Getting us to talk about HIV

[sunsmogseahorse]

I'm just catching up on this public service announcement by the New York City Department of Health warning of that there are still dangers to acquiring HIV. If you haven't seen it, have a look.

The ad is reported to have met with an outpouring of negative feedback, saying that it's using scare tactics to make gay men conform to safe sex

Comments

[jawnbc]

I agree with you: there needs to be a place for fear in HIV prevention. If there's nothing to fear, what needs to be prevented? "Avoid HIV so your work-related health insurance won't have to pay for expensive pills"?

But the constuction of this is fearmongering--and tabloidesque. Reminds of the ads we see up here to try and sell private health insurance (to cover things like meds, eyeglasses, dental care): scowly sad people...who become shiny when they buy insurance!

[sunsmogseahorse]

I don't think we need to induce fear, rather the attitude lion tamers take toward their animals: a healthy respect. That's much like my attitude when I backcountry ski: I don't feel fear when I think about the potential for avalanches, I'm alert about what I need to observe and how to act to avoid being buried in one. That's different from fear. It's heed.