Hey kids! It’s me, Stephen the Wonder Brain (but not Stevie Wonder, that is a savant with different skills and a different disability), one of the smartest men on the planet and currently the subject of a feature film starring Eddie Redmayne (“Les Miserables”).
If you don’t know about the things I’ve accomplished in the name of science and the tremendous contributions I’ve made to coffee tables and bookshelves, you still probably have seen photographs of me wheelchair bound, or perhaps one of your friends has mimicked or mocked me in a mean-spirited but amusing way.
The photo above is me in happier times, with me wife, pre-debilitating disease.
As something who has survived with ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease) for almost 50 years, naturally I have some thoughts on the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The challenge purportedly raises awareness and support for the disease which has yet to bear my name, but I have my doubts. (hint hint spoiler alert: I think the ice bucket is actually a pile of shit)
I’m glad you think you’re helping me, but you’re not.
For one, let’s start with the fact that pouring ice over your head is, let’s say, um…tangential to the condition of ALS.
A brief history of the Ice Bucket Challenge: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/08/who_invented_the_ice_bucket_challenge_a_slate_investigation.html
There are various myths embedded within-celebrities who took up the cause, some dude with ALS who may or may not have been drunk and then dove into ice water-but the true mechanics of the original ‘Big Dump’ may remain beyond most understanding. It is something for social scientists to ponder and perhaps pseudo-intellectuals like Malcolm Gladwell will attempt to locate the ‘tipping point’ of the ice bucket.
For now, let’s deal with the present, what IS, where we have come, and how we must continue on into the future.
Raising awareness for an intractable problem like ALS is always a tricky business. Similar to the ‘stand up to cancer’ ad campaigns, there is no enemy, no obvious solution that money will solve, no apparent way to ‘think around’ the issue to find answers. Like any disease which is genetic, the tragedy arises from nowhere and ways to ‘explain’ or reason ‘why’ it happens to people arrive at dead ends.
To ‘raise awareness’ for ALS is to fall down the rabbit hole, because why pick ALS over cancer, Down Syndrome, clinical depression, old age, dwarfism, or any other disease which cripples people’s ability to function normally? Hell, let’s take it even further, what about people who have lost limbs, or organs, or family? Why does ALS deserve all this attention at the expense of anything else?
And what if all that money leads to nothing? Pouring money into research is either like investing in a rising stock or throwing cash down a wishing well.
WHICH DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULDN’T DO IT. But I’d call into question whether this is truly the best opportunity to demonstrate self righteousness or to seek approval from the online community that you are objectively a kind and caring person.
Am I allowed to say that your dollars and time are twice as valuable spent trying to fix a more objectively solvable crisis, such as gun violence, homelessness, or even rape culture?
Of course I am! I’m Stephen Hawking. And you’re gonna listen to what I have to say.
So I have a new challenge for you: think of an issue you really care about, be it ALS or military conflicts or human trafficking or even something less tragic and more intrepid like solar energy investing, and donate money and/or time to help improving your cause celebre.
BUT (and here’s the tricky part)…
don’t tell anyone. Don’t nominate anyone. Just do it. Do it for yourself. Do it because it’s the right thing and the act itself is enough to make you feel good. Let it be your secret pride.
And if you can’t, please don’t be too hard on yourself. Who’s judging? Everybody is too busy dumping ice on their head.
ADDENDUM: This was not intended to belittle the cause of ALS research, but rather to belittle the Ice Bucket Challenge and/or the need for such public self-promotion and social media hoopla.
Culture Time 
Well, Mr. Hawking, while it may be quite difficult for you to dump an ice bucket on your head, as well as foolish, from a marketing standpoint, the “ice bucket challenge” was brilliant, and raised enormous sums for research, as well as awareness of the illness, and managed to entertain everyone along the the way.People had so much fun with it that they didn’t get the idea that you could donate instead of dumping the ice – that was the “challenge.” This viral event got people to tap their friends, acquaintances, competitors and even enemies to make donations, in a much more fun way than sending an envelope in the mail. But your point (as many of your points, being cleverer than most) is well taken that there are many worthwhile causes and we should all just give what we can, without the fanfare.
Oh lighten up. What ever happened to “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything?”
What if chucking money at rape and gun crime doesn’t solve anything either? It clearly hasn’t so far. And it’s not money and research which is needed to solve those things… It’s something else. How can you change human nature? Some people just rape. Some people just point guns. How is money going to change their free will?
Buuuuuuut… You said it yourself. “There is no obvious solution that money can solve.” And you’re right. But there might be an obscure solution which research finds. Research needs money. Money needs donors. Donors need a reason to donate because after all, why should they part with their hard earned moolah? Watching celebrities go through something as jaw clenching as parting with some money is a fair trade off in their opinion. So maybe live and let live?
