Do you think people are taking HIV less seriously now that they see it as a manageable disease?

"Without a doubt, people who did not live through the 'always fatal' era of AIDS really have no idea of the real nature of this disease."

"'Do you bareback?' wasn't a question asked before HAART therapy. The number of 20-somethings--who have never seen someone die of AIDS--who truly think HIV is not that different from diabetes is just incredible."

"How could they not? I mean, AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Not to say that it's a picnic, but you're no longer doomed to waste away in agony anymore."

"As an HIV tester and educator, I've seen firsthand the apathy that has taken over the public concerning this illness. If they only knew the horrible side effects of the meds and how they don't work for everyone."

"As a person who grew up during the 'war zone' that was/is the AIDS crisis, watching my friends decay and die, I am surprised at how cavalier today's generation of men are regarding this disease. It is still here, and it still kills."

"I think the sense of urgency has definitely died down. People are aware of it, but we know so much more about it now than we did during the original outbreak. So, no, I don't think people are taking it less seriously--we're just less hysterical."

How readers responded to the
Advocate.com poll question featured in
the January 29 issue of The Advocate

Yes      82%
No       14%
Unsure    4%

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning