bigoldalphamale

When i first started seeing these things, i thought it was some kind of fashion thing...and then i was told that they represented that individual's donation to the Lance A. Cancer Research Foundation, and thought "oh, ok, i guess that's cool then".

then i was getting my christmas tree the other day at a local tree stand, which is operated by high school aged kids. and there were a bunch of these high schoolers hanging out talking and smoking...and at least half of the ones that were smoking...were wearing these yellow bracelets.

i then was at a bar where i saw more of the same, smokers wearing the yellow bracelets...and i approached one girl and asked her why she was smoking and wearing the cancer bracelet...and she said "oh, is that what this thing is?" laughed it off and went back to pufffing.

to those wearing these things for the purpose they were originally intended, just be aware that it has now become another iconclastic piece of MTV pop follower fashion. it means nothing anymore. just a heads up.

MSD

It's like a bumper sticker. It' either trendy, or it cheapens your belief by saying, "Look at me, the best I can do for htis cause is put a fucking sticker on my car"

maleficent

My 10 year old niece pretty sums up the trend... She and her brothers were wearing them on Thanksgiving, and I made some comment to her about how it was a noble cause and that Lance Armstrong was a pretty cool role mode. She looks up at me and says Who's Lance Armstrong? And what's the cause of the bracelet-- she wanted one because everyone at school had one.

My idiot sister was somewhat appalled.

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Averett

A guy I work with has had his since June or July. Whenever the Tour de France was going. He got his because he actually HAS cancer.

And I agree, it's become a trend.

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fckm

Hmm. Well, I'm a vegitarian, I don't smoke, and I'm wearing one of these braclets because I actually think the cause is a good one. I live in a house with a bunch of girls from the soccer team, and they all wear one, again, because they like the cause. I have yet to meet anyone who has a livestrong braclet for fashion reasons. Does that balance things out a bit?

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ratbastid

You know, as fads go, this one's pretty benign. At least every bracelet you see on a vapid, chain-smoking teenager represents a donation to research cures for cancer.

bigoldalphamale

i didnt mean to offend. i am simply saying that the message or representation that the bracelet was originally intended to convey is now muddled and confusing. so if you wear it public for the purpose of showing others that you are an avid supporter of the fight against cancer (kind of like your visible, 'look at me, i donated to a good cause' receipt)...just understand that many of us might instead mistake you for an ignorant fashion clone. and as it goes right now, we'd probably be right more than half the time.

bigoldalphamale

trew.

joeb1

Good point ratbastid. It is for a good cause.

Who gives a crap if the mindless drones don't have any intelligence. Someone somewhere donated money to the cause to get the bracelet.

Maybe it will help save some chain smoking teenagers life? I am all for helping the search for cures.

Knowing what we know now about the companies that make, market, and sell this crap. Are we doing nothing to prevent the tobacco companies from getting ahold of our children? It really disturbs me to see teenagers smoking.

Good point... it really is "mindless fashion"

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*Nikki*

I gave money for it. Cancer research is very importent to me because almost everyone in my family has died from it.

Who cares if it is a fad, the bracelets represent a good cause.

present_future

I've had my yellow bracelet long before it was "cool" to wear one. I first heard about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and its idea for the bracelet back in June, and I picked one up as soon as I could find a store that carried them. I haven't taken it off since then. Two of my close family relatives have had cancer, and both have survived. I wear the bracelet not only in support of them, but for everyone else who has ever suffered from the disease. It makes me mad to see people treat them like some sort of fashion trend, but I guess there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

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vox_rox

If a peice of jewellery, or whatever, becomes a trend, yet it still supports a good cause, then it's still all good. In fact, if everyone who had a bad habit found it trendy to buy one of these bracelets, or any other fund-raising article for that matter, we'd still all probably be better off.

Still, wouldn't it be nice if a little bit of awareness actually crept into the social fabric along with the trendiness? That, alas, may be a bit much to ask for. And as others have already mentioned, there are still many people who wear the item with the full knowledge of what it means, so let's not generalize about vapid teen culture, maybe it's deeper then it appears.

Peace,

Pierre

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bigoldalphamale

but its really not...and therein lies the entire point of my thread.

i was watching E the other day and saw a clip of Paris Hilton wearing one. because the million dollar heiress wants everyone to know she donated $1 dollar of all of her millions to cancer research? i doubt it.

