Post by Smashing on Apr 9, 2007 3:14:54 GMT -5
I started to post about this the other day, and decided to let it go. Now YouTube has featured one of these videos and I am annoyed. Here's the story:
First, some background info, source: www.snopes.com/inboxer/children/shergold.htm
I encourage you to read that article, but the important part to remember about all of this is that The Guinness Book of World Records no longer keeps a category for most get well cards because it's used for scams and generally got out of control.
Now we have this video from superlunary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM4EKmrdfY
Immediately some people called it a hoax and said there probably wasn't any kid. Well, turns out there IS a kid with cancer, Josh. www.thecancerblog.com/2006/03/01/boy-with-cancer-and-best-friend-try-to-break-record-in-get-well/ and his Grandma says they appreciate the cards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdcpucdAd0Y
"Josh is real! Woohoo" cries superlunary. Okay...but there's still no freakin' guinness book of world records entry for cards! There have already been several response videos spreading what is essentially a video chain letter. I found out about it through Khayav www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXQ8okKIAUo You'll notice he says "make his dream come true" Several other people say that it's "his goal" or even "his dying wish." If you believe the article, it was his friends' idea, but regardless, the fact remains he can't get in guinness. Now YouTube has featured one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxSwP8Cz0TU
You might say, even without the record, "what's the harm?" The harm is that all this will do is flood this family's house with bags upon bags of cards. It's nice at first, but eventually they will become unmanageable and unwanted, while these videos will live on.
Where I start to get pissed is the mixed up priorities. In all these heartfelt video appeals, they say, take a minute to send this kid a card because it's important. I cannot help but think of all the millions of kids dying every single day in the world, and to spend money on cards and postage is a waste. If everyone gave a dime to cancer research, that would make more sense. If everyone took a moment to educate themselves about any number of global crises, and sent an email to their representative in government about it, that would make more sense. If everyone gave a dime to buy mosquito netting or water purifying devices for kids in Africa, that would do some good. I have nothing against the kid with cancer or his friends, or his family, or the girl who made the video, or even those responding to it, but YouTube should do a little research before featuring it.
alright. I'm off my soapbox. *takes a deep breath*
First, some background info, source: www.snopes.com/inboxer/children/shergold.htm
I encourage you to read that article, but the important part to remember about all of this is that The Guinness Book of World Records no longer keeps a category for most get well cards because it's used for scams and generally got out of control.
Now we have this video from superlunary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cM4EKmrdfY
Immediately some people called it a hoax and said there probably wasn't any kid. Well, turns out there IS a kid with cancer, Josh. www.thecancerblog.com/2006/03/01/boy-with-cancer-and-best-friend-try-to-break-record-in-get-well/ and his Grandma says they appreciate the cards: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdcpucdAd0Y
"Josh is real! Woohoo" cries superlunary. Okay...but there's still no freakin' guinness book of world records entry for cards! There have already been several response videos spreading what is essentially a video chain letter. I found out about it through Khayav www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXQ8okKIAUo You'll notice he says "make his dream come true" Several other people say that it's "his goal" or even "his dying wish." If you believe the article, it was his friends' idea, but regardless, the fact remains he can't get in guinness. Now YouTube has featured one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxSwP8Cz0TU
You might say, even without the record, "what's the harm?" The harm is that all this will do is flood this family's house with bags upon bags of cards. It's nice at first, but eventually they will become unmanageable and unwanted, while these videos will live on.
Where I start to get pissed is the mixed up priorities. In all these heartfelt video appeals, they say, take a minute to send this kid a card because it's important. I cannot help but think of all the millions of kids dying every single day in the world, and to spend money on cards and postage is a waste. If everyone gave a dime to cancer research, that would make more sense. If everyone took a moment to educate themselves about any number of global crises, and sent an email to their representative in government about it, that would make more sense. If everyone gave a dime to buy mosquito netting or water purifying devices for kids in Africa, that would do some good. I have nothing against the kid with cancer or his friends, or his family, or the girl who made the video, or even those responding to it, but YouTube should do a little research before featuring it.
alright. I'm off my soapbox. *takes a deep breath*