Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,alt.politics.marrou,alt.politics.correct
Subject: Re: Legislation of morality
From: steiner@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (jason "Think!" steiner)
Date: 2 Oct 92 21:33:40 EST
Distribution: usa

kde@boi.hp.com (Keith Emmen) writes:
> sbooth@lonestar.utsa.edu (Simon E. Booth) writes:
> > What gets ridiculous about the whole AIDS issue is that people 
> > keep saying "Anyone can get it".  But take a look at how it is 
> > spread, and take a look at what the high-risk groups are.  How 
> > can I get it if I don't do any of the things that would expose 
> > someone to it??  I figure, if you don't shoot drugs, and practice 
> > abstinence (I'll get flamed as a prude on this one, what's wrong 
> > if I have self-control?/), you chances of getting it drop to near 
> > zero. Am I wrong here??
> 
> The definition of high risk behavior is becoming broader all the 
> time.  As  more people get the virus, it becomes more and more of a 
> heterosexual  problem.  I spent some time in Africa last winter, 
> and AIDs is *not* a  homosexual or drug-users disease.  It is 
> rampant in the whole population.   That may very well happen here 
> also.  The way that relates to you is that  you cannot be sure 
> you're safe just because you don't engage in hi-risk  behavior.  
> The virus can go undetected for years, and it's affecting more  
> people all the time.  When everyone except you has the virus, there 
> is no  such thing as low-risk behavior.  Twenty years ago the 
> chances you might get the AIDs virus were virtually 0.  Now you say 
> yourself that the chances are *near* zero.  In ten years from now, 
> your odds will be worse.  The  idea that you can ignore this one 
> because you aren't part of a high-risk group is a dangerous 
> assumption.

you didn't answer the question. how is Mr. Emmen at risk? sure, as
more and more people get it, the risk in general grows. however, if 
one is already practicing a no risk lifestyle (abstinence || mutual 
monogamy & drug free) the only way to get HIV is through transfusion 
or infected medical workers.

and we all -know- the chances of getting HIV that way is impossible.
(yeah right, but we wouldn't want to ruin their fine reputation,
would we now?) the fact is, that for people like Mr. Emmen (and i
daresay, myself) the chances of getting AIDS are -still- virtually
zero, and will continue to be in the future. 

you use Africa as an example. why do you think Africa has such a
high rate of infection? do you think it has anything to do with
the behavior of heterosexuals there? notice any parallels between
that and the behavior of homosexuals in this country during the
80s? have you noticed that when that behavior changed, the rise
in AIDS among the gay population dropped too? think that condoms
and a decrease in anonymous sex might work in Africa as well?

i'm guessing it would. and i'm guessing that as long as the hetero
population of America continues to practice safer sex and have 
relatively few parteners, we won't have the problems they do.

call it a hunch.

jason

--
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
`,` Democrat:    Give us your money. _We'll_ solve your problems. `,`
`,` Republican:  Give us your money. We'll ignore your problems.  `,`
`,` Libertarian: Keep your money. Solve your own problems.        `,`
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,` steiner@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush