Although you and I might consider this extreme, weird, sick and bizarre, it isn't all that uncommon.
The psychology is similar to other forms of self-injury or self-destruction.
Without going into too much detail, think about other forms of self-inflicted pain or self-inflicted devastation.
Gang members who scar themselves with branding irons too have gang logo scars.
Some forms of sexual BDSM. Isn't the sexual masochist kinda like that?
Sexual fetishes, and I'd call this a sexual fetish, often border on, or dwell in some kind of obtuse form of thinking. Thoughts that "normal" or "regular" people find a bit revolting.
I've heard guys talk about being really inclusive in certain segments of the gay community.
That inclusion also harbors meth use, being HIV positive, and a few other indicators of being really part of the community.
What you may not be aware of is the absolutely huge amounts of money, funding, support and services available to HIV positive gay people. There's housing, cash subsidies, free medical care under Medi-Cal and Medi-Care, free meals delivered to the home, mental health services, medications, peer-suport networks and many more free services. The list is virtually endless.
Also, consider that HIV is no longer the death sentence that it once was a few decades ago.
Many people with AIDS, and Disabling AIDS (t-cell count under 200) are living very productive, fruitful lives in relatively good health. They can live a virtually normal life into their senior citizen years without medical problems. The medical help is very good today and HIV related deaths are seriously diminishing.
I don't know why, but this totally reminds me of the bullshit urban legend that people have syringes full of HIV and they roam around the streets of Tijuana stabbing clubbers with them.
it's jus another NASTY, non conforming thing to do on meth. ....kinda like when the other fiends told me I should quit....and i thought... How F*ckin' bad do I have to be to belong here, homeless and strung out .... in this condemned building?