THGL

My wife had one of the braclets hanging on the shifter in her car (she donated to the cause). I was watching "Overhaulin'" on TLC when they were doing Lance's GTO and she walked in, I told her they were doing his car that Sheryl Crow bought him as a present. She was appauled that Lance got a divorce (because he has kids) and was dating Crow. I was in her car last night and noticed the bracelet was gone... probably in the trash.

gnort

Yes it has become a 'fashion trend.' My roommate was looking for a place to buy one for a while just because everyone else has one and he wanted one too. Sure the money is going to a good cause, but the intentions for buying the braclet just aren't there, and that's kinda sad.

What makes me REALLY pissed off is people profiting off of how this has become a fashion statement. On ebay there are tons of auctions for braclets. Sure, if the seller donated the money that was raised from the auction to the Lance Armstrong foundation it would be very noble, but that is obviously not the case. I was in the mall the other day and in one store they were selling them for $3. If I wasn't in such a rush I would have stopped and gave them shit for marking them up. Perhaps I will go back to that store and give them a piece of my mind.

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Suave

If you do, make sure to take it out on a manager or owner, and not the poor sap working the counter. They get enough underserved shit as it is.

Lockjaw

I guess I must be officially getting old because nobody I know has one of these and I've only heard about them in passing. But the coincidental thing about this is today I was at 7-11 and lo and behold there was a little box of olive green braclets that said "support our troops" on it and for every one sold they would donate a dollar to USO. And they were being sold for......3 bucks. Ok...so you are charging me 3 bucks for a .10 rubberband and you are only giving 1 dollar of it to the troops? Hmmmm...yeah no thanks.
I love this country but the capitalism is to the point being of ridiculous now.

Scorps

I havn't seen this braclets aroudn here..must be an american thing

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Redgirl

You're not the only one who's out of the loop, Lockjaw. I can do you one better: This is the first time I've heard about these bracelets! *hangs head in shame at my lack of hipness*

Making it into a dumb fashion trend is the best marketing strategy- more money for the research that way. Education all the way around is on slippery footing these days, IMO. I don't expect much from the average person anymore in the way of "social conciousness".

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World's King

Lets just hope they all die of lung cancer and never get to see the benifits of the money they donated.

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Strange Famous

I have one of the Radio One anti-bullying ones instead,

I guess to a degree it is a fashion trend, but they are both good causes, and it raises awareness of the issues, if not for everyone then at least for some.

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Strange Famous

so, her dollar is as good as anyone else's, is it not?

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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
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hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

raeanna74

Maybe I'm completely ignorant. I haven't noticed these bracelets at all. Of course I work at home and usually only go out to go to family homes, Dr's office, dentist, Walmart or grocery store. Is this more of a regional thing? I hadn't even heard of the bracelets or their cause? Where are they sold? Stores? by word of mouth? or through a company like Avon or something? I know Avon has a few things like this. Their Pink ribbon pins don't seem to have become fashion icons. - Then again I'm not thoroughly fashion consious and I don't watch MTV. Am I missing out?

I find it something to roll my eyes at when I hear of people following the crowd like this. In this case I figure at least it has the redeeming quality of representing money that's being used for a positive purpose whether or not the money is coming from lemmings.

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tropple

Do something really noble.

Buy an Adopt a Sniper bracelet. Support the troops.

http://www.adoptasniper.org

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ngdawg

I think these bracelets are going the way of the magnetic ribbons everyone is sticking on their cars. My daughter has a Live Strong bracelet-but it's purple and from a convenience store. I truly doubt any money went to anyplace but someone's pocket. A recent article in the Newark Star Ledger reported that people are buying the magnetic ribbons from convenience stores believing their money goes to whatever fund the ribbon may represent. Most times it does not. Before one buys any of these bracelets, ribbons or any other trinket 'for a good cause', ask the seller where the money is going.

maleficent

http://www.laf.org/
THe wrist band was a joint effort between Nike and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, but from what I've read the donations aren't going towards finding a cure for cancer or even cancer research, like the the other big name cancer charities. This organization and the bracelets are supposed to serve as a reminder as to how to live your life.. Live Strong. for both people wiht cancer and for people without cancer.

It's a nice message -- but gets lost in the trendiness of it.

There was a time when you couldn't turn on a television and see an event that celebrities attended without seeing the ubiquitious Red Ribbon. Every celebrity wore one on their designer duds. Was supposed to promote AIDS awareness. I don't know whether I just don't watch awards shows any more, or has the popularity of the red ribbon dropped out.

