Official monkeypox discussion thread (1 Viewer)

[Battersbox]

Please break it down for me. It seems like a lot of people want to infer things from my questions.

I'm stating facts here..we go from A to Z and I'm not sure how. My questioning may imply things, but no one is answering the questions at hand. Instead it's an attack on "how could someone think that". 

Why did the two kids who were diagnosed with monkeypox come from contact with the gay community?

Fine, call me whatever you need to. I'm a homophobic hate filled monster. Now let's figure out monkey pox. Is this transferred through respitory droplets? How long is the exposure? 

If kids who live with virus+ people contract the virus, it seems the simplest reason is they shared towels, they laid in the same bed, they sat on a couch right after a parent with lesions did, etc. No reason to dissect it more than that imo.

 

[parasaurolophus]

@MaxPower

Just an FYI - the way you are asking your questions and the type of questions you are asking make some people question your motives. Whether intentional or not, it appears that you are questioning the decisions of the parents of these children because they are gay.

I think I know you well enough in this fake world to disagree with that take, but the cryptic way you are bringing these points up, again and again, has me questioning it.

Oh no, not his motives. The horror. Those poor gay men. 

Jesus christ already this language is all so dumb. 

Gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contacta,b are disproportionately affected by HIV. Social and structural issues—such as HIV stigma, homophobia, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to high-quality health care—influence health outcomes and continue to drive inequities.

That is how we get stupid crap like this. They make it sound like gay men get HIV at such a high clip because of US. Gay men are disproportionately affected because of their own behaviors. Very risky, stupid behaviors. Any other talk is gaslighting. 

As adults we should all be able to acknowledge the reality of what is happening here. 

I mean sure we will fire Sally for not getting a shot, but heaven forbid we expect Chad to not have sex with 5 dudes this saturday at the sex rave. 

 

[Max Power]

Very much appreciate this post.  To be abundantly clear, in the mid-80s many of the people in my hometown (which wasn’t exactly a very worldly place) didn’t think AIDS was “a gay disease.”  But enough people across the country did hold those views….that it was necessary (as you point out) to have a campaign to combat AIDS myths.  I make no claim that every person believed those myths, and certainly don’t attribute them to one political party or any other demographic.

As much as this is a low-key triggering topic for you (in the opposite direction) it is a moderate-level triggering issue for me.  The monkeypox comments showing up in some corners of social media are absolutely reminiscent of the code language used during the early days of AIDS.  I have too many good friends (upper 50s and 60s gay men) who lived through that era — many of whom lost life partners and close friends.   It’s painful to see them relive the stigmatization they faced so many years ago.

Of course, from a public heath perspective, we should also take rational steps to slow this thing down.  But IMO we can do that without some of the crude suggestions and innuendo floating out there.

Again, thanks for the thoughtful note above.  Can completely appreciate where you are coming from.

I apologize to everyone in here for taking the thread off track with various diatribes.  IK’s post made me realize this topic was impacting me on a deeper level.  In particular I apologize to @Max Power for making assumptions about his message or intent.  There was a different and better way to have that conversation.

I’m going to duck out now and go wash all the linen in my house. This topic makes me feel like I have monkeypox lingering in every freaking room in the house.

All good man. I was upset with your replies earlier for no good reason.

I'm more annoyed with the CDC than anyone and frame arguements in that regard. 

I dont think the gay community is doing anything harmful to children. I just dont want the CDC to say this spreads through respitory droplets in order to avoid a one off or two off scenario of spread

 

[the moops]

Oh no, not his motives. The horror. Those poor gay men. 

Jesus christ already this language is all so dumb. 


Gay


, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contacta,b are disproportionately affected by HIV. Social and structural issues—such as HIV stigma, homophobia, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to high-quality health care—influence health outcomes and continue to drive inequities.

That is how we get stupid crap like this. They make it sound like gay men get HIV at such a high clip because of US .


Gay


men are disproportionately affected because of their own behaviors. Very risky, stupid behaviors. Any other talk is gaslighting. 

As adults we should all be able to acknowledge the reality of what is happening here. 

I mean sure we will fire Sally for not getting a shot, but heaven forbid we expect Chad to not have sex with 5 dudes this saturday at the sex rave. 

I'm not talking about what the two men are doing. It is the cryptic way he is talking about the children and these gay parents

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

How common are anonymous sex raves and orgies? I feel very old.

 

[Max Power]

How common are anonymous sex raves and orgies? I feel very old.

I'd appreciate if you stopped with the hate speech 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

All good man. I was upset with your replies earlier for no good reason.

I'm more annoyed with the CDC than anyone and frame arguements in that regard. 

I dont think the gay community is doing anything harmful to children. I just dont want the CDC to say this spreads through respitory droplets in order to avoid a one off or two off scenario of spread

Thanks for the post man.  Seriously.

After the debacle that was the CDC during Covid, it’s amazing that they still exist.  My BIL has two good friends who work there.  Both are struggling with the incompetence which was laid bare……

Peace.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

How common are anonymous sex raves and orgies? I feel very old.

Not common enough, at least not sex raves for mid-40s guys with mid-20s women.

 

[the moops]

Not common enough, at least not sex raves for mid-40s guys with mid-20s women.

Seriously. 

 

[Biff84]

It’s pretty easy to get to the 99% gay males when those are the only people being tested and vaccinated. The hope is that if they only focus on gay and gay adjacent then no one will worry about monkeypox.

It’s the equivalent of airborne transmission, need for masks early in COVID. Keep it quiet until they need to speak up. That’s probably coming. Soon.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I appreciate the thorough reply. When an area like the UK says they have no evidence it transfers through respitory droplets, would you still advise wearing a mask and social distancing?

I don’t think we know everything about this virus, though to this point, respiratory droplets appear to play a minor (if any) role in transmission. That being said, monkeypox is distantly related to other pox viruses, some of which can spread via droplets, notably the virus which causes smallpox. 

So far, monkeypox isn’t behaving like a respiratory virus, but if covid has taught us anything, hopefully we’ve learned a little humility in declaring viral transmission a settled science.

I told you what we do in the hospital for suspected cases of monkeypox. But I don’t think the exposure risk is high enough in the community to warrant universal masking or other mitigation strategies, other than standard precautions one should already be taking for high risk sexual encounters.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Well, I'd hope to gain the benefit of stopping he spread of this before it infects a significant portion of the gay community, and probably all other communities thereafter. 

Are you really suggesting that attempting to control spread of this is a non-starter? Are you really suggesting focusing efforts at this early stage on the gay community isn't worthwhile? Should we instead have a less-targeted approach (which would be less effective by definition) to avoid offending the sensibilities of a few people? Should we focus our efforts on married hetero middle age folks who practice monogamy (or close to it) who are at zero risk right now? Or should we focus efforts on the group that has 99% of the infections worldwide at this point?

You were advocating for closing down the world to prevent a virus which appears to spread far, far, far easier than this one. Not only that, you were advocating for it after it had already infected millions of people. The chances of success were long at best, even under the best of scenarios. The argument for that was 'we really don't know what we're dealing with'. That argument persisted for lots of people for a long time. 

Now by your own admission you just said we really don't know how this current flavor of Monkey Pox spreads. But in this case, your thought is we can't risk offending or stigmatizing a subgroup even though we have a far better chance to actually nip this in the bud (far less spread at this point, and apparently far less contagious than Covid). 

I don't get you, I really don't.

You are correct, you don’t get me. Or more accurately, you don’t get it. This applies to my opinions regarding covid and monkeypox, both of which you’ve horrendously misrepresented.

It’s not a secret the recent outbreak of monkeypox is spreading almost exclusively in MSM. Although we don’t completely understand its transmission, curtailing high risk sexual activity is an obvious starting point. But that strategy holds whether monkeypox is prevalent or not, in both gay and straight communities.

More specific advice (what is the transmission risk to household contacts, for example) is still a work in progress. I’m sure that information will be disseminated when we learn more about the disease. In the meantime, focusing the public on the MSM angle really isn’t adding much, and risks stigmatizing gay males, while simultaneously promoting dismissiveness of the risk in heterosexuals. As you correctly noted, whether we like it or not,  we all interact with each other, so marginalizing some groups isn’t particularly helpful.

I’m not advocating limiting efforts to educate high risk individuals. But those discussions can be performed discretely and diplomatically. Despite people minimizing mistreatment of homosexuals during the early days of AIDS, there’s real harm that can be caused by creating another “gay disease”.

Although the media’s messaging apparently isn’t to your liking, I have no doubt the MSM community is acutely aware of monkeypox. I’m not really sure what else you’re asking for - what specific intervention would you like to see, and how would you like it implemented? How can the CDC improve its messaging?

 

[Battersbox]

You are correct, you don’t get me. Or more accurately, you don’t get it. This applies to my opinions regarding covid and monkeypox, both of which you’ve horrendously misrepresented.

It’s not a secret the recent outbreak of monkeypox is spreading almost exclusively in MSM. Although we don’t completely understand its transmission, curtailing high risk sexual activity is an obvious starting point. But that strategy holds whether monkeypox is prevalent or not, in both gay and straight communities.

More specific advice (what is the transmission risk to household contacts, for example) is still a work in progress. I’m sure that information will be disseminated when we learn more about the disease. In the meantime, focusing the public on the MSM angle really isn’t adding much, and risks stigmatizing gay males, while simultaneously promoting dismissiveness of the risk in heterosexuals. As you correctly noted, whether we like it or not,  we all interact with each other, so marginalizing some groups isn’t particularly helpful.

I’m not advocating limiting efforts to educate high risk individuals. But those discussions can be performed discretely and diplomatically. Despite people minimizing mistreatment of homosexuals during the early days of AIDS, there’s real harm that can be caused by creating another “gay disease”.

Although the media’s messaging apparently isn’t to your liking, I have no doubt the MSM community is acutely aware of monkeypox. I’m not really sure what else you’re asking for - what specific intervention would you like to see, and how would you like it implemented? How can the CDC improve its messaging?

Nobody is advocating nondiplomatic discussions. And as I said earlier, if this becomes a much larger problem there will be far more backlash on the gay community than there would be if meaningful measures to stop spread are taken now. And regarding the comparison to the early days of the AIDS outbreak, I'm not convinced it's apt. Attitudes toward gays today are much different. Gays aren't only accepted into society, they are often celebrated. I can't think of a single person I know who would speak out against gays or gay marriage. Seems there is a bit more runway for some tough love around preventing a wider outbreak this time. 

And right now, whether you like it or not, it IS a gay disease. Eventually it won't be if spread isn't curbed. And then you'll see backlash which would be both greater and unfair.

 

[the moops]

Nobody is advocating nondiplomatic discussions. And as I said earlier, if this becomes a much larger problem there will be far more backlash on the gay community than there would be if meaningful measures to stop spread are taken now. And regarding the comparison to the early days of the AIDS outbreak, I'm not convinced it's apt. Attitudes toward gays today are much different. Gays aren't only accepted into society, they are often celebrated. I can't think of a single person I know who would speak out against gays or gay marriage. Seems there is a bit more runway for some tough love around preventing a wider outbreak this time. 

In my bubble, this is also true. However, we need to realize that this is not a truth for many people. As evidence, we just had 157 representatives from across the country vote against a bill that would codify marriage rights for same-sex couples

 

[Sand]

I would think the gay community (and all communities) would want it to stay that way. 

