But anyway.
The latest craze to have overtaken social media is the No-Makeup Selfie, purportedly to promote Cancer Awareness, and I really cannot decide where I come down on this. Having been nominated this morning, I naturally thought the internet was the appropriate place to voice my concerns before ultimately caving to social expectation. So here goes.
1. What does being make-up-less have to do with cancer?
Well...yeah. I had seen four or five make-up-less selfies before I realised the link to Cancer Awareness, and it's not exactly where your mind jumps. As a promotional campaign it's pretty vague, which then creates the danger of people uploading these selfies with no idea or real perception of what they're supporting. But then...
2. Cancer Awareness is a worthy cause regardless of how it's being promoted.
True 'dat.
3. Being 'aware' of cancer is vague and non-comittal.
'Cancer awareness' is an extremely non-specific banner. EVERYONE is 'aware' of cancer, so what are you actually saying? Are you promoting regular check-ups, like Coppa Feel? Are you promoting the general fight against cancer, like Cancer Research? Are you promoting support for those with, and the families of those with cancer, like Macmillan? Are you promoting the charity that supported you and your loved ones through whatever your personal experience with cancer has been, like the hospice that looked after my grandad during the final stages of lung cancer?
4. Why not more donations? Put your money where your face is.
And while we're on that, don't just promote when you can actively support. It's preachy, but whatever your circumstances, if you're willing to put a no make-up selfie on the internet, you should be willing to make a donation - it's only £3, and it's as simple as texting BEAT to 70007 for Cancer Research, 70099 specifically for Breast Cancer.
5. But discussions on social media seem to be far more focused on ego-boosting than cancer support/awareness.
If I see one more selfie where the only thing being said in the comments is, 'You're gorgeous anyway babe!', 'Stunning' or - most infuriatingly - 'Well done!' I'm going to scream. NOT THE POINT.
6. But social media is a great tool for great causes, and should be used as such more often.
Generic irritation with Facebook commenters aside, it's nice to see Facebook being used for a good cause, and not to spread the news of what sandwich that guy you knew at school is eating for lunch today. It is profoundly unfair, for instance, to be as cynical over this as the NekNominate fad that was all over social media last month. Questionnable motives aside, it's good to see Facebook doing good.
7. Why is going make-up less such a big deal?
This is a different rant, really, but why is wearing no make-up such a sacrifice? People shave their heads, bathe in beans and jump out of planes for charity - it's a shame that this is seen as an equivalent.
8. It's a great idea, but why not make it more relevant?
Along the same lines - if you're going to post a no make-up selfie, why not make it relevant to the cause you're championing? Contemporary body image and the media's promotion of 'beauty' are both infuriating attitudes, well worth fighting against - and then at least more people would understand the point you're making. This, I understand, was actually the origin of the no make-up selfie; author Laura Lippman going barefaced to support Kim Novak, after she was criticised for her looks at the Oscars. It's hard not to be cynical when 'Cancer awareness' has just been slapped on as justification for a fad nobody quite understands the point of.
9. Cynical attitudes are as prevalent as supportive ones.
As I have clearly demonstrated, scepticism and questioning are accompanying this craze with at least as much vigour as cancer awareness / support - The Independent, the Daily Mail and God only knows how many blogs have challenged it - justifiably and understandably so. But...
10. It's obviously working.
The Telegraph reckons the no make-up selfie has raised over £1 million in 24 hours for Cancer Research - and you can't really say fairer than that.
Ultimately, there is no simple answer. I and many others can and will question the sincerity and the purpose of the no make-up selfie for cancer awareness until we're blue in the face, but you can't argue with figures. However many people miss the point, consider it a sacrifice to go make-up-less or 'forget' to post anything about the supposed cause, if money is being raised for charity then I will shut up and cave:
