Tomorrow is Aids Day

[Husar]

I'm not stupid because I want to, how can that be my fault?

[Geoffrey S]

Fine, criticise the phrasing rather than the message. How about "lack of awareness or someone's own fault.". Happier now?

[PanzerJaeger]

AIDS is spread due in large part to a lack of understanding and education, not just in the third world but in the West as well.

One of my good friends was telling me about his new boyfriend and I told him to make sure and be safe if they started messing around and get him tested for AIDS before they went all the way. He said "Oh its ok, he's muscular, he doesn't look like he has AIDS at all." AIDS doesn't have a look. Sure people in the advanced stages who have been living without an efficient immune system look unhealthy, but people can carry HIV and AIDS for years without even knowing it.

And that leads me to my second point. AIDS isn't just a gay thing, not in Africa and not in the West. IIRC, the group in the US with the biggest % of AIDS is single black women. So its very important to get your partner tested.

But its obvious, at least in the Western World, that HIV isn't spread through long term, monogamous relationships; but through quick, spontaneous encounters - be they hookups, prostitution, ect. So, always use a condom!

If you just have to experience the sweet, sweet feeling of unprotected sex, get yourself a serious girl/boyfriend.

[Viking]

Fine, criticise the phrasing rather than the message.

Uh, no. Your message gives idiocy much credit. Sure this is the cause in the west, though AFAIK not in the Africa were most HIV/AIDS infected reside. Idiocy? Pfft.

[Geoffrey S]

Well, for a start;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6938178.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7080852.stm

I think you give idiocy too little credit, since those aren't the only politicians with such views who can heavily damage the campaign against Aids. And as you say, in the West certainly idiocy plays a role; by and large campaigning has made quite clear what the dangers are, after which it comes down to personal responsibility.

[HoreTore]

Well the catholic church has contributed mightily to the cause of stopping people from using condoms... Excellent.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Sorry, Horetore, but that falsehood has already been addressed:

In many African countries male infidelity is the norm- while the wives often have no knowledge, let alone any consent in, how often "their" man sleeps around. The catholic church is often blamed for not "allowing" any condom use, but in my view it wouldn't make any difference if the pope would endorse it since their promiscuity suggests that they don't care what the church says in the first place

It's simply a non-factor.

CR

[Spino]

The Pope has got it and so do you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piChUkmYjVI

[ICantSpellDawg]

Most people in the U.S. get HIV and AIDS through some close relationship between 2 guys doing it. Whether that is two dudes doing it, two dudes doing it and sharing needles, or a dude who does dudes doing a lady. Most ladies who spread aids received AIDS through a dude with a history of other dudes. Also, Black and white people who have sex with 100 people a year.

Now, all of us have to deal with the consequences. Thanks alot, dudes.

It really sucks for the 2% of people in the U.S. who actually get the disease from sitting in a hospital bed or the women who get it from cheating husbands (I'm not sure what that percent is) or the children who get it from their callous parents.

Hey! I know! let's Blame the Catholic Church!

Keep it in your pants.


(In the developing world the stats are different.)

Of all AIDS cases in 2003 in the United States:

* 48% were tracked back to male-to-male contact
* 27% were tracked back to male-to-female contact and intravenous drug use,
* 7% were tracked back to male-to-male contact and intravenous drug use,
* 16% tracked back to male-to-female contact, and
* 2% were tracked back to other causes, including hemophilia and other blood recipients, perinatal, and risk not reported or not identified.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AID...Current_status