POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: newt on February 10, 2007, 02:48:23 pm
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Cos I am, and Positive This & Positive That etc
When people ask me why I take my meds I say chronic HIV 1 infection, maybe it's the scientist in me,maybe its a cultural (English) thing
Deffo off organisations that are eg called Positive Nation, Positive Place, Positive Help etc (although this Scottish ASO called Positive Help is rather to the point and useful as it happens) or some kind of intials like ABCD+, ENP+, GNP+, HIDEHO+
- matt (don't wave your POZness at me mr, it's looking rather small and pasty) the newt
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John Poz and John Neg
sat on a fresh-cracked egg
in the frying pan
and both of them cried
before they died
when the egg got fried
because the flame was hot
and poz or not
you still get cooked
In Memoriam
Jon Poz
John Neg
and their fried egg
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Matt, how about that we are just trying to "fend off the Umpa-Lumpa's?" ;)
Not very scientific, I know..
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Good poem.
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Matt, I will walk into this one and step on the eggs. What drives me nuts is the phrase 'I am hiv' as opposed to 'I am hiv positive.' (Told you I would walk right in.) As in G.M.H.C. meaning gay men's health club instead of crisis. The diminutive 'pozzie' does grate and the 'poz' as opposed to 'positive.' Win
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Matt,
It's been a long time, since I had to say to someone" I am HIV positive, with an aids diagnosis in 2003.
Personally, I don't like the term "POZ". It's too slang for me.
Ray
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George Orwell used to decry the process by which mass media causes language to become bland. I took that to heart as a teenager, and through the process became very interested in language and linguistics. In fact, I liked linguistics so much that I have an MA in it.
And, basically, comparative structures like XXX positive which derive from YYY positive, aren't really that unusual. Just about anything which proves useful in language (for example, the suffix construction ???-postive) gets used, overused, and then it eventually becomes archaic. I see no reason to get emotional about it. It speaks more to the attachment to the connotation of the word "positive" to you than to the usefulness of the suffix to speakers of English.
As far as the abbreviation of "positive" to "poz" .... or the dimunition of "positive" to "pozzie", these are also perfectly normal linguistic processes. Generally, the law of linguistic economy dictates that "positive" would eventually become "poz" much in the way that "taximeter cabriolet" evenually became "taxicab" or just "cab". The word is no less useful, and much simpler to say. It also, as a general rule, fits better into the phonetic patterns of English, so pretty much feels more natural to the average speaker.
Grammar purists decry change in language as something akin to a sign of the apocalypse. All languages change... it is a process that cannot be stopped. It is perhaps more interesting to analyze why a particular speaker would have an issue with one particular change and not another. It says a lot about a person.
For example, I cringe every time I hear anything that even closely resembles psychobabble. It's basically, I think, because I am stongly prejudiced against re-wording things in order to lessen their effect. And, frankly, in my opinion, a jerk is a jerk even if he is emotionally challenged.
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how poz and poetic...
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What drives me nuts is the phrase 'I am hiv' as opposed to 'I am hiv positive.'
Me too, Win. If you are HIV you better start runnin' because I am gonna whup your sorry ass but good!
:-*
Daniel
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My blood type is o+. so I guess, I am O- pozitive !
Ray
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The term doesn't bother me at all and have used it plenty of times. If a person doesn't want to be called poz, then you should let others know this. It would also be nice to know what you would want to be called. If nothing at all and just your name, fine, if something else, fine too. I try to work with people's preference but if you don't make it known then how the hell am I suppose to know? Just throwing that out there.
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It doesn't bother me to be called poz by other poz people and especially online but it bothers me that I will from now on be identified as an HIV positive person. Yes, I am positive, but that is not who I am. What is bothersome is when people use the term AIDS so commonly. They called the drugs I take AIDS drugs and the disease I have is AIDS. Technically I guess I already have AIDS at 200CD4 cells but I hope to rebound my CD4 cells and not see them drop this low. The word AIDS bothers me more than poz.
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I think I prefer "I have HIV", like "I have a cold" or "I have diabetes".
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No. I sorta like it, but I don't think it has much meaning beyond poz people and those who deal with them. If you walk up to 10 people and announce "I am poz" I bet at least half would have no clue what you mean.
Boo
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If you walk up to 10 people and announce "I am poz" I bet at least half would have no clue what you mean.
Boo
They'd probably think you were trying to do British slang like in Mean Girls.
That is so fetch.
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They'd probably think you were trying to do British slang like in Mean Girls.
The type of people to whom one would address such a statement are not likely to be familiar with Mean Girls or British slang.
And stop trying to make fetch popular! It's just not gonna happen.
Remember to wear your hair in a pony tail tomorrow, please.
