What The Instructor Said To The Class
Context: What I Can’t Say In Class
So, that idiot who’s in a course on AIDS that says condoms wreck sex is potentially a part of a group of AIDS denialists who have joined the course to interfere with the learning, discussion and sharing that is happen.
A few hours ago I got a mass email from the instructor sharing with us that she noticed that an individual was becoming verbally abusive to other students by calling them names and such so she stepped in and banned this person from posting (not the guy who I spoke with). This individual then hunted down the professors email and sent her an email accusing her of 
silencing him in regards to the questions he wanted answered by our guest speaker. He said that she’ll have to shut the course down before he stops. Our instructor encourages us to not communicate with these bullies and trolls who seem to be a group of HIV/AIDS denialists who want to hijack the course.
Why I think the condom guy is a part of this group is because of another rude and misinformed comment I say him make to another student in regards to her 7 year old niece who has HIV (contracted at birth). Something along the lines of doctors lying about it just to get her into the pediatric medical system.
But, you may be wonder what HIV/AIDS denialism is? It was a group of people who believe that scientists are lying about where AIDS comes from. Some believe that HIV does not exist or that it is not a big deal and does not cause AIDS. They also do not believe that HIV or AIDS treatments work. I’m sure you can see why these attitudes are horribly problematic! Some of these denialists are HIV+ for have AIDS themselves.
This always happens, you end up in a course with fools who just want to spew their disgusting, counter productive and oppressive, false views.
I reported condom man for his comment about the student’s niece.
Also check out: http://denyingaids.blogspot.ca/2009/03/damage-done-why-we-should-care-about_504.html
Posted on March 1, 2013, in Also Important! and tagged AIDS, AIDS denialism, ban, cyberbulling, HIV, misinformation, oppression, real. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
Hi, it’s amazing these sorts of people exist! Like you say, those sorts of attitudes are very problematic, very dangerous. All the best
There are always people who will disbelief something despite evidence and that’s fine but to try and “convert” and interrupt others who do not believe what they do I think is disgusting.
What a tragic story that shows us some of the worst behavior in humanity. I can only wonder what motivates these people to hijack a course about people impacted by HIV. Certainly these people must be enduring some type of great damage.
It boggles my mind and this is why I don’t frequently the message boards. I feel like this is yet another issue where if you don’t believe it then fine but do not come and harass those who do. This isn’t even a matter of belief! There is a scientific connection. I don’t understand and I would prefer not to in this.
Yeah, they’re a pretty confused and potentially damaging lot, the denialists. Interesting note though–my husband remembers those red Act-Up signs – the “AIDS IS A $CAM” one, and remembers when those protests were happening in NYC…the sign actually referred to the pharma companies withholding protocols until they could get higher prices for them approved (maybe this was mostly an American health care issue). Act-Up and AIDS denialists were often feuding verbally with one another.
As much as I do not like Big Pharma I would like to think that they would never withhold a better treatment of cure for HIV/AIDS because they want more money.
I hope they can control these people from ruining the class, these people need to find something more productive to do with their life.
That is just really sad. I always hope people like that are trolls, because I can hardly imagine there are people that stupid out there. It’s a scary thought.
It is scary but I have no problem ignoring them!