World AIDS Day - Let's Remember

Today, let's spend a few moments remembering all those who died from this dreadful scourge of humanity.
I remember all those who touched my life. Do you remember someone in particular?

I'll second that, Jig, and ask everyone to remember not only those they knew, but to think of the many thousands around the world who they never knew. Spare a thought for the many children in Africa and Asia growing up without their parents, and for people everywhere without access to good health care and medication.

Take the time to educate your children and others about the importance of safe practices, because in our so-called first-world countries, there is no excuse for ignorance, and no place for embarrassment.

“Take the Lead. Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise!” (2008 World Aids Day motto)

Humanity's scourge IS Humanity. :/

How much has this got to do with Second Life? Are we really turning this forum into a General Forum so we can finally give LL reason enough to close it down?

I presume you're oblivious to the work done by HIV/AIDS groups in SL then, Marcel, and unaware of the number of residents living with HIV/AIDS who - like others with myriad disabilities and illnesses that do get mentioned in the forums - are members of our community? A little recognition on just one day of the year isn't much to ask. Besides, Jig did the right thing and asked a question.

She asked a question that did not ostensibly deal with Second Life. I am aware of the work by HIV/AIDS groups in SL, but if she is, it wasn't apparent. It is not as if she included SLurls to those projects in her post.

Do we have to bicker? Surely a moment's thought and a very small amount of space on a virtuality can be spared? Is that too much to ask? SL wasn't created as a selfish environment but as a means to bring people together and make them more aware of the benefits of cyberspace. Its an interactive environment where we CAN discuss real issues and how it affects SL. The Lindens may even have people with HIV/AIDS working for them. YOU probably have a person working with you who is afflicted. I am amazed at teh relatively few replies of which some actually question the protocols regarding my question. Google actually has a "bow" when we log in. Let's show some unity here and empathize with our fellow humans - just once?

Here's where I'd start:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Madhupak/44/201/90 - "SL HIV Prevention and Education Center" (This is owned by the Chilbo Community Building Project, which is endorsement enough for me.)

A new sim opened today at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Karuna/58/59/22. "Thanks to a generous grant from the National Library of Medicine and the incredible support of the Alliance Library System, a brand new island dedicated to HIV/AIDS education, outreach, and support will open in Second Life on December 1 - World AIDS Day, 2008."

There's a lot of in-world information and activities about HIV / AIDS awareness and support. Today would be a good day to become familiar with them, and to consider getting involved. If "remembering AIDS" motivates such involvement, that's great; remembering without acting is just wasted emotion.

I can rest easy then. Thanks Qie!

Dear me, Cristalle, I was woken by a phone call at 3.30 am last night from a friend who has health issues and who reminded me that it was AIDS day. He lives in UK. I had to go online to send an email to someone is Australia. Enroute, I stopped in on SL forums and posted my post. I was boggy-eyed and half-asleep but thought it would be an apprpriate thing to do. You can dislike me all you like, but this time, please dont shoot the messenger!

2 people I know.. Left 3 kids without parents... I think about them a lot and how one bad choice changed a family forever.

Are we going to celebrate these days too?


December 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons
December 7 - International Civil Aviation Day
December 9 - The International Day against Corruption
December 11 - International Mountain Day


And look what we have coming up in 2009!

2009 - International Year of Astronomy
2009 - International Year of Natural Fibres

January 28 - Data Protection Day
February 4 - International Tacky Email Formatting Day
March 21 - World Sleep Day
1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day
June 8 - World Brain Tumour Day
June 18 - International Picnic Day
September 28 - World Rabies Day
November 21 - World Television Day

In reply to the post suggesting LL might take this thread as part of an excuse to shut down the RA section: surely that can't happen.

Not even any hypothetical staffers who might hypothetically feel the thread doesn't belong, would dare to make such use of it--think of the criticism they'd be exposing themselves to.

(Interestingly, a Google search of "Second Life" and "world" and "AIDS" and "day" yielded over 71,400 hits; there's definitely a connection!)


In answer to Jig's question: yes, indeed.

Lighten up, Francis.

It is a legit question. Some of those others have much more bearing on my life than AIDS Day ever will.

If they haven't done so by now, they obviously can't even be bothered to do that.

FFS people, is it that big a deal?

Chris, a close friend died of AIDS after a brave fight. He was an actor and an artist and had probably given even YOU some pleasure in his time. Your comment is unwarranted and not amusing. It's teh kind of comment that sends my fingers itching towards deciding to leave sl for good. Have a heart, Chris, think of teh people who may have read this thread and who may also have HIV or full-blown AIDS. Secondlife is global - it may even be the last place some people can actually call "home" or "community".
Jig Chippewa.

So skip this thread and start getting ready for next year's "Talk Like a Pirate Day".

I think the thread would have been more well received if it wasn't made by someone who makes a thread every time they have a thought.

I know quite a few people who died from AIDS, from cancer, car accidents.... the point was it really doesn't belong here.


For the record I don't care what or where you post personally, but trying to make people look like heartless bastards because you posted an off topic thread is cheap.

If only so many other off topic threads generated the same negativity...

Thanks for the reminder about World AIDS Day Jig

The thread may have made quite a few people aware of builds and events inside SL that commemorate those who have died, honor those fighting to stop the disease, or who simply find comfort in knowing they're not alone.

No other part of the Forums could reasonably host a general discussion of all the options, since they're not all strictly Events.

This part of the Forums receives a wide readership.

For all these reasons, the thread does belong here.

It is the anniversary of Rosa Parks being arrested.

Pep (Is *that* more or less worthy of attention than AIDS Day? Discuss)

Maybe 'more' or 'less' doesn't apply so much in this situation. Civil rights are important, and people have died for them--and still do--but in most cases the people are adults who have chosen to participate in their particular protests.

The WAD is about people dying now, many of whom are children who had had no sort of choice.

I mean, you could argue various distinctions for years and never arrive at any clear-cut "this is a valid topic, whereas this is not" type of rule.

I would agree with this if she actually mentioned an event,build or group in SL in her OP. She did not.

Like I said,I don't really care about off topic threads myself . I just didn't think it was fair to make Chris look heartless because he didn't care for her off topic thread.

@Waterstar: No I was not aware, and it did not show in the OP either. Otherwise I would not have posted my reaction as the topic would have been SL related. mabe not a question, but at least not a general discussion topic.

SL is not RL for me, so I absolutely am not interested in RL things here. But that is not the point. The point is that the number of "General Discussion" topics irritates me. Jig seems to do well in that department so I chose a topic of hers to show how I feel about it.