I’ve got an issue with this trendy meme called “awareness”. What is it you think you’re accomplishing, exactly?

I’ve seen it all over the Internet. Change your profile picture to your favorite cartoon character to “raise awareness” of child abuse. Grow a mustache in “MOvember” to “raise awareness” of men’s prostate cancer. You know, stuff like that.

Awareness? I’m pretty sure we all know child abuse and prostate cancer exists.

So what was it again that your mustache accomplished? Has your mustache somehow cured prostate cancer? Has it magically empowered researchers with superpowers?

What about changing your profile picture on Facebook? Did that act of awesomeness save the world from child abusers? Did all the child abusers of the world see your profile picture of Yogi Bear on FaceBook and decide never to abuse children ever again?

“Hey man, I grew a mustache in November. I’m down with the cause. Where is your mustache? OMG you’re so insensitive. It’s jerks like you that allow prostate cancer to exist.”

Raising awareness doesn’t do jack shit. It exists solely to make people feel better about their lives, with very little to no effort on their part.

Whatever.