Recently, I met what appeared to be an educated, older African American gentleman at presentation that I was giving. After exchanging contact information, he literally tracked me down to communicate what he claimed was "very important information" that would be valuable to my (BEBASHI'S) clients. The 'information' pertained to a book and a website both claiming to dispute that HIV causes AIDS as well a virtually every other scientific fact about HIV/AIDS. He also gave me information about a product that supposedly cures HIV.
I understand that many of us are skeptical about what the federal government and big business, (such as pharmaceutical companies) tell us. Therefore, I looked into this information. I read excerpts from the book; looked at the credentials of of the person who wrote it as well as the other 1500 or so members of his group; and read the so-called study that described the "experiment" testing the drug. I came away with the following question:
Why are we so quick to believe people with these alternative theories about HIV/AIDS who lack infectious disease research/treatment experience, credentials and any real standing in the scientific community, when there are mountains of reputable research and decades of practical experience to the contrary. How could one so-called study, or one book diminish all of the other evidence?
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3 comments:
I believe people just want an answer. They don't want to believe that there really isn't a cure for HIV (because that's devastating), so it's "easier" to believe that one exist.
What I don't understand is why people waste time on such theories and not on the reality. The reality is HIV is here and hurting people, families and communities everyday WORLDWIDE! Why not transfer all that energy into prevention efforts?? Why would someone spend so much time trying to contact you to discuss a theory? Spend that time finding more ways to educate the public on preventing this disease. Why not think of ways to network with the agency and deal with the issue together???
We as people put our energy in the wrong places sometimes!
We can do all of the prevention we want. But there are other people that really dont care about infecting others and that is their choice. Some of them really don't care about hurting others with the disease. However i do believe that prevention is the best to make people more aware of the disease and using protection.
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