11 ms·

As a fellow 90's kid who read almost every book Isaac Asimov wrote, I was shocked to learn he died in 1992 from AIDS acquired previously from a blood transfusio

As a fellow 90's kid who read almost every book Isaac Asimov wrote, I was shocked to learn he died in 1992 from AIDS acquired previously from a blood transfusion. The sooner humanity can mostly forget that HIV/AIDS was ever a thing, the better.

rrishi 8y ago
I am a huge fan of Asimov too. I didn't know he died of AIDS. That's unfortunate.
- phlakaton 8y ago
  He and his family kept that fact private, I understand, until years after his passing, because of the enormous stigma around it. That stigma remains one of the most tragic consequences of the disease, as Randy Shilts so devastatingly documented.
v1vek 8y ago
I have read most, but not all of his work but did't know that's how he died. I wasn't old enough in the 90s to understand HIV/AIDS completely but remember it being a death sentence (I remember a rumor that you could get it by using public toilets)
- billfruit 8y ago
  Reportedly his family didn't publicize the matter at the time, due to the prejudice it would have triggered. His auto biography also does not mention it. It was only made public by his family, several years after his death.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - User23 8y ago
    Which family? His child pornography collecting son? https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Charges-shatter-Asimov-son-s-reclusion-3099867.php https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Charges-shatter-Asimo... Isaac was also a serial sexual harasser who routinely pinched women on the backside when they were stuck in an elevator with him: https://the-orbit.net/almostdiamonds/2012/09/09/we-dont-do-that-anymore/ https://the-orbit.net/almostdiamonds/2012/09/09/we-dont-do-t... Edit: I never thought I'd see the community coming out to defend child porn and sexual assault here.
- throwaway5752 8y ago
  This is a pretty good time to remember Ryan White, who is a fairly under-appreciated contemporary hero. They called this the "gay plague" at one point, and in a derogatory way. To all of our collective shame, it probably would have killed far fewer if people didn't think it was exclusive to gay communities.
  - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
    >it probably would have killed far fewer // Maybe if hedonists had curbed their desire for promiscuous sex too? People went on screwing around even when they knew they were infected, people who were at high risk refused to modify their behaviour. Is it "shameful" we didn't discover the full nature of the disease sooner? What exactly should we all be ashamed about, other people's actions? Suppose we found out now that smoker's lung cancer was contagious, would it be shameful of us not to have found out sooner? Or is the real shame that people would still willingly take to smoking?
    - Wowfunhappy 8y ago
      It's shameful that people assumed HIV was exclusive to gay communities, likely due in large part to homophobic prejudice rather than facts. This is not the only shameful thing that has ever happened in the world, but I'm not sure what your example of a shameful action has to do with the GP's.
      - zorked 8y ago
        From what I remember back then it isn't that people assumed only gay people could catch it (otherwise why would absolutely everybody be paranoid about it)... ... but that plenty of people thought it was a convenient way to get rid of gay people. Genocide by omission, if you will. We don't talk about this era anywhere near as much as we should.
      - kakarot 8y ago
        That's not shameful. What's shameful is that we decided that it was OK to let AIDS run rampant since it only affected homosexuals.
- tropo 8y ago
  That wasn't just a rumor. First, if we take "public toilets" to mean the location rather than the plumbing, that is a location where people inject heroin (sharing needles) and sometimes fuck. Second, if we take "public toilets" to mean the plumbing itself, the seats may be contaminated with fresh bodily fluids of all types. (mainly blood for women or semen for men) You could rub against it with your cunt, open sore, dickhole, prolapsed anus, or eyeball. Some seats even have splinters/slivers to jab you in the ass, or in the ballsack or tongue or whatever.