Boo
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As far as the abbreviation of "positive" to "poz" .... or the dimunition of "positive" to "pozzie", these are also perfectly normal linguistic processes. Generally, the law of linguistic economy dictates that "positive" would eventually become "poz" much in the way that "taximeter cabriolet" evenually became "taxicab" or just "cab". The word is no less useful, and much simpler to say. It also, as a general rule, fits better into the phonetic patterns of English, so pretty much feels more natural to the average speaker.
Speaking as one who shortens everything, "Seven-Eleven" has become "The Sev," "Project Runway" is now "The Proj," and "HIV" has actually become a phoenetically-pronounced word instead of an acronym, I find that the things I tend to shorten are that which I have to say most often.
That said, "poz" instead of "HIV positive" is, to me, as objectionable as saying "AIDS" instead of "Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome" every time... which is not at all.
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it's all i ever think about in one way or another that i am hiv positive and how it effects my life. i fear what people will think if they knew or if they can't tell because to me i feel like it's written all over my face. sometimes i'm okay with it and other times i hate it and don't want it to be part of who i am but it's infected every cell. i try not to hold it against me that i didn't protect myself. i can't change the past all i can do is live for today and keep faith to see my future.
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oh duh? the term? i'm kinda slow....marinol must be kicking in i was think i was fed up with being pos. :-\
now that you mention it i haven't given it much thought.
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Speaking as one who shortens everything, "Seven-Eleven" has become "The Sev," "Project Runway" is now "The Proj," and "HIV" has actually become a phoenetically-pronounced word instead of an acronym, I find that the things I tend to shorten are that which I have to say most often.
That said, "poz" instead of "HIV positive" is, to me, as objectionable as saying "AIDS" instead of "Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome" every time... which is not at all.
Yes, I also don't like the abbreviated... Such as It used to be Anderson Cooper 360, now it's AC 360. America's favorite videos, is now AFV. That just drives me nuts. :P I know there are more...
Thats just the way I am though. And yes, if I was to walk down the street and say I am "poz" some people would wonder what I meant. If I said I was HIV positive, those same people, would know exactly what I meant.
I Will just live with it, like all the other boyz (boiz) and Girlz..... :)
Ray 8)
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Matt, I like blowing their minds and say, I have AIDS. Then I wait for a stupid reaction. I've noticed it doesn't bother people like it use to. My doctor is big on Advanced HIV disease. I could say, I have human immunodeficiency virus but then I get that what is that look. :D
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Everything becomes pollutant or noise in large repeating quantities... I dunno...
Drew
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This forum is the only place I use "POZ" CUZ it gets the message across quickly and
because I type so frigging slow+ typos that I can use all the help I can get.
Nice eggy poem, newt.
I wouldn't like it if I had hear someone use it to refer to themselves, though. On that, I'd agree wholeheartedly.
Luckily I don't talk to many people these days since I'm located in rural area.........and I like it that way.
:)
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Yes, I also don't like the abbreviated... Such as It used to be Anderson Cooper 360, now it's AC 360. America's favorite videos, is now AFV. That just drives me nuts. :P I know there are more...
Ray 8)
KFC.
mmmm, anderson cooper.
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I mostly just use it here. But I have caught myself saying it in the 'real world'. Poz/Positive for organisations doesn't bother me too much, though I've never given it any thought.
I don't like those bio-hazard signs/tats people use.
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I for one can't say I'm fed up with it...at least not yet. Perhaps we should come up with our own term, like how the term for homosexuals was replaced by the happy "gay" term. Although it may be difficult to incorporate into daily conversations, expecially since the forums is found on "poz.com", but we can be trendsetters. I'll start off with a few suggestions. So my sister and I have our own secret language that we use when we're talking or chatting online. Someone who is HIV+, we say he/she has "sugar", as in sweetness. Yes, I have sugar but sorry, I don't let anyone borrow a cup. We also have a term for gay, and it's "intense". Yes, I'm intense but that's only because I can't change who I am.
As for people using AIDS in lieu of HIV+ Ihavehope, it bothers me too but whenever that happens in my presence, I'm sure to correct it/them without any reservations (oops, did I let the tiger out...sorry, I can go from 0 to bitch in less than 2 seconds, haha).
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I think it is just a process of linguistic evolution.....if being "HIV Positive" has evolved to being "Poz" I am okay with it....I find it more annoying when filling out health-related paperwork and there is a question "Do you have AIDS?"....I would probably answer "no" and then elaborate in the margin or add another question: "Are you HIV positive?" and answer "yes" to my addition.
Be Well...
Craig
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terpie82, when someone that has Advanced HIV Disease uses the term AIDS, it's because they are knowledgeable of the definition of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV with CD4 <200 with an OI.
