# I just want to encourage you to go out and donate blood. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526 "2007-01-11T08:47:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/21 "2007-01-11T17:56:09Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I’m type O-, universal donor. But the Red Cross has decided that because I have sex with men I’m unclean, despite never having had a sexually transmitted disease of any kind ever. So fuck donating blood. [/QUOTE] Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/22 "2007-01-11T18:12:16Z")
**Valgard** , your story is similar to mine. I was in Britain briefly in '83, '85 and '89, for a cumulative total of more than six months, so the Red Cross told me a few years ago (pretty curtly, too, given how long and how regularly I’d been donating blood) that my help was no longer required. Blew me off when I asked if a test for Mad Cow Disease antibodies was likely to be developed anytime soon, too. Fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/23 "2007-01-11T18:12:20Z")
I stopped giving when they started testing for Hep C. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/24 "2007-01-11T18:29:34Z")
Sheds a whole new light on **Cometothedarksidewehavecookies** now doesn’t it? I donated all the time in college. Now occasionally the blood mobile will come to my work on Saturdays when I work a 12 hour shift, using my arms and breaks being sporadic at best. It was so easy to do back then. I wonder how much of their exclusions now are based on reality other than hype. For example, if you ADMIT to being an active homosexual male, they won’t take you, but if you don’t, they will. How effective is this method? I put it right up with “don’t ask, don’t tell.” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/25 "2007-01-11T18:38:52Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] It was so easy to do back then. I wonder how much of their exclusions now are based on reality other than hype. For example, if you ADMIT to being an active homosexual male, they won’t take you, but if you don’t, they will. How effective is this method? I put it right up with “don’t ask, don’t tell.” [/QUOTE] Lots of people lie about the sexual history, so who knows. It also doesn’t matter if you’re active or not. They ask males if they have had sexual contact with another male even ONE TIME since 1977. If you have you are not eligible to give blood, unless they change that guideline. [Scroll down to the part about HIV/AIDS for that guideline.](http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html#hiv) ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/26 "2007-01-11T18:47:52Z")
Chalk me up as another Mad Cow victim (so to speak): I lived in England from '83-'85, and I’m no longer welcome at blood drives. I used to volunteer with the Red Cross, so I get it, but it still pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/27 "2007-01-11T18:48:58Z")
O+ My husband (O+) and I have been regular ‘every 8 week’ donors for 2 years now at [Blood Bank of the Redwoods](http://www.bbr.org/). Last donation was December 4th, next is January 29th. (My calendar has scheduled donations marked for the next 2 years.) Every chance I get I grab my oldest son (O+) and take him along to donate. He’s given up about 5 pints already. My next donation will be my 14th or 15th I think. I always try to get more people to donate. It really is painless and takes about 30 minutes total out of your day, less than 5 for the actual donation. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/28 "2007-01-11T18:52:53Z")
I wish I could, I’m type AB- ,quite rare I’m told. But, the priliminary screening test the Red Cross uses show that I have hepetitus. After several days of thinking ‘how in the hell?’ my doctor informed me that I have a rare condition of my blood that shows a false-positive in the initial screening. but that actually I’m not infected at all. But, the Red Cross doesn’t go past the initial screening and throws it away anyway. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/29 "2007-01-11T19:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] For example, if you ADMIT to being an active homosexual male, they won’t take you, but if you don’t, they will. How effective is this method? I put it right up with “don’t ask, don’t tell.” [/QUOTE] I lied about my sexuality enough for one lifetime, I don’t do it any more. If they don’t want my blood, that’s their loss and the loss of the people whose lives I might have helped save. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/30 "2007-01-11T19:11:10Z")
I’m scheduled to donate again on February 14. My donations are pretty far apart, because I do double red cell donations. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/31 "2007-01-11T20:07:42Z")
**Valgard** and **Misnomer** , here’s a thread I started awhile ago on Mad Cow Disease. The outlook isn’t bright for us to be donating blood again anytime soon, I’m sorry to say: [Any prospect for a Mad Cow Disease test for those exposed? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=390991) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/32 "2007-01-11T20:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] (Or you could just raise your hand if you have donated recently… go on, you can brag.) [/QUOTE] I can’t give blood, but I would if I could, as I’m one of those lucky people who aren’t terrified of needles. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/33 "2007-01-11T21:05:17Z")
Hey, I’ve been having sex with men for years, it never got me out of giving blood! (Seriously, those standards are fucking ridiculous, benighted, and insulting.) Anyway, despite the fact that I’m O+, which is pretty useful blood, and the fact that I finally psyched myself up to give even though I have a nasty vasovagal reaction, the Red Cross decided they don’t want my blood because my liver swelled up when I had mono. I’m both relieved and annoyed. Maybe I’ll sign up to hand out cookies, if they need people for that. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/34 "2007-01-11T21:23:44Z")
[QUOTE=Unauthorized Cinnamon] Hey, I’ve been having sex with men for years, it never got me out of giving blood! [/QUOTE] It’s not that; I just have such wee little girlie veins they can’t get the big donation needles into them, stab and stab as they will. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/35 "2007-01-11T21:26:27Z")
I donate regularly and I did so most recently last week. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/36 "2007-01-11T22:54:30Z")
I give whenever my iron platelet level will let me. And I’m terrified of needles. I’m up around the four gallon mark, and have never _once_ seen the needle in my arm. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/37 "2007-01-11T23:12:22Z")
I would if I could… tested positive for HTLV a number of years ago and so I’m on the naughty boy list. Anyone know if there are other types of donations I can make? Apparently I can’t donate bone marrow, either. I’m an organ donor, but that won’t do anyone any good until I’m done with them (Monty Python jokes aside). ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/38 "2007-01-12T05:09:51Z")
I went in for my regular donation today, and my 17-year-old volunteered (as in it was entirely her idea) to come with me! Which was fortunate, since my iron was a teensy bit too low and they refused me. If I can’t donate blood, at least I’ve produced another O+ person who can. I’ve often wondered, as the restrictions on donors get tighter and tighter, what the hell they’re going to do when they’ve excluded enough of the potential donor population that it’s impossible for them to get enough units from those who are left. Where’s the sense in totally eliminating huge swaths of people based on a generality, regardless of their own personal histories? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/39 "2007-01-12T05:26:41Z")
I am underweight. By three stinkin’ pounds. Despite the fact that I am height/weight proportionate, they have declared me too dinky to donate. Then I went and got some tattoos, and now I couldn’t donate even if I did manage to get my weight up. Illinois is an unregulated state as far as tattoo parlors go, and though the Red Cross guidelines say that you can donate 12 months after, I know several people who were turned away years after being tattooed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526/40 "2007-01-12T06:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I’m type O-, universal donor. But the Red Cross has decided that because I have sex with men I’m unclean, despite never having had a sexually transmitted disease of any kind ever. So fuck donating blood. [/QUOTE] Same here. I’ve had fewer STDs (zero) than a lot of straight people I’ve known. And nobody objects to them giving blood. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-to-encourage-you-to-go-out-and-donate-blood/387526.md?page=3)