I was conversing with a co-worker and somehow the conversation came to a discussion about someone that he knew that had passed away from AIDS. Apparently, the individual that died of AIDS was a known IV drug user. But the person that I was talking with was "convinced" that he must have got AIDS by "experimenting" with homosexual activities. The word play really bothered me...first, he couldn't accept that AIDS can be transmitted several ways (not just limited to sexual activity). Second, he couldn't accept that homosexuality is anything other than "experimentation". Isn't this mentality backward? Please tell me that not many bumpkins like this exist...
2006-09-14 00:29:51 · 30 answers · asked by The ~Muffin~ Man 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
It's called the Bumpkin Patch and unfortunately, there's a bumper crop in it.
Some people just do not comprehend the fact that AIDS can be transmitted through dirty needles as well as bodily fluids that doesn't necessarily get past through sex.
2006-09-14 00:50:44 · answer #1 · answered by Lucianna 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Muffin, they have always existed. I don't think they are really trying to do harm to the memory of the person at all -- but they are often found at wakes and after-funeral luncheons and such.
They have a pre-conceived image of the person who died and don't want to admit that the person did something illegal, unethical, etc. or that he or she was a "addict" of any kind.
It could be that he was talking out/thinking out loud with you on a topic he did not feel safe talking about with other friends too. Sometimes workplace friends hear the type of things you are describing.
His use of the term "experimenting" tells me that he has used it before (perhaps not even in a conversation about his deceased friend) or that he might very well be closeted himself and feels more comfortable with that term instead of saying, homosexual or bisexual.
Often at work (especially) you have to "read between the lines" when a co-worker suddenly unburdens himself or talks about a sad event. It might be that he feels you are easy to talk to.
2006-09-14 01:55:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have also tested the mentality of the yahoo users on the same issues, and I am sorry to inform you that many people are stil misinformed. The bumpkins had now turned into pumpkins.........
Soon he will be walking like a pineapple, full of Aids sores as he probably thinks that being hetrosexual will save him from getting the disease. What a fool!!!!!!!!!
2006-09-14 00:35:19 · answer #3 · answered by Just enquiring/ inquiring 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I had a brother that died of AIDS back in 96. When I told one of my friends about it. The first thing he asked me was, "Was He Gay??" I was sickened by that. I was so upset about that. He wasn't gay, he just had sex with the wrong girl. Even today people say that gay people are getting what they deserve when they get AIDS. Whatever. That a bunch of BS. I'm not gay but I support the gay community. "People" spread AIDS. The truth is alot of these haters are fantasizing or doin the do anyway behind closed doors. And they know who they are. The're just too scared to show the world who they really are. So they hate on those that did.
2006-09-14 03:01:34 · answer #4 · answered by sweetpea 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately there are plenty of ignorant people who do not have the knowledge that AIDS can be contracted through many different things. Its starnge because when you have the knowledge you think that other people know also when in fact they are totally clueless. Its sad though, because those are the same people who end up with the disease and say, "But I'm not homosexual" or something like that...and it makes them look extremely foolish.
2006-09-14 00:35:08 · answer #5 · answered by fredfire00 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
id say that your co-worker finds it hard to believe that homosexuality is a "preferance" for those that are gay ie there is no such a thing as homosexuality ..all those so called gays ARE straight but they are only experimenting .
On the other hand your co-worker could be of a religeous faith that does not recognise homosexuality as a practice that people take part in so he would be looking at the issue from a different perspective then again he(co-worker) might not actualy not be as well read about the subject as you and i are .....this is only my opinion ....
2006-09-14 00:50:39 · answer #6 · answered by SPEAK UP WAKE UP 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
*Sigh* it looks like it. There shouldnt be this sort of talk, I mean come on. Has anyone else read about the conspiracy theory about how the US miltary were testing out AIDS in Africa and the they took it to some of places in America (included some of the gay capitals).
I am not point fingers, I was just saying about the conspriacy theory about why people think this.
2006-09-14 13:00:26 · answer #7 · answered by Vulcan Chic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, this bothers me too. It's funny, because when I hear people talk about gays, HIV, aids, they lump them all together, and they love to say things about current issues like gay marriage saying things specifically degrading to queer people. Then, when they find out I am gay, it's like they had a zipper on thier mouth. Or the cockroach went scurrying under the couch. Ignorance my be bliss, but it's funny how peoples ignorance dissapears when they don't want YOU to know they are wrong about you.
2006-09-14 05:47:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like 1980s understanding of AIDS and homosexuals. (not much brain power involved)
I would hope that there aren't many others that feel the same way as the person in your question.
2006-09-14 00:34:47 · answer #9 · answered by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid that many religious organizations, not to mention certain governments (just think South Africa) find it more convenient to ignore the basic facts about HIV and AIDS.
The Catholic Church's systematic ban on the use of condoms and the attitudes of pro-lifers in the US have undermined the effort to rein in sexually transmitted HIV in many countries. They often take the attitude that gays deserve to die. By taking this attitude they reveal themselves to be the bigoted, obscurantist anti-humanists that they truly are.
2006-09-14 03:20:06 · answer #10 · answered by Augusta B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