One would hope.  It does frustrate when you see stories about exposure and contraction of this at birthday sex orgies, though.

 

[ICON211]

So far, monkeypox isn’t behaving like a respiratory virus, but if covid has taught us anything, hopefully we’ve learned a little humility in declaring viral transmission a settled science.

If COVID has taught me anything it's don't blindly believe the CDC.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Nobody is advocating nondiplomatic discussions. And as I said earlier, if this becomes a much larger problem there will be far more backlash on the gay community than there would be if meaningful measures to stop spread are taken now. And regarding the comparison to the early days of the AIDS outbreak, I'm not convinced it's apt. Attitudes toward gays today are much different. Gays aren't only accepted into society, they are often celebrated. I can't think of a single person I know who would speak out against gays or gay marriage. Seems there is a bit more runway for some tough love around preventing a wider outbreak this time. 

And right now, whether you like it or not, it IS a gay disease. Eventually it won't be if spread isn't curbed. And then you'll see backlash which would be both greater and unfair.

Disagree how prevalent acceptance of homosexuality is - topics like gay marriage, same sex parents adopting/raising children and AIDS (still), make it readily apparent your acquaintances don’t represent the general populace. While it’s certainly better than the 80s, there are still are wide swaths of the population who are intolerant of “the gays”. And I’ll reiterate: I don’t think there is anything to be gained by classifying monkeypox as a “gay disease”.

TBH, I feel like some of you guys just want to complain about anything perceived as being influenced by political correctness.

So, I’ll ask again, what specific intervention for monkeypox, or change in official messaging/policy from agencies like the CDC, WHO, etc. would you like to see?

 

[Terminalxylem]

If COVID has taught me anything it's don't blindly believe the CDC.

Where do you derive opinions about novel infectious outbreaks?

 

[SoBeDad]

One would hope.  It does frustrate when you see stories about exposure and contraction of this at birthday sex orgies, though.

Having multiple sex partners may be the reason AIDS spread initially within the male  gay community. Then it spread to their female partners and people with hemophilia and older men in Century Village who frequented prostitutes in a nearby trailer park, thanks to SS checks and viagra. My PCP recommends that all her older patients get tested periodically for STDs if they have even one sex partner, because you never know.

Some epidemiologists in South Florida are more worried about the meningococcal outbreak, also mostly confined to the gay community now, but it could easily spread in places like college dorms. It's more deadly than Monkeypox, a 25% fatality rate for the 48 cases thus far in 2022. I guess these increases in such diseases in 2022 is related in part to post-COVID partying. 

>>In a discussion with reporters, Dr. Ulyee Choe, statewide medical director for the Florida Department of Health, compared the adverse effects of monkeypox with meningococcal disease that can lead to fatal meningitis. He didn’t like what he was seeing in the Sunshine State.

“Meningococcal disease, to some degree, concerns me more given the severity of the disease,” Choe said.

Here’s why you, too, may be concerned, and may have questions about meningococcal disease.

Florida has had 48 cases of meningococcal disease from Jan. 1 through July 22, 2022, according to the state’s health department.

With 14 reported cases so far, most of these meningitis cases have been found in Central Florida in Orange County, the seat of the Orlando area and home to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

By comparison, Florida had 27 cases of meningococcal disease in 2021, 17 cases in 2020 and 23 in 2019 — compared with the 48 cases recorded just halfway through 2022.

Of these 48, one quarter — or 12 people — have died in Florida after contracting meningitis so far this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This figure represents a 25% death rate.

Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus.

These illnesses are often severe and include infections and swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia), according to the CDC.

Three layers of membranes known as meninges protect the brain and spinal cord, the Mayo Clinic explains. That’s why when this disease progresses and infects the brain and spinal cord, it’s known as “meningitis.”

Meningococcal disease is not as contagious as the germs that lead to the common cold or flu or COVID-19, which can be contracted by breathing in respiratory droplets in the air from someone infected and close by.

