Instant at-home HIV tests

[curiousagain]

I hadn't thought of that angle, but I don't have VegasLee's experience. It would be a mess, wouldn't it?

[good times]

That is funny you should say that VegasLee, because when the guy I mentioned previously went around the club one night trying to drum up support for his testing list the club host ended up telling the guy to knock it off, because what he was doing was pretty much a buzz kill for the party that night.

[sereneiders]

Good times,

And the host was right. Not because it's "spoiling the fun by bringing bad news", but because most of the swingers already take all the measures available to dimish the infection risk. The test wouldn't change that. No one would allow to be tested in public without previously doing it privatelly, should they already know they're postivite and still wants to play without warning others (nice guys, hu?) they would refuse to take the test on the same grounds people not wanting to take it just because of their principles (like deffending the privacy right) would.

Everyone up to take the test would be negative, you wouldn't even need to check the test result: once the guy took it, you'll know it, and this would only help some people REDUCE the safety measures that otherwise they'd take, while promoting a nasty attitude towards the ones who refuse to take the test, for whatever reason they have, being their right to refuse.

The more I think of all of this, the more I believe this discussion fits perfectly the interests of an unescrupulous lab that would earn tons of money with the fear we all have, selling us all the illusion of safety while increasing the risks for all of us in the long run.

The whole subject sucks.

Let me make an theoretical example for what I mean with the illusion of safety. Let's suppose a lab brings up a new test devised to smokers to be sold without a recipe. This test would provide an early warning to smokers for certain features ensuring they're about to develop a lung cancer. Should the smokers stop smoking when warned, they would reduce the chances to develop it by, let say, 50%. In the long run, the lung cancer cases would dimish or increase? And the amount of smokers would dimish, remain the same, or increase? IMO, the test would promote the bad habit of smoking, because a lot of smokers would feel relieved and justified once their chances for a lung cancer are reduced. Most smokers would test, but the amount of smokers wouldn't dimish, and it'd be very likely that the amount od cases of lung cancer would increase. And the scenario would become worst as you INCREASE the percentage of eficiency for the test. Now, this example doesn't involve an infectious disease, just the behavioral patterns most of us have when oferred to reduce the risks associated with the fulfillment of a desire or a craving. Now make this an infectious disease, what would be the outcome?

The fact is, we should have good habits and stick to the best preventive practices fitting our confort level, DISREGARDING the incomplete (thus inacurate enough) data such a test would provide to us FOR THIS PURPOSE.

[Tia Vampire]

Knowing that we are clean before hand, we would not have a problem taking a test for a platmate as long as they did the same. Just as we would not play with a couple that does not like using condoms. We don't really see the difference in testing. We can get more into it if we felt comfortable with knowing that the couple we were going to play with was clean. Just the not knowing sometimes is a mood killer. There are some private clubs out there that require an AIDS test before you become a member. They also ask that you are tested every 6 months. We think it makes for a more comfortable environment and sound like a great idea. If a person became offended when asked to take a test at a club, it would make us feel that they have something to hide.

[good times]

Originally Posted by Tia Vampire

If a person became offended when asked to take a test at a club, it would make us feel that they have something to hide.

Exactly, if a person rationally, and for good reason in my opinion, considers a swingers club an inappropriate place to administer an std test and refuses, he is automatically branded by those who can't see the logic of why it is a bad idea as someone with something to hide.

I have never heard of any club that requires std testing, nor would I attend such a club. I would assume that since everyone attending knew everyone else had been tested they would have the false sense of security that this automatically implies, and would therefore be more willing to engage in high risk activities, more so than the average swinging couple. This in turn would now place them in a higher risk demographic group than I would be comfortable playing with.

[prettylady]

Ever heard the debate about why or why not to registar guns.
We kinda had that debate here in Canada not so long ago. If you arn't a criminal, then why not registar your gun? what have you to hide? Yet there are so many people who took offence to the idea of having to registar them.
Same here I think. OK, if you are clean, whats the big deal? I see that part of the argument. But then you start stepping on peoples toes with regards to privacy.
The same goes with gun registry. It comes down to your rights as a individual.
I will not take a std test before playing. I have my regular check ups, donate blood, plus with being a fighter HIV/AIDS tests are done for safety reasons.
If after I say no to your test you don't want to play, fine....wana play pool?
I know someone is going to put me "in my place" with the gun thing. But I am not going to fight this issue. I kept my opinion about what I think of the registry to myself and I will not argue my stand, what ever it maybe.
Your friend,
Prettylady

[prettylady]

Originally Posted by good times

I am still more likely to be abducted by aliens from the planet Beetlegiese than I am to get AIDS from one of my play partners.

Oh, they took me there once. I can see Uranus from there.
Your friend,
Prettylady

Sorry, kids storybooks always talk about Uranus.
Seems it is fantastic to look at. Pehaps I can check out Uranus in Nashville.
Ok I will stop with the childish potty humour

[Tia Vampire]

Well, we are not members of any private clubs. Still i think it is a good idea. Now if someone came up to me at a house party, i would not want to take the test. I guess that is because anyone can go to a house party and they usually are not regulars. So depending on the situation or where, would determine if we would take a test or not.

[LOL_OMG]

Just sit 2 couples down, take the test one at a time, if you pass take off ur clothes. If you don't? Listen for the gong. if all end up nekid then woohoo.

Mr. Lol