Comments for Shadows of the Chat http://chatombre.org/blog Art by Katie Armistead Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:33:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on On the Dehumanization of Sex Workers by Idetrorce http://chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2791 Idetrorce Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:03:00 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2791 very interesting, but I don't agree with you Idetrorce very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce

]]> Comment on Synesthesia: Sound to Sight by Rosalie http://chatombre.org/blog/2006/08/11/synesthesia-sound-to-sight/#comment-2669 Rosalie Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:35:44 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2006/08/11/synesthesia-sound-to-sight/#comment-2669 I don't think this si synesthesia because it doesn't match many descriptions of the things that I feel and imagine, more of connecting colors with emotion, places, objects and touches and vis-versa, but it's mostly with sounds and places with the colors in them. Sorry, that sounds a bit scatterbrained. Example: Lavender: candles lone at night, soft tears and comforting rain, not harsh, steady soft patterings, hidden like a cascade, peacefulness, not the same as bliss, but like disappearing, being burried in your imaginary world where everything is perfect. Cool warmth, soothing, like a smooth pebble. Th cosest I can connect this with synesthesia is seeing personalities. Like I see things with colors, and some sounds. Not really see, but those things I connnect it with fill me. I am an artist and a poet, so I might just be crazy, but whatever. I don't think this si synesthesia because it doesn't match many descriptions of the things that I feel and imagine, more of connecting colors with emotion, places, objects and touches and vis-versa, but it's mostly with sounds and places with the colors in them. Sorry, that sounds a bit scatterbrained. Example: Lavender: candles lone at night, soft tears and comforting rain, not harsh, steady soft patterings, hidden like a cascade, peacefulness, not the same as bliss, but like disappearing, being burried in your imaginary world where everything is perfect. Cool warmth, soothing, like a smooth pebble. Th cosest I can connect this with synesthesia is seeing personalities. Like I see things with colors, and some sounds. Not really see, but those things I connnect it with fill me. I am an artist and a poet, so I might just be crazy, but whatever.

]]> Comment on On the Dehumanization of Sex Workers by Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-12 http://chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2612 Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » links for 2007-10-12 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2612 [...] Shadows of the Chat » On the Dehumanization of Sex Workers A (particularly cool) teenage girl wrote this. I have hope for the future! (tags: blog sexwork rights) [...] [...] Shadows of the Chat » On the Dehumanization of Sex Workers A (particularly cool) teenage girl wrote this. I have hope for the future! (tags: blog sexwork rights) [...]

]]> Comment on R.I.P. Shelley by TechnoMom http://chatombre.org/blog/2007/02/11/rip-shelley/#comment-2194 TechnoMom Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:04:02 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2007/02/11/rip-shelley/#comment-2194 Would you mind adding this to her <a href="http://technozoo.org/shelley/" rel="nofollow">site</a>, sweetie? I think it would be a fitting close, and she'd like it. *hugs* Would you mind adding this to her site, sweetie? I think it would be a fitting close, and she'd like it. *hugs*

