We have models in town for shoots this week.

I had a somewhat lengthy conversation with one of our models. He was arguing that HIV "isn't a big deal" using the evidence that he has friends that have been postive for 3+ years and are "healthy as a horse" and "never felt better."

I was trying to explain that no one I know with AIDS looks at it that way, that his friends are lucky they haven't yet progressed past having the virus. He argued back "Well, there are drugs now and it's really not a big deal any more."

I argued back "I will be happy to put you in touch with some of our models who are fighting AIDS with all of the latest treatments and good health care. They will tell you just how "not a big deal" it is for them, how much it affects what they can do, and how they have to take care of themselves.

I think that's a big part of the issue, the kids 18-25 have never seen anyone suffer from HIV and so they have this idea it's maybe slightly more inconvenient than an occasional bout with the flu.