The New Thread About Nothing

[Fruitbat]

Originally Posted by honeythorn

Oh god yes.. this sums up every single day for me. I naturally have a really blank facial expression , and people are constantly telling me to smile or cheer up very annoying.

I once got told by a woman who loved to big note herself and her pschycology studies that people would like me more if I was happy.

I just walked away from her - seriously she had no idea what was happening in my life, and there was no way she would have listened to my explanation, because my ex was such a great bloke, that he'd never do anything like that to someone.

Seriously, i never really laughed for about 10 years. Had nothing to laugh about.

[Ben Lahnger]

Originally Posted by Saya

They ask you! And I feel like a dick for lying.

Yeah, you don't want to lie about that. You understand why they ask. Isn't the time frame for being cleared to donate again something like 5 years after the last time you slept with him?

[Versus]

Ben knows. He also had sex with a guy who had sex with a guy a long time before he met said guy.

[Ben Lahnger]

^-.^
@-@
...?
._0
.....

[Versus]

For clarification, that guy was not me.

[Ben Lahnger]

Yeah, that was the joke I almost added in black text to that last post.

So it's good that you got that clear.

[Versus]

I've got to clear my corners, as they say.

[Ben Lahnger]

Yeah. Because it wouldn't be funny if someone insinuated you were gay. Oh wait, that would be hellaciously funny!

[Saya]

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

Yeah, you don't want to lie about that. You understand why they ask. Isn't the time frame for being cleared to donate again something like 5 years after the last time you slept with him?

I'm not sure, to be honest. There was a table at school today where students were collecting signatures to end the ban on msm donating blood, but they also had a sheet where you could sign up to give blood on their behalf. It was on that sheet that I read I couldn't, but it didn't mention a time frame. Mind you my blood pressure goes through the roof when I know I'm getting a needle so god knows if I'd get past the blood pressure screening even if I got past the questions XD

I think the reasons for banning gay men from giving blood are pretty bullshit, though, and I know gay guys who lie about it, but it still feels wrong to do so. Also, I suck at lying.

[Ben Lahnger]

Originally Posted by Saya

I think the reasons for banning gay men from giving blood are pretty bullshit, though, and I know gay guys who lie about it, but it still feels wrong to do so. Also, I suck at lying.

I'm not sure which set of statistics to rely on. Is there any definitive evidence that the rate of HIV infection is higher among gay men than it is among the rest of the population?

[Ben Lahnger]

"Crying is useless. If we're in hell, then we must crawl our way up to heaven." - worker at the Fukushima Nuclear Facility in Japan

[Fruitbat]

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

"Crying is useless. If we're in hell, then we must crawl our way up to heaven." - worker at the Fukushima Nuclear Facility in Japan

Hit me right in the heart when I saw the Tokyo firefigthers who volunteered to go spray water on the FNF. They texted or emailed their loved ones to say what they were going to do.

[Saya]

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

I'm not sure which set of statistics to rely on. Is there any definitive evidence that the rate of HIV infection is higher among gay men than it is among the rest of the population?

Statistically in NA they represent the largest demographic, although other demographics are over represented (Natives in Canada for example.) Thing is, a gay couple was in a monogamous relationship for the last five years, they still can't donate, but a woman who engaged in unprotected anal sex several times in her life can do so?

[Ben Lahnger]

Originally Posted by Saya

Statistically in NA they represent the largest demographic, although other demographics are over represented (Natives in Canada for example.) Thing is, a gay couple was in a monogamous relationship for the last five years, they still can't donate, but a woman who engaged in unprotected anal sex several times in her life can do so?

So you're suggesting they should actually be screening more people out?

(I know you're not.)

I'm guessing that women who've engaged in unprotected anal sex are not considered to be in a 'high-risk' group for aids, unless their partner was a man who previously had sex with another man.

It seems to me I've seen this asked and explained somewhere ... it's just been a while since I've seen it.

I notice on this list of requirements from bloodbook.com that a person who is rraped has to wait one year, which is no longer than the deferral for people who get tattoos, piercings or acupuncture, so I am sure it all comes down to statistical analysis.

