I get a little cranky this time of year. It wasn't always like this. October was by far my favorite month. It even surpassed the Armageddon like month of December where stress and hysteria over "being ready" for the holidays takes on a life of its own. I loved the transition from summer to fall. Albeit, the mostly fake fall we experience here in southern California - right now I'm writing this post in 90 degree weather.
Nonetheless....I loved it.
But now, I get cranky. I get cranky over pink. I get cranky over the cheap pink crap being hawked for "awareness"........
A Sassy Pink Apron
A Pink Mohawk
And, my favorite......
Show your support with
A Pink Flask
Although, I do admit, a flask and a stiff drink might have come in handy during certain times of my treatment, I really have to wonder how one is showing support while swigging alcohol out of a pink flask.
Sigh.....I feel like October has almost become a parody of pink awareness. I think of it like Fourth of July. How a time in history that was filled with blood shed and lost lives is now represented by red, white and blue, a barbeque and sparklers.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's still too raw. Maybe I'm wrong. But then I think......how can a pink flask be right? I want to spread awareness......I want people to know.......But somehow I can't help but feel that pink has turned everything into a big party like atmosphere. The pink covers up so much of the horribleness of this disease. I've come to dislike pink.......
Pink Plastic Feather Light Up Pens, anyone?!
So anyway, in one of my very cranky moods yesterday, I did something that I've been thinking about for a long time. I called out Yoplait and their stupid "lick lids to save lives" campaign. Yep. I did. I wrote on their facebook wall and never looked back. Ok, I did look back a couple times to see if they ever responded to me....but other than that I had no regrets. It actually made me feel better getting it off my chest.
I hate that campaign. So here's what I wrote......
***As a stage III breast cancer survivor and a Yoplait yogurt eater, I just have to ask why there has to be a whole circus act of licking, washing, saving, envelope wasting, postage spending, gas to the mailbox guzzling and useless time in transit traveling just for you to donate to the cause. Can't you just base it on sales for that month? I understand that a person can do it online. I appreciate that you are donating to research. But is sending in the lid really necessary? I've been annoyed by this campaign for years and just had to ask why there had to be so much licking of lids for a contribution. *****
Why so much licking of lids?!?!? Why!?!? Why for the love of saliva do we have to lick the lids?!?!? Now, I do admit that this year they added the option for doing it online. Which I think...ok. But the licking of the lids and sending them in drove me up a wall.
So, someone did write back to me.....
***Karin - congrats on being a survivor! We take all fan feedback to heart. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
The lids campaign is a strong part of our history in supporting Susan G. Komen and it's so much more than a donation in our eyes. It offers a tangible way to rally together, further awareness of early detection and celebrate those affected by the disease.
That said, we DO want to make it easy to get involved so we added the online redemption option this year. Additionally, through the end of the year, Yoplait will donate 10 cents per new Facebook page "like" (up to $10,000).**
I'm still not sure how licking lids celebrates those affected....but whatever. It's a marketing ploy on Yoplait's part and I totally get that. And, then I thought....how nice for them to donate $10,000 with each "like" they get. Then, I starting thinking....well, wait. Isn't that bribery...or extortion....or entrapment...or something like that? Why can't they just donate the damn money without there being something in it for them?
Sigh......maybe I'm still too raw.......
I'm done complaining.
Well.........not really. Because, I will never stop complaining about Michael's bad customer service and pink feather awareness pens.
Signed,
Cranky Mc Crankerson
Hi Karin, aka Cranky,
Well I have to admit, I'm with you on all your points. The pink flask has to be the funniest thing I've seen. Really? And I'm not going to be licking lids, I'd rather just donate. And as far as Michaels goes, well you already know how I feel.
XO Martha
Posted by: Martha | October 13, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Well Miss Crankypants,
I totally agree with you! It has irritated me for a long time too!(the yoplait top-licking)
And that pink campaign, too fluffy and cute, breast cancer is anything but!
Go on with your cranky self!!! It's totally justified!
I need to go scrape some pink foil lids off the bottom of my junk drawer now...hugs!
karen crankyalso.....
Posted by: karen | October 13, 2011 at 01:48 PM
I'll never forget going the the local scrapbooking store during my treatment and seeing the little pink calendar stickers for counting off the days of radiation. Bleecckkk-or however that's spelled. I so totally agree with you.
VictorianGypsy
Posted by: Sandi Moran | October 13, 2011 at 01:50 PM
I too! I feel that most of the companies/stores/individuals that jump on this bandwagon are just doing it to bolster sales.Better I send $25 straight to breast cancer research than spend $25 on something I really don't want or need and research ends up with $2.50 But kudos to Hambly for donating 100% of the sales of their pink kit to research.
Posted by: Beth W | October 13, 2011 at 02:26 PM
I totally agree with you Ms. Cranky. Though the pink stuff always catches my eye cos the color is so pretty. Why do we have to buy the stuff, why can't they just donate and be done with it?
Since we're cranking it up....you know what annoys me to no end? When people with blogs have that section "blogs I love/follow/heart, etc......well, because I'm lazy and just go on those rather than finding my own favorite blogs I end up linking to blogs that have nothing new for months and months, forget the ones that total years with no entries!
My cranky question is, why don't bloggers clean up their 'follow' list for us lazies?
I mean, really!?
Thanks...
