HIV AI...

 

This piece from HIV.gov is about how & if the site will use generative AI.  Calling this an article would be off, it's more like an opening to a dialog.  A back & forth HIV.gov is inviting to see about how & if they will use AI in the efforts to confront HIV & aid those living with the virus.   

This is a very scant bit, but they asking for people to join in their efforts as they explore the possibilities of utilizing AI on the site.   Give it a read.  Add your input if you have something to contribute.  

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

At & Down...

 

Often when I watch TV,  especially informative shows, it seems many people have lost the ability to communicate.  They don't speak or don't listen.  Many shout, thinking it'll make their point come across stronger.  Others talk at people or down to them.  They've have talked about the lost art of  communication for decades, maybe they're right.

A lot of us aren't better on the  other end either.   We hear the words, but we don't listen to the meaning.  Often, we're looking for slights & agendas.  We're preparing our counter statement.  This isn't conversation,  it's  war.  This isn't debate either.  In a debate, opponents listen to each other's points to better rebut them. 

This seems to be the case everywhere.  It's rare these days to see an actual discussion on TV.  It's a heated argument, cause serving congruity or disconnected snippets.

If, as a society, we can't get on the same page long enough to have a polite conversation with equity, standards & decorum, it's done.  There isn't a society.  There's only circling barbarian tribes clubbing at each other.  

If this society can't find common ground & move forward, it's game over.

Cya...

Simple Piece & Plans...

This piece is simple & not very informative.  It's about the 1st time a clinician had to inform a patient they were HIV+.  It somewhat covered prevention & how many people still haven't been tested.  It wasn't groundbreaking, but it was important because it was the start of a conversation.  

We don't talk about HIV much anymore.  We make commercials & stand on soap boxes. But actual conversations have been lacking.  Talking & education will raise awareness & help in the fight against HIV as many as medication.   Why is that so hard to understand?

So far, we have nothing to do today.  Tomorrow is trash.  Thursday morning, I'll go to my dentist to finish this crown.   Friday will be shopping.   Next week will be Thanksgiving.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Conversation Change...

Short post this morning.  I'd just like to make point & then I'm done for the day.   I've noticed a trend in articles about how the conversation concerning HIV has changed.  It allegedly has become more sophisticated, accurate, embracing, etc... These  writers want to make it to seem as if talk about the virus is becoming for lack of better of word, more positive.  

It may very well be evolving into something more palatable  less emotive than it was in the past.  It may be a topic we can handle  in regards to PrEP, being undetectable, regimens & the like.  However, even if the talk is more tolerable, it's only being seen as acceptable in certain venues.  Unfortunately these populations were groups already supportive of the idea.   For  less involved people, many living with fear, living with hate or stigma, the conversation hasn't changed.  It's still the same talk it always has been. For some it's still very dangerous.

The people pushing this are trying to spin their point to make it seem more people are being embracing of those living with HIV than is accurate.  They're hoping they can lead the population to be more civil with little lies to herd them.  "See, everyone else is fine with it.  Why aren't you?"  Why is it seen as spin when allegedly good people do & gas lighting when those deemed as awful employ the same tactics. 

The conversation is only improving in populations where it was already being discussed in a civil manner.   Everywhere else is still reacting pretty much the same to it & some areas are actually worse.   The point these writers made was misleading.  

Cya..

Not Enough...

Everyday, I read about a new HIV cluster in an American city.  I hear about how the south is still high among those transmitting HIV.  I see articles about the opioid crisis & it's relation to communicable illnesses.   These pieces go over the facts.  They show outrage & concern.  But they also exemplify something above all.  Whatever is being done, is nowhere near enough.  

We need to study future treatments.  We need to insure access to meds & doctors.   But, we should be focusing on the base, prevention.  Which will only come through education & awareness.  It will happen when we stop judging people & things & look closely at what's leading these people to acts that put them at high risk for contracting HIV or other illnesses.

But, that requires something we don't seem to like to do any more.  It calls for genuine interaction.  It calls for real conversations.  It means we need to be present, listening & really seeing what's at the core of this issue.  What puts these people at such risk & what can realistically be done about it.   

I probably lost a lot of people when I mentioned real conversations.   Sadly, meaningful conversation & interaction have fallen out of favor for what some see as more efficient means of communication; social media, texting, emojis...   Surely a smiley face will cure all our woes.

Until people are ready to get down into the dirt of the matter, nothing will change.  Sending cute emojis, posting pics or signing online petitions won't be enough to end this.  These people need understanding.  They need to be seen as individuals if they'e going to be reached.

Is real conversation truly a lost art?

Cya...

Really Quiet...

It's still really quiet regarding articles over HIV.  There are a few, but most of them are discussing tangent issues, non-issues, recaps or dealing with celebrities.   It seems to be this way with most news right now. Unless, it's specifically political, pro or con,  it's news fluff or not even that.  

On of the things this election & the past year cost us seems to be the ability to truly communicate.  There a lot of people talking, but few listening, even fewer actually conversing.  Conservation does seem to be the great. lost art.  This is what will actually cost us more than anything.  We must communicate & that doesn't mean shouting & arguing.

