's anyones choice of flavor. To be honest, it's that very feeling I'm aiming at. If you do not donate anything (doesn't have to be financial, again, for all of yuns ) then I don't think pretending to support said cause is in any way right. If you get a hard on from that self empowering feeling when you do donate, that's great, but if you don't donate, why should you feel any different?

Also, no, I'm not singling out breast cancer awareness. This is nothing special, but I thought this would be as good a place as any to put because of the banner put up. Do I hate breast cancer awareness? Absolutely not. Do I actively donate to said charity? No, I do not. Shit, I don't even buy girlscout cookies so they can have their baseball games or whatever. Why? I can't be bothered to.

Now, throwing this in because I know some asshat is going to get an erection by me saying I don't donate to the cause. I'm going to make an active effort NOT to wear pink, simply because I have NOT helped breast cancer awareness. While we're on the subject, however, I pay the extra tax here in Olney, Illinois to have the recycle people come by our house because I do recycle. I think that saves far more people than wearing pink, but I don't wear a green t-shirt, do I? On a smaller scale, I also donate to most posser-by whom ask for money. Sure, 9/10 blow it on bullshit, but what of the 1/10 who actually needs it? I don't wear any clothing for them, or even ask for a sticker in return. Does this make me any better than other donations? Absolutely not, but I think it makes me better than those who enjoy riding the glory.

I think the idea Pockets was trying to put across was the perception of self righteousness people gain from contributing little effort in regards to the cause.

Ultimately, every human action is governed by the element of self interest. Even the most 'selfless' acts have a sense of self benefit and validation about them. It's easy to blur the line between the two but I feel tragically there is no way of avoiding it.

It's exactly that, Harl. My entire rant summed up so much better.

 

[Rasputin]

It's about time this thread got made. It's not so much that breast cancer awareness is bad so much as this particular movement is a bunch of faux-charitable schlop more interested in marketing themselves than actually helping people with the disease. Spoilers: Breast cancer will NEVER be cured in your lifetime, no matter how much money and "awareness" we throw at it. Charity helps to a minor extent, but it won't do much good to the people already dying from the cancer. On top of that everyone already knows the disease exists, so there's no point in trying to make people more "aware" of it. The only good anyone outside of medical research can do is accurately explain the dangers of the disease, how to potentially prevent getting the disease, and where to go to get treatment. Of course some pretentious assholes refuse to do this, instead thinking a bunch of pink banners devoid of any legitimate information is a convenient alternative. I just think it's an ego trip.

Here's some quotes for you to gander over, from the LA Times:

As predictably as the leaves turn yellow in autumn, America turns pink each October with the arrival of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From shopping malls to football stadiums, the campaign's signature pink ribbons seem to be everywhere. Yet some experts are questioning whether this awareness campaign is truly helping women with breast cancer.

The stark reality is that in the 26 years since the campaign began, deaths from breast cancer have dropped only slightly — about 2% per year, starting in 1990. According to the National Breast Cancer Coalition in Washington, D.C., 117 women in the U.S. died of breast cancer every day in 1991; today that number is 110.

"I don't think people understand the lack of progress," says Fran Visco, the coalition's president.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month "was helpful at the time, but it has outlived its usefulness," says Dr. Susan Love, a breast cancer surgeon at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and author of "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book."

"You see this message that the best prevention is early detection, but that's not prevention, that's finding a cancer that's already there," Love says. "Early detection is a really nice message — it makes you feel in control, but it doesn't address our current understanding of how cancer works."

Sulik says the problems of over-diagnosis and over-treatment are rarely discussed in ads, promotional literature or advocacy messages. Neither of those terms appears anywhere on the websites for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the oldest and largest breast cancer advocacy group.

And that's no accident, Welch says.

"It's a common problem with disease awareness campaigns and patient advocacy groups," he says. "If you look into their funding sources, you'll often find a pharmaceutical company or device maker who stands to benefit from an expansion in the number of people with the condition."

Welch calls AstraZeneca's sponsorship of the awareness month "a huge conflict of interest," since encouraging women to get screened will invariably increase the number of breast cancer diagnoses and thus the market for their breast cancer drugs Arimidex, Faslodex, Nolvadex and Zoladex.

Article in question: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-he-breast-awareness-month-20101004,0,6326008.story

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

The stark reality is that in the 26 years since the campaign began, deaths from breast cancer have dropped only slightly — about 2% per year, starting in 1990. According to the National Breast Cancer Coalition in Washington, D.C., 117 women in the U.S. died of breast cancer every day in 1991; today that number is 110.

It doesn't matter how much it's decreased, the fact is, it's decreased. At the end of the day the numbers add up, 110 people dying is better than 117. It's still roughly 2555 more women who live a year and 48,545 more who have lived since 1991 who might not have.

"You see this message that the best prevention is early detection, but that's not prevention, that's finding a cancer that's already there," Love says. "Early detection is a really nice message — it makes you feel in control, but it doesn't address our current understanding of how cancer works."

Detecting it early gives a 90% better chance of living opposed to 10% if it's caught too late. I'd rather take my chances with the 90% than the 10% even if it only stops it spreading.

And that's no accident, Welch says.

"It's a common problem with disease awareness campaigns and patient advocacy groups," he says. "If you look into their funding sources, you'll often find a pharmaceutical company or device maker who stands to benefit from an expansion in the number of people with the condition."

Welch calls AstraZeneca's sponsorship of the awareness month "a huge conflict of interest," since encouraging women to get screened will invariably increase the number of breast cancer diagnoses and thus the market for their breast cancer drugs Arimidex, Faslodex, Nolvadex and Zoladex.

Better to over-diagnose and be safe then not have enough and people die. Lives are worth more than any amount of money mentioned.

 

[Marquis of Granby]

im not a charitable person generally speaking but i dont hate breast cancer awareness and as has been said already it doesnt matter if donations/awareness is achieved by someone doing something to make themselves look better. the world is full of people like that but if they make an effort for whatever reason then its better than the person who isnt making an effort at all.

as for the whole "what about...[insert some other form of cancer/etc etc here]" well im sure if you bothered to look for charities involved in fundraising and research for just about anything you'll find it. the issue of african kiddies not being fed/educated is irrelevant. look at your own country before you think about other countries' problems. cancer undoubtedly causes i huge amount of pain both physically and mentally and not just to the sufferer, its not very nice to see someone you love having to suffer.

admittedly "going pink" on a final fantasy forum isnt actually "doing anything" ie raising money, but it'll certainly raise awareness amongst the members which is better than ignoring the fact that breast cancer causes a lot of deaths. and yes tom, death is inevitable but we dont all have the comfort of believing our loved ones will go to heaven and live happily ever after. they dont have the comfort of an easy death either. its good to take an intellectual perspective on things, but that can make you seem quite cold when you apply it to a discussion like this.