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A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

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Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#21

Post by anonymous58020 »

From the way the article exalts Owen--an HIV+ former dug addict and male prostitute--you'd think he's worthy of the Victoria Cross.

Since the discovery of its aetiology three decades ago, HIV/AIDS has been an almost entirely preventable disease. Gay men and intravenous drug users (who account for almost all new infections in the US and UK) simply acting responsibly for once would have long marked it for eradication--at least in the developed world. That these people continue to infect themselves, even to the present day, is shameful, especially in light of the obscene amounts of money HIV research diverts from worthier causes, such as pediatric cancer or Alzheimer's.

These people are not heroes and deserve to be shamed at least as much as oxygen tank-toting chain smokers who gave themselves Emphysema.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#22

Post by [deleted] »

gaythrowaway wrote: post #10

I'm a 30-something gay dude on PREP. I primarily take it because I'm in a sero-discordant relationship with my boyfriend who is HIV+, but also as a safety precaution for when I was single and hooking up. PREP has the potential to completely turn the tide on HIV infections. I live in a mid-sized midwestern city where between 10 and 25% of gay dudes in my dating pool are HIV+, many of them unknowingly and therefore con…

[deleted]

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#23

Post by rebuilder »

anonymous58020 wrote: post #21

From the way the article exalts Owen--an HIV+ former dug addict and male prostitute--you'd think he's worthy of the Victoria Cross. Since the discovery of its aetiology three decades ago, HIV/AIDS has been an almost entirely preventable disease. Gay men and intravenous drug users (who account for almost all new infections in the US and UK) simply acting responsibly for once would have long marked it for eradication--…

You can take that view on any number of issues: "It'll get better when these people get their act together". The problem is, you'll never see the day when that happens, so proper allocation of blame is completely beside the point. If, on the other hand, you stop trying to figure out who deserves to be helped, you can actually make a difference.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#24

Post by anonymous58020 »

rebuilder wrote: post #23
anonymous58020 wrote: post #21

From the way the article exalts Owen--an HIV+ former dug addict and male prostitute--you'd think he's worthy of the Victoria Cross. Since the discovery of its aetiology three decades ago, HIV/AIDS has been an almost entirely preventable disease. Gay men and intravenous drug users (who account for almost all new infections in the US and UK) simply acting responsibly for once would have long marked it for eradication--…

You can take that view on any number of issues: "It'll get better when these people get their act together". The problem is, you'll never see the day when that happens, so proper allocation of blame is completely beside the point. If, on the other hand, you stop trying to figure out who deserves to be helped, you can actually make a difference.

> you'll never see the day when that happens

Only because political correctness prevents us from shaming those newly infected with HIV. Instead they're victims who deserve our unconditional sympathy.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#25

Post by argigg »

beaconstudios wrote: post #20
chris11 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the sale and import of modafinil restricted? I would think that becoming an affiliate would introduce legal risk

It's legal for personal use. You can import prescription only medication from abroad, you just can't buy it domestically.

Modafinil is Schedule IV in the US. The law may or may not be enforced with respect with to Modafinil, but possessing that drug without a prescription is illegal.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#26

Post by argigg »

anonymous58020 wrote: post #24
rebuilder wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can take that view on any number of issues: "It'll get better when these people get their act together". The problem is, you'll never see the day when that happens, so proper allocation of blame is completely beside the point. If, on the other hand, you stop trying to figure out who deserves to be helped, you can actually make a difference.

> you'll never see the day when that happens Only because political correctness prevents us from shaming those newly infected with HIV. Instead they're victims who deserve our unconditional sympathy.

There has been plenty of shame since the 80's, it didn't stop HIV then and it's not suddenly going to start working now.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#27

Post by tashi »

anonymous58020 wrote: post #24
rebuilder wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can take that view on any number of issues: "It'll get better when these people get their act together". The problem is, you'll never see the day when that happens, so proper allocation of blame is completely beside the point. If, on the other hand, you stop trying to figure out who deserves to be helped, you can actually make a difference.

> you'll never see the day when that happens Only because political correctness prevents us from shaming those newly infected with HIV. Instead they're victims who deserve our unconditional sympathy.

Is shame especially effective at preventing irrational behavior? Is there anything in your life you would be doing differently if you were a 100% rational agent with unlimited willpower? If so, do you ever feel ashamed when you fall short?

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#28

Post by Macacity »

nothrabannosir wrote: post #7

I'll second the call to donating: https://www.iwantprepnow.co.uk/about-us-donate > “I’m thinking, ‘You don’t know I have to walk sometimes because I can’t afford my Oyster [the London bus and tube pass]. You don’t know that I’m literally eating once a day because I’m so broke, and I’m sleeping on someone’s sofa because no one is going to pay me to do this,’” he says. “I am no different to how I was when I was a sex w…

> Donations will never be paid to an individual, only ever put back into the running costs and expansion of the website.

Just fyi. This does not mean that you should not donate.

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#29

Post by anonymous58020 »

tashi wrote: post #27
anonymous58020 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you'll never see the day when that happens Only because political correctness prevents us from shaming those newly infected with HIV. Instead they're victims who deserve our unconditional sympathy.

Is shame especially effective at preventing irrational behavior? Is there anything in your life you would be doing differently if you were a 100% rational agent with unlimited willpower? If so, do you ever feel ashamed when you fall short?

Do you think it's simply a coincidence that both divorce and out-of-wedlock births have become so much more common as they've become so much less stigmatized?

Re: A Man Stopped Thousands of People Becoming HIV-Positive

#30

Post by fatbird »

anonymous58020 wrote: post #29
tashi wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is shame especially effective at preventing irrational behavior? Is there anything in your life you would be doing differently if you were a 100% rational agent with unlimited willpower? If so, do you ever feel ashamed when you fall short?

Do you think it's simply a coincidence that both divorce and out-of-wedlock births have become so much more common as they've become so much less stigmatized?

Both divorce and out-of-wedlock births (and sexually transmitted infections) are highest, in the U.S., within the southern evangelical communities that most readily practice exactly the sort of shaming and stigmatizing you're talking about.
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