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Hey RR, I'm well aware of the AIDS definition. It bothers me when people who don't know the distinction between HIV+/AIDS -especially the uninformed neggies- use it synonomously with everyone who is HIV+. :)
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terpie82, that is something that will always be. That is the same as people that hear that someone had stints put in for vascular heart disease always presumming that, that person has had a heart attack when is far from the truth. That's something we can't avoid.
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I'm with Cliff about the biohazard tats. They are disturbing. On the bright side though, they are a form of automatic disclosure to potential sex partners.
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Matt, I like blowing their minds and say, I have AIDS. Then I wait for a stupid reaction. I've noticed it doesn't bother people like it use to.
Rod, I do the same thing and most people are so incredulous (mainly because I'm overweight and they think everyone with "AIDS" is skeletal) they usually don't know what to say but "I'm sorry." My standard response is "Don't be sorry, I've had a very easy time of it all-in-all and at the rate I'm going I'll probably live longer than I really want to..." Almost everyone is pretty cool about it -- no one's ever started and stepped back or anything like that.
Even when I used to say "I'm HIV+" people were incredulous, but that was back in the days when I had a size 32 waist and a decent body. The stereotype of the emaciated and pallid "AIDS victim" is still alive and well.
Boo
P.S. I dislike the biohazard tattoo because it implies the wearer is a danger to others (I know the tattoo is ironic but irony is lost on a lot of people). I have a small equilateral black cross with a pink triangle in the center of my left shoulder. I should have just had "HIV+" tattooed there because most neg people (an even some pozzies) ask me what it means. I say it means I'm a gay christian. If they're stupid enough to believe me I know to avoid further interaction with them.
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Boo, that's like being told, "You don't look like anything is wrong with you or Nah, you don't have AIDS you look as healthy as a horse." My reply is, "don't let my looks deceive you." If I want to have fun, I always ask, "What I'm I suppose to look like?" :D
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The community is famous for coming up with slang terms for a lot of facets in our life. personally POZ term doesn't bother me (it's less letters to type). it's just a fact of life that people are always going to make slang and it can change over time e.g. previously AIDS was called GRID, although I will say neither soounds good, but its only because the connotations that people have assoc with those words. The word really doesn't matter, it's how the word is used and defined in the media. Let's face it the media has a lot of power in determinng the meaning of a term.
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Hmm, this term Poz doesn't really bother me.
However, when I hear some really nelly guy say us pozzies or what not I just cringe.
The terms I find offensive are "Clean" and "barebacking". Uh, now those two really irk me. Why is it that unsafe sex between gay men gets this horrible term? Is there an equivalent for straight people who have unsafe sex?
The most vile one to me is still "clean".
As far as poz, I got no issue with it so long as people don't start introducing me as their poz friend ; )
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This is just not something I even think about.
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This is just not something I even think about.
philly, why don't you just admit now that you are HIV- but simply don't have much else to do? We all know it's true.
Love,
Boo
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philly, why don't you just admit now that you are HIV- but simply don't have much else to do? We all know it's true.
Love,
Boo
The funny thing is that when I was first diagnosed for many, many years I'd never refer to my diagnosis as "HIV" specifically. I'd just reference it as my "condition"...
I never use the word "Poz" though come to think of it. Reminds me of a magazine... wonder why.
Anyway, HIV is so trendy now. I hear the medications enable you to climb mountains and stuff.
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Strange that you should bring this up cos I'm into positive thinking and living and whenever I say to folk something like "I'm feeling really positive" I find myself grinning. Not that I'm particularly happy at anything at that precise moment nor am I crazy (well maybe a little) but I find myself grinning at the different way I'm using the word 'positive' nowadays. The irony, I guess.
Seven years into my diagnosis, I'm now aware that I spent a huge part of that period obsessing over and adjusting to the new uninvited permanent viral resident in my life. It may sound nuts but being diagnosed hiv+ really f**ked up my use of the word positive for a long long time. A word that had been a normal everyday word in my vernacular suddenly started sticking in my throat.
But thankfully something has shifted again. Not sure what or why but it has. And now when I use the word 'positive' I can kick it around quite comfortably and with some amusement to mean either my hiv status and/or my frame of mind. Like I said, strange.
However, the shortened term ‘poz’ makes me think of Scousers (Liverpudlians), who have a tendency to shorten almost every word. So, as a ‘Manc’, I avoid using it. Nuff said! [perhaps UK members only will get this bit..]
As far as using the term 'positive' to disclose, I've always just said (after taking a deep breath): "I have hiv". Thinking back now, when I said that I often felt like I should have been wearing a label too or waving a flag or something! I'm actually rethinking my whole disclosure technique. I'm thinking along the lines of trying something like:
"I have hiv, 2 beautiful cats and really nice breasts!"