Rather, meningitis typically requires close contact to transmit it from one person to another, according to Florida’s health department. Think kissing or sharing your food or drink where you might pass along respiratory and throat secretions like spit. Living in close quarters with someone infected can also help the disease spread.

SYMPTOMS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Early symptoms of the disease include:

▪ Fever, headache, stiff neck

Nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity

▪ Confusion and rash, usually red and purple in color.

SYMPTOMS AMONG INFANTS

Symptoms in infants can differ and can include slowness or inactivity, irritability, vomiting, poor feeding or a bulging soft spot on the baby’s head.

"Even with antibiotic treatment, 10 to 15 in 100 people with meningococcal disease will die,” according to the CDC. Up to one in five survivors will have long-term disabilities, such as:

▪ Loss of limbs

▪ Deafness, Nervous system problems

▪ Brain damage

HOW IS MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE TREATED?

Rapid diagnosis and treatment is critical.

Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat meningococcal disease.

“People with meningococcal disease are no longer able to spread it to others after taking an appropriate antibiotic for 24 hours,” according to Florida’s health department citing the CDC.

But some people may also need advanced medical care, which could mean treatment in an intensive care unit.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The CDC and Florida’s health department recommend vaccinations against meningococcal disease. Also, “maintaining healthy habits, like getting plenty of rest and not coming into close contact with people who are sick, can also help.”

WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED?

The outbreak that we are experiencing in Florida among gay and bisexual men is due to serogroup C of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria,” Trepka said.

She points to the two types of meningococcal vaccines that are also noted by the CDC:

▪ Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY vaccines.

▪ Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines.

The MenACWY protects against serogroups A, C, W. And while the MenB protects against serogroup B, MenACWY is the one being recommended in this [Florida] outbreak,” Trepka said.

“The MenACWY vaccine is routinely offered to all 11-12-year-olds with a booster dose at 16 years. This is because adolescents and young adults are at high risk,” she said.

All at-risk groups — including the immunocompromised — and those at higher risk of exposure such as new college students who will live in dorms, and during this Florida outbreak, should consider getting the MenACWY vaccine.

“And there is no harm in anybody else getting the vaccine,” Trepka said. “It is a very safe vaccine but it is most important that these high-risk groups get vaccinated."<<

 

[Max Power]

So, I’ll ask again, what specific intervention for monkeypox, or change in official messaging/policy from agencies like the CDC, WHO, etc. would you like to see?

More clarity on how it spreads and who needs to be concerned.

Low information people (like my wife in this scenario) thought monkeypox spreads the same way covid does. 

I get that this "could" spread similar to covid, but with the WHO upgrade it's time to educate people on what we know.

 

[Terminalxylem]

More clarity on how it spreads and who needs to be concerned.

Low information people (like my wife in this scenario) thought monkeypox spreads the same way covid does. 

I get that this "could" spread similar to covid, but with the WHO upgrade it's time to educate people on what we know.

What in the CDC description I quoted earlier would lead one to believe this spreads like SARS-CoV-2?

A statement from a CDC spokesperson from May:

“This is not Covid,” McQuiston told reporters on a call Monday. “Respiratory spread is not the predominant worry. It is contact and intimate contact in the current outbreak setting and population.”

 

[ICON211]

Where do you derive opinions about novel infectious outbreaks?

There is plenty of reading material all over the place about viruses.  The CDC has been more interested in twisting data and stoking fear than providing legitimate information during COVID IMO.

 

[John123]

So apparently the WHO has an expert committee that votes on whether to declare something like Covid/Monkeypox an emergency.  This committee voted against upgrading Monkeypox to a global emergency.  But the WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decided to override the committee.  So, basically the WHO has declared Monkeypox a global emergency at the edict of one man.   Ugh. 

 

[Max Power]

What in the CDC description I quoted earlier would lead one to believe this spreads like SARS-CoV-2?

