Seti move over for some more serious calculations

[Bixler]

Paddy:

Don't ever think that I'm so cold that my heart and support doesn't go out to the true victims of this disease--those who have innocently contracted it through contaminated blood transfusions. But this issue is essentially now in the past--only a miniscule number of persons currently fighting this disease have contracted it in the manner you describe. But that microscopically small number of true tragedies have been trotted out all too often and waved in front of us as the "face" of this tragedy.

Not So.

Aids is a lifestyle disease.

1. Don't do wierd things with animals (particularly central African Monkeys)
2. Don't perform Particular receptive types of sex acts with non-monogomous humans,
3. For gods sake don't stick a NEEDLE in your body that hasn't been sterilized,

Simply don't do these things and you have beaten this disease in a single generation...it's gone. The rest of the Aids battle is nothing more than social engineering.

[Paddy]

I meant no offense! I see many AIDS patients, and many peoples reactions to them - It just makes me sad.

What I meant was, Any cure is better than no cure - even if someone is benefiting from it.

[Bixler]

Paddy:

I should have put some smileys in my response...we are very much on the same page here.

I did not take offense. In fact, I'm happy for a little dialogue on a truly serious subject among folks that I (sorta) know.

But I am used to being flamed for adhering to a somewhat conservative line (among those I know) on this subject...so forgive my perhaps overly serious or accusatory tone. Political correctness is one of my pet peeves, but one must be sooooo careful when stepping into these waters. You just never know who will take unreasonable offense when having a discussion on the subject of human nature.

If this thread amplifies...we'll soon get a feel for those who care to openly discuss this "minefield" topic.

I'm kinda looking forward to it.

[Paddy]

Thanks Tim.

It would make a nice change from all this Presidential stuff...

[FaRaN]

You want to help develop a cure for AIDS? Get a degree in virology or molecular biology as my wife did. Or donate money to a charity that demonstrably gives a significant portion of their donations to AIDS research.

Even if companies are only driven by marketing and money. Can't we all help a little bit with our idle CPU power without immediatly go drastic with: "Get a degree in virology or molecular biology."?
I already have a degree in Interaction Design and I think it's enough studying for now. I don't even think I have to intelligence to study virology or molecular biology. So where does that take me? Donating money? Or this:

The best way to help with this disease is to do public service by helping patients with food, medicine, transportation, companionship. That is how we can make a difference.

But what if I only want to put some of my USELESS Idle CPU-power in the research of AIDS. Even if it only makes a difference of 0.000000000001% or less? Does it make me a bad person? It doesn't even make me a better person. It's just in human nature (most of them anyway) to help. And I'm trying to help in this way. Any way is good enough isn't it?
And we are talking about AIDS here. Not a disease that 'takes out a couple of people'.

Yes I will be mad, and I will stop, when entropia is indeed a scamming company that is NOT reseraching AIDS in this way, but only making money.
But if they ARE researching AIDS or a cure for it AND making money out of it, I don't care. I'm just helping here, and it doesn't cost ME anything. WHY not helping only because they make money out of it when it DOESN'T COST ME ANYTHING!

Any contributions the average person can make are insignificant

What happened to the saying: "Every little bit added counts"
(I'm not sure if that's exactly correct, I only know it in Dutch: Elk klein beetje helpt )

[Brian R.]

You are obviously less cynical about drug companies than I am. Have at it. You will never have my support in this money-making endeavor.

I am totally unsympathetic when I see these companies spend $100 dollars on advertising for every dollar they spend on research and development of new drugs. Do you really think they care?

You have no clue

[This message has been edited by Brian R. (edited 03 November 2000).]