AIDS-the truth is actually reported? The New York Times has an article on AIDS-and its spread in the mid-late 1990s. Here are some choice quotes:

The rates of unawareness among minority gay men ages 15 to 29 in the study were staggeringly high. Among those found to have H.I.V., the AIDS virus, 90 percent of blacks, 70 percent of Hispanics and 60 percent of whites said they did not know they were infected. Most of these infected men perceived themselves to be at low risk of being infected, despite having engaged in frequent high-risk sex like unprotected anal intercourse, said Duncan MacKellar, an epidemiologist from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which conducted the study. .... "The study shows that the very men who are at greatest risk of H.I.V. infection are those who are least likely to think they are at risk," Mr. Wilson said. "That's a direct call to develop not only new prevention messages but also new messengers."

Please note the "perceived themselves" part. This reminds of studies that show stupid people perceive themselves to be pretty smart and competent. Frankly-only an idiot would engage in high-risk sex and think-"Oh well, I know all the partners this slut has been with."

Disease centers officials, who are responsible for tracking the AIDS epidemic in the United States, reported that 55 percent of new H.I.V. infections in 25 states from 1994 through 2000 were among blacks, who make up only 12 percent of the population in the United States. Blacks have also accounted for most new H.I.V. infections in the United States since 1994. In 1995, blacks surpassed whites in the percentage of Americans who had a diagnosis of AIDS. In 2000, the latest year for which data are available, blacks accounted for 43 percent of AIDS cases, whites for 34 percent. Hispanics, who make up 13 percent of the population, accounted for 21 percent of the cases. Other ethnic groups accounted for the rest.

It seems that most AIDS ads I've seen recently that weren't targeted featured straight whites in their 20s. How interesting. Remember all the talk about how we are going to have a "heterosexual AIDS epidemic" just like Africa at some point. Well-we are seeing the beginning-but not in the general population. In fact, it is occurring in the African-derived segment of our populace.

Gay men account for the largest proportion of new H.I.V. infections, or 43 percent, followed by people infected by heterosexual sex, 27 percent, and intravenous drug users, 23 percent. Among those who acquired H.I.V. through heterosexual sex, black women accounted for nearly half from 1994 through 2000; black male heterosexuals accounted for an additional 25 percent, for a total of 75 percent, a hugely disproportionate share of infections in the United States, Dr. Valdiserri said.

Bingo! Now are we going to get a retraction for all the alarmist crap we've heard for 15 years? Notice how much of the article was just data. There wasn't that much analysis-and I think this is the reason-uncomfortable facts are staring people in the face. The United States has been swamped with information for 15 years about AIDS. Who doesn't know how it's transmitted here? You can't use the excuse that you use in Third World countries-that people just need to know and they'll make the right decisions. The fact is it's more than that- impulsive behavior is the problem. People smoke knowing it causes cancer. Does it surprise us that people have sex knowing it may mean their life in 10-30 years? In fact, let me bring my personal experience into the equation. As a single male in his 20s, I am in certain situations-where I could be impulsive. It takes a certain amount of will-power to not get involved in something that maybe dangerous. I even take measures to avoid being in tempting circumstances (you know what I mean). But I know that if given enough chances-enough of a bait, any human being would take a stupid risk and sacrifice their long-term heath for short-term gratification. The problem is-shall I say it-some people are just too stupid to think things out and can't overcome their appetites, and more importantly, they don't plan out their activities that will prevent them from having to make difficult decisions repeatedly. I do think opportunity is a big part of it. Gay men are (in my experience) not especially stupid (I've read that have seven times as many doctorates as the general population). But the rise in risky sex has been documented-and the continuance of the AIDS epidemic in that community has been noted despite nearly 20 years of education and fear. But unlike heterosexual men, homosexual men have constant sexual opportunities-men being who they are. I still blink a bit when a homosexual male friend of mine tells me he's only had 150 sexual partners. Of those-I'm sure the vast majority were safe, but all of them? The second part of the above statistics that weren't analyzed in depth was the racial angle. I suspect black males have fewer opportunities than gay men-but let us say that their planning and the priorities of their culture work against them making the prudent-if less pleasurable-decision in a given situation. The high rates of teenage pregnancy are a direct testament to the lack of safe sex in that community. So is education the answer? I really don't know-how much more education do Americans really need? Afterthought: Remember the circumcision data coming out a few years ago? The idea was that if you encouraged circumcision in African (and to a lesser extent Asian) countries it would reduce the spread of HIV. But there was little mention of the circumcision of Europe. Why is this? Well-because Europeans take responsible sexual measures. If they were patronizing racists-they would just come out and say that blacks and southeast Asians can't be expected to show the same level of forethought as their un-cut European brethren. So the only solution is to cut the ends of their pricks off. Related note: The BBC is reporting that the AIDS vaccine is 5 years down the road. Good news ladies & gentlemen! Get ready to spread the legs and whip off the condoms. HIV immunity?: This site has a good summation of the receptors and their affect on HIV infection. Thanks to David for pointing in the right direction.