  - tfmatt 8y ago
    Well this has been informative, thanks for sharing.
  - zapzupnz 8y ago
    HN is a relatively sophisticated forum, as forums go. I'm not saying that you need to censor your language, more that a sense of decorum in phrasing could've gone a long way to avoiding downvoting.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - scarmig 8y ago
    Yeah, no. Even vigorous bareback anal sex transfers HIV only a minority of the time. Sitting on semen or menstrual fluid, or even rubbing it on your outer sphincter, is not going to give you HIV. Downvoted for focusing on generating a disgust reaction instead of being aware of any scientific facts.
    - meruru 8y ago
      You know how when you shit sometimes the water can splash back on your anus? I don't know if that can transmit HIV or any other diseases, but I'd rather not happen to me when I'm in a public toilet. Well if you put some toilet paper on the surface of the water it can prevent the splashing. It will increase the chance of clogging though.
- datafatmunger 8y ago
  Those tissue paper toilet seat covers only really appeared in public bathrooms in the 90s. I still think about how ridiculous they are in the context of HIV/AIDS, every time I see them.
kumarharsh 8y ago
Woah, I didn't know about it till this comment! Never even a mention of it in his autobiography either (which is as delightful a book as his fiction)
- kakarot 8y ago
  His family didn't want it to be public for a long time in order to avoid the stigma. Eventually, hearts changed, and it was decided it would be a powerful statement to come forth with the details surrounding his death.
  - cr0sh 8y ago
    I didn't know about it either until now. A true tragedy.
lostlogin 8y ago
I agree with the positive sentiment, but disagree that AIDS should be forgotten. The bigotry and petty vindictiveness in th 90’s was disgusting and in some quarters it lives on. The earlier days were worse as I understand it, and there is a lesson in it all.
- jniedrauer 8y ago
  > there is a lesson in it all. There is, but it does not seem that we learned it. Being a simplistic and tribal species seems to be very deep in our nature, sadly.
  - antt 8y ago
    These days we have gone too far in the other extreme. My grandfather needing a blood transfusion in 1990 and was seen as a death sentence because of how little of the blood was tested then in Eastern Europe. It ended up that my father and uncle had to take turns donating blood to try and keep him alive. When people talk about taking blood from high risk groups and call me a bigot for being absolutely against it I always remember my father fainting three days before my grandfather died because he had given too much blood.
- axaxs 8y ago
  The 90s were...an interesting time. I vividly remember two aunts arguing about AIDS research funding vs cancer research funding. "But only the fags get AIDS" vs "Cancer is preventable if you just stop smoking" hopefully give you an idea of the joys of growing up in the midwest.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    I was in primary school in the 90s; I remember having to write a topical essay and present it in front of class. For some reason I chose AIDS, and I still remember that one of my key points was that you don't catch it through air or touch. Apparently it was common for people to be afraid of standing near a person with AIDS, or breathing the same air. That said, "But only the fags get AIDS" vs "Cancer is preventable if you just stop smoking" doesn't seem like a thing of the past - this level of argumentation around AIDS, and about other topics - vaccines, GMOs, artificial sweeteners - is something I hear from most people I meet. I cherish the people in my life capable of deeper thought than that.
C1sc0cat 8y ago
I remember chatting with a friend who worked in the biochemical industry in the early 90's - he commented if you had had a blood transfusion in certain countries in the last 10-15 years " you're dead".
whatyoudontknow 8y ago
It is sad. Even sadder with this news, Europeans will have to find another way to get Africans off of the mineral rich land they want in Africa. Preparing for HIV/AIDS 2.0 or (Ebola + AIDS)^2