]]> Comment on On the Dehumanization of Sex Workers by Mohammad Khairul Alam http://chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2185 Mohammad Khairul Alam Wed, 18 Apr 2007 05:17:29 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2007/01/15/on-the-dehumanization-of-sex-workers/#comment-2185 Street Sex Workers are Vulnerable HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh Mohammad Khairul Alam AIDS Researcher 24/3 M. C. Roy Lane Dhaka-1211, Bangladesh rainbowngo@gmail.com Tell: 880-2-8628908 Mobile: 01711344997 Sexually transmitted diseases/ infections — also known as STDs/STIs and once called venereal diseases — are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate/ sexual contact. There are different kinds of STDs, Some kinds of STDs are very dangerous for human health. It can cause permanent damage, such as infertility (the inability to have a baby) and even death. HIV/AIDS is one of the STDs/STIs that are on the rise in sex workers and Injection Drug Users. Sex work is central to an epidemic that is primarily spread by unprotected heterosexual intercourse. It is also a feature of all countries and cultures, encompassing a wide range of people and behaviours. Sex work can involve men and transgender people, as well as women. People who are engaged in selling sex obviously have multiple sex partners and are therefore highly vulnerable to several Sexual Transmission Diseases (STDs/STI) and HIV/AIDS infection. Because they have many sexual partners, they are also more likely to transmit the virus to other people unless condoms are always used. As mentioned by AIDS researcher Mr. Anirudha Alam, “Street Sex Workers contracting HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex with HIV infected men and sexual abuse has become a persistent problem, especially in South Asia”. Bangladesh is still a low prevalence country (HIV-infection rate is less than 1%), but there is a potential for expanding HIV/AIDS epidemic in the future, because the country is very receptive to HIV infection. Sex work exists at significant levels in Bangladesh, and condom use is low. In Bangladesh, sex workers in brothels as well as on the streets reported rather high client turnover, by Asian standards. Women working in brothels nationwide averaged 19 clients a week, and street workers reported between 12 and 16 in different cities. Consistent condom use is among the lowest in the region. Street Sex Workers (SSWs) in Bangladesh would play a critical role of HIV/AIDS infections. Due to the types of their work, the lack of sexually transmitted infections (STI/STDs) knowledge and low acceptance of condom use, SSWs represent a highly vulnerable group in Bangladesh. The sharp rise in others sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Bangladesh contributes to the spread of HIV and may lead to a extensive epidemic, as the heterosexual mode of others STI transmission accounts for an increasing percentage of HIV transmission. Studies of street beggars conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation & L.R.B Foundation in mid-2006s at Kamrangir Char, Lalbagh and Polashi in Dhaka city in Bangladesh surveyors confirm the 40-45 per cent of homeless beggars (adult male) indulge in multi-partner sex with less than 10 per cent of them reporting condom use. Street Sex Workers are the main sexual partners of them. Street Sex Workers are closely associated with the tourism and transport industries where they find a large supply of potential clients. They get their clients by waiting on the streets. Most of them run on their work separately, though some rely on brokers for help in getting clients. The favored method of work is to wait on busy streets, which make available custom as well as relative confidentiality to the contract, as opposed to the less frequented localities. Bus stops, railway stations, cinema halls and river-bank are the usual locations where the contract is negotiated, from where they go to cheap hotels, under constriction building, darkness park-place and lodges with their clients. Day by day, Sex work is increase in Bangladesh. However Ms. Roushan Ara Rekha, Executive Director of GHARONI, an expert in the field, she said, ‘On a regional basis, infected men probably outnumber infected women by a factor of 3 to 1 or more, since commercial sex clients, injecting drug users and men having sex with men have contributed most strongly to the rapid initial growth of the epidemic. This male/female ratio is expected to drop as the epidemic spreads into the general population through spread of HIV from clients of sex workers to their regular partners and spouses.’ M. C. M. Lokman Hossain, Executive Director of Association for Social Advancement & Rural Rehabilitation (ASARR) said, if we want to reduce sex trade we have to clarify our vision on sex work first. Traditional perspectives on prostitution have been repressive, moralising and controlling, perceiving sex workers and their customers to be objects rather than active subjects, excluding them from discussions and decisions around policy and legislation. Reference: GHARONI report, ASARR report, Sex work network Street Sex Workers are Vulnerable HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh

Mohammad Khairul Alam
AIDS Researcher
24/3 M. C. Roy Lane
Dhaka-1211, Bangladesh
rainbowngo@gmail.com
Tell: 880-2-8628908
Mobile: 01711344997

Sexually transmitted diseases/ infections — also known as STDs/STIs and once called venereal diseases — are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate/ sexual contact. There are different kinds of STDs, Some kinds of STDs are very dangerous for human health. It can cause permanent damage, such as infertility (the inability to have a baby) and even death. HIV/AIDS is one of the STDs/STIs that are on the rise in sex workers and Injection Drug Users.

Sex work is central to an epidemic that is primarily spread by unprotected heterosexual intercourse. It is also a feature of all countries and cultures, encompassing a wide range of people and behaviours. Sex work can involve men and transgender people, as well as women. People who are engaged in selling sex obviously have multiple sex partners and are therefore highly vulnerable to several Sexual Transmission Diseases (STDs/STI) and HIV/AIDS infection. Because they have many sexual partners, they are also more likely to transmit the virus to other people unless condoms are always used. As mentioned by AIDS researcher Mr. Anirudha Alam, “Street Sex Workers contracting HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex with HIV infected men and sexual abuse has become a persistent problem, especially in South Asia”.

