STD Hater-Aid
Were I to say The STD Project’s mission is an easy endeavor and one without challenges or opposition, I would be lying to each and every one of you and losing sight of the very motto The STD Project is perpetuating: Be Authentic ~ Break the Stigma!
While I believe it is imperative to the mission itself I challenge other’s preconceived STD notions and encourage constructive dialogue amidst the sharing of our unique stories, it is without question, in doing so, opposition and sometimes, harmful words will be exchanged.
Consequently, I have decided to address a particularly nasty comment I recently heard.
I’d love to be able to tell my readers everyone is always uplifting, supportive, and kind to one another. (So far, the vast majority have been!) However, were that entirely the case, this mission would be without merit. (I look forward to the day though!) In the meantime, I’ll share the not-so-wonderful side of contracting an STD and living with an STD too.
And then, as quickly as I write about it, I’ll drop it. (Of course, if you have an opinion, you are welcome to comment.)
Lastly, while reading what comes next, remember to look at this as a growth opportunity and without complete animosity toward the people who have said these horrible things… They, too, may change their minds one day and it is important The STD Project is willing to love them, respect their opinions, and demonstrate understanding when they do! :-)
Sleeping with as many people as possible in order to spread your STD
My initial response to this includes expletives inappropriate for the website. Something along the lines of, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I’m not even certain whether to laugh or be terribly offended…
To boot, I’ve heard this from more than one unrelated person: I was so angry about contracting an STD I proceeded to sleep with as many people as possible in order to spread my STD – a different iteration included me wanting to hurt as many men as possible. (Read more about my opinion on anger and STDs in this post.) It was/is such an outlandish accusation I didn’t even want to address the sentiments at all, but then I began to chew on it.
Having heard this from two people, I wondered if people actually believed someone else would do something like that?!?!? Again with the shock.
However, I remember having heard something similar about people who had contracted HIV/AIDS years prior. At the time, I thought it a horrible thing to do to someone else and I never really thought about it again – until now. Back then, I believed someone probably had done it because that’s what I heard. Yes, I was also naive, probably high-school age, and I believed most things I heard – gossip spreads like the plague, er, better yet, like STDs!
I was guilty of buying into it (the gossip, that is) as so many people are.
So, I thought about the whole concept some more. Could I believe people really were so mad about contracting an STD they would want others to experience the same thing and thus would proceed to share their bodies with as many people as possible?
To be honest, I don’t want to believe it.
Am I aware of all the horrible injustices and rotten things people do to one another all over the world? Yes. I still don’t believe this is true for most people.
I don’t believe most people contracting an STD would wish their worst enemy to suffer the embarrassment, horror, fear, etc. people generally feel upon first contracting an STD. This would also mean they would be subjecting themselves to other STDs. Isn’t one awful enough? This would mean the people who contract STDs are all rotten, vengeful, hateful people.
Here’s the catch – STDs don’t discriminate. They don’t pick the meanest, most cruel people and infect only them. They can be contracted by anyone – even the people who say mean things about others. An STD doesn’t stop and ask a person how often they do nice things for others.
No.
Needless to say, after digesting the comment and deciding how I felt about the sentiments, I decided to feel badly for the individuals who would believe it.
It is completely illogical, and it illustrates a lack of knowledge and a complete disregard for others.
If you happen to also be of that belief, I encourage you to take a closer look. Do some research (there is some great info here and here) and inform yourself. I think you’ll be surprised by the things you learn.
And for goodness sake, and the sake of all my readers, Get Yourself Tested – else, you may also be accused of sleeping with as many people as possible in an attempt to spread your STD!
The STD Project will not rest until it has challenged these misconceptions – one individual at a time if need be.
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Do you think people would intentionally infect others? Have you experienced a similar opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
- The 1st Time I Heard About STDs
- STD? What Now? Your Ultimate Reference Guide
- STD Interviews
- Do you have a similar story? Would you like to share your story in an STD Interview (publicly or anonymously)?
- STDs – The New Scarlet Letter
- Does this post enrage you, make you nod your head in agreement, or hurt your feelings? Tell us why in the comments below!!! Or, send me a message on the contact page…
- About The STD Project
About Jenelle Marie
FYI, although it certainly doesn’t apply to most people, some people DO intentionally spread STDs, including HIV. When I studied abroad years ago, the village I was in was in an uproar upon the confession and suicide of a man who had intentionally had unprotected sex with at least 3 dozen women, knowing he had HIV. There was the dentist a while back injecting people under his treatment with his infected blood. And more recently, there’s this guy: http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/Pauls_Valley_man_accused_of_intentionally_spreading_HIV_143894626.html
Thank you for your comment! Quite possibly the story about the village and the 3 dozen women was the one I heard years ago. Albeit, I have no idea. I wonder if the majority of those cases could be prevented were the overall view of STDs – especially STDs that can be life-threatening – changed? While the life-threatening aspect can only be reduced to a certain extent, I think the knowledge of how prevalent they are and how living with them is often hassle-free would go a long way toward curbing the instantaneous judgement afforded to so many of those living with an STD.