Do you think this type of headline is pathetic?

[Juxtapose]

https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-std-stigma-20180507-htmlstory.html

How about a little dose of personal responsibility? 🤷🇺🇲

[DarkLegacy]

It would appear that everything is racist these days. The only thing that causes STDs to spread is irresponsibility, and of course in some cultures they do not believe in contraceptives hence why people from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to catch it. Also if they have just come into the country as well, as they are still uneducated in a lot of countries as well as poor.

None of this is racism, and it is worth noting that most of these diseases came from Africa as well.

[DarkLegacy]

Thanks for MHO

[Juxtapose]

Certainly. Thanks for dropping by 👍

[demonics]

"Not enough white people are getting STD's, people are starting to notice the people that are and we don't like that."

I think they changed it for being too on the nose.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, this all sucks

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

No, I don't believe that a news headline about officials believing that an increase in STD rates in Los Angeles may be caused by racism and stigma is pathetic. Instead, I believe that a news article headline is only "pathetic" if the contents of the article are unrelated to the headline. Specifically within the article that you provided, it does indeed attempt to explain why officials believe that rising STD rates in Los Angeles may be caused by systemic racism. The article mentions that poverty and a lack of opportunity may lead to women to exchange sex or resources, which is a valid point. Higher rates of poverty exist in non-White communities. According to various audit studies, discrimination in the workplace is a major cause of poverty, which results in higher rates of a lack of opportunity in communities that are more downtrodden compared to others.

The article also mentions that Black people mistrusting the medical system is also common, which makes them reluctant to seek medical assistance. Because the medical industry does have a long history of discrimination and conducting unethical medical practices on Black people, Black people are more likely to receive an unequal level of medical care. Therefore, systemic racism definitely can be a major factor for increasing STD rates in Los Angeles, which means that the article isn't "pathetic," but rather can provide new insight to readers that desire to seek other possibilities. However, while racism can be a cause of increasing STD rates, that doesn't mean that it is the only cause of an increase in STD rates. Of course, various reasons could simultaneously exist for the cause of increasing STD rates, such as irresponsibility, lack of sex education, difficulty accessing healthcare, and so on, which is also mentioned within the article.

[Juxtapose]

The only person to blame for somebody catching an STD is themselves. Only an idiot doesn't put on a rubber with somebody they don't know is clean or not. I'm sorry but if you have raw sex without even checking their medical history then you deserve whatever you get.

The whole article paints black people as some type of helpless victims that are too stupid to think for themselves. I refuse to believe that nonsense. It's race-baiting bullshit and I'm sure if I thought hard enough I can make some bullshit argument on why white people face a certain trouble based on their skin color but really it's personal responsibility.

[Juxtapose]

There are immigrants that come into this country with nothing and they make something of themselves. Just look at Nigerian immigrants, they do wonderfully.

[Juxtapose]

If you're so hard up you feel like you need to prostitute yourself, get on Social Security because that is for people who cannot work. If you can work, then work. I see plenty of black people working in all kinds of places. You can get a job at a local Walmart if you really need to.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Juxtapose: I don't think the article is arguing that people aren't to blame for catching STDs. Instead, the article is saying that some officials believe that "racism and stigma plays a role in the increasing rates of STDs among people of color," which is a valid point. Additionally, STDs are not always transmitted through sexual activity. You can get HIV, hepatitis, and so on through infected blood, and herpes from direct contact without being aware of an outbreak. The article only mentions Black people specifically twice, and it is not attempting to talk about Black people or any minority group as a whole, which is why I fail to understand how you can believe the article is painting Black people as "stupid people that can't think for themselves." Regardless of the STD rate, the vast majority of Black people or any minority group is STD free.

Instead, the article is simply arguing because of instances of racism, which people of color are definitely more likely to experience, such people are more likely to engage in activities that lead to a higher chance of contracting STDs. For instance, according to several audit studies, Black Americans are more likely to experience discrimination in the workplace based on having a "Black-sounding name." Higher rates of workplace discrimination leads to higher rates of poverty, which, in turn, could lead to higher rates of prostitution, which could lead to higher STD rates. Poverty also leads to higher rates of crime such as rape and sex trafficking, which also can lead to higher rates of STDs. A lack of treatment of STDs, regardless of how they were contracted, also leads to increasing STD rates. Because higher rates of racism does exist towards Black people within the medical industry, of course higher rates of mistrust of the medical system exists in the Black community. As a result, medical racism definitely can play a role a lack of treatment of Black people with STDs, which can potentially increase STD rates.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Juxtapose: The majority of minorities do work, and nobody's arguing Black people don't and can't work. Still, for most people, to work, one has to be chosen by an employer. If one from a racial group with a higher rate of experiencing discrimination from employers, then finding a job may not be easy for some in that group compared to others. Thus, because people still have to take care of themselves, they might not have the chance to be patient enough to wait for an employer's call, resulting in them turning to crime or prostitution. Of course, this doesn't mean that the article is attempting to paint every Black person or minority as a victim of racism that absolutely must turn to prostitution to support themselves, but rather that higher rates of this happening exists in downtrodden communities compared to those that experience lower levels of discrimination.

