Unsafe Sex Is The Present Apocalypse

 

Apocalyptic themed movies and books often depict a world left desolate by nuclear war or a catastrophic natural disaster or disease caused by man’s foolishness and arrogance. It is the latter that often interests me; that we will wipe ourselves off by a disease, virus or bacteriawe allow to propagate through the false sense of security and invincibility.

 

We have been living with HIV for decades; we are fed information on HIV and how to prevent it, being short of a cure or vaccine, on a constant basis. Information on HIV has never been so widely distributed and freely available to many of us like it is now. However it seems people are still being ‘destroyed from a lack of knowledge’ to quote scripture, Hosea 4:6. This is not about religion or belief but the scripture is poignant and quite relevant to all areas of life, when we lack knowledge or wisdom (as some biblical translations use) we suffer.

 

A Twitter timeline that grabbed me last week Friday was that of @OzTheSon, he was tweeting about his close shave with HIV. It captured my attention because of its honesty. It seems we still do not understand, as if we lack knowledge or wisdom on sexually transmitted infections and responsible sexual behaviour. It is amazing how easyis’kuni (unprotected sex) is, to just slip it in and leave it to chance or hope for the best.

 

I commend him for sharing his experience, especially so publicly and on the start of the weekend where his particular experience is far more likely to occur. One hopes his tweets have pulled us out of our complacency and stupidity.

 

@OzTheSon’s story begins with all the ingredients of any other run of the mill story that culminates in sexual intercourse, booze, attraction, sexual arousal and more booze. He met, what he rates, a highly attractive femalethey exchanged numbers and later she was at his place. It is what happens next where we need to pay attention and learn a lesson. Oz (if I may call him that) admits that he decided that he would not spend the night alone and when the lady ended up to his place things got ‘interesting’. However he could not find the condoms he had so washaya i’skuni umfana. Phela simnandi, ubani ongamusola? He says she did not ask about the condom prior to what was now inevitable penetration but asked after his climax, we do not know if she had her orgasm but that’s not the point here.

 

Oz @OzTheSon · Nov 14

Had a couple of beers but I had already planned everything in my head. Wasn't gonna spend the nIght alone...

 

 

 

Oz @OzTheSon · Nov 14

Got to my place, it was around 2am by then so we went straight to bed. And we didn't waste time. All over each other.

 

Oz @OzTheSon · Nov 14

Anyway let me skip the other details. Thing is I recall having condoms. But didn't find them when I needed them most...

 

Oz @OzTheSon · Nov 14

But I wanted her so bad and somehow she didn't ask about them. We just proceeded...

 

Oz @OzTheSon · Nov 14

Now just after a nigga nutted she asks... yes you guessed it "did you just come in me" followed by "so you didn't use a condom?"

It is at this points she informs him of her HIV positive status. Oz went through a range of emotions including anger and even thought she was joking. Eventually she left and asked for cab fare, which he gave to her – Julius Malema would be proud.

To cut a long story short and at least 2 HIV tests, Oz was found to be negative. Happy endings.

@OzTheSon took his lesson and offers no excuses for his irresponsible behaviour and no blame is apportioned here. Some of the reactions to his tweets included the promotion of circumcision as a preventative measure against STIs. However I think we should all learn to be uncompromising in how we sexually engage safely. One cannot blame the heat of the moment for irresponsible sexual acts, this includes oral sex or mutual fondling. We just need to be safe in this day and age, even sexting via social media has its dangers, being munched and becoming the joke of the internet . Worse girls meet unscrupulous, dangerous men who kidnap, rob and murder them. The world is not safe and we need to take care of ourselves as to whom we engage with and how.

Since it is Big Days, this should be a big eye opener.