A statement from a CDC spokesperson from May:

It spreads through respitory secretions. Which is interpreted as respitory droplets.

 

[FairWarning]

What in the CDC description I quoted earlier would lead one to believe this spreads like SARS-CoV-2?

A statement from a CDC spokesperson from May:

Unfortunately reading comprehension has really fallen off the last few years.  Thanks for sharing this stuff (even though we don’t see eye to eye on guns).

 

[Battersbox]

Disagree how prevalent acceptance of homosexuality is - topics like gay marriage, same sex parents adopting/raising children and AIDS (still), make it readily apparent your acquaintances don’t represent the general populace. While it’s certainly better than the 80s, there are still are wide swaths of the population who are intolerant of “the gays”. And I’ll reiterate: I don’t think there is anything to be gained by classifying monkeypox as a “gay disease”.

TBH, I feel like some of you guys just want to complain about anything perceived as being influenced by political correctness.

So, I’ll ask again, what specific intervention for monkeypox, or change in official messaging/policy from agencies like the CDC, WHO, etc. would you like to see?

I don't think messaging from agencies means very much at all, since their credibility is in tatters. But possibly health departments of large metro areas with large homosexual populations could really get on the ball here. Like disavowing sex parties/ragers. Closing bath houses for a time, etc. I'll be honest, I'm not super in tune with how that world operates, but to date we've seen zero self-policing. 

Heck, isn't that annual Bear week in Rhode Island coming up again? The one that was in the headlines for Covid spread last year or the year before?? Has there been a shred of self-awareness in that community about perhaps calling off the massive orgies for the time being? 

Personally, I don't know if Monkeypox is ever going to be much of a threat to the general population. But I'll never get past the absolute hypocrisy with which public health officials are treating the potential threat as opposed to how they treated Covid. For the record, I don't want to see police tape strewn across the doors to NYC bath houses like we saw at our local playgrounds, but don't tell me the response has been consistent.

 

[Battersbox]

In my bubble, this is also true. However, we need to realize that this is not a truth for many people. As evidence, we just had 157 representatives from across the country vote against a bill that would codify marriage rights for same-sex couples

Fair point. But I still maintain that attitudes toward gays are so starkly different now compared to even 15 years ago (let alone 40 years ago) that it's almost like we're on a different planet. That is all to the good of course. With that said, I think we're doing the gay community a disservice if we think pretending this isn't a gay-community specific problem right now is the right call. 

 

[The General]

It spreads through respitory secretions. Which is interpreted as respitory droplets.

Unless these terms were used in some context or explained I would take them as the same thing. 

 

[Max Power]

Unless these terms were used in some context or explained I would take them as the same thing. 

Seems like there is some gray area with it, but more often than not, secretions really means phlegm. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

I don't think messaging from agencies means very much at all, since their credibility is in tatters. But possibly health departments of large metro areas with large homosexual populations could really get on the ball here. Like disavowing sex parties/ragers. Closing bath houses for a time, etc. I'll be honest, I'm not super in tune with how that world operates, but to date we've seen zero self-policing. 

Heck, isn't that annual Bear week in Rhode Island coming up again? The one that was in the headlines for Covid spread last year or the year before?? Has there been a shred of self-awareness in that community about perhaps calling off the massive orgies for the time being? 

Personally, I don't know if Monkeypox is ever going to be much of a threat to the general population. But I'll never get past the absolute hypocrisy with which public health officials are treating the potential threat as opposed to how they treated Covid. For the record, I don't want to see police tape strewn across the doors to NYC bath houses like we saw at our local playgrounds, but don't tell me the response has been consistent.

The threat level is way different, so I wouldn’t expect the same response

 

[the moops]

So apparently the WHO has an expert committee that votes on whether to declare something like Covid/Monkeypox an emergency.  This committee voted against upgrading Monkeypox to a global emergency.  But the WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decided to override the committee.  So, basically the WHO has declared Monkeypox a global emergency at the edict of one man.   Ugh. 