Raising awareness of something is a good thing, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing when people only want something because everyone else has it. And I know it's not a good thing when people are marking up the cost of these things and selling them on Ebay.

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Strange Famous

I am being dumb and naive i know... but that is a parody, right?

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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

kurty[B]

I didn't know about this Live Strong bracelet thing until my friend showed me his black Live Wrong bracelet in retaliation to this fad. Living in a town surrounded by multiple military bases, every other car has one of those Yellow "Support Our Troops" ribbon magnets things. I'm sure there's better ways to give money to the troops then by paying $3 for a ribbon, and having MAYBE, MAYBE $1 of those dollars going to some agency that MIGHT then get the money to the military, MAYBE.

I'll stick with occassionally going out drinking with some air force cadets and buying them shots as my form of "support".

quadro2000

Except that at the mall two weeks ago, I saw yellow knockoff ones that said things like "BE STRONG" and "BEST OF FRIENDS" on them - people capitalizing on this trend - it makes me sick.

Link

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thingstodo

Anything good will eventually get used wrong when it falls into the wrong hands. That's the part of life that sucks. But the part that makes it worthwhile is all the good people out there doing the right things for the right reasons!

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flstf

Reminds me of the AIDs ribbons, soon there were so many different colored ribbons out there I could never remember what color was for what cause.

analog

Bingo.

And that's all that matters. If only more cancer research/lifesaving programs could have a stupid fad that made every teen in america want to buy something worthless just because all their friends had one... with all the proceeds going to the programs.

We'd have cancer, diabetes, AIDS, and others such problems by the balls in no time.

tropple

Nope, it is absolutely on the level. They are sending special "care" packages to support the sniper community.

It sounds funny, but the things they are helping to provide are items that are above and beyond what the supply system can give them. Crossword puzzle books, hand lotion, armor better suited to the person who might be in position for hours at a time.

There is is an entire laundry list of items that sniper teams use or need on a day-to-day basis, things that they don't have access to or would typically provide for themselves if they could. They also spend a lot more time in the field making re-supply difficult at times. Regular infantry has regular access ;-)

As well, the military is making use of its expert riflemen as snipers. For these teams, they may have one or two rated snipers providing them the experience. All these guy get is the basic sniper weapons kits (scopes, m-21/24, barret, whatever). They are not as "equipped" as a full-time sniper is. They haven't had the time to "acquire" the goodies.

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+++++++++++Boom!

-Ever-

I smirk when I see them. I know it's cynical, but the people I see wearing them seem to use the Cancer Foundation background as an excuse to be trendy. Hop on the bandwagon yall!!

And many people didn't know, but there are other colored bracelets that Nike released that said otherthings, like Teamwork (I think). My friends got them from Nike Town a while back (at least the middle of summer...). They came in dark blue and a few other colors.

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--Acknowledge your weaknesses--

RallyEX

I own several of the bracelets and have had them since long before the Tour de France, I log about 30 - 50 miles on my bicycle a week, and I am a Lance Armstrong fan.

But I also smoke. It's my choice, persecute me if you will... but guess what, the more people complain, the less I care.

saut

Good. Seems I'm not the only one who hates these stupid bracelets. Almost as much as I hate "support your troops" magnets on cars. If a person was really interested in donating money to a good cause, they wouldn't need some gimmick to go with it.

I feel like a bit of a hypocrit, since I haven't donated to any good causes lately (but I'm also a poor college student who thinks a good cause involves Ramen noodles and my belly). Maybe I'll go buy a couple of those bracelets (I haven't seen any for sale anywhere, come to think of it) and promptly throw them in the trash. Donation made, no need for trendy bullshit bracelets. I really don't care if people know I donated or not. It's trivial.

Or maybe, instead of throwing them away, I'll wear all of them at the same time, like those cars you see with 15 support your troops magnets.

Mephisto2

As long as they still have to pay for them, the funds go to the research.

Sad, but not as bad as them NOT wearing them.


Mr Mephisto

Lockjaw

Or better yet just go get a money order for 10 bucks and send it in to a cancer research center as a donation. Bam sam thing no trendy middle man.

ngdawg

That's the point....the funds most often don't

vox_rox

Excellent point Sauve, nobody making minimum wage needs to be the sounding board form anyone who doesn't like what his/her boss is doing.

Also, gotta say, I really like your new avatar. But isn't that an endangered species and, as such, isn't that ALSO against the rules?

Peace,

Pierre

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There is no such thing as strong coffee - only weak people.
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