Stigmatizing HIV/AIDS?

[Seldon2639]

In an article on the BBC website today, there was a discussion of a study performed at John's Hopkins trying to determine whether circumcising an already-infected male would help to prevent the spread of the virus to his partner. They found that while pre-infection circumcision can help prevent the male from contracting the disease, post-infection circumcision does not help to prevent it from being spread to his partner (they actually had to end the study early because of the risk to the men's partners). I'm not at all interested in getting into the already tried argument about whether circumcision is good, so here's what got me riled:

"The US researchers, from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, say not offering the procedure to men with HIV would stigmatise them.

Other experts say it could become a "sign" of whether a man was HIV positive or not."

I may be daft, but wouldn't that be a good thing? Is it somehow unreasonable to want to be able to have a "sign" of someone having HIV (or any other STI)? Admittedly, I'd be interested in simply having some sort of card (which you have to get updated monthly) which lists your health information. But, is it bad to have a stigma, or at least identification, of communicable diseases? Especially since by the time it'd be possible to see a lack of circumcision, the guy should probably have told his partner to begin with?

Or am I just being crazy, fascist, and a little bit evil?

 

[SimuLord]

So what does that do for guys who choose to remain uncircumcised because they think it's better described as male genital mutilation? Do their partners see their uncut unit and think "he must have the AIDS"?

 

[Del-Toro]

Maybe it will stem the tide a little bit, make sure people are more careful about what they do in the sac, that their are additional consequences to their actions, that with freedom comes responsibility. Just a thought.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

It would be cool to have a card you ask someone to show you saying they are HIV free but in the end it is unreasonable especially considering how bigoted people are already. Sure you may not be able to get HIV by sitting next to them but still... [i/]they have a deadly disease[/i] they would be treated differently. Granted the chance of me getting laid is probably the only naturally occurring statistical negative so this doesn't really effect me.

 

[Maze1125]

Getting yourself circumcised for a slight reduction in the chance of you getting HIV, rather than using a condom and eliminating the chance completely, is utterly utterly moronic in the first place.

So I don't see why this is even a discussion.

 

[Halfbreed13]

I say we all get implants that regulate all diseases and can be brought up by any individual at any time ^.^

 

[Timotei]

This is digusting. Stigmatizing people will only create hatred and prejudice. It will also give people the ability to blame people with HIV as a whole. Soon one day someone might get a wild hair across their ass and will call for the lynching of HIV carriers.

There is never a good excuse for stigmatizing somebody. It hurts those it brands, and as somebody who has been stigmatized all her life, it is not something I would wish upon someone.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

This is digusting. Stigmatizing people will only create hatred and prejudice. It will also give people the ability to blame people with HIV as a whole. Soon one day someone might get a wild hair across their ass and will call for the lynching of HIV carriers.

There is never a good excuse for stigmatizing somebody. It hurts those it brands, and as somebody who has been stigmatized all her life, it is not something I would wish upon someone.

I agree on every count. It's just not fair

 

[Gerazzi]

HIV/AIDS is something that needs to be cured. Not reduced.

 

[Del-Toro]

I think what we are all forgetting is that AIDS/HIV is the type of thing that can kill itself out of existence, but that won't happen unless the spread of it is stopped. The only way currently available to us to actually stop this thing is to stop spreading it, otherwise it won't end until we do. Anything that can slow the spread should be done, particularly if we want to save Africa or whatever it is you want to do.

 

[Bertinan]

Eh. I would much rather know if a partner I'm about to sleep with has an STD or not. I don't have one, and I don't want one. It may not stop me from sleeping with them, but it does mean I'll be using a condom. And sorry...the idea that someone can ruin someone else's life just because you feel having it be known that they have an STD would "stigmatize" them is wrong. Pretty sure most people going out and having a good time don't tell their partners they have an STD. In fact, I think the entire populace should be tested on a regular basis, and be forced to carry a card stating whatever STDs they may have. It may not seem "fair," but neither is some poor teen having the rest of their life cut in half, if not a quarter, because of a one night fling with someone who didn't tell their partner what they had.

EDIT: I wanted to state that I don't think it's something that should be considered in terms of hiring, schooling, etc. It should ONLY be for sexual matters, as that's the only way to get an STD (duh), and merely that it should be available upon request. This way, if something like what I said above DOES happen, the infected can protect themselves in a lawsuit. And also because I believe something like this should be open to disclosure, should your partner ask for it. (So the person infected can't just lie and say they don't have it or whatever, which is what some do.)

 

[la-le-lu-li-lo]

So you want to further stigmatise people with diseases, is that what youre getting at? Theres a reason those doctors realized how wrong that would be. Obviously you arent a doctor. I think we should stick to proper sex ed instead of finding asinine ways of scaring the shit out of people for no reason.

You sir, make sense.
I knew there was a reason I liked you. ^^

 

[Pandalisk]

Were not supposed to stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS, were meant to all catch it and die, how will the earth get its plastic otherwise?

 

[la-le-lu-li-lo]

So it wasnt just the alcohol? Aww i feel loved, but im way to cute for you .

I probably shouldn't mention I've been drinking since 2pm. It's 10pm now. Only a few beers though!!

It's not the alcohol, I promise!!

And you very well could be. :O

 

[la-le-lu-li-lo]

So it wasnt just the alcohol? Aww i feel loved, but im way to cute for you .

I probably shouldn't mention I've been drinking since 2pm. It's 10pm now. Only a few beers though!!

It's not the alcohol, I promise!!

And you very well could be. :O

lol, damn it you werent supposed to agree with me! Also i hope you brough enough for me cos now id like a drink.

Oh, well you'll find I'm quite agreeable.

And of course! *hands ice cold beer* Here ya go!