See where that gets me... ;D
By the by, mr the newt, like your ditty!
Melia :)
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are u people talking in code or have I just taken a leap into another zone (again)?
What is "Deffo off .........." ?
What is "By the by, mr thenewt, like your ditty!"
O.K, I'm officially old.
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I hate the term to it's like, 'hey lets do lunch and by the way I am poz`'
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Hi mjmel:
"Deffo off" = Definitely off = Definitely don't like...
Not code, just newt's way with words...
As for mine:
By the by = By the way
mr the newt = Mister the newt (the poster calls himself matt the newt)
like your ditty = like your little poem
Hope that helps to clear and not further confuse!
Miss Melia :)
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Got it. Thanks, Sweet Melia.
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By the by = By the way
I say this too! Huzzah!
I also say "mos def" for "most definitely." As in...
"We should do something."
"Mos def."
And we'll say "as soon as poss" because saying "ASAP" makes us sound like yuppies.
I'm a busy guy... I don't have time for all these extra syllables.
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I don't particularly have a problem with the word poz it probably isn't a word i'd ever use myself though. I did see someone describe themselves on here as riddled once I have a problem with that one!
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The terms I find offensive are "Clean" and "barebacking".
"Clean" pisses me off too. A lot.
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I did see someone describe themselves on here as riddled once I have a problem with that one!
I am still trying to make sense of this sentence.
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"Clean" pisses me off too. A lot.
I hate that term... so very much.
This guy, who knew I was poz, said to me, "I'm clean..."
And I was really drunk, so I didn't manage to have quite the daggers in my voice that I wanted... but I slurred, "So... what? Am I dirty then?"
All I heard was crickets.
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This guy, who knew I was poz, said to me, "I'm clean..."
Here's what you say: I love it when bottoms prepare before going out to the bar, turn around.
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I am still trying to make sense of this sentence.
Ahh yes it was a bit confusing wasn't it. Basically someone used the word 'riddled' to describe themselves rather than positive etc. And I was just saying I had a particular problem with that choice of word!
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Ahh yes it was a bit confusing wasn't it. Basically someone used the word 'riddled' to describe themselves rather than positive etc. And I was just saying I had a particular problem with that choice of word!
Like "riddled with sores" or "riddled with potholes?"
That's weird.
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Ahh yes it was a bit confusing wasn't it. Basically someone used the word 'riddled' to describe themselves rather than positive etc. And I was just saying I had a particular problem with that choice of word!
Makes sense. I wrote a paper once about the terminology patients use to describe themselves. That's a new one.
Over the years, I've heard a lot of them: "I'm a plague person" (said dripping with sarcasm) is one that sticks out in my mind as one of the most poignant, both from the ironic and in-your-face point-of-view.
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I don't mind the word 'POZ'. It's sort of cute, like 'PEZ', only different, and not quite as sweet.
'Positive _____ ' (fill in the blank) annoys me. I'm not sure why. What annoys me even more is 'Positively _____ '. Too damn upbeat for my taste.
'Barebacking' doesn't bother me. It's has both negative and, to some, positive connotations, but it is way more efficient than saying 'unprotected intercourse'. Fewer syllables.
As for my ailment, I not-so-simply say: "I am host to the virus of Human Immunodeficiency".
Then again, sometimes I refer to myself as simply "the Host". I kinda like that. It has a very Catholic feel to it. That, and the fact that pomposity has always suited me.
-Whizzer
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poz is cute. anything but V.D. - and that ain't short for Valentines Day
when i first heard the term barebacking for some reason i instantly knew what it meant
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Anyway, HIV is so trendy now. I hear the medications enable you to climb mountains and stuff.
I'm scaling all 30 feet of Monkey Hill in Audubon Zoo next week. I've got my clampons and ropes and other gear all ready to go.
"With Trizivir the possibilities are endless!"
"AIDS? Forget about it!!"
Boo
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carousel, then the term Gay, really throws you for a loop doesn't it? :D
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The term barebacking is perfect, in so many ways. It's inventor was a genius. " I have HIV" is a pretty straightforward alternative to "I'm poz". Only a few syllables longer, but shorter than " I have the virus that causes AIDS, if you can't deal, piss off".
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My closest friend is black and he hates the word "nigger" even spoken between blacks. And niggah is no better. I agree with him. For the same reason, and given the era I grew up in, faggot is not an acceptable term for gay. Neither is fag. I let them slip occasionally, but I try not to.
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Of course not Razor. A faggot is a bundle of sticks and a fag is a cigarette.
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:-\
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LOL @ Rapidrod.