How much do you fear HIV?

Let's leave our predjudice remarks here. I'm curious just how much the average, sexually active person ,in "right now," today's world fears HIV. We all know treatment has improved. So much so, that a person infected with HIV today, who gets proper early care can virtually expect to live a near normal, or even normal life span.

Today they have a once a day pill, tomorrow will be theraputic vaccines designed to control the virus months at a time with a single injection.

I recently met a HIV positive gay male (no, I'm not gay) he said within the gay community, fear of HIV is virtually gone. In fact, he indicated many welcome it, to "get over it and get on with life" as they were sick of worrying about it.

So my question is, just how much do you fear this disease today? Back in the 80's 90s it was like the black plague, I fear it is now being fully accepted, even to the point of the average sxualy person being irresponsible.

As a hospice nurse, I must strongly emphasize that HIV is nothing to take lightly. It is a terrible disease. No one in their right mind would "welcome" it. There will NOT be a vaccine soon for this. The nature of the bug will require that we genetically alter ourselves. Humanity should not blithely enter into that. The gay community that I am familiar with hardly concurs with anyone or any notion that suggests a defeatist, irresponsible approach to HIV. This is a grave battle. And, more is at stake in this world-wide battle than getting laid.

Thanks, Daren.
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I still find it a very worrisome disease. I'm married now, but when I was single (5 years ago) I ONLY had sex with PROTECTION!

I don't fear it because I always protect myself.

I'm still afraid of it. I'm scared of the married men who have unprotected sex and bring it home to their wives and children. I'm afraid my widow grandmother will go out and hook up with a man who thinks that since she's beyond childbearing years, they don't have to use protection.

I know people with HIV and it can make their lives hell. The people who don't think it's a big deal don't realize how HIV makes them more suceptible to other diseases, will make it hard for them get insurance, hard to get a freaking date. Let alone women who want ot have children. My friend is afraid to try to get a new job, because he will lose medical benefits (the entire 'preexisting condition issue).

I know a person who thought he was clean and still had unprotected sex, and he had an young son- I told him it was irresponsible to do that, and I am no longer friends with that person.

I wouldn't say that I fear it as it is not something that can get me without me allowing it to, but I do realize and respect the fact that it is around, fairly common and will kill me should I get it.

Personally I just do not sleep with anyone anymore. I won't unless it is a truly serious relationship and we know each other super well. Short of that, sex is just not worth dying over

As to a cure these drugs do knock it out but there are side effects of these drugs. The website below lists 11 side effects from HIV treatment drugs such as fatigue, diarrhea, nerve pain, headaches, rashes and weight loss etc. So tell you gay friend he should be concerned about it.
Me I'm going to use protection and keep myself well.

I don't know where you get your info on HIV but certainly in the gay community "fear of HIV is virtually gone" is plain not true. The disease is feared more so than ever and precautions are taken to avoid its spread.

There is no cure for HIV and certainly no single shot or pill to rid of it either and none coming down stream in the drug world.

You need to brush up on the science of HIV as your post shows ignorance pertinent to HIV and begin to understand just how this disease is virtually unconquerable in the research world and how much effort has been spent on finding vaccines and cocktails to conquer it.

There are no people with HIV leading perfectly normal lives. Simply not true. There life span is greatly shortened.