From: vengeanc@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu ()
Subject: Re: Sexuality
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 01:29:11 GMT

dos@major.panix.com (Dave O'Shea) writes:

>vengeanc@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu () writes:

>[how AIDS carriers should be handled - quarantine, etc.]

>> >For something like tuberculosis, you're right, since a person can
>> >unknowingly simply stand next to someone who has the disease, and
>> >contract it from them.
>> 
>> >In the case of AIDS, the contact required is much more intimate, and not
>>                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> 			  This is not true.  There are quite a few
>> 			  examples of innocuous situations infecting
>> 			  people.

>Not that I'm aware of. I've heard anecdotal accounts of the virus being
>carried in saliva, but these cases have never been verified, and the
>number is so small as to be statistically insignificant.

HIV is present in ALL body fluids, blood, saliva, perspiration, amniotic
fluid, semen... you name it.  There ARE documented cases where the
mode of transmission started from an innocuous situation (Kissing,
playing sports... read about the two soccer players who slammed into
each other, both cutting themselves... one transferring HIV to the
other).  

I love the way you use the words "statistically significant".  It may
not be "statistically significant" to YOU, but to whoever DIES because
they were not "statistically significant" enough to warrant protection,
these "anecdotal" amounts of virus are VERY significant.

>The only statistically significant ways to contract AIDS are through
>sexual contact and intravenous drug use with a used needle. "I got it
>from the toilet seat!" Just doesn't wash.

>> 
>> >without risks other than AIDS. If you're stupid enough to have
>> >unprotected sex with someone who you don't *know* to be free of HIV,
>> >well, it's simply natures' way of weeding out the dumb ones.
>> 
>> [recalling my own suggestion that having sex without telling your partner
>> you are HIV positive should be illegal and considered attempted murder,
>> and murder if they catch HIV]

>I straddle the fence on this one. Yes, I think a person is morally
>obligated to tell a potential sexual partner that they are carrying a
>disease that is contagious, and 100% fatal. But I'm not naieve enough to
>believe that everyone would be truthful, or even aware that they could
>be carrying the disease.

>I take great pleasure in flying, but I always take certain steps before
>starting the plane - I check the fuel, inspect the aircrafts mechanical
>and electrical systems, plan out my route, and check the weather at the
>destination. *Usually* the fuel is just fine, a nice sky-blue color. But
>occasionally, some water gets in it. And the one time I forget to check,
>might be the one time the engine quits on take-off.

>Should we pass a law requiring pilots to check their tanks? No - the
>smart ones (which is virtually all of us) do so. And the stupid ones
>aren't going to pay attention to the law anyway.

I believe that as a pilot you are ALREADY responsible for the air-readiness
of your aircraft, and that any accidents that occur as a result of a
mechanical failure are STILL the pilot's fault.  Also, I would
argue that a law SHOULD be written so that when this hypothetical stupid
pilot fails to check his tanks, and kills someone, he can be prosecuted
for being an idiot.  

Besides, it's PRETTY EASY to know if you are at risk to be a carrier
of AIDS.  Here's the simple test: 

    1. Do I do intravenous drugs?

    2. Have I had sex with multiple partners in the past 10 years?

    3. Do I engage in sexual activity in which blood is often present?


If you answer YES to any of these, you should A. Get tested for AIDS,
B. Warn your partners you may be carrying the virus.



>--
>"To call something 'Public' is to define it as filthy, inefficient and
>dangerous. The public toilet is the epitome of social spending."
>                                                 - P.J. O'Rourke


Ignorance is not an excuse to give someone a disease which WILL afflict 
them with a slow, agonizing death.  


E.S.

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