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Health & HIV / AIDS
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Danielle
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Quote Danielle Replybullet Topic: AIDS: no joke!
    Posted: 06 April 2010 at 8:02pm
Hey awesome stirrers!
 
Ok, so I'm not sure if this is one of those things that is just happening around me or if it is a wide spread issue, but I'm really concerned with the fact that so many people consider AIDS to be a joke. Very often, when someone so much as says the word "AIDS" people break out into a laugh because of the influence that such movies as "Team America" are having on people. I also think that people find it a joke because of the common miss conception as to how it can be contracted.
 
So my question is, how are we going to end the joke of AIDS and make people aware of the fact that it is an extremely serious issue?
 
Looking forward to your responses!
 
Danielle Smile
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SiobhanMarie
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Quote SiobhanMarie Replybullet Posted: 07 April 2010 at 8:56am
You are right. This is a little off topic, but when I worked with the refugee settlement agency there was a big issue in regards to AIDS where many, particularly African, migrants were believing because they were accepted to come to Australia (people with AIDS will not be accepted) and didn't have AIDS then, that they'll never get it. They see Australia as a beautiful country with no need to worry about that... they believe it won't happen.

People don't take it seriously, you are right. I am not sure what we can do, it'll definitely take some brainstorming but I'm willing to think it through with you guys here. We have to be able to make a difference in seeing this as an issue.

Thanks for bringing it up Danielle, I'll see what I can find!
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Albatross
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Quote Albatross Replybullet Posted: 08 April 2010 at 11:03am
People think AIDS - sex. I think it's just an education thing. Personally, I know we're told use protection or you'll get AIDS (to put it simply), but we aren't actually told that much about AIDS itself. I think people need to be aware that AIDS can be contracted in other ways.

What I'm trying to say is that I know that whenever our teachers have spoken to us about AIDS, it's in the context of sex education, and our health. It's never really spoken about as a disease.

In combating the misconception, I think what we can do (apart from pamphlets and the like, lol) is speak about it with our friends, family and acquaintances as an actual disease to just change people's mindsets. What do you think?
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SiobhanMarie
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Quote SiobhanMarie Replybullet Posted: 11 April 2010 at 10:16pm
Your absolutely right -- so many things ARE education, that would make such a difference.

Word of mouth is a fantastic communication tool. So many people know things just from being told and hearing other people talk about them, and I think this is a key!
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