From: ccolling@nyx.cs.du.edu (Lady Firebird)
Subject: Re: AIDS: What the Government Isn't Telling You
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 92 03:36:46 GMT

In article <2A896BE1.7C2F@tct.com> jeff@tct.com (Jeff Witzer) writes:
>In article <BsusJC.1CA@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> hoff@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Wildfire) writes:
>>ccolling@nyx.cs.du.edu (Lady Firebird) writes:
>
>[interesting but doubtful theory of room temp or below killing virus...]
not my idea, bud.
>
>>Using a glass that someone who may be infected has used will not give you the 
>>virus, especially if it's washed or has been sitting around for a while.
>
>This seems to have been confirmed by several reputable labs...
>
>>This is also the reason why you can't get it from hugging people, the toilet
>>seat, etc.
>
>It is highly unlikely (practically impossible - no documented cases) to
>contract HIV without transmission of bodily fluids.  Even kissing an HIV
>invected person (saliva has been found to contain the virus) has never been
>credited with infecting anyone.
>
>>There is a lot of paranoia out there, but the only people who need be 
>>concerned are those who are promiscuous and/or have unprotected sex,
>>drug users, and those who need blood transfusions.  
>
>Statements like this are contributing to the notion that many people, who do
>not engage in high risk activities, have.  Saying "It can't happen to me 
>because...  I'm not gay/I only have save sex (Monoxodil 9 & condom always)/
>I don't have anal sex/I don't do drugs/I'm not promiscuous" lulls you into
>complacency...a dangerous situation to be in.  If you don't think you could
>have it, you don't get tested.  Please get tested...EVERYONE.  It's easy and
>cheap...and you'll know for sure.  Everyone needs to be concerned (maybe
>aware is a better term), EVERYONE...monogomous heterosexuals, virgins, 
>everyone.  This is NOT a gay disease.  This is NOT a punishment for the 
>promiscuous.  This is a primarily heterosexual disease, worldwide.

*sigh*  correction.  I didn't mean that we heterosexual non-drug users shouldn't
be aware and even concerned if we think we've come into intimate contact
with someone who may be infected.  What I meant was that you need not be
OVERLY concerned.  Aware, definitely.  The first thing I did when hearing
about AIDS was think about myself...I was a virgin at the time, so I couldn't
have it through sexual contact.  I'd never had a blood transfusion, so I
wasn't at risk that way.  I've never used anything but sterile needles,
so I couldn't be infected that way.  That is not what I call concerned.  That
is what I call aware.  When I became sexually active I was careful.  Unless
you're not too sure about your activities in the past, there isn't a reason
to be any more than aware.  Sheesh!
>
>>And yes, anybody can get
>>it from sex if they're not careful.  Latest statistics show that women are
>>the ones getting it the most these days.
>>But the number of people with cancer are much higher than those with AIDS, 
>>and they get MUCH less money on research.
very true and very sad...and AIDS is preventable while most cancer isn't.

The biggest prevention of a further epidemic of AIDS is education...

Lady Firebird
--
Catherine G. Collingwood, aka Lady Firebird       NCSSM '92
catherine@lambada.oit.unc.edu  -or-  ccolling@nyx.cs.du.edu
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Imagination is only intelligence having fun."  --Anon.