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I accept the apology, but...
...I sincerely don't think you needed to apologize. Your comments allowed me to clarify something that obviously wasn't completely clear in my article. That's always good. Also, thank you very much for your kind words. I will continue to post from time to time, and trust that those of you who enjoy my writing will find and read these post as they appear.
Sometimes, when I get zero response, I take the liberty of deleting and reposting the article. Usually, this gets some response.
posted by
arGee
on November 28, 2003 at 6:32 PM
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PS:http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/bloggingwhiners/
Re-reading my comments, I find them pretentious and out of the BN's character. I'm sorry if I've dampened your experience here, I think your blog has quality rarely seen andnit doesn't need my "contribution". Keep 'em coming!!
(PS: Nice seal!)
posted by
majroj
on November 28, 2003 at 8:45 AM
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Agreed!
posted by
majroj
on November 27, 2003 at 10:46 PM
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I never equated the Black Death to AIDS...
...but only used that to illustrate the only way AIDS can be stopped (assuming for a moment that the AIDS research community is correct in its evaluation of what AIDS really is). The real point of my article, and I suspect you got it because you are one smart guy, was that political correctness has no place in the diagnosis and treatment of any disease. Now that you have also read my article on AIDS, you understand why the entire argument with respect to AIDS probably is moot. BUT the central argument is as strong as ever, because it deals with foolish political correctness.
posted by
arGee
on November 27, 2003 at 9:01 PM
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Comparing AIDS to Bubonic Plague is a disservice to mankind.
1. Bubonic plagues (there are three types) do not in any way epidemiologically equate to AIDS. Bubonic is spread by flea bites, contact with infected matter from the patient (pus), and exposure of mucous membranes to the aerosoled bacteria from patients (victims) who have the disease destroying their lungs; AIDS is not spread in these manners. The last form (pneumonic) can be fatal in 48 hours.
2. Burning the affected residences, unless it was done by igniting all the possible exits for rodents first, potentially spread the disease, and probably caused conflagrations to boot....which, by urban renewal and population dispersal, broke the infective chain. There is an excellent case to be made for the fact that Europeans were far more susceptible to it due to lack of exposure; it is endemic to Califronia's wild rodent population, people are potentially exposed thousands of times a year, yet we see very few cases due to the light nature of the exposure and modern sanitary habits and practices. But the biggest kudos to stopping the recurrance of Bubonic Plague goes to modern hygiene and civil engineering, as well as every person who defeats rodents in their home and community.
2.
Step one: AIDS first identified in gay males and Haitians.
Step two: People start firing gays and Haitians, denying them housing and health services.
Step three: this action, the perception of a class of people (not the infected individuals) as deserving of discrimination, makes it a federal case...literally. The vicitmized parties here are ot HIV patients, but people discriminated against as a class. HOWEVER...
...when it gets into the courts and the Congress, then medical sense tends to go out the window. (Another example: Methadone).But I digress...
You can't stop HIV/AIDS by using the measures used to stop smallpox and and the Plague. It has to be a one-on-one cessation of risky behaviors (not just dangerous ones, but risky ones), the push to find a cure (not bloody likely), and the Darwinian sorting-out over the decades of people who are really prone to it, people who resist it, and people who are nearly immune. (After all, who knows how many rare individuals have been exposed repeatedly and not developed it? They would never be identified. But if they reproduce, their progeny may transmit genes to help resist the virus).
If infected individuals persist in risky behaviors, then they need to be incarcerated. AIDS/HIV is a reportable illness here in California, but they don't notify contacts without permission....but then, so few cases of STD's of any type are reported and epidemiologically nowadays due to private physicins' unwillingnes to get involved and aboslute lack of funds for public health, they are a growing menace as well...especially when coupled with HIV!
Don't shoot drugs. Don't have dangerous or risky sex if you have HIV, or hep B or C, GC, syphillis, herpes, etc. Stay monogamous. Donate your own blood, have friends donate blood, and don't go overseas where you can pick it up from the blood pool or through unsanitary practices if you require medical assistance. Not hard. Just DON'T.
posted by
majroj
on November 27, 2003 at 1:08 PM
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