Bangladesh is still a low prevalence country (HIV-infection rate is less than 1%), but there is a potential for expanding HIV/AIDS epidemic in the future, because the country is very receptive to HIV infection. Sex work exists at significant levels in Bangladesh, and condom use is low. In Bangladesh, sex workers in brothels as well as on the streets reported rather high client turnover, by Asian standards. Women working in brothels nationwide averaged 19 clients a week, and street workers reported between 12 and 16 in different cities. Consistent condom use is among the lowest in the region.

Street Sex Workers (SSWs) in Bangladesh would play a critical role of HIV/AIDS infections. Due to the types of their work, the lack of sexually transmitted infections (STI/STDs) knowledge and low acceptance of condom use, SSWs represent a highly vulnerable group in Bangladesh. The sharp rise in others sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Bangladesh contributes to the spread of HIV and may lead to a extensive epidemic, as the heterosexual mode of others STI transmission accounts for an increasing percentage of HIV transmission. Studies of street beggars conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation & L.R.B Foundation in mid-2006s at Kamrangir Char, Lalbagh and Polashi in Dhaka city in Bangladesh surveyors confirm the 40-45 per cent of homeless beggars (adult male) indulge in multi-partner sex with less than 10 per cent of them reporting condom use. Street Sex Workers are the main sexual partners of them.

Street Sex Workers are closely associated with the tourism and transport industries where they find a large supply of potential clients. They get their clients by waiting on the streets. Most of them run on their work separately, though some rely on brokers for help in getting clients. The favored method of work is to wait on busy streets, which make available custom as well as relative confidentiality to the contract, as opposed to the less frequented localities. Bus stops, railway stations, cinema halls and river-bank are the usual locations where the contract is negotiated, from where they go to cheap hotels, under constriction building, darkness park-place and lodges with their clients.

Day by day, Sex work is increase in Bangladesh. However Ms. Roushan Ara Rekha, Executive Director of GHARONI, an expert in the field, she said, ‘On a regional basis, infected men probably outnumber infected women by a factor of 3 to 1 or more, since commercial sex clients, injecting drug users and men having sex with men have contributed most strongly to the rapid initial growth of the epidemic. This male/female ratio is expected to drop as the epidemic spreads into the general population through spread of HIV from clients of sex workers to their regular partners and spouses.’

M. C. M. Lokman Hossain, Executive Director of Association for Social Advancement & Rural Rehabilitation (ASARR) said, if we want to reduce sex trade we have to clarify our vision on sex work first. Traditional perspectives on prostitution have been repressive, moralising and controlling, perceiving sex workers and their customers to be objects rather than active subjects, excluding them from discussions and decisions around policy and legislation.

Reference: GHARONI report, ASARR report, Sex work network

]]> Comment on R.I.P. Shelley by katie http://chatombre.org/blog/2007/02/11/rip-shelley/#comment-2180 katie Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:41:12 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2007/02/11/rip-shelley/#comment-2180 hi im sorry that happned death is the hardest thing that might happen my gerbil (mercy) died a while back like less than half a year ago and i ll never forgether she was just 1 1/2 years old hi im sorry that happned death is the hardest thing that might happen my gerbil (mercy) died a while back like less than half a year ago and i ll never forgether she was just 1 1/2 years old