rrishi 8y ago

I am a huge fan of Asimov too. I didn't know he died of AIDS. That's unfortunate.

phlakaton 8y ago
He and his family kept that fact private, I understand, until years after his passing, because of the enormous stigma around it. That stigma remains one of the most tragic consequences of the disease, as Randy Shilts so devastatingly documented.

v1vek 8y ago

I have read most, but not all of his work but did't know that's how he died. I wasn't old enough in the 90s to understand HIV/AIDS completely but remember it being a death sentence (I remember a rumor that you could get it by using public toilets)

billfruit 8y ago
Reportedly his family didn't publicize the matter at the time, due to the prejudice it would have triggered. His auto biography also does not mention it. It was only made public by his family, several years after his death.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- User23 8y ago
  Which family? His child pornography collecting son? https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Charges-shatter-Asimov-son-s-reclusion-3099867.php https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Charges-shatter-Asimo... Isaac was also a serial sexual harasser who routinely pinched women on the backside when they were stuck in an elevator with him: https://the-orbit.net/almostdiamonds/2012/09/09/we-dont-do-that-anymore/ https://the-orbit.net/almostdiamonds/2012/09/09/we-dont-do-t... Edit: I never thought I'd see the community coming out to defend child porn and sexual assault here.
throwaway5752 8y ago
This is a pretty good time to remember Ryan White, who is a fairly under-appreciated contemporary hero. They called this the "gay plague" at one point, and in a derogatory way. To all of our collective shame, it probably would have killed far fewer if people didn't think it was exclusive to gay communities.
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  >it probably would have killed far fewer // Maybe if hedonists had curbed their desire for promiscuous sex too? People went on screwing around even when they knew they were infected, people who were at high risk refused to modify their behaviour. Is it "shameful" we didn't discover the full nature of the disease sooner? What exactly should we all be ashamed about, other people's actions? Suppose we found out now that smoker's lung cancer was contagious, would it be shameful of us not to have found out sooner? Or is the real shame that people would still willingly take to smoking?
  - Wowfunhappy 8y ago
    It's shameful that people assumed HIV was exclusive to gay communities, likely due in large part to homophobic prejudice rather than facts. This is not the only shameful thing that has ever happened in the world, but I'm not sure what your example of a shameful action has to do with the GP's.
    - zorked 8y ago
      From what I remember back then it isn't that people assumed only gay people could catch it (otherwise why would absolutely everybody be paranoid about it)... ... but that plenty of people thought it was a convenient way to get rid of gay people. Genocide by omission, if you will. We don't talk about this era anywhere near as much as we should.
    - kakarot 8y ago
      That's not shameful. What's shameful is that we decided that it was OK to let AIDS run rampant since it only affected homosexuals.
tropo 8y ago
That wasn't just a rumor. First, if we take "public toilets" to mean the location rather than the plumbing, that is a location where people inject heroin (sharing needles) and sometimes fuck. Second, if we take "public toilets" to mean the plumbing itself, the seats may be contaminated with fresh bodily fluids of all types. (mainly blood for women or semen for men) You could rub against it with your cunt, open sore, dickhole, prolapsed anus, or eyeball. Some seats even have splinters/slivers to jab you in the ass, or in the ballsack or tongue or whatever.
- tfmatt 8y ago
  Well this has been informative, thanks for sharing.
- zapzupnz 8y ago
  HN is a relatively sophisticated forum, as forums go. I'm not saying that you need to censor your language, more that a sense of decorum in phrasing could've gone a long way to avoiding downvoting.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- scarmig 8y ago
  Yeah, no. Even vigorous bareback anal sex transfers HIV only a minority of the time. Sitting on semen or menstrual fluid, or even rubbing it on your outer sphincter, is not going to give you HIV. Downvoted for focusing on generating a disgust reaction instead of being aware of any scientific facts.
  - meruru 8y ago
    You know how when you shit sometimes the water can splash back on your anus? I don't know if that can transmit HIV or any other diseases, but I'd rather not happen to me when I'm in a public toilet. Well if you put some toilet paper on the surface of the water it can prevent the splashing. It will increase the chance of clogging though.
datafatmunger 8y ago
Those tissue paper toilet seat covers only really appeared in public bathrooms in the 90s. I still think about how ridiculous they are in the context of HIV/AIDS, every time I see them.

kumarharsh 8y ago

Woah, I didn't know about it till this comment! Never even a mention of it in his autobiography either (which is as delightful a book as his fiction)

kakarot 8y ago
His family didn't want it to be public for a long time in order to avoid the stigma. Eventually, hearts changed, and it was decided it would be a powerful statement to come forth with the details surrounding his death.
- cr0sh 8y ago
  I didn't know about it either until now. A true tragedy.

lostlogin 8y ago

I agree with the positive sentiment, but disagree that AIDS should be forgotten. The bigotry and petty vindictiveness in th 90’s was disgusting and in some quarters it lives on. The earlier days were worse as I understand it, and there is a lesson in it all.

jniedrauer 8y ago
> there is a lesson in it all. There is, but it does not seem that we learned it. Being a simplistic and tribal species seems to be very deep in our nature, sadly.
- antt 8y ago
  These days we have gone too far in the other extreme. My grandfather needing a blood transfusion in 1990 and was seen as a death sentence because of how little of the blood was tested then in Eastern Europe. It ended up that my father and uncle had to take turns donating blood to try and keep him alive. When people talk about taking blood from high risk groups and call me a bigot for being absolutely against it I always remember my father fainting three days before my grandfather died because he had given too much blood.
axaxs 8y ago
The 90s were...an interesting time. I vividly remember two aunts arguing about AIDS research funding vs cancer research funding. "But only the fags get AIDS" vs "Cancer is preventable if you just stop smoking" hopefully give you an idea of the joys of growing up in the midwest.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  I was in primary school in the 90s; I remember having to write a topical essay and present it in front of class. For some reason I chose AIDS, and I still remember that one of my key points was that you don't catch it through air or touch. Apparently it was common for people to be afraid of standing near a person with AIDS, or breathing the same air. That said, "But only the fags get AIDS" vs "Cancer is preventable if you just stop smoking" doesn't seem like a thing of the past - this level of argumentation around AIDS, and about other topics - vaccines, GMOs, artificial sweeteners - is something I hear from most people I meet. I cherish the people in my life capable of deeper thought than that.

C1sc0cat 8y ago

I remember chatting with a friend who worked in the biochemical industry in the early 90's - he commented if you had had a blood transfusion in certain countries in the last 10-15 years " you're dead".

whatyoudontknow 8y ago

It is sad. Even sadder with this news, Europeans will have to find another way to get Africans off of the mineral rich land they want in Africa. Preparing for HIV/AIDS 2.0 or (Ebola + AIDS)^2