Do you think that people affected with the HIV virus or AIDS should have their pictures posted on the Internet

Recently, in my college English class, we were asked that question. I personally believe that to do such a thing would take away those people's rights and liberties. I mean, they're suffering enough already....why make it worse?

That's an infringement on their rights to privacy. We wouldn't think to post pictures of people with tuberculosis or hepatitis, and those diseases are much more easily spread than HIV. The problem is that HIV is irrevocably linked to sexual activity and drug use, which tends to lend a stigma to it for some people. But there are plenty of HIV patients who contracted the disease through other methods. I assume that the reason someone would want to post pictures would be to prevent someone from contracting the disease from a sexual partner who didn't disclose their health concerns, but in effect, that would be an attempt to legislate morality, which is rarely effective.

Thank you! It's all about compassion and common sense rather than irrational fear, isn't it? It was a very provocative question, and a good one. Report It

they are suffering because of their own stupidity...I have no pity for them...there are too many of them spreading the disease now, so to post their pictures might save some poor unsuspecting soul the death these diseased ******* are passing out.....let them suffer....

No I dont think so. People with the HIV virus are not child molestors or pedafiles. I feel that would be very hurtful to those people and make them feel like nothing. Hopefully people with HIV do tell the other person they might be interacting with that they have HIV because that would be wrong not to inform them.

No, we don't need to register AIDs patients.... we'll start being more and more like Nazi Germany then.

I don't think so at all. If that were to happen then it stands to reason that every person with any disease whatsoever should have to be posted. I do, however, think that they should wear or carry something which could be found in case of an emergency to notify someone who may be rendering aid that they should do so with extreme caution if there is exposure to blood. I think that is only fair to others.

bad idea

You know most people would say no but I say "YES" but only by choice, if they are asked and agree to the posting. There are many infected people out there who never get checked or get treated and spread this horrible disease day after day. This is mainly due to guilt or embarrassment and not wanting to be embarrassed by going to the free-clinic if you don't have insurance or stand in a line at the public health. I know people out there know that they are not alone with this epidemic but if more people who have the disease stand up and say "Look at me, I have Aids and I am living proof that you can still live a productive life with this disease and I am not ashamed". Then more people would get checked and more people would stand up and say I made a mistake and this is what I am doing to continue to live. This same thing has been done for herpes victims, this is a incurable disease too but when the media uses commercials and there are people on there smiling and jogging doing everyday things and shouting, I have herpes and I still keep hope alive, there are more people talking about it and listening too. I do believe in our right to privacy but for some of those carriers of HIV and AIDS who really need the support of everyday people, living and breathing the same air as they do, we can give them some type of relief and acceptance by doing the simplest thing as showing the faces of their reality.

Hi, That would not be a good idea at all, it have a lot of people with HIV that have been infected in many different ways,, like a health worker getting stick by a dirty needle,,, some children that was born with it ,,,,some of them where raped ,,, some got it from a blood transfusion,,, some from there spouse ,, these people are really suffering at it is and it wasn't there fault ,,, personally i have lost a friend from the HIV virus and she got it from her husband that cheated on her , ,,she found out that she had the HIV when her 1 year old daughter got sick then die,, a week later ,, then when they found out her 2nd daughter that was 8 years old had it she was born with it , she also died ,,then my friend died within 2 years after ,, it was the worst thing that i saw that she went thought,,some of her own family wouldn't even hold her hand,, some people get so hateful towards people with HIV and i think that its a very wrong thing to do,,, it could happen to anyone and i have seen how they suffer so much and my heart just goes out for them,,,,

look now they have people that know that they are HIV positive and infecting people ,, they are killers and those people should be punish and there pictures should be the ones posted not only on the Internet but by every way posible
good luck
leena

With all due respect to you, this is a very stupid question in itself! Hopefully it doesn't come from your English teacher!!