Slog - Comments on Oh, the Joys of Writing About HIV/AIDS http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids I was more than happy not to be writing about gay men's health anymore. I'll explain why in a feature I'm working on for this week's Stranger about... gay men's health. But here's a hint. On Thursday, I posted about the new drug-resistant HIV strain that's been reported in King County and the crystal meth users who had come down with it. I also suggested that gay men not use crystal meth in the first place, that they not have unprotected sex with meth-heads, and that they tell their friends there's now one more compelling reason (as if one more... Copyright 2008 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:17:03 -0800 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:04:18 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Just Me You know, people can be told not to bareback and some will still do it. You can tell people not to do meth and have unprotected sex and they still do it. I really think it just turns into a version of thinning out the heard at the end of the day. At the end of the day take care of yourself, have protected sex and move on. I am tired of people not listening. If they want to die then let them. Just means fewer cars on the roads and a better commute for me.

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612098 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612098 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:46:23 -0800 Comment by whoa
Wow, that was rather fatalist. I guess I'll go eat a tub of ice cream now and stand by while my friends and neighbors die.

You have more power than you know.

]]> whoa http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612102 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612102 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:51:27 -0800 Comment by Gitai Well, you do have an agenda, Eli, but I've always thought that agenda was to help gay men lead healthier, more stable lives.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612103 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612103 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:51:35 -0800 Comment by Andrew Ahh, Since I have a BA in Economics I just looked at the chart of Meth usage on Sullivan's website. A one or even two year drop in Meth use does not a trend make. Particularly with the pattern that the chart is showing.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612104 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:52:33 -0800 Comment by BD At the end of the day take care of yourself, have protected sex and move on.

Sounds entirely reasonable, JM.

Here's the problem: Gay men have become their own worst enemies in the age of AIDS.

We don't do enough to encourage personal responsibility.

We do a LOT to continue playing the victim.

We go on witch hunts in the gay community...looking for "patient zero".

When we hear about a new "upward trend" or "superstrain", we respond with hysteria, and create a hollow "Manifesto"...whose purpose is to only shame and punish a community that's been shamed and punished for decades.

If each of us were taking personal responsibility, and the community were encouraging THAT, rather than the witch hunt mentality, we'd all be better off.


]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612132 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612132 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:30:20 -0800 Comment by ooga if you don't want to listen, then don't. if you die, big fucking deal. you made your choices, you knew the risk, you pay the cost. something darwin said fits here...

]]> ooga http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612135 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612135 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:33:22 -0800 Comment by golob Unwisely dipping my toes in this discussion again, shouldn't we as a community be concerned about behavior that spreads drug resistant microbes?

I'm not just talking about HIV-1. What about the drug-resistant TB, staph, strep, and psuedomonous? When people skip their HIV meds, engage in risky behavior, or refuse to accept HIV causes AIDS, it isn't just HIV that becomes more resistant to medication.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612220 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612220 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:05:26 -0800 Comment by BD Golob,

can you explain how taking personal responsibility encourages the spread of drug-resistant microbes?

This is what I'm talking about.

More personal responsibility...less witch-hunting, shaming and punishing.

I think you know where I'm headed, and you don't like it...

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612266 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612266 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:37:43 -0800 Comment by golob BD, I basically agree with you. What I find objectionable is the notion that "irresponsible people will get what they deserve, so why worry?"

We *all* suffer when people don't take personal responsibility and spread treatment-resistant diseases. I have no interest in dying from totally drug resistant TB.

In 19th century New York City, people who were unwilling or unable to avoid spreading deadly diseases were forcibly sequestered on an island in the harbor until they were cured or learned how to protect others. It worked. Couldn't be done now, but we should be serious about doing more than politely asking people to be responsible.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612278 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612278 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:50:32 -0800 Comment by BD Let's stick with the subject. We're talking about AIDS, not TB or strep. I think you're trying to muddy the water intentionally. As far as I know, there isn't a TB epidemic in the gay community that can be traced to unsafe sex. If somebody has TB, you can get it just be being in the same room. So, let's get back to the subject.

If we as a community placed much more emphasis on personal responsibility, and less on witch hunts, blame and punishment, we'd actually change the (sub)culture in which we live.

What good does it do to go on witch hunts? What purposes do blame and punishment serve? You don't need those things if you're taking on personal responsibility.

