You know i was looking through the forum section of blackgaychat and i dont know if it because World AIDS Day has just passed or people are starting to talk about HIV/AIDS more online. Topics included would u date someone HIV positive to know today's "Posting your HIV Status on this site ... not cool." i mean i think it is necessary to post your status up there. Yes there is backlash to those who are HIv positive and i have dealth with that and there is also alot of love out there and i get alot of people to disclose if they put "NEGATIVE" so putting negative doesnt mean anything unless you see that piece of paper and its updated and accurate and even then it does mean the person is negative given there is a 3 month incubation period for HIV to grow in your boday. below is some of the people's responses to todays topic and i want to know how you feel?
"Many people prolly don't want to hear my opinion on this situation, and if the situation was put on me I prolly wouldn't want it done either, but since I live a lifestyle where I don't have to worry about catching the disease, I am good.
But its my opinion, that HIV STATUS should not be confidential. I believe the public should be aware of who is walking around with the virus, just like the public has the right to know about the sexual offenders, and the child predators.
I know everyone is entitled to their privacy, but when your privacy can affect my overall well being then I think that is where the line is drawn. Some people have the disease and have respect for it, and are honest about it, but one bad apple spoils a bunch and those people who are speading the disease willingly are increasing.
HIV TEST should become mandatory as well.
Find ways to make test mandatory. Have the clinics send letters reminding people that they haven't taken tests in a while.
Hospital visits come with a quick mandatory tongue swab, ya visits is longer than 20 minutes any so you can get results before you leave.
24 hour Test sites, why should I go to take my test at 330pm only for them to say come back tomorrow. This shouldn't happen...
I don't know these are my thoughts.. what you think."
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"People should put their true status or indicate something on their profile in regard to their status.
- Have not tested recently
- Never tested before
- Positive and sexually active
- Negative
I mean all these options exist and people should be honest about their status.
And for those of us out there who have any type of sex, DO NOT get caught in the moment and forget to ask for a condom either way, top or btm. If you risk it, then guess what you are partly to blame, there is no going back.
And for those who think HIV is not an issue of major concern, THINK again!!! as much as we love our brothas, sistas relatives... we don't want to catch the disease. The quality of your life is greatly affected. at 14-24 you might not understand the ramifications of testing positive, but you have to realise this is a lifetime thing. Get to know people who are positive and see how it affects their lives.
Just because someone looks fine, all muscles or all in shape has no bearing on his HIV status, probably taking extra care of himself."
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"POSTING YOUR HIV STATUS SHOULD BE UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE USER. WHILE POSTING YOUR HIV STATUS DOES HELP OTHER PEOPLE WITH HIV FIND AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOU, MOST PEOPLE DON'T BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID IT WILL SCARE AWAY POSSIBLE DATES. THIS IS THE SAME REASON MOST DON'T TELL THERE SEXUAL PARTNERS THERE ARE POSITIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID, CONDOM OR NOT, PEOPLE WONT SLEEP WITH THEM. THATS WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO ASK! ASK! ASK! ARE YOU HIV POSITIVE? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE TESTED? IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO LIE ABOUT YOUR HIV STATUS WITH A SEXUAL PARTNER WHO ASK. YOU MUST ASK THOUGH(SOME CASES IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ASK OR NOT). IF THEY LIE AND SAY THEY ARE NOT POSITIVE AND THEY ARE, AND THEY INFECT YOU, THEY ARE IN MOST STATES LIABLE, THIS IS CALLED "CRIMINAL TRANSMISSION." IF IT IS PROVEN THAT THE PERSON HAD MULTIPLE PARTNERS AND THEY WERE ALL INFECTED THAT PERSON COULD SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIFE IN PRISON."
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"I POST MY STATUS BECAUSE I AM PUBLICALLY OPEN ABOUT IT. IT ACTUALLY HELPS ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE BULLSHITTERS AS WELL.
I HAVE HIV, YOU ARE EITHER KOOL WITH IT, OR YOU CAN BE SCARED, BUT IM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT YOU WILL RUN ACROSS IN YOUR LIFE, LET ALONE THIS WEEK.
46% OF BLACK GAY MEN HAVE HIV, THAT'S ALMOST HALF, NOW IF EVERYONE KEPT THEIR STATUS HIDDEN, OR FOR THE POZ LIARS OUT THERE.....YOU PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE SEX.
2 OUT OF 5 ......HOW MANY HAVE YOU FUCKED??"
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"Aren't there serious laws pertaining to patients' privacy and individual rights about the HIV issue? Why are you gonna just throw your status up there with your picture and everything?
I know it's optional, but I still object to it. And I understand if you feel comfortable with your status that you might want to let people know about it, but it should not be part of the basic form. There are too many questions by the anyways. It makes the pages look ugly and too crowded (people end up asking those very same questions again and again).
And I don't want to hear shit about how it promotes healthy lifestyles because
(1) Most people lie (I'm very sure of that haha).
(2) This site does nothing both fill my screen up with hardcore sites where niggas are fucking without condoms and shit. Those "actors" can get tested as often as they want, shit still happens. That's well known.
(3) Your ass smells like shit! The fuck!
Essentially, I think it's bad. This site is making HIV status some kind of a fashion statement. And in theory, that would be a positive thing (no pun intended), but like I said, it's the internet. Some people lie, and others are too truthful. Just be careful of what you throw up on here because the person at the other end may have other motives. This site should make better strives to protect people's privacy by not promoting the inclusion of too much personal info."
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"Interesting topic. Imagine if myspace, facebook, or bp asked the question of HIV status. Wow, could you really imagine? Do you think the fact that these sites bgc, a4a, m4n (lol, to name a few) pose the question regarding HIV status further cultivates the stereotype that this is a gay man's disease or do you think the webmasters are doing a civil duty to the gay community by given users the option of listing their status?? curious (non-judgemental/non-biased post)"
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"I post my status because I feel like the way we look at each other needs to change. Nobody is perfect. I've had guys that will hit me up and damn near drool on themselves talking about how fine I am, then when I ask them to read my profile carefully and they see I'm positive, sometimes their attitude changes, but most times they realize that I'm still the same person. If we all go around lying about it, things will not get better and people will keep living in a fantasy world where everyone is healthy. the reality is that HIV is real and we live with it daily. If u are too "good" to speak, date, or even have an HIV positive person as your friend, maybe BGC isn't the place for you.
Posting your status IS an option, but it's also something that people look at when they want to find out just how honest you are. I'd rather be the guy who is known for being HIV positive and HONEST about it, than to be the guy who has HIV and is in denial or is a liar about his status."
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alrighty so you have read what people have to say on this matter so lets get the dialouge going some more people. post ya thoughts and comments.
Should you disclose your "HIV status" Online??