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Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 29, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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I'm still reading And The Band Played On. Probably want to hold more extended commentary until after I finish it, but I am pleasantly surprised so far that it's not at all a dunk against Reaganist budget thriftiness specifically. Nobody looks particularly good in this story, and it seems that the gay community itself and the Federal administrators behaved far more irresponsibly. It's definitely interesting to compare the reaction to the rabid panic associated with Covid-19.

Reading it recently I was struck by the extent to which the reaction to COVID (lockdown places where it might be transmitted over the objections of libertarians until money shoveled towards vaccination pays off) were what should have been done during AIDS but wasn't.

Or more recently, monkeypox. Temporarily shut down gay bars and clubs to stop the spread of an infectious disease which disproportionately impacts gay men? No way, not a chance. Temporarily shut all bars and clubs (including gay cars bars) to stop the spread of an infectious disease? A-OK.

Edit: it was an autocorrect, but dogging is a thing guys!

gay cars

I dunno about that one; EVs and Priuses were still relatively common on the road coincident with the uncommon cold.