True... but last time I checked homosexuals aren't the only ones with AIDs. And I feel that those questions are way out of line and should be removed. I donate blood only because I don't feel that punishing those who need the blood is appropriate.
True... but last time I checked homosexuals aren't the only ones with AIDs. And I feel that those questions are way out of line and should be removed. I donate blood only because I don't feel that punishing those who need the blood is appropriate.
Well... regardless of the fact that it can be transmitted through straight sex, the fact is it's still more predominate in drug users and homosexuals. I wouldn't say they're too far out of line... I'm not sure of the actual wording on the forms, but I'm sure they're fairly sensitive about it.Originally Posted by Wraithan
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There is the idea that if the Red Cross wasn't explicit and there was any room for misunderstanding on the forms, then people could answer mistakenly and misrepresent themselves.
Also, I don't really get it. Homosexuals should be comfortable with answering the gay questions on the form.
> I always thought that O was the magic blood type, but apparently that's not it.
O- is the universal donor, so it can be given to anyone. AB+ (me!) is the universal receptor, so I can receive blood from anyone. I can only give to other AB+ people.
> Homosexuals should be comfortable with answering the gay questions on the form.
I'm not gay, and I'm not uncomfortable answering the questions. It's just annoying that I have to answer the same stupid questions every one of the 15+ plus times I've donated. There are certain things that I can safely say "I will never do", and a lot of those questions on there fit that category.
-Govtcheez
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Eh-heh... Never say never...
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What exactly is the diference between answering a gender question and a sexual orientation question? Beats me. Why it would annoy anyone puzzles me even more.
I wish they asked my sexual orientation more often. Like when I go buy groceries or buy a bus ticket. Maybe then it becomes so common, nobody will give a damn anymore when the question is made in a context where it actually makes sense. Like when giving blood.
Originally Posted by brewbuck:
Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
Are you planning on eating that zucchini or...
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I will never stop loving you
-Govtcheez
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> Are you planning on eating that zucchini or...
Exactly my point.
I would eat the succhini. But someone may find more interesting applications. Let's face it, eating it is not very imaginative. 9/2 weeks also has its educational value.
But seriously, if we simply ignored all the prejudice and be more open (pun not intended) about these matters, they would simply not bother us that much. Answering a question where I am asked if I'm gay, would then be as simple as buying a zucchini. As it should be.
Originally Posted by brewbuck:
Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
I am not insulted personally by it, I don't care if they are asking ME if I am gay. But they ask that question without real reason since even if the majority of AIDs carriers are gay, that does NOT make the majority of gay people AIDs carriers. They will not allow you to donate (atleast at my local AMR) if you answer yes to having sex with atleast one man since 1976.
That. Is. Wrong.
You cannot pretend you know more than the World Health Organization, Wraithan. The question is pertinent. Homosexuals, particularly of the male gender, are a risk group. As are drug consumers. The vast majority of the world population doesn't have AIDS. It doesn't stop the fact AIDS can attack anyone of us. There are risk groups. And its important to know if that particular bag is from a risk group or not.
Originally Posted by brewbuck:
Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
Mario's right. Not every African or person who's visited Africa has AIDS. Not every needle user has it. Not every gay man has it. Those groups are all at a higher risk for it, though.
-Govtcheez
[email protected]
>> There are certain things that I can safely say "I will never do", and a lot of those questions on there fit that category.
But that's you, Gov, not everyone. I completely agree with you on your points, but they have to be SURE that the blood they're getting is safe. Suppose someone gave blood, and it turned out they had AIDS or something (or HIV or whatever), and someone got that blood and it was transferred to them ... what would that say to the people who get blood? I certainly would have no confidence with them.
If you were born in London between the years of '85 and '90 (or something), you aren't allowed to give blood in Ireland ... I think it's to do with CJD, but I'm not certain if the person who I asked was being completely !sarcastic.
> If you were born in London between the years of '85 and '90 (or something), you aren't allowed to give blood in Ireland ... I think it's to do with CJD, but I'm not certain if the person who I asked was being completely !sarcastic.
Same thing in the US. If you've spent a lot of time in England, you can't give.
> But that's you, Gov, not everyone
Well, yeah, but I don't care about everyone. I care about wasting my time
-Govtcheez
[email protected]
>> Well, yeah, but I don't care about everyone. I care about wasting my time
And yet you insisted on using a pheresis machine