By the way, they also list this notatification - "For up-to-date information or opinions about American Red Cross rules about Blood donor deferrals, call 1-800-448-3543" - so I'm guessing you might be able to ask the direct question there.


Could there be errors in the decision making that determines what goes on the list - sure. And the standards are always undergoing revisions. But examples like the Congratulations! You Get a New Kidney... and HIV story in Spooky News suggest to me that they need to err extremely on the side of caution ... and that includes working within the statistical evidence they have in hand.

[Saya]

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

So you're suggesting they should actually be screening more people out?

(I know you're not.)

I'm guessing that women who've engaged in unprotected anal sex are not considered to be in a 'high-risk' group for aids, unless their partner was a man who previously had sex with another man.

Unprotected anal sex is why the numbers for gay men are so high, because they are more likely to engage in that behavior and anal sex is the riskiest kind of sex for STD infection. If they're not engaging in that, or they are in a completely monogamous relationship, there's no reason they can't donate.

By the way, they also list this notatification - "For up-to-date information or opinions about American Red Cross rules about Blood donor deferrals, call 1-800-448-3543" - so I'm guessing you might be able to ask the direct question there.

You wound me, sir, did you forget I'm not American?

Could there be errors in the decision making that determines what goes on the list - sure. And the standards are always undergoing revisions. But examples like the Congratulations! You Get a New Kidney... and HIV story in Spooky News suggest to me that they need to err extremely on the side of caution ... and that includes working within the statistical evidence they have in hand.

I'm afraid that's going to be a WE CANT INCLUDE THE GAYS excuse from now on. If you get a piercing, you have to wait a year. I found out I have to wait a year and refrain from having sex with men who have sex with men in that time (You can tear them away from my cold, dead hands!). You can wait a year if you injected heroin before. But if you are a man and you have sex with a man ONCE since the year 1977, you are banned for LIFE, at least here in Canada. Doesn't matter if you used a condom, doesn't matter if it was thirty years ago.

In Canada our donation numbers are dropping, they really need that blood that is just as safe as any other person's blood. The questions should revolve around risky behavior, like unprotected anal sex and sex partner numbers, rather than something you've done a million years ago or with someone you've been with for twenty years monogamously.

[Ben Lahnger]

I didn't forget that you're Canadian. I just figured you're smart enough that you'd know some internet/skype-ey way of calling an 800 number from there, or could find another work-around.

You're probably right about the anti-gay bias. It appears there is no anti-lesbian bias, so it is still in part supported by the higher risk behavior in the gay community. But, there should probably be a correction in the policy and there should probably be some activists somewhere seeking to get it changed.

By the way, I'm amused that it basically still comes down to an honor system ... and if people choose to lie, none of this screening matters.

[Saya]

It is an honor system! But then there's no real easy way to prove or disprove what they're saying. And yeah, we have donation forms for people that will let Canadian Blood Services know that they're doing it on behalf of gay men and they support lifting the ban, and there's an online petition, endtheban.ca.

[waterproof mp3]

Somebody left a dingle berry on the toilet

[Fruitbat]

Originally Posted by waterproof mp3

Somebody left a dingle berry on the toilet

It was me.

[vindicatedxjin]

So, I was chilling on another forum today.

And...

I MISSED GNET. Those people were so lame and horrible. And I couldn't say fuck.

I'll love gnet always and forever!

[Catch]

Wooo! Tiny Cardigans!

[Stormtrooper of Death]

It's supposed to be rather nice today, so they say.

[Solumina]

The theme of today was bodily functions outside of the potty. I did not appreciate this theme, especially the pee in the sauna that made the whole place smell awful.

[Ben Lahnger]

Originally Posted by Solumina

... especially the pee in the sauna that made the whole place smell awful.

Eeewwwwwwwww!

[Solumina]

Yeah it wasn't fun. Neither was the poop in the pool, but at least that didn't really smell, and the puke was outside so it didn't really do much to alter my day,