AIDS, The Deadliest Epidemic in History

[freethefly 6]

AIDS Toll May Reach 100 Million in Africa
06/03/2006
Associated Press/AP Online
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - It began quietly, when a statistical anomaly pointed to a mysterious syndrome that attacked the immune systems of gay men in California. No one imagined 25 years ago that AIDS would become the deadliest epidemic in history.

Since June 5, 1981, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has killed more than 25 million people, infected 40 million others and left a legacy of unspeakable loss, hardship, fear and despair.

Its spread was hastened by ignorance, prejudice, denial and the freedoms of the sexual revolution. Along the way from oddity to pandemic, AIDS changed they way people live and love.

Slowed but unchecked, the epidemic's relentless march has established footholds in the world's most populous countries. Advances in medicine and prevention that have made the disease manageable in the developed world haven't reach the rest.

In the worst case, sub-Saharan Africa, it has been devastating. And the next 25 years of AIDS promise to be deadlier than the first.

AIDS could kill 31 million people in India and 18 million in China by 2025, according to projections by U.N. population researchers. By then in Africa, where AIDS likely began and where the virus has wrought the most devastation, researchers said the toll could reach 100 million.

"It is the worst and deadliest epidemic that humankind has ever experienced," Mark Stirling, the director of East and Southern Africa for UNAIDS, said in an interview.

More effective medicines, better access to treatment and improved prevention in the last few years have started to lower the grim projections. But even if new infections stopped immediately, additional African deaths alone would exceed 40 million, Stirling said.

"We will be grappling with AIDS for the next 10, 20, 30, 50 years," he said.

Efforts to find an effective vaccine have failed dismally, so far. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative says 30 are being tested in small-scale trials. More money and more efforts are being poured into prevention campaigns but the efforts are uneven. Success varies widely from region to region, country to country.

Still, science offers some promise. In highly developed countries, cocktails of powerful antiretroviral drugs have largely altered the AIDS prognosis from certain death to a manageable chronic illness.

There is great hope that current AIDS drugs might prevent high-risk people from becoming infected. One of these, tenofovir, is being tested in several countries. Plans are to test it as well with a second drug, emtricitabine or FTC.

But nothing can be stated with certainty until clinical trials are complete, said Anthony Fauci, a leading AIDS researcher and infectious diseases chief at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

And then there is the risk that treatment will create a resistant strain or, as some critics claim, cause people to lower their guard and have more unprotected sex.

Medicine offers less hope in the developing world where most victims are desperately poor with little or no access to the medical care needed to administer and monitor AIDS drugs. Globally, just 1 in 5 HIV patients get the drugs they need, according to a recent report by UNAIDS, the body leading the worldwide battle against the disease.

Stirling said that despite the advances, the toll over the next 25 years will go far beyond the 34 million thought to have died from the Black Death in 14th century Europe or the 20 to 40 million who perished in the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.

Almost two-thirds of those infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa where poverty, ignorance and negligent political leadership extended the epidemic's reach and hindered efforts to contain it. In South Africa, the president once questioned the link between HIV and AIDS and the health minister urged use of garlic and the African potato to fight AIDS, instead of effective treatments.

AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa, which has accounted for nearly half of all global AIDS deaths. The epidemic is still growing and its peak could be a decade or more away.

In at least seven countries, the U.N. estimates that AIDS has reduced life expectancy to 40 years or less. In Botswana, which has the world's highest infection rate, a child born today can expect to live less than 30 years.

"Particularly in southern Africa, we may have to apply a new notion, and that is of `underdeveloping' nations. These are nations which, because of the AIDS epidemic, are going backwards," Peter Piot, the director of UNAIDS, said in a speech in Washington in March.

Later, at a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, last month, Piot cited encouraging news including a sharp fall in new infections in some African countries. There also has been an eightfold increase in the number of Africans benefiting from antiretroviral treatment, he said.

But, he warned, "the crisis of AIDS continues and is getting worse and any slackening of our efforts would jeopardize the hard-won gains of each and every one of us."

Besides the personal suffering of the infected and their families, the epidemic already has had devastating consequences for African education systems, industry, agriculture and economies in general. The impact is magnified because AIDS weakens and kills many young adults, people in their most productive years.