]]> Comment on Explaining disconnect between women, video games by nadya http://chatombre.org/blog/2006/10/18/explaining-disconnect-between-women-video-games/#comment-104 nadya Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:50:06 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2006/10/18/explaining-disconnect-between-women-video-games/#comment-104 Interesting article, thank you for posting! Though true in some ways, particularly about the way the characters look (though I play World of Warcraft and find nothing wrong with my Troll female Rogue looking sexy, and there is plenty of different armour to make characters look dignified and lovely, not just half-naked). While I agree on many points, and I agree that most games "don't understand women" to begin with, there is a growing female population in may games. I'm one of them, and while reading it, I'm wondering if maybe I am some very weird girl. :) My dad is a programmer, so naturally, I grew up around computers. Dad and I played fighting games, maze games, and flight sims together, and it was a form of spending quality time with my dad. (there was no shortage of real-life family fun, too - hiking, fishing trips, etc) So I grew up into a gamer girl. I don't own a ton of games, and certainly one person can't play them all, but I'm currently in Guild Wars and World of Warcraft, and am thoroughly enjoying both. Also the 13-year-old girl they got to play a game (I got a chuckle out of that, because "i did that last week, why do i have to do it again?" sums up WoW raiding in a nutshell), may simply not have quite understood or had the attention span to focus on it. I dunno. Girls who like games, will play games, girls who don't, won't anyway. Same for men, though. I think it's all up to the individual person. :) Interesting article, thank you for posting! Though true in some ways, particularly about the way the characters look (though I play World of Warcraft and find nothing wrong with my Troll female Rogue looking sexy, and there is plenty of different armour to make characters look dignified and lovely, not just half-naked). While I agree on many points, and I agree that most games "don't understand women" to begin with, there is a growing female population in may games. I'm one of them, and while reading it, I'm wondering if maybe I am some very weird girl. :) My dad is a programmer, so naturally, I grew up around computers. Dad and I played fighting games, maze games, and flight sims together, and it was a form of spending quality time with my dad. (there was no shortage of real-life family fun, too - hiking, fishing trips, etc) So I grew up into a gamer girl. I don't own a ton of games, and certainly one person can't play them all, but I'm currently in Guild Wars and World of Warcraft, and am thoroughly enjoying both.

Also the 13-year-old girl they got to play a game (I got a chuckle out of that, because "i did that last week, why do i have to do it again?" sums up WoW raiding in a nutshell), may simply not have quite understood or had the attention span to focus on it.

I dunno. Girls who like games, will play games, girls who don't, won't anyway. Same for men, though. I think it's all up to the individual person. :)

]]> Comment on Synesthesia: Sound to Sight by sean holden http://chatombre.org/blog/2006/08/11/synesthesia-sound-to-sight/#comment-44 sean holden Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:50:13 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2006/08/11/synesthesia-sound-to-sight/#comment-44 hello, my name is sean and im a 3rd year graphic design degree student from England. I am doing a project on synesthesia, and i would really like to talk to someone who has this before begging to create visuals or imagary concerning synesthesia. This is a 100% genuine project idea, it is not intended to make light of the situation or ridicule it in any way, i have a real interest in understanding what it is and trying to create representational pictures of the disorder. If you don't mind, i would love for you to answer a few questions for me either via email or telephone, so i can document some first hand experiences. I would be very greatful for any feedback, even if you are not interested. thankyou so much for your time, i look forward to hearing from you. sean holden hello, my name is sean and im a 3rd year graphic design degree student from England. I am doing a project on synesthesia, and i would really like to talk to someone who has this before begging to create visuals or imagary concerning synesthesia. This is a 100% genuine project idea, it is not intended to make light of the situation or ridicule it in any way, i have a real interest in understanding what it is and trying to create representational pictures of the disorder. If you don't mind, i would love for you to answer a few questions for me either via email or telephone, so i can document some first hand experiences. I would be very greatful for any feedback, even if you are not interested. thankyou so much for your time, i look forward to hearing from you.
sean holden

]]> Comment on Viva Las Vegas! by Casey http://chatombre.org/blog/2006/09/14/viva-las-vegas/#comment-43 Casey Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:34:56 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2006/09/14/viva-las-vegas/#comment-43 I don't know you, but im a student government officer for my school in maryland. Our school just voted viva las vegas for our theme as well, so i typed it in google to find decoration ideas and your blog popped up. I'm just wearing a cocktail dress. hope it helps. I don't know you, but im a student government officer for my school in maryland.
Our school just voted viva las vegas for our theme as well, so i typed it in google to find decoration ideas and your blog popped up.

I'm just wearing a cocktail dress.
hope it helps.

]]> Comment on Viva Las Vegas! by Dracofrost http://chatombre.org/blog/2006/09/14/viva-las-vegas/#comment-19 Dracofrost Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:30:14 +0000 http://www.chatombre.org/blog/2006/09/14/viva-las-vegas/#comment-19 You could just dress in a business suit and say that you're with casino security! Or something.. You could just dress in a business suit and say that you're with casino security! Or something..

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