For instance, an analogy can be used for, say, the crime trends regarding The Great Depression. Because economic opportunities were scarce for White people then, crime in the White community was at an all-time high. If someone wrote an article about how some officials believed economic downturn was to blame for increasing crime rates in the White community then, it doesn't mean the article is attempting to argue that White people are "stupid people that need to commit crime to support themselves." Instead, such an article simply argues the basic cause and effect of how a high rate of one negativity (economic downturn) affecting a certain group could lead to higher rates of other negativities (crime). If such crime is prostitution, then that can lead to higher rates of STDs. This is basic fact and common sense. Thus, one way to solve this problem is to tackle the reason that people even need to turn to prostitution or fail to trust the medical industry in the first place, along with doing the basics, like promoting sex education and raising awareness to STDs and the many ways that they spread.

[Juxtapose]

No it's a shallow attempt at inserting Marxist identity politics into a mature discussion about what is happening and why.

People are responsible for themselves. If I for example got rejected from college because they were only taking minorities at the time, and that caused me to go through a series of events that were unfortunate? Should I say that was racism against whites?

If I was a woman, got pregnant and missed opportunities for being promoted.. well that's not fair! Must be because I am a woman in that hypothetical.

It's absurd and makes people look pathetic.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Juxtapose

"No it's a shallow attempt at inserting Marxist identity politics into a mature discussion about what is happening and why."

I'm not inserting any politics in any discussion. I'm analyzing the facts. Still, regardless of whether you consider it "inserting Marxist identity politics," it doesn't falsify my words. Instead of concerning yourself with something you consider "Marxist," determine whether it's factually correct or incorrect instead. Statements aren't false because a person can label them "Marxist."

"People are responsible for themselves."

No one's arguing people aren't responsible for themselves. Again, I reiterate, the point of contention is about what is responsible for the INCREASING STD RATES, not if people that contract STDs should be held accountable for it. I fail to understand how can't grasp this simple fact.

"If I for example got rejected from college because they were only taking minorities at the time, and that caused me to go through a series of events that were unfortunate? Should I say that was racism against whites?"

Allow me to rephrase that question in a way that's relevant to the topic. If colleges began to accept only minorities at high rates and data existed that demonstrated a decrease in White people attending college, would it be considered "pathetic" for officials to suggest that colleges only accepting minorities is responsible for the decreasing rates of White people attending college? Answer honestly.

[Tiffany_Taylor_Made]

@Juxtapose

"If I was a woman, got pregnant and missed opportunities for being promoted.. well that's not fair! Must be because I am a woman in that hypothetical."

That's a completely different situation. The argument isn't about if people are to be held responsible for their own actions, but rather to ponder the underlying reasons regarding an increase in rates. A woman choosing to get pregnant and cost herself a job isn't simultaneous to a Black person being hesitant to treat possible STDs based on true statistics of bias they face in the medical industry, which can influence high rates.

[bolverk]

Yes the headline is pathetic the L. A. County Department of Public Health, know what the real cause of the STD's rise, it is inconvenient/an embarrassment for them to talk about it, if they really wanted to have a serious impact on STD's they could offer ALL of the methods of birth control for a nominal cost as the State is charging the citizens enough tax to cover providing them for free.

[jshm2]

No, as it tries to be factual. You on the other hand are pathetic in making a big joke of it.

There could be many factors such as rape, unequal medical treatment, or low quality facilities that are causing the problem to get worse. It also states "gay and bisexual men" are most of the cases. In which case it's likely these men are spreading the diseases unknowingly and it's not "teens".

[Juxtapose]

It's personal responsibility that is lacking, it is not the fault of some nebulous sexism or racism that is preposterous.

[Juxtapose]

Sorry but adults are responsible for themselves and if they fuck someone without a rubber or checking their medical history.. they are retarded.

[handsomelad70]

As a black man, I'd like to know why racism (I can see if not agree with stigma) is causing Los Angeles Country ballooning STDs rate.

[Juxtapose]

It insults your personal autonomy to suggest that some legacy of slavery that your family may or may not even have been involved with affects your ability to have sex safely. It's like they don't think you are capable of independent thought.

[Juxtapose]

At some point in my family line they were slaves, same for literally everybody.

[handsomelad70]

How much cotton did your ancestors pick in boiling hot fields, Juxtapose? To equate your idea of "slavery' with my great-grandparents' (or my maternal grandmother's being an Alabama sharecropper at the turn of the last century) insults those who underwent the back-breaking, unrequited toil, beatings, rapes, and other indignities of slave life. EVERYONE, especially whites, weren't and never have been slaves. Now take that semi-racist tripe and shove it where the sun doesn't shine, boyo.

[Juxtapose]

The word "slave" comes from "slav." Acting as if blacks have a monopoly on slavery is hilarious.

