Turning down a request "for a good cause"

[Cupcake Fiend]

A friend sent me a PM asking me to join in on a game that is going around Facebook right now to raise awareness for a cause.  I don't plan to participate, as I don't think it will do anything to raise awareness and it's a rather silly "game".

If she asks me why I'm not doing it, what do I say?  It's a great cause and I do support it, just not in this particular way...

[Surianne]

I'd just go with something like "Sorry, I won't be joining that one but good luck!"  No need to explain.  (Or even respond at all, unless it was a personal message that asked you specifically.  I'm assuming a mass mailing here?)

[Shannon]

If it's the game I think it is, you could always just tell her that you're not comfortable sharing that information with everyone who has access to your newsfeed.

[Wavicle]

Just don't participate. Things like this are generally sent to everyone and I don't think responses or universal participation are generally expected.

Is it this game by any chance? http://www.etiquettehell.com/smf/index.php?topic=72413.0

[katycoo]

If its the stupid colour craze, I'm not participating either.  Its utterly pointless.

If she asks, tell her exactly that.  Its not that you don't support the cause - but that participating doesn't support it any either.

[Amava]

Neither am I, and I think you would be perfectly fine telling her that you don't think it is useful in any way.

This "game" is SO getting on my nerves. I want to see how people are doing in my news feed, not what colour of bra they are wearing!

It is only thanks to all I've learned on e-hell that I am refraining from putting something rude and obnoxious about it in my status, but the temptation is there. Thanks e-hell for teaching me to mind my manners in my facebook status!

[RainhaDoTexugo]

I'd just go with something like "Sorry, I won't be joining that one but good luck!"  No need to explain.  (Or even respond at all, unless it was a personal message that asked you specifically.  I'm assuming a mass mailing here?)

I think that's the best option, unless it really was a big mass mailing, in which case you're free to ignore it.

It also may depend on how you use Facebook.  I use it socially.  I don't become a fan of my friends' businesses when they send requests, because I don't use Facebook to advertise.  I don't join millions of groups, because frankly, I don't care (I did join the ehell page, though ).  I don't use it to raise awareness for my pet causes, because I figure if my friends don't already agree with me, a Facebook app isn't going to change their minds (and really, as an earlier poster said, aren't we all aware of breast cancer?  It's not some big secret).  I use it to keep up on my friends' lives, and take the occasional stupid quiz, and that's it.  If someone asks me why I didn't become a fan of their uncle's sister-in-law's friend's new restaurant, it makes it very easy to just say "sorry, I don't use Facebook that way."

[Cupcake Fiend]

I didn't even check to see how many people she sent it too!  Yes, it is the thing from the other thread.  I'm not offended by it and it doesn't bother me, but it does seem pretty pointless.

[Raintree]

You don't need to participate, nor explain why. I figure anything is fair game to ignore on Facebook (except, perhaps, a PM inviting you to a party or anything else of a more personal nature).

I got that colour request thing on FB too. I just ignored. I have nothing against it, but I wanted to post something else on my FB status instead.

[Hanna]

I know the idea of ignoring an email is contentious here, but I simply don't respond to mass emails.

[RainhaDoTexugo]

I know the idea of ignoring an email is contentious here, but I simply don't respond to mass emails.

I think this qualifies more as spam than email   Chain letters of any variety are fair game for ignoring.

[Moogle]

You don't need to participate, nor explain why. I figure anything is fair game to ignore on Facebook (except, perhaps, a PM inviting you to a party or anything else of a more personal nature).

I got that colour request thing on FB too. I just ignored. I have nothing against it, but I wanted to post something else on my FB status instead.

I also ignored that color thing too from at least 3 people who emailed me about it today.  I don't want people in FB to know what color underwear I'm wearing.

[Nurvingiel]

In the case of a mass email or Facebook message, you can ignore it (unless its content suggests to you that you shouldn't). With this example specifically go ahead and ignore it.

[Cupcake Fiend]

I hadn't realized when I first posted this just how widespread this thing was! 

[Prim_n_Proper]

I too find it annoying - especially since I was included in a list of names that received the initial message, and everytime someone replies to that "thread", my inbox suddenly gets cluttered up with messages.

I don't respond to chain letter messages, no matter how good the cause is.