The vote was 9-6 against declaring it an emergency.

Somehow I doubt you would have any different take if the vote was 8-7 for declaring it an emergency.

Also - what a terrible position to be put in as director of WHO. No matter what he does, we have millions of people #####ing at him that he did the wrong thing. A complete lose-lose proposition.

 

[Max Power]

The vote was 9-6 against declaring it an emergency.

Somehow I doubt you would have any different take if the vote was 8-7 for declaring it an emergency.

Also - what a terrible position to be put in as director of WHO. No matter what he does, we have millions of people #####ing at him that he did the wrong thing. A complete lose-lose proposition.

I think what scares people is that we have a willingness to dictate policy based off WHO guidance. If their expert positions on topics can be overruled by a single unelected person, we should be watching these developments closely. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

I don't think messaging from agencies means very much at all, since their credibility is in tatters. But possibly health departments of large metro areas with large homosexual populations could really get on the ball here. Like disavowing sex parties/ragers. Closing bath houses for a time, etc. I'll be honest, I'm not super in tune with how that world operates, but to date we've seen zero self-policing. 

Heck, isn't that annual Bear week in Rhode Island coming up again? The one that was in the headlines for Covid spread last year or the year before?? Has there been a shred of self-awareness in that community about perhaps calling off the massive orgies for the time being? 

Personally, I don't know if Monkeypox is ever going to be much of a threat to the general population. But I'll never get past the absolute hypocrisy with which public health officials are treating the potential threat as opposed to how they treated Covid. For the record, I don't want to see police tape strewn across the doors to NYC bath houses like we saw at our local playgrounds, but don't tell me the response has been consistent.

Since you’re not in tune with “that world”, how do you know if they’ve done any self policing?

Also, I don’t believe any health department has ever condoned sex parties/ragers under any circumstances. And who knows how many bath houses are encouraging lascivious acts, regardless of sexual preference?

Lastly, It looks like Bear Week 2022 has already passed.

 

[Terminalxylem]

There is plenty of reading material all over the place about viruses.  The CDC has been more interested in twisting data and stoking fear than providing legitimate information during COVID IMO.

Great! What are your trusted sources?

 

[Battersbox]

Since you’re not in tune with “that world”, how do you know if they’ve done any self policing?

Also, I don’t believe any health department has ever condoned sex parties/ragers under any circumstances. And who knows how many bath houses are encouraging lascivious acts, regardless of sexual preference?

Lastly, It looks like Bear Week 2022 has already passed.

1. I don't know for sure. Do you think they are?

2. There is a difference between condoning these things and condemnation. Condemnation in the short term might be a good idea. 

3. So, Bear week happened. Proving my point about the lack of self-policing.

 

[Battersbox]

The threat level is way different, so I wouldn’t expect the same response

If you think this isn't something to be worried about, I can accept that. 

If it is something to be worried about, measures should be taken, even at risk of offending a subset of the population. Hurting some feelings now could likely save much more heartache down the road. 

Imo, you do the gay community a disservice by pretending this isn't a problem, or pretending it isn't a gay community problem right now (which it absolutely is).

 

[Max Power]

Good Morning America just had a segment on Monkeypox and stated it can spread via respiratory droplets. This is why there is confusion about how it spreads. 

Monkeypox is generally spread through direct close contact, including intimate contact. The disease can also spread through droplets from face-to-face contact with an infected person.

5 things to know about monkeypox and skin: Analysis - ABC News (go.com)

 

[Battersbox]

Good Morning America just had a segment on Monkeypox and stated it can spread via respiratory droplets. This is why there is confusion about how it spreads. 

5 things to know about monkeypox and skin: Analysis - ABC News (go.com)

This could be a case of something that 'can' happen, but usually doesn't. 

My guess is if this spread somewhat easily we'd see many more infections outside of the MSM community by now. It's been around for months. 

