14 chapters across the catalog
Mask Mandates and Social Media, Ice Bucket Challenge Comparison
The current social pressure to wear masks is compared to the viral nature of the Ice Bucket Challenge, described as a form of self-moral licensing. In the Netherlands, masks are derogatorily referred to by some as "face diapers." An anecdote is shared about a woman being removed from a train in Rotterdam for a mask violation.
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the show discussing the legacy of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the distribution of its funds. Curry shares his excitement about finally getting a haircut as lockdowns begin to ease. The hosts compare head sizes to television personalities like Pat Sajak and Little Richard.
Moral Self-Licensing, Red Nose Day and Menstruation Taboos
The concept of "moral self-licensing" is discussed in the context of charity trends like Red Nose Day and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The hosts critique a new "awareness" campaign involving "tampon selfies" intended to break taboos around menstruation. They argue these social media trends allow people to feel virtuous without actually contributing to a cause.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and "Moral Self-Licensing"
The Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Association launched a controversial new campaign featuring a man who claims he was diagnosed with the disease after failing to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Critics describe this as a form of "moral self-licensing" and compare it to predatory chain letters that use guilt to drive donations. The campaign is viewed as a manipulative extension of the viral 2014 fundraising phenomenon.
Moral Self-Licensing, Lyme Disease, and the Lime Challenge
The concept of "moral self-licensing" is explored through the lens of viral charity challenges. A new trend involving eating a lime for Lyme disease, reportedly promoted by Ryan Seacrest and Yolanda Foster, is criticized as a superficial gesture. The segment notes that the high citric acid in limes can damage tooth enamel and that the challenge has no logical connection to the disease.
The hosts review forgotten headlines of 2014, including the Ice Bucket Challenge and the Sochi Olympics. They discuss a *Der Spiegel* report based on Snowden documents regarding a US "kill list" in Afghanistan that included drug dealers, and mention a Bernie Madoff documentary titled *In God We Trust*.
Adam Curry reads a letter from "Don Tommaso" in Toronto, who sent two donations. One donation is intended to start his son, "Don Emilio de Toronto," on the path to knighthood following an "ice bucket challenge fiasco."
Moral Self-Licensing, Douchebag Events and Web Design
The hosts discuss a new project, MoralSelfLicensing.com, which offers certificates allowing users "douchebag events" as an offset for good deeds. A technical dispute occurs between the hosts regarding the website's rendering on different browsers, specifically Firefox on Windows 7. The concept is proposed as a $100 donation tier.
Sir Don Tomaso Di Toronto donates to the show while publicly calling out his son, Emilio, for participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The father views the challenge as a "moral self-license" scam and demands his son pay back the donation money to be redirected to the No Agenda show.
Moral Self-Licensing, Family Medicine, Dr. Sharkey
Dr. Sharkey, a professor of family medicine, writes in about introducing the concept of "moral self-licensing" to his students. He satirizes the concept by suggesting a doctor could announce support for a patient's cause, dump ice water on their own head, and consider the medical problem solved.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Charity Finances, Haiti Relief
The hosts critique the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, noting that a large percentage of donations go toward overhead and executive salaries rather than research. They compare the viral trend to the $6 billion raised for Haiti relief, much of which they claim was stolen or mismanaged by the Clinton Foundation while Haitians continued to suffer from cholera.
Moral Self-Licensing, Ice Bucket Challenge Psychology
Stanford University research from 2010 defines "Moral Self-Licensing" as a phenomenon where past good deeds liberate individuals to engage in later immoral or problematic behaviors. The Ice Bucket Challenge exemplifies this by allowing participants to "license" themselves against donating $100 by performing a public act of dousing themselves with water. This psychological shortcut provides the appearance of morality without the actual cost.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is identified as a highly orchestrated public relations campaign rather than a spontaneous viral movement. A clip of Kermit the Frog participating is criticized for its poor quality. The hosts argue that the campaign is a form of mass manipulation, forcing people to participate or face social stigma.
The viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is analyzed as a "narcissistic" social media movement. The hosts point out the irony of people in California dousing themselves with water during a certified drought. They jokingly characterize the trend as a "gay Illuminati rite of passage" involving Silicon Valley CEOs like Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates.
