Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 01:04:50 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772947
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 388
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 354
Total: 356

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: AIDS Conference carnival  (Read 3300 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline hope4love

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Every Problem has a Solution.
AIDS Conference carnival
« on: August 23, 2012, 02:11:10 pm »
Conferences on any issue questions the outcome, outcome effectiveness, future plan of action.. or it's just a get together carnival. Here an excerpt from an from AIDS conference. will be interesting to know your personal experiences from such conferences..

http://www.firstpost.com/world/why-i-wont-miss-the-aids-conference-carnival-387721.htmlhttp://
Jan 2009 - Sero Negative
Jan 2010 - Sero Positive
               CD4 - 275, VL - 18,000
Oct 2010 - CD4 - 241, Started - Vonavir; Oct 2011 - CD4 - 474;Jan 2012 - CD4-620; Aug 2012-CD4-600, VL- UD; Jan 2013 CD4-493, VL-72 IU/ml   (Blip)

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2012, 04:27:15 pm »
I think he's pretty bitter. (Or is the author a she?)

"Is there a single breakthrough that came out of these conferences recently other than profane declarations and meaningless publications? Most certainly no."

What is your opinion?

i have a friend who works at UN AIDS in Geneva.  He makes some of the same criticisms about the conference "stars".  Except he (a first worlder) talks about how its a bit icky feeling when they are from resource poor countries.  The author lambasts stars from rich countries for spending money, saying it could have gone to the poor.  Really odd, its an American!  And America sends by FAR the most in AIDS funding to poor countries. The criticism sounds off. 

My friend is VERY careful to say that the downsides comes with the territory of ANY sort of professional conferencing, especially in health care.

Really if you've been to any sort of international conferencing you get the good and bad.  I don't think you can throw out the baby with the bathwater (the bathwater being waste and hubris among a few). 

(Ill give you a similar scenario. I worked for years in the USA in high society cultural philanthropy.  I remember the first time I saw 200,000 USD in flowers in a ballroom for a one-night event.  They were freaking amazing, but still!  Cleared over a million for the cause.  But all those ball gowns, decor, catering. ANd 200 GRAND in flowers!  All you could say is, it keeps A LOT of service people in work, all that money circulating, and the cause still got 1 million.) 

The one sentence sum-up, which is a severe put down, is misleading and offensive.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2012, 04:37:28 pm by mecch »
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline leatherman

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 8,593
  • Google and HIV meds are Your Friends
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2012, 05:09:49 pm »
while I can understand some of the criticisms, I was more disturbed by the author's wrong-headed notion about "AIDS exceptionalism"

Quote
No other disease has a dedicated conference of such a scale. Of course, no other disease also has so much money, so many organisations and so many people dedicated to it.

Malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable epidemics blight the world, but they don’t have dedicated conferences where people sing and dance, present “papers” say the same things again and again and make declarations.

This is called AIDS-exceptionalism, wherein people argue that AIDS is different.

Up until a lot of activists, advocates, nurses, doctors, patients, hospices, friends, and families put effort into stopping the epidemic in America, little was being done. Without all that hard work, vocalizations, and protests maybe the epidemic would still be raging the way it was.

I'm sorry that not enough people in the world care about "Malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable epidemics" to make this author happy.

But I'm also not sorry at all that enough people cared about the thousands of people (gay men mostly) in America, that were dying those gruesome deaths, to stand tall and make a difference. That money, organizations and people dedicated against HIV didn't just magically appear out of thin air or were just "given" to the cause. People stepped up, created ASOs, donated their time, sweat, lives and dollars and made the changes in government, society and education that were needed to slow the epidemic and get us to where we are today.

Quote
Is there a single breakthrough that came out of these conferences recently other than profane declarations and meaningless publications? Most certainly no.
Sure there were breakthoughs! AIDS/HIV became a headline again and something the media, and people, talked about. Activists, advocates, scientists and politicians all learned more and were energized to do more. And, no small thing in itself, patients saw hope that a brighter future was still a goal that many were working toward.

