Hey Freak!

OK, so I went to google to look up something... I was looking for something happy. Something to take our minds off all the shit that's going on right now. And what did I see?



Are you kidding me? There's already a ribbon?

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally sypathetic to the victims of this tragedy, but... I dunno. I think the ribbon trivializes what happened. Why do we have to have a ribbon? Can't we donate or support something without "proof" that we donate or support? Are my donations that much sweeter when I wear a ribbon?

I guess some people probably like the ribbon. They'd probably say I was an asshole or a cynic. Or, at the very least, a terrorist. But, I'm sorry. I hate the ribbon. People need to stop making trends out of tragedy.

"You don't wear...de rrrrribbon!?"

Yeah, there'll be ribbons, magnets, bracelets, and any other tacky items you can think of to cash in. People are selling I [heart] NO t-shirts, as well.

Personally I prefer to give my money to something that might actually help.

That pisses me off. I'm so fucking SICK of the ribbons and the bracelets and the motherfucking magnets and flags and CRAP. I'm over it. Done.

I'm actually tempted to start stealing them off people's cars. You think I'm kidding.

Missing a ribbon in San Diego? Yeah, that was me.

Yeah, I had to google something earlier and I saw that ribbon on the front page and went "surely not. already?"

Joelle, please, please don't kill me for saying this: I read your comment and then glanced down and saw the ribbon in your rock the walk banner and totally laughed.

I have to say, I was the first person to say "DAMN, they need a bracelet for this". "Trendy", yes, but I have to disagree that it trivializes it. We need more in-your-face public support of these causes. If you honestly support what you're displaying with a sticker or a bracelet or a flag, then good for you. It's never "too late" to jump on a bandwagon for a great cause, and helping to rally others.

I'm right there with you. I'd rather see people give to a fund where 100% of the proceeds go directly to disaster relief. On one hand, there have been worse trends than charity (remember parachute pants, for instance?), but are we really so goddamned shallow that we need a bracelet or a ribbon in order to motivate us to help those in need?

Forget about ribbons. Showing support is nowhere near as important as actually giving support.

Waiting for the ribbons, magnets and bracelets for everything trend to end!

Is there a special ribbon committee that I am unaware of. Like you said, mikey, I totally feel for the people who got hit by Katrina, but the colored ribbons are way over done.

I'm with you on this dude. Must we have a ribbon for EVERYTHING? Or how about those bracelets for EVERYTHING? You watch, that will be next - a bracelet. I'm for support and donating and all that but damn, must we take one person's idea and then copy it over and over for everything else?

my upstairs neighbor has a "some asshole stole my ribbon magnet" magnet on his car. i'd say that's a good sign that ribbons have jumped the shark.

Good guy thought: as long as the money goes to the right place, trivialize it all you want. I thought Mrs. Z and I were going through some tough times...shit, there's bodies laying in hallways in the shelters.

Bad guy thought: I'm gonna buy a bunch of ribbons, throw them at chicks and yell "SHOW ME YOUR TITS!"

-z

I wonder how much money those companies that make the damn ribbons have made off of the tragedies?

Is the ribbon the equivalent of the gold star from 3rd grade? "Look at how good I was! Yay!"

In a related story, sometimes when I go to the grocery store or the movie theater, there are folks collecting for a charity of some sort. They say that if I donate a dollar, they'll put my name on a little cardboard star and put it on the nearby bulletin board with all the other good people. I usually give the dollar, but I always ask that they hang the star without putting my name on it.

The point is that I think it helps people to know that a large number of people are willing to give (thus allowing them to hang the star), but I think its tragic that so many folks need a gold star for having done something they were supposed to do anyway. Is it really a selfless act if you do it to bring attention to yourself?

i don't mean to be insensitive. i know that these people are really hurting, BUT, they are treating this shit like it's 9/11. TOTALLY different situation. one was a terrorist attack, the other was NATURAL disaster. yeah both situations suck but there's a difference. i just have quams about how the news is treating this and covering the story. i feel HORRIBLE for the people because i wouldn't wish this on anyone, but gimme a break news coverage. and are we gonna have to start calling this 8/30? i think not. again, thoughts and prayers to the people.

I've been really tempted to BUY a ribbon for my car, but once I saw a person's car with like, 8 (seriously, 8 or 9).. I decided against it. Apparently it's some drug or addiction.

Stop.the.ribbon.maddness.

Yep, I'm so over the freakin' ribbons too. Ok, so I might have one little one pinned to the ceiling of my car (light, right above the rear-view), but it's red, white & blue, and my boss' wife made it for all of us. She actually sewed it together. So that's been pinned up in my car for the past 4 years.

But yeah, screw ribbons I actally had an idea once to go to a mall parking lot, steal ALL The ribbon magnets, and then put them all on one car, just because it would look funny. Or maybe one of those mall security pickup trucks.

The ribbon phenomenon has always struck me as particularly empty as a sign of support. In general, my experience is that the only people who wear the ribbons are the ones who want to look like they're showing support but aren't actually doing a lick of shit to actually make a difference. Who came up with ribbon=support? It's all about wearing the blinders at all times. That way they can show support without actually supporting.

I agree!!!! Totally over the f--king ribbons. I bet half the f--king people that have them have not donated one cent to whatever they say they support. Some dumbass is sitting back making a fortune of these damn things.

Yeah, the Boobie-Thon's got ribbons in its site-design again this year -- but I certainly don't wear 'em!

Ok, to defend my OWN ribbon (because you're not the first person to say this):

THE AIDS RIBBON HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER. I'm sorry, but that chaps my ass. The HIV/AIDS red ribbon and the pink breast cancer ribbon have been around LONG before any of these other bullshit black ribbons and camouflage ribbons and support the troops SHIT.

The only exception is the yellow ribbon and even then, I'd be willing to bet that half the damn people don't know WHY it's a yellow ribbon or that the yellow ribbon has been a symbol of remembrance and "bringing loved ones home" since well before the Vietnam War, possibly even as far as WWII or WWI or some records indicate the origin of the yellow ribbon is as far back as 400 years ago from the lyrics of a song.

And furthermore, how many red AIDS ribbons do you see actually slapped on the back of an SUV?

None, I'd be willing to bet.

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