Now the Advocate is carrying the story:
http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?id=7556&sd=01/24/03
So far no one is doubting that this phenomenon exists or isn’t sad or reprehensible (depending on who you talk to) - it’s that “25% of new cases” that’s causing the stir.
Esprix
I am not a gay male, I am statistically one of the population with the tiniest chances of becoming HIV+ (luckily my sharing needles days were over before HIV became rife in the junkie community).
The disclaimer in place, I can really see that living under the threat and having to always wonder and worry is stressful for many. Some may choose celibacy, some may choose to get it over with.
To then rationalise the getting it over with as a fetish is just a psychological cover up, sometimes the thud at the bottom is easier to live with than the teetering on the edge of a cliff. Who would want to admit thay were too scared of a condom breaking and the following uncertainty to use one at all? Knowing you are + can be easier than worrying about it, there is a proven track to walk on that does not appear to lead to the deaths of a decade ago. There are also sadly gay men who believe that AIDS is a punishment for their sins and that they deserve it.
Frankly, I would be really surprised if this was not happening given the psychological diversity of human beings. Whether it warrants the article the way it is written is a different question. I say no but then I am not trying to sell magazines.
Thylacine, you’ve got some good points. However, a lot of people are under the erroneous impression (as stated in the article) that you “take a few pills and get on with your life.” Oh if only that were true! We’re talking a regimen of pills every few hours (day and night) that often make you feel sicker with side effects than if you didn’t take them. Yes, on average, people with HIV or full-blown AIDS are living longer than 15 years ago, and their quality of life is (arguably) better, but the fact remains, even if you look at it as a chronic disease (debilitating as it is, it isn’t - it’s still a terminal illness), it’s not even close to a pretty picture, let alone “take a pill and get on with your life.” The mental gymnastics these people are going through to rationalize their decision is mind-boggling, and woefully uninformed.
Esprix
Those mental gymnastics are no more extreme than those of people who do stupid things every day. Human psychology is not a simple thing Esprix. There are some extremely psychologically damaged people in the community, a proportion of them happen to be gay.
I am not condoning the behaviour by any means, just saying it sadly does not surprise me. People do amazingly stupid things all over for a variety of reasons. Some fathomable, some not. Junkies are also taking these risks knowingly by continuing to share needles. So are straight women having unsafe sex with men who may be or are + for that matter. It is not to me a gay issue as much as it is a human psychology issue.
I know diabetics who play with insulin, deprive themselves and then OD. This is humanity, wrapping it us as a gay thing without the much larger context irks me no end.
Nobody here thinks that HIV is a small thing. Least of all me. I had to be tested and nobody thought I would be negative. Waiting for the results were some of the hardest days of my life and by then I didn’t have the drugs to help me through anymore.
Hey, I’m not disagreeing with you, Thy. I just wish some of the people making these disastrous choices weren’t so ignorant of the facts.
Esprix
But that is just it Esprix, I bet they are not ignorant in reality, just trying to put a spin of bravado and rationalisation on to their actions. Knowing we are doing something nuts on a logical level but still being drawn to do it can be a mind melting experience. Human psychology tries to avoid that by playing with the facts until the logical and emotional parts can find some livable compromise. It just has to make sense to the mind involved, not to the rest of us.
It wouldn’t matter if there was a 100% chance of horrible death. Someone would still do it and find a rationalisation for it that made sense in their universe. That is not specifically the gay universe. I think this all has the potential to add to the Gays and lesbians are mentally ill crapola and is unnecessary as there are thousands of other ways this plays out every day.
I guess you are one of those that thinks the courts should be lenient on a kid who kills his parents because, after all, he IS an orphan.
Piffle. No argument, no facts, just bluster. Not even clever bluster, just hackneyed, recycled bluster. All hat and no cattle.
While waiting for Greg’s response (he’s probably got his hands full elsewhere):
My skepticism about how extensive this phenomenon is has been noted in previous posts. Only those directly involved in the article know for sure who’s being truthful. There’s a not-so-rare phenomenon of sources who make statements to reporters, and then when the shit hits the fan, swear up and down that they said no such thing. I’ve had it happen to me. The question would still remain, of course, whether the estimate of 25% is valid.
As to the romance of living with AIDS - I’m currently involved in the care of an AIDS patient on a volley of medications, who’s had persistent gastrointestinal problems and currently back into the hospital with rectal bleeding. His latest in a set of colonoscopies (they’re a lot of fun, by the way) shows ulcerations and crusted nodular lesions throughout the length of his colon. He’s had G.I. candidiasis, cytomegalovirus infection and spirochetosis. The latest tests will show what bugs and parasites are living in there now.
The bugs are chasing him.
Yeah, ‘lucid’, I’m a limelight whore just like everyone else 
And Esprix, sorry about that. Just been feelin’ a little invisible lately. Nothing to do with you.
But thanks, really, for your insight on this thread.
Just be sure you work your side of the street, slut.
The “bug-seekers” need serious psychiatric help. The “gift-givers” should be dealt with like vampires.
Dear Dr. Van Helsing,
As per your recommendation, I pursued the individuals according to our usual methods yesterday evening. I was lucky to escape with my life. I tried holding them back with the cross; they used it to accessorize. Garlic? It was appropriated from me; something about a lovely grilled swordfish was mentioned. The holy water served to slow them down, but only because they seemed concerned that their perfect coiffures had been mussed.
Please advise.
And now the learned Dan Savage has put forth his take on the whole mess…
You may have noticed that your post to me contained nothing in the way of facts to be debated. You think there needs to be evidence of a crime, I say making a choice means taking responsibility for the choice. I was hearing last night once again how the AIDS funding thing is way overblown in proportion to the number of deaths attributed to it. Want to take my tax dollars and find a cure for pancreatic cancer? Now that sounds like a good cause. Maybe provide relief for those stricken by that or other similar diseases. But take my money to give to someone who contracts something knowingly? Forget it.
Texican, it’s obvious these people are misguided, ill-informed and stubborn. I do see some correlation (certainly not 100%) between these and smokers, drinkers, or really any other harmful thing (at least in excess). Do all these people “deserve what they get,” or are you only satisfied that people who get things beyond their control are worthy of treatment?
Pity is called for here, IMHO.
Esprix
The only object which fends them off are polyester leisure suits. Powder blue and forest green have more power to repel than the others.
Instead of garlic to keep them at bay, bring a stinky hippie drenched in patchouli. Of course, you need to wear a gas mask lest you be brought down as well.
Messing a coif is not enough. You need to take bottles of Prefferred Stock cologne and lob it at them bomb style. It should work well enough that you will not need a stake.
Regards,
Emily Van Helsing(nee Post)
applause to Mr. Savage
Now, I thought we had the writer of the article on the SDMB.
Would he care to anwer Dan’s remarks in this thread?
I certainly feel pity for people who willingly inflict harm upon themselves, whatever their motivation. However I am not moved to whip out my wallet to pay for their choice of action.
If it makes anyone feel any better, I don’t believe in corporate bailouts either:)