The Ice-Bucket Challenge

Friend:  What's the point of the Ice-bucket challenge?
Me:  Had you heard of ALS before it?
Friend:  No.
Me:  Point made.

The flooding of your Facebook newsfeed with videos of friends and strangers pouring buckets of ice over themselves and passing the challenge-baton over to others can be exasperating, it's true.  Surely time and money could be better spent on actually donating or spending time with those in need?  For some, (and this is the cynic in me...) they are doing it for their 5 minutes of fame, because it's the cool thing to do right now - to be seen apparently doing something for a cause.  Then again, here I am writing a blog post about it when I could be spending the time donating or being with those who need the support.  (I recently found out that a friend's parent is suffering from ALS but all I can offer are my prayers...and in truth, this doesn't always feel like enough - when it should be!)  And yet, the point that I was trying to make above is that I am sure that more people are now aware of ALS and that donations HAVE risen to various charities from the text campaigns going around the world as a result of the ice-bucket challenge.  So no matter how bored you may be of the videos, they ARE having an impact.  One thing's for sure, and I always knew this - the internet, nay, social media is a powerful tool.

It got me thinking about how much we/I have become dependent upon it - from supposedly catching up/feeling connected to friends to arranging the next (hopefully face-to-face) social gathering.  I get to hear about news even before I get to read it on the BBC news website through the many postings that appear on my newsfeed.  I can seek advice/help from forums and get the latest on what's 'in' and not within my various social groups.  (The ice-bucket challenge causes a bit of controversy on this front...)

It's easy to lay yourself bare on social media sites - I tell the world that I've just woken up - and it's midday...*shock, colon, closed bracket, exclamation mark...I share what I eat, what I've cooked, what I've bought, what I've seen, smelt, felt...it all goes up online and creates an image of who I am to the world - or at least to my friends.  Then I feel good because a friend has 'liked' or commented on my status or photo...why does that make me feel good?  I even think in 'status updates' - i.e. a thought will crop up in my head and I'll instantly think, 'that'll make a good status!'  Why do I think my friends need to know my random thoughts - some things are best kept unsaid surely?  And again, here I am sharing those same random thoughts in writing this post - and I don't quite know where I'm going with it all.

As much as I battle with social media, it is and has been my God send here in Rwanda.  I feel so detached from the world when I am here in the village but with Facebook, I have the world, or rather my friends at my fingertips.  In my last post I wrote about 'home' and the people that make it - it's when I can see pictures of friends' meals (as healthy/unhealthy as they may be...or even envious that I do not have access to such foods/luxuries...), or selfies, or photos of people's children - I feel just that little bit closer to them despite what can seem like us being worlds apart.

Maybe next time I go to write a status update, I'll think about if it truly is necessary...probably not but I'll likely go ahead and post it anyway.  Still, I should think about the person I'm portraying online - is it truly me?  I am thankful for social media but must also be more mindful about how much time I spend on it rather than doing other more constructive things - like donating to worthy causes or spending time face-to-face with people (and God.)  :)