'He thought sex with a virgin would cure him'

It doesn't surprise me at all. As early as the early 1900s educated Europeans thought sex with a virgin was the cure to many STDs. It doesn't surprise me one bit that uneducated countries would have people who think like this.

According to Mike Earl-Taylor of Scienceinafrica.co.za

Nearly 60 children are raped every day in South Africa and while experts agree to disagree as to the causes, or whether the pervasive belief in the so-called "Virgin Cure" prevents/cures HIV/Aids is possibly responsible for this deeply disturbing phenomenon, university researcher, Mike Earl-Taylor suggests it could well be a contributing factor, and a major one at that. Moreover, infant rape appears to be unique to South Africa, however, the Virgin Cure is not.

I got this from an interesting article from the same website which you can read here. A friend of mine went to work in South Africa as a doctor and would probably agree. One thing is for sure, rape is a huge problem there. Very sad story.

That will teach me not to read all the comments in a post. I just reposted what Irma posted in the comments down there... Sorry about that.

I find any article printed in the Guardian, highly suspect, even to the point where I'll automatically consider the facts they print to be erroneous.

Based on what?

The man who raped that girl is wrong.

[sarcasm] Gee, really? You think? What an astute and nuanced observation! [/sarcasm]

-J

Josh, the burden of proof is on the Guardian, not on the reader, so saying why do you assume it's false is wrong. It's like telling someone to prove there isn't a god, or prove the flying spaghetti monster wrong (for all you believers who believe the first one is ok).

Josh, the burden of proof is on the Guardian, not on the reader, so saying why do you assume it's false is wrong. Josh, the burden of proof is on the Guardian, not on the reader, so saying why do you assume it's false is wrong. It's like telling someone to prove there isn't a god, or prove the flying spaghetti monster wrong (for all you believers who believe the first one is ok).

Nonsense. You are confusing "opinion" with "faith."

When someone issues an opinion of blanket discreditation (really a generalization), the burden is on him to justify that discreditation.

Your saying that it is like questioning someone's belief in God is simply silly. Belief in a god is called "faith," which is an un-rational (not irrational) acceptance of something as Truth (with a capital T) despite a lack of tangible or material evidence.

Ugly Bastard offered a statement based on opinion rather than faith. His opinion that he distrusts The Guardian because he thinks it an erroneous source. His is a position that can most certainly be qualified. As he offered no factual basis for that opinion, the burden of proof is on him to back up his position.

-J

I'm much more likely to believe something written in the Garudian (mis-spelling intentional) than, say, other British papers such as the Sun or Mirror.

I can see why Ugly Bastard might distrust the Guardian. It's got a reputation for socialist views (and poor use of spellcheck) and has been known to sometimes offer news with a bit of bias. Not the case here though I'm sure.

I'm actually starting to read it more and more, along with the Independent, Times and Telegraph. These are all great sources of news from different viewpoints.

Exactly Irma - I'm just suggesting that perhaps the Guardian's agenda differs from Mr Bastard's. Plus, they have been known to sensationalise stories on emotive topics, although not as badly as the tabloids.

For instance, I always hold any story printed in the Mail with suspicion seeing as they're the Mary Whitehouse of British news publishing. Likewise the Sun and Mirror - too busy making sensationalist headlines to be checking their facts.

Yeah. That's kinda the point of the article. I sure hope nobody reading this needed those two things pointed out to them.

the user above me needed to state the obvious, i thought it might have been a trend on here or something.

A friend suggested www.charitynavigator.com... damn, if only I had money...

Is there a way to donate knowledge as a web developer?

You could try google the name "Mike Willesee." He is an Australian that I know of over there who is reputable.

Interesting theory. I guess I'm just more cynical. I figured some sadistic b@$^@&) got an STD, and wanted "revenge" on woman-kind, so he dreamt this up and convinced people it was true.

In that case, wolfger, you think he'd take his revenge on, well, sluts.

yes , agree with you Write X , Buffet and Gates will certainly help the needers especially from 3rd world countries .