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612308 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612308 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:15:53 -0800 Comment by Gitai Looking for a patient zero isn't a witch hunt. It's a scientific imperative. By finding where the mutations that lead to drug resistance occurred, researchers can gain information that allows them to develop responses to that mutation, and improve treatment for all people with HIV.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612380 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612380 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:40:14 -0800 Comment by BD Golob,

what I'm saying is incredibly simple.

We place great emphasis on personal responsibility. The positive approach.

We stop with the witch hunts, the shaming and the punishment. The negative approach.

As far as I'm concerned, the "stick" doesn't work. Gay men have been shamed and punished for decades. We often respond with accordingly negative behaviors (drugs, alcohol and rampant sex), and all this feeds into a vein of nihilism surrounding AIDS in the gay community. We've got to stop using the same stick on each other that's been used on US!

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612382 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612382 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:41:03 -0800 Comment by BD Gitai,

what ever happened to that superstrain in NYC?

As far as I know, the whole thing petered out (no pun intended).

Expect the same with the Seattle "superstrain".

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612425 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612425 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:51:54 -0800 Comment by Gitai Hmmm, BD, I wonder if some doctor in 1918 said, "I bet this Spanish Flu thing will just peter out."

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612469 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612469 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:05:11 -0800 Comment by BC BD, without the "shaming and the punishment", there is no personal responsibility. Personal responsibility does not exist in a vacuum, it requires a community to recognize and encourage it.

You seem to confuse punishment for behaving irresponsibly with punishment for being gay, implying that the latter leads to the former, which I think most gay folk would take a bit of exception to.

]]> BC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612480 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612480 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:13:00 -0800 Comment by BD Hmmm...Gitai,

seriously. What became of the NYC superstrain?

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612484 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612484 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:15:28 -0800 Comment by BD BC says: without the "shaming and the punishment", there is no personal responsibility

"Stick", anyone?

Thank you for illustrating my point, BC.

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612492 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612492 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:23:21 -0800 Comment by BC Yes BD. Life is full of negative consequences. You do not wear a seatbelt because you love the supple feel across your chest, you wear it because you don't want to fucking die.

Life's all about the damn stick. Deal with it.

]]> BC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612501 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612501 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:30:53 -0800 Comment by BD Life's all about the damn stick. Deal with it

We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one, BC :)

You seem to think the gay community needs the "stick". I think we need the "carrot", and much more of it.

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612503 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612503 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:33:58 -0800 Comment by BC No, the "gay community" does not need the stick. Don't you get it? We're not talking about the "gay community". We're talking about a few assholes that think a layer of latex makes sex worthless, and so won't wrap it up before sticking it in someone else. They deserve as big a stick as you've got. The rest of the gay community can have all the carrots they want. As far as I know, carrots don't carry any communicable diseases.

]]> BC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612512 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612512 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:41:31 -0800 Comment by BD BC,

that takes us RIGHT BACK to personal responsibility. Yay!

Why are you concerned about what a "few assholes" are doing if you're taking care of yourself?

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612523 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612523 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:46:32 -0800 Comment by golob Gitai, scarily enough there *were* doctors who said exactly that about the 1918 flu, when a milder version went through first. Compounded the disaster.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612525 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:47:59 -0800 Comment by BD Yet you still can't answer the question about the NYC superstrain....

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612529 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612529 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:49:14 -0800 Comment by Andrew I am going to be Mr Gloom and Doom: We are going end up going to a bunch of funerals in a few years again aren't we? Time to buy a black suit I suppose.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612533 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612533 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:52:22 -0800 Comment by Just Me I am all for the shaming of bad behavior. If you are out having unprotected sex then you are a piece of shit. Pure and simple. And yeah, you should ask yourself how many people you will end up killing.

]]> Just Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612540 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612540 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:56:48 -0800 Comment by BD JM,

once again...we're back to personal responsibility!

So. All those people being killed. Assuming the sex was consensual, are they absolved of having any personal responsibility?

]]> BD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612564 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612564 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:03:17 -0800 Comment by BC "Why are you concerned about what a "few assholes" are doing if you're taking care of yourself?"

Because, if you find the stupid people and keep telling them they're being stupid, eventually some of them catch on, and start taking personal responsibility. And then, lo and behold, they don't die. And the people they come into contact with, who may not have the benefit of as much information, don't die either. And even better, when people stop dying, all the responsible people can worry a little less that they're going to catch something lethal, regardless of all the precautions they take.

It's important to us, the less-stupid, because it still affects us.

]]> BC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612570 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/oh_the_joys_of_writing_about_hivaids#c612570 Life Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:04:18 -0800