Personally, while I think all the talk about an AIDS-free generation and a renewed push for a cure is just a lot of wishful thinking right now, I know that the beginning of plans were being laid down that would lead to those grand ideas becoming reality. Maybe the results won't happen in my lifetime, but these kinds of conferences are part of the move forward that'll result in a cure in someone else's lifetime.

this author sounds bitter and jealous (or maybe it's homophobia or some sort of stigma against HIV positive people), when he should be thankful that people came forward and pressed many governments and scientific agencies into combating HIV - and that they are still doing it 30 years later. Instead of bitching about the good work being done against HIV and being too short-sighted to see past the flaws of any type of conference, maybe he should write a more pro-active piece to inspire people to rally against those other problems that he was concerned about.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Common_ground

  • Member
  • Posts: 292
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2012, 05:17:22 pm »
I dont think AIDS conferences are any different than others. What the author doesnt seem to realize (or agree with) is that conferences serves a purpose of meet-and-greet, who-is-who and human interaction not possible via mail,skype etc. and a chance to be recognized for accomplishments( scientists and researchers needs this) Its a place for ideas, innovations to be shared both in formal and informal settings. Not to mention the publicity and media coverage etc.

The author is just silly and he is not coherent and concise in his criticism. Yawn...

2011 May - Neg.
2012 June CD4:205, 16% VL:2676 Start Truvada/Stocrin
2012 July  CD4:234, 18% VL:88
2012 Sep  CD4:238, 17% VL:UD
2013 Feb  CD4:257, 24% VL:UD -viramune/truvada
2013 May CD4:276, 26% VL:UD

2015 CD4: 240 , 28% VL:UD - Triumeq
2015 March CD4: 350 VL: UD

Offline anniebc

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,185
  • AM member since 2003
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2012, 05:28:58 pm »
I dont think AIDS conferences are any different than others. What the author doesnt seem to realize (or agree with) is that conferences serves a purpose of meet-and-greet, who-is-who and human interaction not possible via mail,skype etc. and a chance to be recognized for accomplishments( scientists and researchers needs this) Its a place for ideas, innovations to be shared both in formal and informal settings. Not to mention the publicity and media coverage etc.

The author is just silly and he is not coherent and concise in his criticism. Yawn...

*Like*..well said, I couldn't agree more.

Aroha
Jan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline phildinftlaudy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,985
  • sweet Ann what you think babe...
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2012, 08:54:10 pm »
I'm still trying to figure out why this is in the Forums Gatherings topic area ???
September 13, 2008 - diagnosed +
Labs:
Date    CD4    %   VL     Date  CD4  %   VL
10/08  636    35  510   9/09 473  38 2900  12/4/09 Atripla
12/09  540    30    60   
12/10  740    41  <48   
8/11    667    36  <20  
03/12  1,041  42  <20
05/12  1,241  47  <20
08/12   780    37  <20
11/12   549    35  <20
02/12  1,102  42  <20
11/12   549    35  <20

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2012, 11:46:02 pm »
I'm still trying to figure out why this is in the Forums Gatherings topic area ???

Me too. I have heard this type of drivel before. The "why does AIDS get all the money, attention, etc., when all these other diseases are just as important."

Sorry, doesn't wash. It's thanks to people in ACT-UP and families and people who wouldn't take no for an answer that makes HIV more discussed.

If people are worried about maternal malnutrition, or whatever, they need to do what we and those who were there with us but didn't survive, did. Get off your dead ass and make noise.

HUGS,

Mark
« Last Edit: August 23, 2012, 11:49:23 pm by aztecan »
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline wolfter

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,470
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2012, 07:39:42 am »
No mention either of how the gays can throw the most fabulous conference parties.   ;D
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2012, 09:00:54 am »
Hope4love, I've moved your thread into the Living forum, which is the more appropriate place for your post and where you'll get more responses.

The Forums Gathering forum is strictly for topics discussing the annual AIDSmeds Gathering (AMG). It usually takes place in August, in a different city each year.

As for the article...

Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: AIDS Conference carnival
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2012, 11:23:33 am »
The AIDS exceptionalism point aside, I pretty much agree it's a carnival, it changes nothing. - matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.