Alarming Increase in HIV Cases

Recently there has been a lot of interesting articles regarding the increase of HIV cases throughout the world.

I was wondering, why is that so. Why do these men put themselves into such a situation? Is it that difficult to use a condom?? Sometimes, i really do wonder.

To me, it looks like many who have multiple partners, don't seem to care that there is an officially deadly sexually transmited disease going on. That it is necessary to put that nice little latex condom around their penis before they put their nice penis into someone else's hole. Why is it soooo difficult?? Can someone tell me?

I do not want to generalise anyone or anything. This concerns ALL OF US. It is not the fault of homosexuals, only. It is the fault of those, who do not want to use a condom during sex. That means, hetero-, bi- and homosexuals, men and/or women.

I have seen my gay friends being prepared and carrying condoms with them or even deny (!) sex if the other part didn't want to use condoms. I give them a big applause!
I have even seen lesbians, who do carry latex handgloves with them and put them on before having sex!! Even women do have safe sex. What's the big deal in protecting one's life before enjoying it fully?!

Having an open relationship is one's choice. Go have your fun, but please, protect yourself!

Maybe it's an ego thing with men, no? I don't know. I just question it. Or maybe it's because it doesn't give one the "right" feeling. You do not feel as much as without a condom... Well then... take the responsibility in your own hands and do the following:

1. have a check up. Go for a HIV test and if it does come out positive,
2. do not blame it on others, but yourself and please,
   
3. next time you are about to have a condom-free sex:
   let your partner know that you are positive!!

THAT is being responsible! 3 very little steps, if you do want to have the full pleasure of sex without a condom.

Does it sound complicated?! NO!
It's YOUR life. It's OTHER'S life you are playing with. Don't be selfish. Think of others!

And if life is so worthless, as it does seem like then jump off the bridge and commit suicide. At least, it won't hurt anyone else, but yourself and your own family and friends. There are other people on this earth, who believe that life is worth a lot. Don't take it away from them.

Am i being very mean? Maybe. Maybe am just and simply telling the actual truth. A short reality check on a blog. If i am really wrong in saying all this, please leave me a comment. I needed to say it out loud, because i can't believe that there are still people being so irresponsible for their choices of not using a condom. I am not saying, it is wrong to not use a condom. What i want to say in this issue is:

If you do not use a condom, take the responsibility towards others and let them know.
This is the least you can do for others and yourself.

To protect does not only mean "use a condom", but also "be responsible for your own choices"

Protect other's life, if you do not want to protect your own.

Own Opinions and Copyrights

Having own opinions about any topic is the simplest right given to us in every country of this world. Opinions are copyrighted automatically and can be used to influence other's opinion, by right. But when it comes to re-use these thoughts and ideas, what are the "rights" behind it? Can we just "copy/paste" these thoughts and proclaim it to be ours? Or do they need to be stated in a footnote or at least in brakets?

In my previous issue "' YES ' to Partnership Legalisation (engl.)" i did give a neutral statement of facts i gathered together in order to write an issue statement regarding the votes going on in Switzerland. I stated links of where i took the facts and mentioned regarding to whom certain citations have been gained from.

This type of "information gathering" is the correct way in doing a research, as i am just a messenger of what i have found in order to create my own opinion to a certain topic. When ever i stated my own personal opinion, i stated it in brakets or mentioned it.

After reading the one and only comment on the issue i've mentioned above, i wondered if this person actually copy pasted the entire report she found somewhere (maybe including the nickname?) or if she actually wrote, literally, the words. It is still a mystery to me.
Soon i got to several hypothesis:

• Does the person actually understand what she "wrote" about?
• Did she understand my article?
  
• Why doesn't she reply to the questions i've mentioned in my article?
• Did she actually read my article?
• Does she know the difference between "murderer", "watching pornography", "being homosexual" and "being hungry"??

Her conclusion was a bit too brutal, in my opinion, by putting homosexual = murderer = pornography and more (if interested, read the comment under the article on partnerships).

Plagiarism is an illigal act unless you stated from whom you get your information and what are the links. I am still amazed to see how many are actually still copy/pasting their "works" done and research by others.

Doing a research is not just reading about an article, but to understand the meaning, the moral and the idea put across the article and then to re-write your own opinion in your own words.
Too many youngsters are still doing their so-called research in a copy/paste way, not realising that this is not the point of a learning outcome. Plagiarism can't be penalised at school, unless it's with a low grade, but in real life, when you start working, yes, it can be very costly. Not only for you, but for the company your are working for.

