[xm177e2]

What used to be called venereal diseases are now termed sexually transmitted diseases. Disguised under a more neutral label, STD’s have only increased.

Huh? STD is a much more obvious term than VD. It's much more straightforward, not "disguised."

[FlyVet]

True, it is now. I knew what VD was when I was a kid, though. It was a dirty thing you didn't want to have. So are you discounting the content of the story because of this?

[ExpandNATO]

Look up venereal in the dictionary.

venereal ADJECTIVE:
1a. Transmitted by sexual intercourse.
1b. Of or relating to a sexually transmitted disease.
2. Of or relating to sexual intercourse.
3. Of or relating to the genitals.

Pretty obvious especially during a time not that long ago (about 20 years) when venereal disease (VD) was the common term and venery a loaded term implying excessive indulgence in sexual pleasure.

[LadyDoc]

What used to be called venereal diseases are now termed sexually transmitted diseases. Disguised under a more neutral label, STD’s have only increased..... Huh? STD is a much more obvious term than VD. It's much more straightforward, not "disguised."

VD meant only disease ONLY spread by sex. STD includes disease usually spread by sex but also that can be spread "innocently". For example, Hepatitis B is an STd because it is spread by sex, especially sodomy. It can also be spread thru blood (In dialysis units and with IV Drug use) and by secretions (epidemic in some daycare centers before Hep B was given to kids). You should read all the normally "innocent" disease that spread in the gay community in San Frncisco: this is one reason that they changed the name.

[ArGee]

Huh? STD is a much more obvious term than VD. It's much more straightforward, not "disguised."

Depends upon the context.

When I was young, everyone knew what VD was, even if we didn't know what any of the VDs were or even what VD stood for. We still knew that it was a disease transmitted sexually and you didn't want to get one.

If you simply tried to change the discussion about VD to a more neutral tone, but didn't change the name, you would be fighting a losing battle. No amount of neutral discussion could overcome the negative implactions of the term VD.

But, change the tone, and at the same time change the name to STD (again, just initials, no words) and you have an opportunity to change peoples' mindsets. If you have herpes, that's no shame. I saw a hip girl on a commercial the other day telling me that life is full of hassles and having herpes is one of hers. She then describes her medicine while she dances playfully (and suggestively) with her boyfriend.

I would agree with you that Sexually Transmitted Disease is not, in itself, an attemp to disguise anything. But the change in name at the same time as the chane in tone were indeed an attempt to cover the fact that these are diseases that are easy to avoid.

If there is no ring, keep it zipped.

Shalom.