It is a sad comment to what depths we as human beings can hate ourselves.

There is a surprisingly large number of people who are trying to become HIV positive.  The pursuit defies logic when pondered by most rational people, but the reasons given by HIV seekers for doing what they were doing were varied and sometimes complex.

Re:this is sick ! ........... Bug Chasers

I never knew that this kind of thing existed. Shocking and sad really. I also think it's a perception problem on the part of the bug chasers. As one said in the article, "you take a few pills and go on with your life." I think it would do these guys a service to travel to an aids hospice to interact with people in the end stages of their lives. Or visit someone with no insurance that can't afford the drug cocktail that is making the lives of so many HIV positive people livable. Better yet, maybe they should travel to Africa and look at how Aids is wiping out people of all ages and backgrounds. To put it simply, these people are just not living in reality....if you want to kill yourself, well do it, but don't take others with you. Octavia.

Someone posted a link and I read this article when it first came out over a year ago.
-From RS 915, February 6, 2003-

And Octavia dear, I share your feelings but these guys are past being able to respond to your kind of caring.

-- Modified on 4/25/2004 7:50:48 PM

if you are living in fear of something happening, and so then purposely allow the one thing you fear to have happen, then you no longer have to fear it and can be 'free' because the worst has already happened. It seems to be about fear and freedom, however twisted.
The 'brotherhood' idea..escapes me..but then the whole concept behind being in street gangs is somewhat similar, and their disregard to risk.

I am both shocked and amazed; had no idea this was going on.

Yet I found a strange parallel to my own hobby when one "bugchaser" states in his interview that this is his own "dirty little secret". Seeing providers and/or having multiple partners is considered risky behavior, but it too is my own "dirty little secret". I then read on to hear him speak of seeking out partners online in a secret subculture communtiy that understands and is supportive of his actions,... hmmm starts to sound like a couple of sites I have bookmarked and visit regularly.

Also, I just had this thought. Is this only happening in the gay community? Could this not just as easily have happened in our very own hobby commmunity? Are each and every one of us really that safety conscious to avoid allowing that into our mix? After all we don't truly "know" who our partner is much of the time?

best regards, play safe and be well, mr.man