alledged trend among gay people to catch HIV on purpose

pwd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_giver

pwd

My gf and i went to amsterdam or a weekend a short time ago. I have been there before and was surprised by the absence of people trying to sell us hard drugs or scrounge money from us this time around. In fact the only people who did approach us were students making a documentary about young people's attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.
They asked us some fairly normal questions and we answered and they they said "What do you think of people who catch HIV on purpose?"
We were confused by this and asked them to clarify, and they told us that apparently some people catch it to become part of a clique. Usually gay men who want to stop living in fear of catching it.
I was googling just now and there are some articles about such a thing. A film called "The Gift" describes it too. Someone who gives someone HIV in this context is referred to as a "Gift Giver"

Here are a couple of links to articles about it:

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/060923/x092306.html

"The pharmaceutical ads and the safe sex campaigns inadvertently glamourized and eroticized HIV/AIDS"
http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2003/9/11/125891.html

Sangre

Natural selection at work.

rsynnott

It would, I think, be unwise to consider this even a vaguely common trend. It's a highly unusual self-destructive activity, comparable, say, to anorexia or serious self-mutilation.

Karl Hungus

Sangre wrote:

Natural selection at work.

Seconded. That kind of stupidity should disqualify you from humanity.

rsynnott

Karl Hungus wrote:

Seconded. That kind of stupidity should disqualify you from humanity.

Well, it does at least hasten one's departure, I'd assume.

BuffyBot

A recent discussion on the topic:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055082977

dloob

I heard of this a few years ago, can't remember where. possibly on slate or salon I think.
They said it was being seen as a badge of honour in some parts of the gay community, you weren't truly gay until you had HIV.
There was also an element of modern treatments making it seen as a liveable option and the use of images of muscular men in advertisements of treatments.


Perhaps there is a certain feeling of apathy towards HIV in some parts of the gay community a kind of well it's not that bad, some of the fear of the disease may be gone?

Tha Gopher

If its true its another reason the revenue should really give us "How do you want your tax spent" choice forms.

Zombrex

According to Wikipedia this seems to be more of an internet myth than an actual common gay lifestyle

Reminds me of the fuss that was made over the idea that people on the London Tube were hooking up over Bluetooth messaging and having random sex in the toilets. Lots of out cry that this was totally irresponsible and unsafe and how could people be so stupid. Then it turned out that they weren't being so stupid, the whole thing had been made up on the internet.

Boston

My thread liked to by buffy bot is gives a fair accessment.

the_syco

I wonder when gays will start shooting those who infected them?

Also, not only does one have to fear the hate of others if they come out, but also the life sentence they must give themselves to be "accepted" by the community.

TBH, if this is true, the people who actively do this should be shot. That,or denied treatment. Actually, the latter would be best. Let the f**kers die a slow miserable death. Will make others think twice about accepting the "gift" of death.

Fallen Seraph

To be fair, the people who actively seek HIV should be given mental health treatment, not denied it; if you seek HIV then, for all intents and purposes, you are suicidal, which is usually considered worthy of mental health treatment...


However anyone who gives HIV to someone on purpose should be charged with murder, or attempted murder.

damien

Fallen Seraph wrote:

However anyone who gives HIV to someone on purpose should be charged with murder, or attempted murder.

They are.

Gurgle

Sangre wrote:

Natural selection at work.

I'm not a doctor, but I'm fairly sure gay people have a hard time reproducing anyway.

As for the story, it has a smell that will be familiar to any farmer.