 

[Max Power]

This could be a case of something that 'can' happen, but usually doesn't. 

My guess is if this spread somewhat easily we'd see many more infections outside of the MSM community by now. It's been around for months. 

I'm just bugged by the reporting on it.  The article even mentions the possibility of asymptomatic monkeypox spread. This is how it starts.  It can spread through the air and someone might not even know they have it...

 

[Battersbox]

I'm just bugged by the reporting on it.  The article even mentions the possibility of asymptomatic monkeypox spread. This is how it starts.  It can spread through the air and someone might not even know they have it...

After 2.5 years of sloppy reporting about Covid I wouldn't be surprised to read constant stories about Monkeypox which skate toward the loosest definitions if the truth simply to grab more eyeballs.

Again, technically it probably 'can' spread through the air, but if it were doing that in a meaningful way wouldn't it have spread beyond the MSM community by now?

 

[Terminalxylem]

If you think this isn't something to be worried about, I can accept that. 

If it is something to be worried about, measures should be taken, even at risk of offending a subset of the population. Hurting some feelings now could likely save much more heartache down the road. 

Imo, you do the gay community a disservice by pretending this isn't a problem, or pretending it isn't a gay community problem right now (which it absolutely is).

It’s something to keep an eye on, but nowhere near the threat posed by SARS-CoV-2 to the general public. That being said, I don’t think anyone is pretending it’s not a concern, particularly for individuals participating in intimate group activities.

Reminding MSM to practice safe sex is fine, but condemning the entire gay community for the behavior of a few promiscuous members, creating another “gay disease” in the process isn’t.

 

[Battersbox]

It’s something to keep an eye on, but nowhere near the threat posed by SARS-CoV-2 to the general public. That being said, I don’t think anyone is pretending it’s not a concern, particularly for individuals participating in intimate group activities.

Reminding MSM to practice safe sex is fine, but condemning the entire gay community for the behavior of a few promiscuous members, creating another “gay disease” in the process isn’t.

I agree with your second paragraph. Which is why if I were in the gay community but not a member of the small subset of the community who has dozens or hundreds of partners a year I'd be all for measures which helped curb spread. 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I'm just bugged by the reporting on it.  The article even mentions the possibility of asymptomatic monkeypox spread. This is how it starts.  It can spread through the air and someone might not even know they have it...

I mean, in fairness the source is Good Morning America.  That’s not even on the top-100 list of where I would get medical advice.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

The vote was 9-6 against declaring it an emergency.

He claimed he had to act as a tie-breaker.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Not common enough, at least not sex raves for mid-40s guys with mid-20s women.

I am giving up sex orgies for two weeks to help stop the spread. Then two more weeks. Then two more weeks...

 

[parasaurolophus]

Gay men most at risk. Gay men put in first vaccine group.

SJWs would rather more gay men get monkeypox but have a more equitable distribution of vaccines so that gay men don't have their feelings hurt. 

 

[Max Power]

I mean, in fairness the source is Good Morning America.  That’s not even on the top-100 list of where I would get medical advice.

The point is that they are putting out bad medical information to the masses. I thought this type of thing was frowned upon.

Its literally medical misinformation on the mainstream media.

 

[Battersbox]

Gay men most at risk. Gay men put in first vaccine group.

SJWs would rather more gay men get monkeypox but have a more equitable distribution of vaccines so that gay men don't have their feelings hurt. 

This is exactly what I've been going on about. It's just stupid. I can't understand it. The replies to that tweet are amazing.

 

[The General]

Gay men most at risk. Gay men put in first vaccine group.

SJWs would rather more gay men get monkeypox but have a more equitable distribution of vaccines so that gay men don't have their feelings hurt. 

I am missing what was the issue with that.

 

[parasaurolophus]

I am missing what was the issue with that.

With what? Putting gay men first in line for the vaccine?