Having an opinion is not illegal, therefore i encourage people who read my issues and site to give comments on anything. But please, if you do so, try not to copy other people's work without knowing what you actually copy from.

And last, but not least, YOUR opinion is the most precious one you can have. Don't copy someone's opinion. If you don't have an opinion, no big deal. Go get informations about it BEFORE you actually open your mouth. Know what you are talking about in order to make a discussion and being able to argue with VALUABLE points.

Don't be a cow that re-vomits what just got vomited before. This is not the point in growing mentally.

Growing is gathering knowledge.

Therefore:
Knowledge = Information = Research = Own Opinion

For those who don't know what "Plagiarism" means, check www.dictionary.com/plagiarism

' YES ' TO PARTNERSHIP LEGALISATION (engl.)

In most European countries the legalisation of the partnership for homosexuals is a very ongoing topic right now. The latest being in Switzerland where Zurich and Geneva legalised it already.

On the 5th June 2005 there is going to be a votation about legalising partnership among homosexuals. Switzerland is giving a possibility for homosexuals to have a legal paper stating their status. You have to know that this partnership is not a marriage. Below are the differences between both status:

Like Marriage

• no discrimination regarding: taxes, housing, retirement
• in case of the visit in the emergency room, the partner is concidered as family memeber (!!)
• in case of death, the partner is erning the will and is first on the list
• requires a legal divorce

Alike Marriage

• there is no "fiancé/e" nor "Yes, i do!" word
• there is no common last name
• no easy entitlment for a citizenship or passport, in case the partner is a foreigner
  
• no adoption or artificial insimination allowed

As you can see the differences are not big of a deal (in my opinion). I think that this new law will be able to re-inforce the possibility of stability for homosexuals.

Right now, i believe that homosexual relationships are unstable. Many are having several partners in their lives if not during a relationship already...! The "moral" of monogamy is very tiny, in my opinion. Be it for lesbians as for gays.

In order to have some other point of views, let me give you examples for both side of the world.

Gays
Some of my gay friends, even if they are "married", they are still seeing other guys at the same time. Sometimes it may be settled like that within their relationship, which is fine as long as they protect themselves. Yet, there are other gays in a relationship who will see some others without their partner(s) knowing. Thank god some of them protect themselves, but unfortunatelly, there are plenty (still!) who don't.

In Singapore we have those so called Saunas, where the gays meet every day just for a simple "f***". They only pay an entry fee of about S$5 (SFr. 3.00), you receive a tiny face towel (...), you walk into a dark area and what happens in there is absolutely up to you. "You can sit in a corner and just wait until a cock passes by you" said one of my gay friend, who is married to his boyfriend of 10 years.

The profile of the "gay male" is really bad unfortunatelly. This constant "F****** around" doens't give them the right credit for some, who are not part of this category.

In my opinion, i think that the last category i have mentioned is a minority of the minority.

Lesbians

Since i am in Singapore i have been constantly shocked about the differences in "labels" that exist. "What are labels?" you may ask. Strangely even in the homosexual community there are discriminations of a different kind...! There are several basic labels to know:

• Butch - more masculine type. Gestures and the way of talking very much like a guy. Some of them also bind their breast flat.
  
• Femme - very feminine type. Make-up, mini skirt etc. Girlish behaviors.
  
• Andro - can be both types. They are neither butch nor femme. They may look more masculing, but their behaviors are feminine. They can look feminine, but can act tomboyish. Most of the andro really don't care about thelabels.

In each category there are 1-3 more sub-categories of labels, which make the entire labeling system a bit confusing. Hence, i shall not go into these now.

Their lifestyle varies quite a bit from the gays. Lesbians are more likely to be either jobless or not really motivated in having a career. They are "the dreamy" types. I think it is due to their feminine nature of being very sensitive and emotional. Hence, many unfortunatelly react very badly to break-ups, which lead some to suicide.
These are a few informations on the different lifestyles of both gay sexes.

I believe that this partnership will allow homosexuals to find a stability in where they can rely on like everyone does. Give "monogamy" its definition back and give them the possibility of getting responsible of their life without being discriminated.

Sadly, many believe it is not necessary to give them such "priviledge". Some still believe it is "a public offence", like Singapore still bans any gay activity openly. Yet, the Singapore government got a bit more open to this subkect than 4 years ago, where it was difficult to just use the word "homosexual".

Questions
(please state the number you are responding to, if you do answer these questions in the comment box. Thank you!)

1. Do you believe it can help the straight society in understanding homosexuals?
2. Can this new law improve the responsibilities among homosexuals?
3. Would you vote for "yes" or "no" for this initiative? Explain why.