I really hope the articles pick up soon.  The lack of these articles is just a symptom of how things are going in this post election society.   It's hard to start a conversation, when most people are having such a difficult time just being civil.

Cya...

We Shut Up...

This article is about  how we don't talk about HIV & AIDS anymore, not really.  When I was a teen & 20 something, back during the '80s & '90s, there was info on HIV everywhere.  It was on billboards, magazine insets, posters at school.  There were drag shows & benefits held at gay bars to give to AIDS charities helping people living with HIV.    You couldn't turn to any form of media without HIV eventually showing up in the conversation.  

They thought they were helping by getting the word out there.  But, the way they approached it, all it accomplished was desensitizing the public to the subject.   We were bombarded & overwhelmed.    HIV was a scary & highly stigmatized subject in the 90's.   All this info overload was taxing &  isolating.  Most adverts were aimed at highly, sexually active gay men & IV drug users.  Not something, a lot of people wanted to be associated with back then or now.

People got tired of hearing about it,  People always get annoyed hearing things they don't want to after a while.  No matter how relevant. I wondered if some of that wasn't intentional on some groups part.  Let's desensitize them to this & they'll get lax on the matter.  

If that was the case, it's working.  HIV is spreading due to ignorance & lack of communication.  Treatment as prevention isn't going to stop HIV. We need serious & genuine conversation.  We need to talk about the issue, not have it blasted at us by 50' billboards or unnerving magazine inserts.   We need to discuss the topic & promote awareness, risks, testing, treatment & understanding.

We need to use our words again.  Not as a judgement or a means to separate, but as a means to unite & move forward against HIV.

Cya...

Quiet Tuesday, But The Goats...

The weather's mellowed out & it's been a nice day here.  There's not much that needs tending to today.  So, I'm just letting things be.

It's been pretty quiet, except for the goats.  I live in town, but for some reason 3 neighbors within a block have goats.  These goats can't see each other, but they can hear the others.  They bleat & baa at each other for hours.  Occasionally a local dog puts in its bit.  That's not counting the neighbor's rooster who can't tell time.  Between them, there's been a steady stream of conversation all day. 

Hope everyone's doing well.

Cya...

Conversations Stopped...

I've talked a lot about being a person on the fringes, being marginalized for whatever reason.   Whether it's being gay, ethnic, female, trans, + or whatever, there's always some way in which the deck is stacked against you.    This hetero-normative world prefers things in their little pigeon holes & has White males at the top of the pyramid.   

It sucks & a lot of people get discriminated daily just on the basis of not being white, hetero male in this society.   Its a serious issue & should be talked about.  It should be addressed.   

But, we have to deal with the fact no amount of litigation or civil law is going to intrinsically change how people respond to us.   It isn't illegal for a racist person to be racist.  As long as he doesn't actively discriminate against you in some legally protected way, he's within his rights.  Not saying he's not an ass, but he's not breaking any laws.

Some of us in these fringe communities have gotten too sensitive to these others.   Some of us have fought so hard for so long, we just see everything as a slight.  Some want the fight just for the drama. 

Take the gay cake fiascoes that keep getting talked about in the news.  OK, I'm gay & if someone refused to handle my business I'd move on to the next baker.  No way, I'd try to force someone to handle my cake, they'd probably spit in it.  

I'd never go to that bakery again. I'd write every bad review I could.  But, I wouldn't take them to court,  If I was a baker, there'd be plenty of things I wouldn't want to put on my cakes.  I'd avoid politics, religion & racial things.  I wouldn't want to produce a hateful cake.  That'd be my bakery & my name.

Again, I am gay & if someone doesn't want to deal with me, it doesn't make it a gay issue.  They could just have a problem with me personally.  They may be in a bad place themselves.  Even if it was because I'm gay, so what?  Trying to force thing would most likely only worsen the issue.  

We, the marginalized, can become so jaded we're locked & loaded, ready for a fight.  We can see slights where there were no meant.  We can choose worthless battles over meaningful wars.   We need to choose our fights & hold back on cries of indignation until we're sure of the situation.  If not people will think we're just milking the issue.  Is that all we're doing?  Maybe some of us, just like the attention.

Cya...

Attention Getting...

I took a little longer than I thought for the power to blip out, taking the net with it.  It did happen but came right back on.  Still the storms have been noteworthy.  Its likely there will be a lot of flooding from this.

On to other things attention grabbing.   Recently a magazine was printed in HIV + blood or so it claims.  Google it for the exact issue.  The point is the editor of the Vangardist claimed it did so to get people talking about HIV again.  

OK, yes there has been less communication about HIV than there were in the past.  Yes, we do need to rekindle those conversations.  But, was printing a magazine in blood really the right way to promote the issue?  

HIV is a serious topic & shouldn't be relegated to getting attention via stunts & gimmicks.  If they won't listen to the conversation, then we keep talking.  Eventually some will.  Unfortunately, many will only listen after HIV has impacted their lives. Provocative speech is important,  but stunts will only undermine the exchange.

Cya...