So many farmers and farmworkers have died of AIDS that the U.N. has invented the term "new variant famine." It means that because of AIDS, the continent will experience persistent famine for generations instead of the usual cycles of hunger tied to variable weather.

Africa's misery hangs like a sword over Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.

Researchers don't expect the infection rates to rival those in Africa. But Asia's population is so big that even low infection rates could easily translate into tens of millions of deaths.

Although fewer than 1 percent of its people are infected, India has topped South Africa as the country with the most infections, 5.7 million to 5.5 million, according to UNAIDS.

The astonishing numbers have grown from a humble beginning.

Nobody knows for sure when or where, but the AIDS epidemic is thought to have begun in the primeval forests of West Africa when a virus lurking in the blood of a monkey or a chimpanzee made the leap from one species to another, infecting a hunter.

Researchers have found HIV in a blood sample collected in 1959 from a man in Kinshasa, Congo. Genetic analysis of his blood suggested the HIV infection stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

For decades at least, the early human infections went unnoticed on a continent where life routinely is harsh, short and cheap.

Then, on June 5, 1981, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reported five young actively homosexual men in Los Angeles had a new, mysterious and as yet unnamed illness that attacked the immune system and caused a type of pneumonia. A month later, it reported an odd surge among homosexual men in the number of cases of Karposi Sarcoma, a rare cancer now linked to AIDS.

In the early days of the epidemic, just the mention of AIDS elicited snickers and jokes. Few saw it as a major threat. It was the "Gay Plague," and for some, divine retribution for a lifestyle Christian fundamentalists and other conservatives consider deviant and sinful.

When heterosexuals began to contract the disease through blood transfusions and other medical procedures, they were often portrayed as "innocent" victims of a disease spread by the immoral and licentious behavior of others.

The initial reactions and prejudices associated with AIDS slowed the early response to the epidemic and limited the funding. Too much time, money and effort was spent on the wrong priorities, Stirling aid.

"Over the last 25 years, the one real weakness was the search for the magic bullet. There is no quick and simple fix," he said. "But with the recent successes we are starting to see the end of epidemic."

"There is evidence to suggest we are at the tipping point," said Stirling.

The pace of change over the last couple of years suggests the number of new infections can be reduced by 50 to 60 percent by 2020 - if the momentum continues.

"It is surely possible, it is doable," Stirling said.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[kallend 1,648]

"Although AIDS was first reported in the medical and popular press in 1981, it was only in October 1987 that President Reagan publicly spoke about the epidemic. By the end of that year 59,572 AIDS cases had been reported and 27,909 of those women and men had died. How could this happen? How could Reagan not say anything? Do anything?

The Reagan administration’s reaction to AIDS is complex and goes far beyond Reagan’s refusal to speak out about the epidemic. A great deal of his power base was born-again Christian Republican conservatives who embraced a reactionary social agenda that included a virulent, demonizing homophobia. In the media, people like Reverends Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell portrayed gay people as diseased sinners and promoted the idea that AIDS was a punishment from God and that the gay rights movement had to be stopped. In the Republican Party, zealous right-wingers, such as Representative William Dannenmeyer (CA) and Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), hammered home this same message. In the Reagan White House, people such as Secretary of Education William Bennett and Gary Bauer, his chief domestic advisor, worked to enact it in the Adminis- tration’s policies.
"

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[jpjc2000 0]

Kewl...just can't help yourself can ya Kalland...LMAO!

[Rookie120 0]

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The Reagan administration’s reaction to AIDS is complex and goes far beyond Reagan’s refusal to speak out about the epidemic

Because speaking out about it would stopped it dead in it's tracks. 20 years later still no cure and I bet it's because of Reagan.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[jakee 1,259]

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The Reagan administration’s reaction to AIDS is complex and goes far beyond Reagan’s refusal to speak out about the epidemic

Because speaking out about it would stopped it dead in it's tracks. 20 years later still no cure and I bet it's because of Reagan.

So you obviously see nothing wrong with this either.

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Almost two-thirds of those infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa where poverty, ignorance and negligent political leadership extended the epidemic's reach and hindered efforts to contain it. In South Africa, the president once questioned the link between HIV and AIDS and the health minister urged use of garlic and the African potato to fight AIDS, instead of effective treatments.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Rookie120 0]

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So you obviously see nothing wrong with this either.

