Here is a shocker...H.I.V. Cases on the rise for young gay men! — Page 2

"It's awful to say it, but the only thing that will change behavior in the 20-something and 30-something generations is what changed it ours: losing friends and lovers, going to hospitals, going to a different memorial service each week, watching friends die horrible, grueling, way-too-early deaths.

And the band plays on..."


Amen

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Right. So what do we do? Seriously.

THIS generation??? That's every generation. Sure, it looks worse now cause we're the ones looking back.

I don't know that I would have any good suggestions for this. We're not just dealing with a health issue. We're dealing with deep cultural differences on what it means for a man to have sex with another man. I don't think I'm equipped to address those.

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"This generation of young folks think they know it all. They refuse to listen to ANYONE who might have experience.

It's really sad that, at a time when there is SO MUCH information out there, people just don't bother paying attention."

Wow ... I agree with you TheatreDiva=-)

I have to say that what you said is right on! Growing up I heard it all before and didn't ever think it would happen to me or anoyone I know.I was extremly nieve and thought that I would be able tell if someone had it , or trust that people would tell you that they were positive before you were together but, I was obviously wrong!

I specifically say 'This Generation', because the last one went through it, not knowing how it was spread, and it was a learning experience for everyone.

Now that we have the knowledge, it just seems like this next geneation doen't seem to care, or want to know. They just have an attitude of, "Whatever. I'll just take the pills."

Maybe if they SAW the full effects of AIDS and how it can destroy people, it would have an impact.

It's just a thought. I thought were were coming up with ideas here.

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It's not just young gay men, HIV cases are on the rise for many demographics in the U.S., especially black and Hispanic women. Even senior citizens have seen the rate amongst their demographic go up.

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Now that we have the knowledge, it just seems like this next geneation doen't seem to care, or want to know. They just have an attitude of, "Whatever. I'll just take the pills."

But WHO are these people? That's what I keep trying to figure out. Who looks at a protease-inhibitor ad and says, "Hey, that guy looks healthy. I can bareback and take pills!"

And can we knock off the next generation crap? The men I see trolling for bareback sex online cross all age groups.

Updated On: 1/2/08 at 03:01 PM

The Meds are doing amazing things for people with HIV but I do think it gives a false sense of security to people who don't have it and don't really see the nasty side to the disease.

as opposed to its kind, gentle and slightly fuzzy side?

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First let me say that I am SHOCKED this thread has not been derailed by some schmuck.
Now:
Diva, when you say: I lived my life as if I had HIV/AIDS. I just got tested for the first time in October, and after getting a negative test, I realized that I had been living my whole life waiting for the other shoe to drop. it disturbs me.
At your age, to never have been tested? And then to say “I lived my life as if I had HIV/AIDS?” No you didn’t. If you had done that you would have known years ago that you were not infected with the virus. You would have been to your doctor. I am sorry, but that is pretty naïve. I know you didn’t mean it that way, but that is kind of a cop out. I am glad that you took the attitude that you must protect your partner/s and yourself at all costs, but that is really only half of the solution.

This whole converstation, although focused on H.I.V infection and unsafe sex could just as easily be about smoking cigarettes or drug use or alcohol consumption. The information is THERE that partaking in these things can not do anything but harm you, people start smoking and drinking and taking drugs everyday.
As a wise old woman I know said recently, “It it the, “Hey, not ME!” syndrome.

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I waited years and years as well TD. And it was so ingrained that "we all have it" that when my doctor told me I was negative I said, "Wow, you know, I could have been on treatment the whole time I didn't know" and he said, "Except you're negative," and I said, "Oh yeah, RIGHT!"

And of course the problem with the scenario that Kramer describes is that he sets up all sex acts as equally risky (EVERY penis in your mouth must have a condom on it or all gay men will die off!) when all sex acts are NOT equally risky. By equating them, people are doomed to failure.... "Well, I performed oral on a guy and he wasn't wearing a condom so I might as well not wear them for intercourse" sounds ridiculous when said out loud but it isn't that much of a stretch for somebody who takes words like Kramer's to heart.

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I agree, Namo. The school system does the same thing with drug prevention programs. When a few puffs of marijuana doesn't make a kid think he can fly off a 10-story apartment building, he'll also start to question all he's been told about stuff that really can mess you up.

Updated On: 1/2/08 at 03:35 PM