Is it normal that people don't realize how hurtful herpes jokes are?

71% Normal
7 Comments

I have Herpes Simplex Type II. Unfortunately, my boyfriend who never told me he had it, gave it to me. I just read about someone similar on this site,so I posted this.
It's hard enough living with this, but what makes it worse are the horrible jokes about it. Don't people understand that their dirty, disrespectful, ignorant jokes hurt the one in five people who have it?
I can't think of any other condition that is so ridiculed by all walks of life and all areas. You hear these jokes everywhere such as TV, parties, general conversation, the radio, the internet etc etc.
Many people have HPV (human papilloma virus), but you don't hear the nasty put down jokes that people with Herpes get. Why not? It is transmitted the same way, it is an STD, it is a virus etc. (thank goodness people who have HPV don't have to go through what people with Herpes do)
Why are people so cruel about Herpes?

Voting Results
71% Normal
Based on 7 votes (5 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • Freedom_
    9 years ago

    It's not herpes if it's everywhere.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Well, herpes IS everywhere. It affects all walks of life around the entire world. One in five people have it and those are the ones who report it, so the percentage is probably even higher. Many people are asymptomatic and give it to others without knowing.

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  • JD777
    9 years ago

    Some people can be so insensitive. But, these are the people whose opinions aren't worth the breath they used to blurt them out. 80% of people with HSV II are undiagnosed and may not have had an outbreak yet, so a bunch of the people making these jokes probably have Herpes themselves.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Thank you for sharing that. I hope some people read it.

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  • pixie44
    9 years ago

    Idk why people joke about any kind of sickness to be honest.
    People still think it's acceptable to make cancer jokes.
    All I can say is that some peoples sense of "humor" is really immature.
    And I'm sorry that you have it hun ): Hopefully they come up with a cure soon.
    <3 xoxo

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      I know about cancer jokes and they hurt too. (I had colorectal cancer) I think people just don't know how terrible it is and what people go through when dealing with it. I am very lucky and survived it.
      As odd as it may sound, jokes about herpes hurt much more. They have really affected how I feel about myself and how I live my life.

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      • pixie44
        9 years ago

        I'm sorry you feel that way. ):
        Don't let herpes define you. You are more than just an illness.
        If you go look at yourself in the mirror what do you notice? No one would be able to tell you have it, you know? Be the same person you were before you got it.

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