American Idol: Why does it take a reality show to move us to contributing to worthy causes?

Question

I don't think anyone with a brain and access to news media was unaware of the poverty in LA, the horriffic conditions in New Orleans, and the plight of the AIDS orphans in Africa? Why does it take a show like American Idol to get us up off our @$$ to contribute to worthy causes like this? Why can't we just do it without Randy, Paula and Simon telling us to?

Answer 1

I think it is more indicative of people watching reality tv, because a lot of us already give/gave to causes, and thus didn't fall for American Idol's little gimmick.

I am curious what makes a "worthy cause"? Is it just the need of money? I think people through that term worthy around a lot with any standard as to what makes it worthy.

Answer 2

For me personally it doesn't take anyone like Randy, Paula or Simon telling me to contribute to worthy causes.

I do this on my own to several worthy causes:

the American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
the L6 Foundation for Traumatic Brain Injury
www.lauralaughlinl6.org
the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
www.komen.org
NAMI-National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
www.nami.org
Collegiate Living Organization
www.cloliving.org
AFPS-American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide
http://www.afsp.org/
New Hope for Grieving Kids-Orlando FL
www.newhopeforkids.org

You only need to open your eyes and help.
Even if you don't have money, if you have time you can help.

Answer 3

People watch a lot of TV sometimes we are not that interesting in putting on the news to hear the bad stories so i think its great that the judges are asking this because then people who dont watch the news realise the poverty everywhere

Answer 4

Sometimes alot of us don't know the process or the contact information needed to contribute to some of these causes. I contribute to alot of animal causes since they do a really good job of promoting awareness via the internet, newsletters, TV ads, etc.

Answer 5

I think that most people live in denial. They don't want to think about the trials of others, only what they are going through in their own lives. Most people hear about something and the next day it is forgotten and they are dealing with their own daily routines. It's easy to not think about something until you are slapped in the face with it. I'm glad that A.I. did this, I hope that it opened alot of eyes to the horrendous conditions in the world today, because it makes no sense that in a country as rich as the U.S. that we would have children starving and growing up illiterate. Hopefully this show will move more people, especially our younger generations, to think about the others that are living in this world and not just themselves.

Answer 6

Because most of the time the money is going out of the country, I'm not against helping others, but only after EVERY KID in USA has what they need FIRST.

Answer 7

I think the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy said it better than I ever could.

Answer 8

I dont know, we should be ashamed of oursleves, but they sure did open our eyes.

http://journals.aol.com/jsweit8573/american-idol

Answer 9

WONDERFUL QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!