I have to go and meet some1 that has HIV and i don't want 2? wot do u think?

I work as a Surveyor for a social housing Landlord in my job i go to properties to inspect reported defects by tenants. Someone has aksed me to go and meet a women living with HIV. I know full well that i am not going to catch it but because of social tabo's and the stigma that surrounds the illness i feel funny about it & find myself trying to avoid the appointment I know it's wrong of me.

Ppl at work have suggested going there with someone else but i don't wanna do that because that makes the tennant feel uncomfortable it's my problem not theres

Would you feel ok about going? or would you think twice ?

ANNA YOU SILLY COW how you compare HIV

Ignore everyone who has slated u 4 this Q! I understand why u feel strange, u know u wont catch it, but u aren't sure how to behave around her. of couse u sympathise with her, this is why u are scared to go. its a little bit like when someone's died, and u don't know how to behave around the close friends and relatives.

Just grit your teeth (for want of a better phrase) and get on with it. speak to her as u would any one else. Chances are shes come to terms with her illness, and will just seem like anyone else, not quivering in a corner or anything.

Go for it and GOOD LUCK! im sure it wont be half as bad as u expect!

I wouldn't have a problem going, and i don't think you should either. Like you said, you can't catch it, so what's the problem? Don't be like the rest of society and stigmatise someone just because they have HIV.

i would probably feel like you. just make sure you have no open cuts or anything like that.

I will be honest i would be thinking twice also ... i don`t mean to be rude but i guess its a natural reaction , fear etc .. call in sick that day lol .

I think your being totally irrational to be honest...you know you cant catch it unless of course you plan on drinking some of her blood or having sex with her (and female to male transmission is harder than the other way round).
The point is if you didn't know she had it..(do you think she might be the only person you have ever met who has HIV?)...you wouldn't even think about it so unless the above apply to all your inspections just go and stop being daft!

cDear lord, are you for real??? Providing you are not going to snog this lady, or have intercourse with her, or stab her and bath yourself in her blood, there is not cause for concern.

This lady has a condition that is not like the plague. You cannot catching it by drinking out of her cup or breathing her air. I would strongly suggest that you ask your employers to send you and your colleges on some sort of training session to inform you more of this condition. Sorry, but your ignorance is scary, and so unkind to this poor lady, who may well outlive you hopefully.

GO.... and remember she is a human being with needs, and feelings, and be thankful that for the grace of God its not you being cold shouldered down to such ignorance.

Would you refuse to go and see someone who had cancer? Or someone who was black? Or someone who was gay? Of course not. Someone with HIV is no different. You're not going to catch it, she's not going to go on about it and make you feel uncomfortable. You're supposed to be a professional, doing a job. You already know that there is a stigma attached to what is only an illness - why on earth would you knowingly perpetuate this? Surely this woman deserves your sympathy, and if you can't manage that, then at the very least she deserves your respect a fellow human being, and that means conquering your gut reaction and doing what you know is professional and humane.


Edit: Oh, and thank you for your mature, measured response to my comment. As you clearly don't want to try and understand the point I was making, I'm not going to waste my time trying to explain it again.

Edit again: (sigh) The point I am making is that having HIV (which, incidentally, is not the same thing as AIDS) is - like many other things - not a choice that someone has made. I could also point out that you have asked for our advice - insulting and name-calling the people who are trying to anwer your question in a considered manner is an interesting way to encourage others to answer you. If you feel this strongly about not wanting to associate with somone with HIV, I suggest you tell your boss that you are not willing to go through with this meeting. That's the only solution that I can see.