Did I say that? What has people talking about it for 20 years accomplished? Thats what I'm saying.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[Lucky... 0]

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The Reagan administration’s reaction to AIDS is complex and goes far beyond Reagan’s refusal to speak out about the epidemic

Because speaking out about it would stopped it dead in it's tracks. 20 years later still no cure and I bet it's because of Reagan.

Collectively the fault of the right for:

A) Ignoring it
B) Demonizing it to dissuade funds

[Lucky... 0]

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So you obviously see nothing wrong with this either.

Did I say that? What has people talking about it for 20 years accomplished? Thats what I'm saying.

You have to talk about it to garner funding for relief now and a cue later. Just as Viet Nam vets wete villified then, they were honored later. It's the mondset of quaushing ignorance about issues.

So the average guy with AIDS is a dirty faggot, but Majic Johnson is a victim of that faggot's disease, right? Furthermore, how about baby's born with AIDS? Should we punish the supposed dirty fags by not spending money on their disease, then turn our heads when chidlren are born with it? It's our disease no matter what the origin or messenger.

Also, it is a manageable disease, just look at Majic Johnson. But it is expensive and we've decided these primarily gay men aren't worth it; what a predjudiced society.....

[dorbie 0]

You guys live in a fantasy world. A fortune has been spent on HIV prevention, treatmant and finding a cure.

Moreover the contamination of the CDC with political activists as a result of the AIDS debacle has caused all sorts of problems in honestly tackling other infectious diseases.

There have been extended periods where far from admitting HIV is predominantly a disease caused by risky practices like unprotected anal sex (and you can go figure out who practices that)there's a massive effort to avoid mentioning this because of all the political bullshit in America. There's has been a systematic effort to lie about the risks of HIV infection bacause if you scare people into wearing a rubber or abstaining "where's the harm".

How about you can the political bullshit and just level with people about the risks they take instead of worrying about what they might think, who you might upset and attempting to manipulate behavior through half truths.

[jakee 1,259]

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How about you can the political bullshit and just level with people about the risks they take instead of worrying about what they might think, who you might upset and attempting to manipulate behavior through half truths.

So you agree with Kallend?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[SpeedRacer 1]

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The Reagan administration’s reaction to AIDS is complex and goes far beyond Reagan’s refusal to speak out about the epidemic

Because speaking out about it would stopped it dead in it's tracks. 20 years later still no cure and I bet it's because of Reagan.

"still no cure", however, through HAART you can get the virus down below detectable levels.

Speed Racer
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[Rookie120 0]

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through HAART you can get the virus down below detectable levels.

I have no idea what HAART is. I guess it must be some kind of drug. Is that that HIV cocktail?

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[SpeedRacer 1]

Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy.

A combination of drugs that inhibit both reverse transcriptase and the protease produced by HIV.

And there are other drugs in the pipeline which attack the virus at other points in its lifecycle, such as cell entry, and the point where viral DNA is incorporated into a host cell's chromasome.

Speed Racer
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[freethefly 6]

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born-again Christian Republican conservatives

These are the people who have attached the stigma to this illness and have further the spread of it by not seeing it as an illness but as a punishment from their "God". GWB's administration push "christian values" (whatever in hell those are) as the way to end the spread of HIV. "Christian values" are dangerous and irresponsible when it comes to ending a deadly threat to the worlds population. GWB has halted a good portion of funding for condoms and safe sex education and funneled that money into christian groups who do nothing at all and are not qualified to handle a threat that only education and science can halt. Christian conservatives are just as responsible for the spread of HIV (I believe even more so) than those who are actually infected as they have failed to believe in the reality that people will have sex no matter how hard they shove their bible down the throats of the worlds population. Education and science is the one and only answer to ending AIDS. The christian front has done zero to stop the spread and has only created more ignorance and hate towards those infected.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[freethefly 6]

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through HAART you can get the virus down below detectable levels

You have to be able to get the drugs first before this can happen. They don't give this stuff away. I had an undetectable v/l and a cd4 over 900 in 2002 untill my insurance ran out and they took away my meds. Today I have a v/l over 30,000 and a cd4 in the 300 range. Medicare pays for very little and I cannot afford to pay for treatment out of my pocket. Medications are extremely expensive and way out of reach for many who are infected. The pharmacutical corporations would rather see people die than lower the cost of meds. But hey, that's the American way, cash is king and human life takes a backseat to profits.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[StreetScooby 5]

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Because speaking out about it would stopped it dead in it's tracks.

