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NYC Uses Blunt, Scary Images for HIV Ad

But critics say it's too negative, ineffective

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2011 4:04 PM CST

(Newser) – New York City's health department loves its blunt ads, and a new one on HIV is drawing familiar criticism for being too graphic and negative, reports the New York Times. The spots on TV and YouTube warn gay men that even though HIV is now treatable, the disease still takes a devastating toll on the body, with increased odds of everything from osteoporosis to anal cancer. The tagline: "When you get HIV, it's never just HIV."

Critics say it perpetuates tired stereotypes. "Portraying gay and bisexual men as dispensing diseases is counterproductive,” says the chief executive of Gay Men's Health Crisis. “Studies have shown that scare tactics are not effective.” And from the opposition, author Larry Kramer: “This ad is honest and true and scary, all of which it should be. HIV is scary, and all attempts to curtail it via lily-livered nicey-nicey ‘prevention’ tactics have failed.” A city official says the intent is to counteract drug ads that make the disease seem like "a walk in the park."

A screen grab from one of the ads.
A screen grab from one of the ads.   (YouTube)
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Here's one of the ads.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
HMunster
Jan 5, 2011 7:24 PM CST
If you go in the out door (unprotected) bad things are going to happen. Straight or gay...
fractal
Jan 5, 2011 12:57 PM CST
The statistics show that those passing/getting HIV are as follows: People of ANY orientation who engage in high risk behaviors, especially those who do not protect themselves. This includes: Needle users who do not use sterile equipment. ANY needles, including tattoo and steroid related. Anyone who is the "catcher" in anal sex has higher risk then the "pitcher". Condoms work until they break, which is higher risk with anal sex. Anyone who already has an active STD is more likely to catch HIV with unprotected sex---inflamed tissue picks up germs easier. It is certainly not impossible, but it is less likely to pick up HIV with oral sex then anal or vaginal. If your partner is in the early (undetectable) stages of HIV, they do not yet have the antibodies killing the virus. This is one of the two times they are MOST likely to pass HIV, the other being when they are in full fledged AIDS, and their immune system is overwhelmed. Men who are on the "down-low" are in deep denial, and are quite likely to forgo condoms. They are very likely to pass HIV on to their partners, male and female. Women are more likely to get any STD, including HIV, from a man then vice versa. Sorry, ladies, but your vaginal tissues soak up the germs easier then the skin of the penis. The one time this is not true is when the woman has a blood borne infection and is on her period. At that time, the man is also at high risk. Statistics also show clearly that men are WAY more likely to give a STD to a partner then a woman is, because men tend to have more sex partners, are less discerning in their choice, and do not care if they pass along disease. In studies, MANY college men admit to having unprotected sex while KNOWING they may likely already have a STD. They simply did not feel it was their responsibility to inform or protect partner. People with the personality type of: Extroverted+need for high levels of stimulation in life+poor boundaries in inter-personal relationships. While these people are great fun to be around, think twice before having unprotected sex with them. Baby boomers, who are less likely to use condoms, because they falsely think their partner is too old to be exposed. Men who have been incarcerated for more then a few months. Alcohol abusers are much more likely to carry STD's, because they engage in so many risky behaviors. Minority women right now are getting HIV quickly, mostly from their male partners. Minority men have the highest rates of HIV, because of engaging in risky behaviors while unprotected. Speedy drugs like meth, cause sexual behavior, but often no orgasm. Tissues get inflamed, partners get swapped, immune system is lowered with drug, judgment is non-existent..... Teens, who are first experimenting with sex, just do not protect themselves adequately, are more likely to experience condom failure, and more likely to be initiated into sex by older, skankier, partners. Those who frequent prostitutes, or have sex with those that do, have greater chance of catching HIV. In essence, this is all about BEHAVIORS NOT SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
PrestoEnigma
Jan 5, 2011 1:48 AM CST
If you can't see through this that I don't know what to say. AIDS/HIV is a lie. Gov't has done is since the 80's for population control of the unwanteds (gays/druggies/blacks/etc). HIV is harmless, it is when you get diagnosed is the problem, they make you take AZT which destroys all human cells, you slowly die. Some take 2 years, some take 10. Watch the documentary that recently came out, it is called House of Numbers. Peace be to all.
 

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