The Public Rejects Compensation for 'Surprise STDs' [INFOGRAPHIC]

by SodaHead Infographics Posted 2012/06/19 18:13:05

Related Topics: Stds, Compensation, Infographic, Public Opinion, herpes

Read all 337 opinions

A couple of weeks ago, a woman reportedly won $900,000 in court from a guy who gave her genital herpes. According to the report, the man failed to inform her of his disease and refused to use protection. But we wanted to know if the public feels that victims of "suprise STDs" should receive compensation, or if they should still be held personally accountable for neglecting to use protection. Check out this week's infographic for details on how people responded. Let's dive!

+14

Superman 2012/06/19 18:56:49

+48
I'm still furious about the lack of thought most people have on this issue.

While I don't disagree that the woman was foolish for not using protection, I also see that what the man did was with malice. He knowingly exposed her to an illness. Thats criminal.

It seems like most people really only care about branding the woman with any label - that of "slut" - for having sex after four dates. This without knowing what happened during those four dates and having no concept of what its like to be around the age of 50.

I see a lot of hateful and ignorant internet trolls out there who care more about attacking a woman than saying one thing about a man who would lie about an illness and infect someone with it.
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Michaelene to das 2012/06/28 14:56:30

I rest my case, keep your insults to yourself.
have a nice day

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Matt 2012/06/20 14:31:45

+2
simple: dont screw around = dont get std's

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jennifer.wales.104 2012/06/20 14:26:04

I agree that he had a responsibilty to tell her, but he is a guy and what guy is going to ruin his changes of getting some. Every woman should know this and if they don't then they're naive. You can NEVER trust anyone!

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das to jennife... 2012/06/20 18:13:11

What an attitude.

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jennifer.wales.104 2012/06/20 14:23:39

+1
Well with some std's you may not know who gave them to you because some std's can lay dormant in your body for years without any signs. using condoms can help but they are not 100% reliable because you get std's from skin to skin contact. Everyone who went to school knows this.

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anna.st... to jennife... 2012/06/20 16:51:05

True, but everyone is getting off topic and not paying attention that this man KNEW he had it and failed to tell her!

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MorbidCynic 2012/06/20 14:05:53 (edited)

This is why you shouldn't have sex with someone you don't know very well. This could have been avoided if she just closed her legs.

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das 2012/06/20 13:53:58

Herpes is not really a disease. It is an infection that might cause certain symptoms. Symptoms that recur over time. Further we live with those viruses for 1000s of years now and the therapies we have to treat the symptoms are as good as never before.
So I don't see a reason to make such a fuss about it.

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anna.st... to das 2012/06/20 16:49:55

Would you like to have those symptoms and to live with them everyday? I guess if it was you, you wouldn't be so nonchalant about this sensitive subject!

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das to anna.st... 2012/06/20 18:16:15

First of all the symptoms definitely don't occur everyday. But my point is that this subject is not as sensitive as so many other things.

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anna.st... to das 2012/06/20 19:26:33

No they don't occur everyday, but would you like to wonder day by day when they are going to occur?

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anna.st... to anna.st... 2012/06/20 19:36:17

Or for that matter, to live with the discomfort while it is flared up? It is a human viral disease, so you see no fuss? Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

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das to anna.st... 2012/06/20 22:52:23

Why is it causing psychological distress? Because people make a fuss about it?

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anna.st... to das 2012/06/21 17:50:15

I guess if you don't have any kind of disease understanding how it can affect someone psychology would be over your head. I have Chron's Disease, it changes the way you think and look at yourself, as with any other disease. Mine isn't sexually transmitted, but it is somewhat embarrassing. So, if my Chron's, that is uncontrollable even with the medications available, can cause me distress and depression, what do you do think this does to a person with herpes? Knowing you have a sexually transmitted disease and now you are scared to mention it, much less have a perfectly healthy relationship with others. Because trust me, living with my disease is embarrassing, and knowing when the best time to tell someone I have it or why I am running to the bathroom so much (even though I have an ileostomy) is harsh enough. So a person with herpes, who doesn't know when an outbreak will occur can be embarrassed. Going to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine would be embarrassing, because they know what it's use is. This is 2012, I don't sleep around because I think it should be something shared between two people who love one another, but too many people see it as a "feel good" sport!

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das to anna.st... 2012/06/21 21:44:00

Thanks for your answer, but my point was that people are embarrased about a "sexually transmitted infection", because many people still react very conservatively about physical interaction between two persons. It should not be embarrassing to have a herpes blister. A huge part of the world population (billions of people) is infected with the virus. It is actually ridiculous to be embarrased about it. This whole sex-shaming thing is a damn joke.

If you want to limit your love to one person then that is your decision, but why do you bother about others who love multiple people? Why?

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das to anna.st... 2012/06/20 19:39:26

As far as I know they don't occur that often and if they occur you can treat them. Imagine your boyfriend has Herpes 2. Would you break up or stay together and never have unprotected intercourse with him or would you accept living with the virus, but having a normal sexual relationship?

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superangrymonkey 2012/06/20 11:35:08

The clap is an angry snake?

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Rhiarna Banana 2012/06/20 07:29:27

no they shouldne because it could have been on purpose or somethng

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bleep 2012/06/20 07:06:07

I want a boat. Let's ask congress for that

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mary E 2012/06/20 06:27:59

Both are equally responsible.

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bleep to mary E 2012/06/20 07:15:29

She knows how to pick em.

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METALheadMom 2012/06/20 05:59:17
simonmagus 2012/06/19 23:58:48

+3
Intentional-Def.
Lack of reasonable care-Pros.
Who has the best lawyer. *ret
How does one feel about a person intentionally not using the proper protection, knowing he or she has H.I.V.?

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relic 2012/06/19 23:54:59

+2
Be promiscuous at your own risk.

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Chris 2012/06/19 23:14:34 (edited)

+1
If he knew he had a STD, he should have informed her prior to sex, then it's a "at your own risk" situation.

You would determine this by his medical records, did he visit a doctor? Did the doctor confirm he had a STD? If so, that is evidence that he in fact was aware of his STD.

With a lot of people, no you probably can't prove he or she knew they had a STD, but in the case where they have medical records proving they knew, of course compensation should be paid.

And if anything, it may encourage people to just visit the doctor regularly, make sure they are STD free ... but of course you should also be responsible for yourself, become educated about STDS, know what to look for so before sex, give oral so you can inspect your partner's genitalia for any STDs... if you see one, leave.

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anna.stinson.39 2012/06/19 23:02:15

+2
Everyone should use protection. BUT, if you have a STD, it is your responsibility to tell your partner that you have it. This is not something that is curable, it is something you have to live with for the rest of your life. If you know you have it, then you should be responsible and tell your sexual partner and use protection. You are knowingly transmitting a disease to someone else, and this person was well with in her rights to seek compensation.

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anna.st... to anna.st... 2012/06/19 23:09:05

+1
OMG! I can not believe some of these post I am reading! Where did all the "holier than thou" people come from? Both parties are guilty for not using protection, we all agree! However, it is not HER fault she contracted a STD because he only thought of the pleasure of having sex without a condom and maliciously refused to tell this lady he had a disease! Some of you need to get a grip on reality and look around you and quit pointing fingers and examine your life and count how many sexual partners you have had, and of those how many were unprotected!

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chamchamgal 2012/06/19 22:20:16
Mellow to chamcha... 2012/06/21 05:44:16

+1
LOL.

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Maria 2012/06/19 22:17:23

+1
think they should have went to Doctor for check up before went ahead have intercourse if they want without the protection simple take test at Doctor office..no shame it safe than sorry....
what is wrong with condom other protections etc...why not use that instead ...this guy is wrong for not mention what he had the disease and it not fair to lady that she got from him...sex issue it base on be honestly of course everybody want truth in white sheets .....

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btrcmll 2012/06/19 22:06:41

Sometimes you dont be thinki.h or ure pressure or u just want that.he should have told her , and if he didn't he'swrong.

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sunniday 2012/06/19 21:37:30

I think the man who had disease should have been fined that amount of money & money be given to research for STD'S. the woman that contracted was stupid,the days of just plain sex are gone & everyone knows the dangers if he refused to suit up,she should have refused to engage in anything with him.the person you have sex with is not the only person you are having sex with.Its everyone they had sex with. KNOW YOUR PARTNER.
PLAIN & SIMPLE.

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Christopher Kirchen 2012/06/19 21:35:48

Amen; if they didn't want a "surprise std" they should have stuck to people they at least had some familiarity with for sex(now watch the hate posts fly at me lol).

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MarinerFH 2012/06/19 21:25:23

+2
If she had waited until marriage, she would not have had a problem. One more example of the consequences of immoral behavior. She deserves no compensation.

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anna.st... to MarinerFH 2012/06/19 23:04:39

And you have waited for marriage?

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MarinerFH to anna.st... 2012/06/19 23:23:12

Yes, twice...

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anna.st... to MarinerFH 2012/06/20 16:54:09

+1
So you are saying you have only had sex with two women? And you knew for a fact neither of them had anything because you waited?

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MarinerFH to anna.st... 2012/06/20 20:17:59

Yep. But this woman sounds quite promiscuous. She was playing with fire, and with her life.

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*Mahoga... to MarinerFH 2012/06/22 22:57:23 (edited)

+2
So you are telling me a man evil enough to spread an STD isn't worse than a woman being naive. No she does deserve to be compensated and the guy is lucky he isn't serving time. This is what is wrong with the world; you said not one thing about the disgusting nature of this guy to do this to another human being. Her mistake wasn't malicious; his actions was.

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MarinerFH to *Mahoga... 2012/06/22 23:27:24 (edited)

Why the fight to prove one sex morally superior to another? Both are equally moral and immoral in their own individual ways. There are more important ways for me to spend my time than this. I wish you well. Tks.

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