You're kidding, right?

Clearly you've never seen the mentality of promiscuous gay men. I spent 3 years in San Francisco. They were speaking out about it. Didn't change a thing.

We are all engines of karma

[Rookie120 0]

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You're kidding, right?

Clearly you've never seen the mentality of promiscuous gay men. I spent 3 years in San Francisco. They were speaking out about it. Didn't change a thing.

I need to work on my SARCASM.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[StreetScooby 5]

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I need to work on my SARCASM

billvon knows where to find literary devices that help with that. PM him and find out where we can buy them

We are all engines of karma

[Rookie120 0]

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billvon knows where to find literary devices that help with that. PM him and find out where we can buy them

Might look into that. Thanks for the guidance.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[Flying-Wench 0]

HIV/AIDS- SOME BASICS AND AUSTRALIAN STATS FYI

(Details from the Straight Arrows and Positive Women HIV Support Groups and the national Association of People Living wiuth HIV/AIDS in Australia)

www.straightarrows.org.au
www.positivewomen.org.au
www.napwa.org.au

"One of the basic truths about HIV is that gender, age, race and economic status are irrelevant when it comes to vulnerability to HIV. Anyone can become infected. At present there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that are effective in keeping people alive longer and healthier. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection."

"HIV attacks the immune system's soldiers - the CD4 cells. When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, serious opportunistic infections can develop (OIs). A person is diagnosed with AIDS when they have had one of 21 AIDS-defining Opportunistic Infections (OIs)."

"Worldwide there are an estimated 43 million people infected, half of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, and most of whom have no access to treatment. 99% of infections are mongst heterosexuals, about half being women, and with about 14 million AIDS orphans. In the US and Europe over half of new infections are amongst heterosexuals."

"An estimated 14,840 people were living with HIV in Australia at the end of 2004. From the start of the epidemic until the end of 2005, there have been 24,962 diagnoses of HIV (or an estimated 22,030 after adjusting for multiple reports) and 9,687 diagnoses of AIDS. Australia has recorded 6,569 deaths of people with AIDS."

"In 2004, AIDS incidence in Australia (1.2 per 100,000 population) was higher than that in Germany (0.6) but lower than that in the UK (1.4). Substantially higher AIDS rates were reported in a number of other Western countries including France (2.3), Spain (4.3) and the United States (14.7 in 2003)."

"In Australia, about a third of newly identified infections are in heterosexuals."

SURGE IN NEW INFECTIONS (27/4/2006)

"A substantial rise in new HIV diagnoses in Victoria has meant the number of people diagnosed Australia wide has continued to rise, causing widespread concern among governments and community groups."

"Victoria recorded 286 new cases of HIV in 2005, a 28 percent rise over the 223 cases recorded the previous year and the highest since 1991. All of Australia’s eastern states have recorded big rises in HIV incidence over recent years, prompting fears of a resurgent epidemic and heated discussion about the possible causes for the rises."

"In NSW, new infections fell slightly from 405 to 392 last year, the second recorded fall in two years after rises in 2002 and 2003. Queensland recorded 150 new infections, up from 137 in 2004 – a 9.5 percent increase and the state’s second increase in a row, and rises have also been recorded in other states."

WOMEN AND HIV

it is reported that of new infections approximately 30 percent are women. AIDS stereotypes can prevent women, and their healthcare providers, from seeing themselves at risk for HIV infection. Some women do not access care and treatment as readily as men. The reasons are multiple and complex. Women have families and life difficulties that they often put before their own healthcare. They may be isolated geographically and culturally and may fear rejection by family or the community."

[Royd 0]

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By the end of that year 59,572 AIDS cases had been reported and 27,909 of those women and men had died. How could this happen? How could Reagan not say anything? Do anything?

