Hiv & Aids Group

Just wanted to get the word out about my new group. It's for people infected and affected by the virus. Come and lets discuse ways to cope, ways to get active, and other such things. It is private so that people can feel comfortable opening up, so just shoot me a message and I'll let you in.

I think it would have to be private.

Link

Sorry about that

So... anyone? With 15,000 people newly infected everyday worldwide this disease effects almost everyone.

I stil prefer to call it "the gay cancer" because that's who gets it right?

You're not serious are you?

Bhahaha!! You're kidding right?
Do you even read the news? What about all the aids that get transfered through sharing syringes?

BTW, unprotected heterosexual sex is the biggest cause of new HIV infection worldwide.

As a person who has not only works with but was an IV drug user I think that we have hardly moved from the apathy of the Reagan era,. I didn't mean to offend anyone as I thought that anyone who got the reference would know it was meant to be over the top.

It is a topic that is so painfull to me that levity is sometimes called for.

I got it.

I think it's really interesting that, in Australia at least, it is almost never reported on in the news or any other programming for that matter. It's a non-issue here (apparently).

Oh wait, sometimes there are programs reporting on AIDS affecting people in African countries, but other than that, I have no idea about how much it is spreading in Australia or what any stats are at all. Nobody I know ever talks about it.

It's like it all just went away. Is it the same in the States and the UK?

All you hesr is the same people, they work hard at spreading information, unfortunately they are most often drown out by people screaming about moral non issues.
I think many people in the US still think that only gays get it, only junkies get it, only people in Africa. Young people act as if it was something that happened, in the past. Lack of protection and testing along with misinformation has helped a disease that could be contained.

It amazes me how many people won't get tested because they're "pretty sure" they don't have HIV.

It's free you idiots! Just go get tested at one of the bazillion clinics that offers free testing. They offer free testing for syphallis too, so get tested for that while you're there.

Yeah, I am 32 and know many people my age that have either had unprotected sex or continue to have unprotected sex and have NEVER even been tested. Can you imagine, never, not once.

On a level of misinformation, I went to urgent care about five years ago because I got a bad hit(heroin) and the DR. told me that I prolly had AIDS and that is why my arm was swollen. He went on to say that most needle users have it. This was after I had already told him I buy my own rigs and shoot by myself. He didn't seem to understand that it's DIRTY needles that can carry infectious disease, and the guy was a fucking doctor. And Don't get me started about someone in the medical field who doesn't know the difference between an HIV infection and full blown AIDS. There are physicians out there that act as if the patient doesn't deserve treatment because it is a preventable disease.

I'll stop ranting after this but I also want to add that all the BS conspiracy people with their "the government created AIDS" and other theories BS are doing a disservice to everyone. It takes away from the REAL issues which are information, protection, containment and treatment

You see, I either make a sarcastic joke that sums it up or I have to pull myself away from a ten page tirade.

You didn't ask about Canada, but I'll answer anyway. There are lots of reports about the AIDS crisis in Africa, and very occassional reports about how unprotected sex is on the rise again in Canada because people think the HIV/AIDS meds are some sort of cure.

Ok, I really don't mean to sound like an ass...
But I did laugh a little out loud when I read that.
Although I have a lot of gay friends, one of which is infected. I feel for him *hugs*. It is a scary thing none the less.

I think that the group is a great idea. It is a horrible thing to have to go through alone (I can only imagine) and it is comforting to know that there is a place amongst us all here, where those infected and affected by it can come together.