Okay, you’re right, this was harsher than I (or Stephen) intended. Live and let live,
although if these celebrities were throwing the ice bucket on their head, that means they didn’t donate, right?
Also, I’d say taking a cue from facebook is closer to “falling for everything” than “standing for something.” But it has raised awareness for ALS, which is great for the people who actually do have a stake (steak? spling?) in ALS or were or are invested in the issue going forward.
I guess, and maybe Stephen should have talked more about this, is that social media hoopla and the “ice bucket challenge” sort of overwhelms the original reasons for the cause.
And thanks for commenting! This is exciting.
Well in England we have Comic Relief and Children in Need and Sport Relief every year. They all rely on celebrities making fools of themselves, or making people laugh in the hope that people will donate as a good will gesture. Do you think most of the featured celebrities donate? They give up time and dignity instead. I’m sure not many of Live 8 singers donated money, but they lend their face and voice instead.
I don’t have Facebook and haven’t seen a single ice bucket challenge. But what is so different about taking a cue from Facebook instead of a TV commercial or bill board? It’s just another form of media which has got people talking.
It’s always been the case that people aren’t bothered about charity too much until they are personally affected.
Who raises money for Cancer research before they or a loved one have cancer?
Who raises money for a suicide hotline before they or a loved one are suicidal?
I don’t agree that the ice bucket challenge over whelms the original reason for the cause. How can it? If one more person talks about ALS or knows about it than before it all started, and if one more person donates then surely that is only a good thing?
The only way it wouldn’t be is from his personal point of view, as someone who has lived with the disease for such a long time. Then yes, I can see how it would be infuriating that people are talking about the ice bucket thing instead of the disease. But at this moment in time, the two go hand in hand. I can also see why it would be frustrating for someone who has has the disease for so long. To have it all this time and not really have it talked about on this level. Then suddenly someone on Facebook or wherever brings it to the forefront because it is now important to them, when it was important to Stephen for much longer and in a much more earnest way. I may well have a strop too… 🙊
dude….What I don’t understand is why you have no sources or credibility that Stephen Hawkings said ANY of this. Where did he say this, did you interview him? Was he logged on onto your WordPress typing this up for you as a favor? What’s going on man? Are you just speaking for him? Is that what you’re doing?
Some people have done both, although I can’t tell you which celebrities may have. I’m pretty sure Patrick Stewart donated as he writes a check out at the start of his video but then proceeds to pour himself and drink a scotch on the rocks instead of dumping the ice over his head.
Parvin……satire I think!
I suspect most of the celebrities made donations, anyway, as well as the average folks who challenged friends and family. Maybe the real message is that fund raising can be fun? It was certainly more fun than an envelope from a neighbor or a telemarketer’s call. Although I don’t like other people shaming me into a donation for something that while very worthwhile, may not be one of charities I choose to give to (not that anyone did in this case). Publicly calling people out to donate is a bit presumptuous.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/our-limited-generosity-is-being-wasted-on-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge-9681666.html
A less satirical and admittedly better written and researched critique of the whole phenomenon. Once again I think supporting ALS is a very worthy cause but I believe social medias contribution is greatly exaggerated.
That article is rubbish. People’s generosity isn’t finite. Their bank balances are! People who give to charity would probably like to solve a lot more problems but don’t have the means. It’s not a lack of goodwill. It’s a lack of money pure and simple. Which is why things like comic relief are successful year after year. Add in to that natural disasters that occur and are immediately donated to, other examples that crop up like Stephen Sutcliffe and you can see that grumbling about social media’s role in fund raising and awareness is actually less useful than tipping a bucket of cold water over your head.
You know when you’re beat. There’s no shame.
as if this is stephen hawking. He’s english and said dollars?
Think it’s bull.
As if this is really Christ. He uses a British yahoo account? Jesus is American! Think it’s bull.
dude, Christ is an actual name. you’re behaving like a bigot right now, one for implying this dude is impersonating Christ our Lord, JUST because he has the same name, that’s crap, and presumptuous. And two, this dude isn’t even speaking for Christ. He’s replying to you. YOU, on the other hand are speaking as if you ARE Stephen Hawking, in fact. I’m gonna have to report this for possible Defamation. You should not have spoken as him. Because I only found this blog because people have been linking to it actually believing you’re Stephen Hawking, no disclaimer whatsoever.
You do what feels right.
This was not written by Stephan hawking.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/VIDEO-Professor-Stephen-Hawking-takes-on-the-Ice-Bucket-Challenge-and-nominates-the-Chancellor-and-Vice-Chancellor-of-Cambridge-University-as-the-next-victims-20140826213049.htm
Thank you dude!
why the hell are people so bent out of shape about this? it’s quite laughable.