There are only three situations where a person is truly a victim of aids. Children who are born to someone who has the disease,Someone who has received a bad blood transfusion, and someone who is the victim of rape.
There is a simple prevention. It's called" keep it in your pants."
I also believe that alot of people want a cure for all the wrong reasons. The desire to continue a lifestyle of bad behavior is not a legitimate reason to prevent a disease.
If someone says "Don't touch it, it's hot." Why should anyone feel sorry for you because of your foolishness?

[Flying-Wench 0]

World AIDS Day: KEEPING THE PROMISE

National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Australia Media Release

30 November 2005

Australia’s remarkable success in combating HIV/AIDS is in danger of being squandered if governments forget the lessons of the past, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) has warned.

“The global theme for World AIDS Day 2005 is ‘Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise’, and today NAPWA promises the federal government that we will continue to press for the voices of positive people to be heard and respected,” said NAPWA President Ms Gabe McCarthy.

Australia’s success in the past has been driven by the adoption of a coordinated national response with the involvement of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS at all levels of that response. But the federal government is showing signs of distancing itself from this approach despite its proven effectiveness.

“We had to wait more than a year for the government to release the fifth National HIV/AIDS Strategy. They have promised an Implementation Plan for that strategy and we look forward to seeing that delivered in the next week,” she said.

“HIV-positive Australians have been instrumental in the response to HIV/AIDS from the earliest years of the epidemic and today, despite continuing stigma and discrimination, many of us are living healthy, productive lives,” McCarthy said. “Yet the government seems hell-bent on making life more difficult for people who live with chronic illness and disability.”

“The proposed changes to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) will penalise those who want to work but can’t and will leave many chronically ill people financially worse off. The government calls this ‘welfare-to-work’ but in reality it’s just shifting people from one welfare program to another. What we need are policies that encourage and reward workforce participation, not new penalties attacking the weak.”

NAPWA has questioned how the proposed changes to the welfare system will affect people living with HIV/AIDS, typically an episodic condition involving periods of better and worse health. At present, people who qualify for the DSP are able to take on periods of employment when they are able and to come back to the pension when they need to; under the new system they could be shifted to the Newstart benefit with its more strict compliance requirements and harsher penalties.

“For more than two decades, HIV-positive people have worked to end the AIDS epidemic and protect our fellow Australians; we promise we’ll continue to do that but we call on the federal government to keep their side of the bargain,” McCarthy said. “In 2006 we’ll continue to fight for the rights of positive people, to question the direction the federal government is taking us, and to honour the memories of our fallen friends.”

“That’s a promise.”

For more details contact:
Gabe McCarthy – NAPWA President – (0407) 892 446
Paul Kidd – NAPWA Media Officer – (03) 9285 5358 or (0438) 203 754

[Flying-Wench 0]

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By the end of that year 59,572 AIDS cases had been reported and 27,909 of those women and men had died. How could this happen? How could Reagan not say anything? Do anything?

There are only three situations where a person is truly a victim of aids. Children who are born to someone who has the disease,Someone who has received a bad blood transfusion, and someone who is the victim of rape.
There is a simple prevention. It's called" keep it in your pants."
I also believe that alot of people want a cure for all the wrong reasons. The desire to continue a lifestyle of bad behavior is not a legitimate reason to prevent a disease.
If someone says "Don't touch it, it's hot." Why should anyone feel sorry for you because of your foolishness?

I was disgnosed with HIV last year. I contracted it by having unprotected sex with my partner of 3 years (whom was seeing other people behind my back).

I dont consider myself a "victim" (that is so melodramatic) of HIV, but i am affected by it certainly. It has changed the way i live my life in both good and bad ways and has changed my whole outlook on life and the people i interact with.

Judging whom is a victim and who is not, based on the source of their infection, is not going to solve any problems. Blame and stigma do nothing to help the cause.

The majority of recent infections are young women in my age group (25-30) that are in long term and "trusting" relationships. Many of them dont see it coming (i sure as hell didnt). How do you propose "keep it in your pants" is going to help this group of "at risk" people specifically? Its just not that simple.

Prevention of any transmission of HIV is not as simple as it seems. If it was, i wouldnt have been infected. Preventing the spread of the diease requires education at various levels and for a range of audiences, legislation and policy to back up this education and for people to talk about the virus to increase awareness and understanding.