Cranky Alice
Posted by: Alice | October 13, 2011 at 03:34 PM
dear ms. cranky, i agree with you regarding the lids. i cannot tell you how many i have had stacked by my sink only to have them stick to the sink..and then have to toss them. yes, base their contribution on the sales. period. done. over. does anyone know exactly WHY pink is the chosen colour?
Posted by: cynthia | October 13, 2011 at 08:41 PM
agreed! i think you have every right to be annoyed. the pink ribbon lolipops at michael's really get to me. here, kids! lick this ribbon to show your support! (more licking!) ;) maybe it wouldn't annoy me so much if every single penny of those items bought were donated, but, sadly, i don't think that's how it works.
Posted by: nicole | October 14, 2011 at 12:51 AM
yep! I hear ya! When I see things like that I completely just see the company trying to cash in. And come on...that mohawk? the pens? the flask? it just makes me say "ick". So I agree with your crankiness wholeheartedly. xo
Posted by: natalea | October 14, 2011 at 04:29 AM
totally with you here!!! My mom just finished the last treatment in a year long ordeal for Stage 3C HER2 positive breast cancer. This pink crap just pisses me off. Can't they just donate the money? I think all of this pink stuff is for the trendy people who want to show they are "concerned" in a look-at-me way--if I am making myself clear. Watching a loved one lose their hair, puke all the time and live in fear of the next pet scan....I don't need no stupid pink ribbon ......
Posted by: Tamera @ The Stone Fence Cottage | October 14, 2011 at 05:26 AM
dear Karin, YES! A bad bad case of bandwagonitus (its a word) I feel the same way about boxtops for education, well almost. education good, cancer bad. but it seems a complete contradiction. (feed the kiddies our company's crap food and we will donate a few meager pennies) seems to be emotional extortion in the extreme. I wonder if people kept track of how much they spent on this trash, and donated this amount how much better off we all would be. and we wouldn't have to lick icky stuff
Posted by: G Neely and Princess cranky pants (kitty cat ) | October 14, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Hi Miss Cranky, Well, we will never be without the advertising business and what about Christmas in October??? I am so glad you wrote them. Loved the form letter that was sent to you. Keep the faith. We are behind you.
Posted by: Stephanie S. | October 15, 2011 at 08:02 PM
I am SO with you on every point!!!
I always make sure to send my donation straight to the Susan G. Komen Foundation where I don't have to buy anything I don't need and then I know 100% of my donation is going straight to SGK and not just a wee portion!
YAY for Cranky!!
Love,
LuLu Kellogg
Posted by: LuLu Kellogg | October 16, 2011 at 06:07 AM
Ms. Cranky - Bravo! I think you covered it all tho it sounds like it fell on deaf ears at Yoplait. We will just continue to contribute as we all see fit and forget about all the "pink fluff and stuff". Great class yesterday - always look forward to more of your creativity sharing!
Posted by: Kris Martinez | October 16, 2011 at 02:01 PM
I saw an article on this and they called it "pinkwashing". I think that is a good name for it, and I am about pinked out.
I love your post to Yoplait! Be cranky, but be pink!
Posted by: edie3 | October 16, 2011 at 02:03 PM
I remember...years ago, when there was one day or one weekend in honor of those lost by this horrible disease and then there was the coming together of those who, like you, were survivors. It was MUCH MORE meaningful and had a great impact of just what they were walking to, marching for or donating in memory of......but like many "CELEBRATIONS," (with Christmas being the most distasteful), too much has been placed on the marketing gimmicks/ploys and less--much less---on the true meaning. I celebrate, in private and in quiet, those I know who have survived any kind of cancer and those who have gone on to heaven. And likewise, I celebrate Christmas for its' intended purpose....the birth of Jesus Christ.
So, you are not alone in your dislike of "OCTOBER PINK" and I pray you will continue to be cancer free for the next 100 years:)
Posted by: sherry moss | October 16, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Karin my darling....want to go for a drink? I'll buy! luv you, Penny
Posted by: Penny | October 22, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Dear Karen - it's OK to be cranky about pink. I'm a pink lover but some stuff can be over the top. I have a coworker & recent breast cancer survivor that sits next to me & recently admitted that when everyone she knew were throwing pink everything her way (bracelets, boxing gloves, magnets, etc) she wasn't ready to display, wear or go gaga over it. On another blog in my blogroll another person is quite upset by the Estee Lauder posters that seem to be a bit sexual in nature... All I can say as - you go girl - proud of you for stating your opinion and for being a survivor :)
Posted by: Angela | October 26, 2011 at 09:42 PM
I just did a post not too long ago about how I saw a stack of those compact fluorescent bulbs....all proudly packaged in PINK...in Walmart and with their big old warnings on the package about how they interfere with TV signals and phone signals. And I went off about how dangerous they are because they all contain mercury and yet they are rammed down our throats....and yet they were packaged in PINK to promote breast cancer awareness! YIKES!!
I agree about all of the sleazy stuff out there in PINK in Oct. and I had the very issue about the Yoplait redemption thingy!! So glad you contacted them....
I do know there are a lot of great businesses who do support the cause in appropriate ways...I just hate it when they're using the month of OCT as just another advertising campaign.
Congrats to you on being a survivor....and for sitting the the middle of the on-ramp at your 5K!!! Yay!! We gotta take advantage of every fun opportunity!
dana
Posted by: dana | November 12, 2011 at 02:57 PM