Good God, stay away!!!

i would go. just act like you dont know about the HIV and treat her normally. she would respect you for that and you could walk away knowing that you helped someone.

i can understand that you may feel odd and uncomfortable, because it is a threatening disease... i dunno wat to say just dont get to close with her but speak to her normally

I would not think twice about it. Go and treat her as you would anyone else. I work in the medical field. You have probably come across many people with HIV, Hepatitis B, C and lots of other diseases - you may even work next to one. The reality is - you cannot tell who has it or who doesn't by looking at them. Example of some myths- All people infected with HIV don't look emaciated. And - All people with hepatitis are not yellow (jaundiced).
They can look "normal", whatever that means...
Even is the person looks very ill - it does not mean they have those diseases. There are lots of possible reasons.

You are not going to catch anything, unless their body fluids mingle with yours. Casual interaction is not a risk. Treat everybody the same.
Once you get over this, your life becomes easier. How do you think medical and social workers work with the very ill?
All people deserve the same treatment. They are not in quarantine.

you are not going to catch it and you know this, so stop being silly, and get it done and over with.

In the course of your job you have probably already been in the houses of people that have HIV, for some reason you are aware of this individuals condition, try to overcome your fear, and go to the appointment.

Actually you need to grow up.
Do you think that you have NEVER been around someone who has HIV? Do you think that this person is going to slash theirself open and bleed all over you hoping that you will catch it.
Ignorance is bliss isn't it? This person doesn't deserve to be discriminated against any more than you do. You don't know this persons life or the circumstances as to how she caught it.
Sometimes horrible things happen to good people. You should treat her as a normal person. As someone who is HIV negative, I would not give it a second thought.
If you don't like it maybe you should quit your job and live in a hole to suit your utopia type attitude

Go visit the lady it's your job, the only way your gonna get over your issue and fear is to go do it. I work with people who are HIV positive on a daily basis they are just like you and me. You would have went if you didn't know she was positive CORRECT.

face your fear and go see this lady...u will only have a brief encounter with her.but she has to live with HIV permanently..put yourself in her situation for a minute..you are not going to catch anything from seeing this woman..and u can continue on with ur life after this..

The women you are afraid to meet already has difficulties.Why add to that by delaying her repairs?
You really need to get over this prejudice,or change your job.Am sure that equal opportunities is part of your job description.This would include disabled people,who have the right to a decent service.
At least you are aware that it is wrong to discriminate,but need to deal with your negative attitude and respect people regardless of their race,religion,age,sex or disability.
P.S. Princess Diana showed compassion to H.I.V. sufferers and was not disrespected for doing so..... take a leaf out of her book.

I understand exactly how you feel, i am a dental nurse and when i first started nursing we saw a number of people with HIV, and due to my own ignorance i refused to nurse with my dentist as i was convinced i was going to end up catching it just by being in the same room as them.
Then one of my best friends was diagnosed with HIV and that was a big wake up call and my ignornace vanished once i understood that i wasn't going to contract hiv through using the same cup as her, or by her sneezing/coughing with me present.
You can contract hiv through Vaginal/oral/anal sex, sharing needles, blood trandfusions, mother to child (if mother is a carrier she can pass it onto her unborn child, piercings and tattoos.
I think the things the scare us the most are always the things we know the least about.
I think you should just bite the bullet and do what your boss is paying you for, and remember you cant catch hiv just by being in the same room as somebody.

I would go, its not like your going to catch anything. I can understand why some people would feel like you do. But think if that was you, how you'd feel if someone didn't want to come to your house just because you had HIV?

You know what the best thing is about this question: In your mind, you have a picture of what you think people with HIV look like. And you are going to be so surprised when you see that she LOOKS TOTALLY FINE, like there is nothing wrong with her. Just go, and you'll see that she doesn't need your shame or pity for her.

then dude your pretty retarded!!!!

Just avoid sharing body fluids with these women and you'll be just fine. It seems that your main problem is your attitude. People are giving you opinions... which, by the way, you DID ask for.... I think. ("wot do u think?") By the way, this would be grammatically correct if you had asked: "What do you think?"

I thing you need to learn to spell.

It's not that bad love!!!

could be worse!!!!

If you don't like it don't do the job hun. Not being rude by the way

:-) Just be polite and treat her like u would anyone else