Many in U.S. playing a risky game of sex

MSNBC ^

[SDGOP]

How risky is your sex life?

MSNBC.com and Zogby International asked online readers to share some intimate details about their personal lives, and more than 56,000 adult men and women — one of the largest responses ever to a sex survey in the United States — revealed that many are playing a pretty risky game.

The survey, which was released Monday, found that while a majority of the survey participants consider themselves knowledgeable about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, many are in denial when it comes to sex with someone new.

Just 39 percent of people who took the survey always ask whether a new partner is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, or other STDs. Nearly one-third said they never check on a prospective partner's sexual health status, and among those with less than a high school education, almost 50 percent never discuss the issue of STDs with a new partner — troubling statistics given the deadliness of AIDS and rising rates of genital herpes and other diseases.

[SDGOP]

How sad, not only cant we keep our pants on but we arent bright enough to check whether or not somone is infected with an STD. The Alcohol statistic about alcohol + unprotected sex is an alarming statistic too(90% of people have had unprotected sex while under the influence).

[Grampa Dave]

The basic action of Darwinism is to thin the human herd of the stupid, ignorant and reckless.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Whelps...society lauds promiscuity these days. Old social norms no longer exist.

I mean...being a porn star is considered actual celebrity these days.

So, we reap what we sow.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Anyone really knowledgeable about AIDS knows that (in a medically modern nation) men have a virtual zero risk of contracting AIDS from a woman, and a woman has a 1-in-500 to 1-in-1000 chance of contracting AIDS from unprotected sex with an infected man, and a virtually zero chance from a guy who she can reliably assume that does not share IV needles or receive gay sex. The real risks for such heterosexuals are other diseases and unprotected anal sex from an unknown partner.

AIDS still remains almost entirely confined to those who receive unprotected anal sex from or share needles with someone who also receives anal sex or who shares needles.

Dishonest medical PR harms public health, no matter whether it comes from gay activists seeking to scare the population into false fear, or from moralists seeking to scare people from having sex.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I'm still trying to pick up a case of genital herpes, so I can start having lots of fun like those people in the ad on TV.

[nmh]

I'd like to see an age and gender break down on this. It's most likely YOUNG kids - teens and early twenties being so stupid.

"Being able to talk about it is a huge problem," he says. "At the heart of it is the fear of rejection; it’s the fear of being labeled undesirable."

Yeah, most people don't want an STD and rejection is a consequence - just more irresponsibility over the sake of hurt feelings. It's easier to hide it and spread it around.

[sit-rep]

Lol... Why don't you stop beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel!!

[k2blader]

*LOL*!!

Yeah, they make it look so wonderful, don't they..

People who have STD's and still sleep around are some of the most disgusting people in the world, akin to murderers and pedophiles.

[Grampa Dave]

My feelings are simple.

If one's actions and behavior kill them, so be it. Just don't include me as a mourner nor a donator to pay for their actions and behavior.

[dawn53]

Then what accounts for the rapid spread of AIDS in Africa? I was under the impression that it was being spread in the heterosexual community as much as in the homosexual community.

[Candor7]

Not only are they disgusting, but they are more likely to have sex because of their accelerated death date. Fear of death increases human need for sex. When you take this psychological factor into account ( which our liberal state and national health agencies do not do), a good case could be made for quarantining those who are infected and who are promiscuous

HIV infectees are likely more promiscuous than those
who are not infected, but try and get Zogby to run that question in a poll? Not likely.

[flipper999]

so here's my question. Of those who ask (if the partner is HIV positive), how many get an honest answer? Whats the point of asking if you can't trust the response anyway...

my 2 cents worth.

[DumpsterDiver]

I'd like to see an age and gender break down on this. It's most likely YOUNG kids - teens and early twenties being so stupid.

The 56,000 responders were (allegedly) adults, but can we really trust some online survey?

... asked online readers to share some intimate details about their personal lives, and more than 56,000 adult men and women — one of the largest responses ever to a sex survey in the United States...

[Doctor Raoul]

The Alcohol statistic about alcohol + unprotected sex is an alarming statistic too(90% of people have had unprotected sex while under the influence).

OK, but will women still buy me drinks if I don;t have sex with them?

[SDGOP]

More often then not young people will just ask and trust. Unprotected sex is more common than people think since msot girls are on birth control and the guys take the girls word and vice versa.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

From what I've read, a macho taboo against admitting to such affairs. Apparently, that type of affair is much higher than previously thought, but no one wants to admit it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Then what accounts for the rapid spread of AIDS in Africa? I was under the impression that it was being spread in the heterosexual community as much as in the homosexual community.

---

In third world nations where open genital sores are commonplace (and a mark of pride, for men), along with promiscuity, there is a vastly different mode of transmission.

The cure for AIDS in Africa is...
...penicillin.

[Lauretij2]

Booze works, that's for sure.

[nmh]

Depends on what they classify as an adult - 21?

Later it goes on to say something about the more affluent and older they are they more careful they are. My guess is that it breaks down highest in the young "adult" category. Wonder who is more promiscuous - males or females?

[DumpsterDiver]

Wonder who is more promiscuous - males or females?

I'd guess that the younger the age, the closer it comes to being a 50/50 split.