Most HIV+ people know that a cure for this virus is a long way off. I know i probably wont see it. Yes it would be nice to have my life back to normal, to stop living with fear for my own health, fear for the health of anyone i choose to be with. To be able to trust people again. To be able to again practice first aid without fear, to be able to do all the crazy things i used to do and not worry about having an accident and having to recieve first aid. To be reassured that when i have children, i am not going to pass it on, and to be able to undergo a normal childbirth, free of anti-viral drugs and to be able to breastfeed. To not worry about life insurance, payments for medication. Most of all to not feel shunned, guilty and ashamed when i disclose and choose to talk about it, simply because people dont/wont understand the virus and its complex social impacts and implications.

I do not wish for a cure so that i can go back to my "bad lifestyle" as you so put it. If a "bad lifestyle" is having unprotected sex with someone you love and trust, i guess the majority of people are living that bad lifestyle right now!

At any rate, how a person contracted the virus is irrelvant, any one person does not "deserve" treatment or undertsanding more than another. We are all human, this is a community disease, it must be tackled with us together as a community.

And who should judge? Who should judge a person as being in a "bad lifestyle" or "foolish"? Who out there is so perfect that they can undertake this role? I dont believe anyone can.

I have learned my lesson, as many many HIV + people have, and now live with many fears. We do not wish for a cure to return to our old ways, in fact many of us have changed in so many ways, for a better life.

I do NOT ask for anyones pity or for people to feel sorry for me. I have my pride. Never ever assume that we want your pity or your judgements. What i DO want is increased understanding and awareness. I want to be able to share my story, in the hope that others might learn from my mistakes.

Yes i may have been foolish, but can you honestly tell me that you have lived your life without doing anything foolish? If your answer is yes 1. you are probably in denial and 2. you obviously havent lived!

Good to see this topic on the board, cheers again to you freethefly for getting it out there.

If other users (poz or not) would like to chat, please PM me anytime!

Please dont PM me if you do not have anything constructive to say, flaming will get you nowehere and will not be taken lightly.

[freethefly 6]

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There are only three situations where a person is truly a victim of aids. Children who are born to someone who has the disease,Someone who has received a bad blood transfusion, and someone who is the victim of rape

And, I assume, you believe that the rest of us are unworthy of medical care because of "a lifestyle of bad behavior"? Your statement is beyond insensitive. It is downright ignorant beyond reproach.

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There is a simple prevention. It's called" keep it in your pants."

What?, you're not human? You have no desire? People will have sex regardless. It is only human to do so. To say "keep it in your pants" is the answer is irresponsible and does nothing to curb the advancement of a disease that, sooner or later, will, in some form, touch each and every person on this planet. Whether it is you yourself, a family member or a close friend, AIDS will creep into your life.

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I also believe that alot of people want a cure for all the wrong reasons. The desire to continue a lifestyle of bad behavior is not a legitimate reason to prevent a disease.

For whatever reason anyone person wants a cure is no business of yours. You honestly believe that people with HIV/AIDS only want a cure to continue "a lifestyle of bad behavor"? That is amongst the most ignorant statements I have read. I won't write what I really think of that statement out of fear that I would be banned from posting. I often post articles concerning AIDS and AIDS prevention in the hope that at least one person will think before they have unprotected sex and do the right thing and use a condom. I am positive that there are people here who also use needles and just maybe they will think about the risk they are putting themselves in. I only wish that more information was available in the early 90's as I may not be in the position I am in now. Again, your statement is ignorant and insinsitive beyond reproach.

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Why should anyone feel sorry for you because of your foolishness?

No one is asking for pity. Who are you to determine "foolishness"? The only foolishness is people with the mindset that most people deserve AIDS as your statements imply. My impression of you is that you know absolutely nothing on the subject of AIDS/HIV and its prevention. You would do yourself a great service to read up on the subject before you give any advice on prevention, otherwise you should steer clear of the subject if you have no real input other than your ignorance on the subject.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Lucky... 0]

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You're kidding, right?

Clearly you've never seen the mentality of promiscuous gay men. I spent 3 years in San Francisco. They were speaking out about it. Didn't change a thing.

I need to work on my SARCASM.

HIV / AIDS is such a funny topic standalone, I don't see why it's diificult to in interject comedy or satire. Your compassion nausiates me. Rookie, as in rookie cop? Just a guess.