Respecting me means telling me how to live my life the way you want it.

"While the road to a genuinely healthy lifestyle of abstinence or faithfulness can admittedly be difficult for many, respect for their dignity as human beings, and for their health, demands that we never give up on them," says Dr Lee Hew Mun in today's ST Forum, in advocating the Abstinence+Fidelity message over condom awareness and usage amongst people vulnerable to AIDS.

Is promoting condom usage, especially in societies where men practice rampant promiscuity (whether or not with the approval – grudging or otherwise – of their spouses) really that ineffective in fighting AIDS? Do most gays (or freely fucking heterosexuals) really prefer not fucking at all for the sake of upholding their own dignity (as defined by Dr. Lee and his ilk) than fucking smartly?

It seems the issue isn't really about preventing AIDS or helping people, but turning programmes that could help people make informed choices into moral improvement crusades on behalf of ideals that simply are untenable.