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Andy, if I were not lready married I would find you and make you mine. Brilliantly stated!!!!
You're kidding, right? Let me get this straight...you actually thought that a meth addicted gay prostitute was HIV negative, and the revelation of the obvious caused you..."doubt" and anxiety. Consequently, you think that public policy should be altered so that you're never inconvenienced by the reality that HIV exists. Then, you went on an HIV website to voice your opinion that this man's records should be sealed just to protect YOUR emotional well being. Seriously? I think we just hit a new depth in human arrogance here, even lower than the stupid belief that Eric's status should be publicized to "warn" people. Sometimes, it seems like HIV- gay men on the internet have an endless supply of delusion and narcissism.
To disclose someones HIV status dead or alive is wrong! At the time I found out of James's aka Erik's death, it then raised doubt to my own HIV status as I was one of the "thousand" whom he had slept with. Although we conducted safe sex, the divulging of this information in such a public forum has caused me great anxiety and stress pending the outcome of my results, nearly taking my own life. Respect should not only be paid to the deceased, but to their family and partner and friends. This is a case of social media at its worst and someone should be held accountable to those it has effected.
You know what, "anon," the Earth is round and it revolves around the Sun. There's this thing called "gravity" when things drop when you let go of them! Do you really think ANY supposition of "drug and disease free" should be given to ANYONE you have casual sex with, much less someone you pay to have it with!? Sometimes "common sense" has to play a role in how we live our lives and whom we hold accountable for our own actions.
I KNEW JAMES "ERIK RHODES" VERY WELL. GIVEN THAT HE IS A SEX WORKER, PROSTITUTE, SEX ADDICT, AND HAS HAD SEX PARTNERS IN THE THOUSANDS (IM NOT KIDDING), THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW THAT SUCH A PERSON HAS A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THE BETTER. MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING UNNECESSARY TO INCLUDE IN THE ARTICE, BUT IN THE END, IT SERVES A GREATER PURPOSE FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY.
Congrats! The only response (the second "Andy" response) that hits the nail on the head. i hope someone is lucky enough to call you his spouse, partner or friend. Be well.
Can we clear the air about something? There is a difference between talking about HIV and our status, and "disclosure", the requirement that we tell it to whoever the state deems us to put at risk. The former makes our lives better. The latter is bad science, born of lopsided prevention expectations, stigma and stupidity.
wizbang_fl
I just ran across this article. For what it's worth the US media has this idea that any fact should be openly publicized in the media. From people dealing with being arrested for some twenty-something stupidness everyone has done at one point or another. Yes we have a freedom of speech and the press. I have stopped watching news that "glorifies" others pain. From Nancy Grace on her bully pulpit to this Times times article bring up his HIV status in a very inappropriate way. Some may say "people should know" and that may be the case, but those that should know are the individuals who had intimate contact with him. Not Millions of readers. Then I hear the "Kids will never learn." Kids will learn what values their parents instill in them. I get the feeling that some believe that the media is going to instill values in their children. Probably so, if you don't take the responsibility for your offspring.
June 8, 2013