I have ancestry from Rome and they had shit tons of slaves that worked in conditions way worse than blacks did in America. If you fucked up as a slave in Rome, you would be crucified or worse.

[Juxtapose]

Every group has enslaved every other group and your own people sold you to the white man. Sorry you're still misinformed about history that you developed a victim complex 🤷

[handsomelad70]

I know we don't have a monopoly on slavery. (I also know that "slave" derives from "Slav,"a once-enslaved Eastern European people.) The trouble with too many whites is they retain vestiges of slave owner mentality when dealing with us. (Juxtapose, I don't know one one-millionth of everything, but I know enough to be the non-baseball poster boy for long-ago Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Don Drysdale's assessment of fellow MLB Hall Of Famer Milwaukee-Atlanta Braves/Milwaukee Brewers rightfielder Henry Aaron's hitting ability:"Sneaking a fastball past Henry Aaron is like sneaking the sun past a rooster. Like every human, I can be had, but it's VERY difficult to get BS by me because, besides being an avid reader since age three, my minimally-schooled but very wise parents equipped my late sisters and me with an excellent BS detector, one which reacts quite noisily to anything which fails my smell test.

[Juxtapose]

If you have a BS detector then detect your own BS and stop being a damn victim. Blacks are not special and don't deserve special treatment. No races more special or more victimized than the other because humans throughout human history have brutalized each other regardless of skin color.

[Juxtapose]

*race is more

[OddBeMe]

Not necessarily. As we’ve discussed, journalism and commentary are blurred. But this is journalistic in that city officials (hopefully relevant ones and not mail carriers) have expert opinions on the issue.

Yeah it’s not 100% fact. But it’s reporting on what experts think.

[Juxtapose]

What about this screams expert to you? These people are rotting in the brain and what they are saying about this is absolutely preposterous.

[OddBeMe]

Again I don’t have the full article. What “officials” are they talking about? If it’s the mail carrier, yeah it’s bullshit. If it’s the NIH then ok, news worthy.

[JacobJordan]

Blame anything but what it actually is typical democrats. The blame is promiscuity as it has been for the past decade. Peopl have to accept that being a little whore is a bad idea.

[onedarkcloud]

Looking like the patients are in charge nut house!!! Having safe sex is racist having unsafe sex is racist having sex is racist having no sex is racist. THE DEMOCRATIC COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA at its best trying to destroy America.

[HighValue]

It is typical for liberals to be dishonest.

[Alwayreckles93]

I bet all those woman with STD are catholics. Jehovas Witness LDS christian woman we do not have that problem. Only catholic woman are the worldly ones.

[DJB72]

The only thing more pathetic than the headline is the article that follows it

[DrPepper12]

I blame the old age homes. It's a HOT BED of whores and playas!!

[KrakenAttackin]

Insanity. This shows how mentally and ideologically damaged these people are.

[AviatorTom]

It's in California. What do you expect? People to actually take responsibility for their actions?

[madgoat]

Seems like a click bait title designed to raise revenue.
And you're helping.

[Juxtapose]

If you don't address and call out this kind of thing it spreads.

[madgoat]

Yep. It wasn't really meant as a criticism. More the irony.

[shortster]

Who knew STDs were racist? I didn't even know that viruses could think.

[CrabCakes11]

Did you read the article or did your conservative brain automatically assume it’s wrong so you could have a fit about it?

[Juxtapose]

How little you know youngster!

First of all I did read it and second of all I am a classical liberal. Get your facts straight.

[CrabCakes11]

Aw, somebody thinks classical liberal means not conservative. Cute

[Juxtapose]

They aren't conservative and I can prove it.

Economically? Classical liberals are going to put regulations on corporations conservatives will never be comfortable with.

Socially? They are going to be for individual liberty rather than trying to place some type of collective morality above the individual. How many classical liberals do you see trying to ban masturbation or dildos like hardcore conservatives do? How many classical liberals have been against gay marriage? How many classical liberals are against abortion?

Once again your lack of experience is showing.

[CrabCakes11]

lol ok whatever you say bud

[Juxtapose]

Yeah you say that because you know I made a good point and rather than engage with me honestly you act dismissive.

[CrabCakes11]

No, it’s just worthless to argue with someone this dull.

[Juxtapose]

Right, I am "dull" after articulating myself and making good points while you respond with one or two sentences and don't address any points of substance.

Seriously?

[OtterMan68]

if the headline reports what the people are saying, it's not wrong

[Juxtapose]

This is a effort by the deep state to push identity politics that will eventually lead to a Stalinist state.

[OtterMan68]

ask someone from Ukraine if they think you're right.

[OtterMan68]

Is the headline wrong? Is that not what the officials think?

[Juxtapose]

Ukraine has nothing to do with STDs in Western America LOL 😂

And yes, it is wrong. What causes the spread of STDs is a lack of personal accountability and responsibility.

[ManInChains]

What does racism have to do with STDs?

[Ms_Facesitter]

It looks like they ran out of news.

[laly520]

very pathetic