AlwaysArousedGirl asks the approximately 25% of Americans who would test positive for the Herpes Simplex Virus’s I or II
But maybe it’s time to stop the slut-shaming in regard to an infection that could easily creep into any of us on any day. Maybe it’s time to think of it as no more to be desired  and yet no more to be feared  than any of the countless other viruses ubiquitous in our daily lives.
I’m obviously self-interested here since, again like roughly 25% of the population I test positive for herpes too. And I’m not saying at all that we should disregard herpes. Or any other STI. It’s just that past a certain point there’s not much sense stigmatizing it.
Not least because people who take the stigmatization seriously don’t just transmit the stigma. They transmit the STI.
Herpes might be incurable. Denial isn’t.
It’s here. It’s theere. Get used to it.
Submitted by 2902 (not verified) on Fri, 2009-05-01 19:12.
I got over most of my residual shame over being part of the club when a friend who has never even kissed told me that she had it.
Submitted by 2902 (not verified) on Sat, 2009-05-02 07:27.
stigmatization is a two-sided coin of sorts. taking having herpes as an example, the stigmatization of getting herpes can be enough to offset someone from having the few minutes of unadulterated pleasure and lifetime of regret that is the gamble of unprotected sex. on the other hand, it can hamstring those who have the sti from being able to freely speak about their condition, even sometimes when it's medically necessary.
i don't think the ends justify the means in this case. i think stigma should segue into education so that it doesn't further harm the survivors.
Submitted by 2902 (not verified) on Sat, 2009-05-02 17:06.
When I was a child, the cold sore was pretty common. (Among Ringworm and Infantigo)Wasn't really a stigma. Of course at that age I never heard of II until the 80's, when there seemed to be a panic about both types. I thought HIV put a stop to that.