Comments on: Well, at least we’re talking about it http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2008/05/19/syphilis-birmingham-editorial/ The Terminal's editorial page Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:09:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: no estoy loca http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2008/05/19/syphilis-birmingham-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-171 no estoy loca Wed, 21 May 2008 09:35:26 +0000 http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/?p=52#comment-171 Who cares if the ads are obnoxious? We ought to care a lot more about people being informed and getting tested than about how obnoxious the ads might be or about what out-of-town business people and visitors will think of us. If just ONE person sees those ads and thinks "Hmm, I might ought to get tested" and goes on to be successfully treated for syphilis, it is worth whatever it costs us. If we were having an influenza outbreak or some other non-STD outbreak, would there be this concern about our reputation or image? This is just as much of a public health crisis. This is really bugging me, because it's got a faint whiff of Tuskegee to it. Did we learn nothing? Do not ignore syphilis! We must do everything we possibly can about this or we are no better than the PHS/CDC who left those patients untreated. Who cares if the ads are obnoxious? We ought to care a lot more about people being informed and getting tested than about how obnoxious the ads might be or about what out-of-town business people and visitors will think of us. If just ONE person sees those ads and thinks “Hmm, I might ought to get tested” and goes on to be successfully treated for syphilis, it is worth whatever it costs us. If we were having an influenza outbreak or some other non-STD outbreak, would there be this concern about our reputation or image? This is just as much of a public health crisis.

This is really bugging me, because it’s got a faint whiff of Tuskegee to it. Did we learn nothing? Do not ignore syphilis! We must do everything we possibly can about this or we are no better than the PHS/CDC who left those patients untreated.

]]> By: Jules http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2008/05/19/syphilis-birmingham-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Jules Tue, 20 May 2008 17:59:11 +0000 http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/?p=52#comment-170 I was unaware of the problem until I saw one of these bus ads. This was despite the fact that I regularly watch and read local news and consider myself very up-to-date on B'ham issues. While the syphilis outbreak doesn't affect me personally, I can see where it would affect a lot of other people. Poor choice, Mr. Langford. The effects of taking down the billboards will have more longterm negative effects on B'ham the leaving them up ever would. I was unaware of the problem until I saw one of these bus ads. This was despite the fact that I regularly watch and read local news and consider myself very up-to-date on B’ham issues.

While the syphilis outbreak doesn’t affect me personally, I can see where it would affect a lot of other people.

Poor choice, Mr. Langford. The effects of taking down the billboards will have more longterm negative effects on B’ham the leaving them up ever would.

]]> By: Christian http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2008/05/19/syphilis-birmingham-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Christian Mon, 19 May 2008 17:51:59 +0000 http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/?p=52#comment-169 Making Jefferson County residents aware of a syphilis outbreak through billboards helps those that don't read or watch their local news, i.e. Teens and the poor who are most at risk. Making Jefferson County residents aware of a syphilis outbreak through billboards helps those that don’t read or watch their local news, i.e. Teens and the poor who are most at risk.

]]> By: Patrick http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2008/05/19/syphilis-birmingham-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Patrick Mon, 19 May 2008 17:13:40 +0000 http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/?p=52#comment-168 I'm kind of glad they're taking them off. Those ads were obnoxious. I’m kind of glad they’re taking them off. Those ads were obnoxious.

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