The annual breast cancer awareness game

[guihong]

Hi, all:

Remember the FB breast cancer awareness game last year, something about the colour of your foundations?  It's baaaack!

A friend PM'd me, saying that this time it's naming a fruit that corresponds with your relationship status.  It requested that we PM our female friends with the directions and use the fruit in our post somewhere.

Is it rude to "not see this" and not participate?  What happens if my friend mentions it? 

How these games have anything to do with cancer research and awareness, I have no idea  .  In fact, men get breast cancer too; would it be rude to point that out to my friend or should I just forget it?

[Lynnv]

I find it annoying.  And I ignore it.  If someone were to ask me (noone has), I would say that I don't participate in that kind of game on FB (or in real life either).

[Allyson]

Just ignore it. The more people who don't give this attention, the sooner it will go away. Unfortunately, the people who love doing these things will continue doing them for as long as others also participate. I've seen these things turn into a back-and-forth between those who love this 'awareness' stuff and those who think it's pointless. In my opinion it's better just to let those who love it post their one or two statuses about it.

If, however, you get blasted for not being 'caring' enough personally, feel free to say your piece..preferably in PM not a status.

[diesel_darlin]

I must admit, I participated in the first one about the color of our bras. Once I realized that this game was more annoying than helpful, I stopped participating. Whenever I get the message about the latest version of this game, I simply click "leave conversation".

[CakeEater]

Not at all rude to ignore. Most people actually do ignore it, I think.

I, in fact, wouldn't mind the playing of the game. It's the linking it with some kind of 'awareness' campaign that allows those who participate to feel a) like they've done something useful when they haven't, and b) morally superior to those who choose not to 'help', that annoys me.

[Iris]

Not at all rude to ignore. Most people actually do ignore it, I think.

I, in fact, wouldn't mind the playing of the game. It's the linking it with some kind of 'awareness' campaign that allows those who participate to feel a) like they've done something useful when they haven't, and b) morally superior to those who choose not to 'help', that annoys me.

Agreed. The games themselves seem like harmless, if somewhat juvenile, fun. I just don't see how they are useful is all.

I say it would be fine to ignore it.

[O'Dell]

Ignore it. If someone asks and you don't want to explain your opinion, tell them you must have missed seeing it and change the subject.

[Perfect Circle]

I never participate. Cancer isn't cured by random status updates that annoy people. I don't justify my non-participation either.

[Piratelvr1121]

Not to mention, in this day and age you'd have to be living under a rock to not have awareness of breast cancer.   The games aren't doing diddly-squat for raising awareness, cause some of them have absolutely nothing to do with breasts anyway. There was one, say where you put your purse when you come in the door and preface it with "I like it *by the door*" so it would sound rather naughty.

It can be a fun game, but I fail to see what in the world it's supposed to do to help breast cancer.  If someone really wants to help, they oughta do one of those walks.  Either the Walk for the Cure or Relay for Life. Something that actually puts money towards finding a cure.

[RebeccainGA]

As the wife of a breast cancer survivor, I find these games insulting. The same people that would mock you for not participating are the ones that acted like I was insane for spending so much time sitting at the chemo suite with DP, since 'there are all those nurses up there to take care of her, silly! You should go get your nails done or something!'

Ignore away.

[scotcat60]

As the wife of a breast cancer survivor, I find these games insulting. The same people that would mock you for not participating are the ones that acted like I was insane for spending so much time sitting at the chemo suite with DP, since 'there are all those nurses up there to take care of her, silly! You should go get your nails done or something!'

As a breast cancer survivor I can say that having someone sit with you when you have the chemo is great for the morale.

I've never heard of this "game" and anyway, the screenng programmes, in the UK at least, take care of awareness.

[Layla Miller]

The worst part of these games, for me, is that men get breast cancer as well.  It's not as well known, either, so the "Tee hee!  Don't tell the guys!" aspect is actually counter-productive to awareness.  If anything, people should be raising awareness specifically for men, because they're the group that's most likely to be overlooked!

[Giggity]

Is it rude to "not see this" and not participate?

Why would it be rude?

[Style_and_Grace]

Is it rude to "not see this" and not participate?  What happens if my friend mentions it? 

How these games have anything to do with cancer research and awareness, I have no idea  .  In fact, men get breast cancer too; would it be rude to point that out to my friend or should I just forget it?

Totally not rude to "not see it" and not participate.  Brush the friend off with an "oh yeah maybe later" if it gets mentioned. 

I'm pretty sure these games have zero to do with research and awareness and more to do with annoying friends with crazy vague status posts (which I ignore.)

[Piratelvr1121]

The most recent one I saw was saying you're going to another country for 21 days.  My aunt posted she was going to St. Petersburg for 21 days. I thought she actually was going and asked her what was in St. Petersburg.

Turns out it was one of these games.