I love Dan Savage!
As for peek into the mind of someone who might seek something like this…
When I was younger, I used to want to get cancer. After my younger brother developed cancer, I would accompany him to the hospital and help him with his medications and things.
I used to think the reason that I wanted to get cancer was because he and the other cancer patients seemed so much stronger, more full of life and more sure of themselves than I. To have cancer would be such a great trial, and after going through it, I would come out as a stronger, better person.
But, I also think a lot of it was due to the fact that I was going through a difficult time battling my mental illness. I think I wanted to exchange my messed up mind for a messed up body because people were more understanding to those with messed up bodies. Also, it seemed easier to understand, fight and come to terms with.
That being said, I don’t think that bug chases are “right” or that we should allow it to happen, but I think that therapy is strongly needed. These people do think that to get AIDs is “what they deserve.”