Evening,
Visited your web site a few days ago. WOW, nice to get a fresh persective and glad to learn that I have been doing some things right, Thank you.

Thanks for the updated link. I love your site, especially the Spermometer! I will feature your new site via a link ASAP. Keep up the great work.

I just wanted to let you know that I checked out the barebackhealth.net site. Well sir, you have actually managed to make me consider a concept that ten years of a career, seven years of university, and one very stubborn Irish personality had not. That there are other ways to prevent and contain HIV than our current approaches and judgments.

I’ve done more thinking on this in the last couple days than I have in a long time. Up until the last couple days I thought I was right and everyone else was just misinformed. I think that in part speaks to the way that we look at this issue culturally. Three dominate approaches are used most of the time. Thankfully I’ve only expressed the first on a few rare occasions, but that would be the clear hysteria that colors everything around this issue. Second would be the "I’m an evil poz pig" message that is coming out of some elements of the barebacking community, and I agree that is more than likely due to being so tweaked that it sounds "fucking twisted." Which I guess is thought to be a good thing! And lastly, I still think, the most damaging approach, the ultra PC approach of…______nothing. Because it is behavior. All together now "we must never judge gay behavior". But no distinction is made between behind closed doors with consenting adults, or the purposeful infection, or intentional withholding or misrepresenting of status.

And then I read what you had to say. A common sense approach that from a public health perspective, makes very good medicine. It doesn’t solve the problem, however it reflects a reality that needs to be acknowledged if the numbers are going to go anywhere near a downturn. The editorial where you congratulate the barebackers who have made a choice out of respect for other gay men and an acknowledgment of their role in prevention is actually pure public health methodology at work. Community concern being rewarded, the actions being specifically validated. Very impressive Jack.

...The interest that motivated topic choice [of my recent thesis] is looking at things a bit differently, and willing to entertain alternatives other than our current ones in relation to stopping the problem. So I owe you a thank you!

Cheers,
Steve O'Brien, ACNP, MA, MPH, PhD candidate

Your website truly is one of the most responsible sites for men’s health in the gay/bi male community. It gives true harm reduction messages wile remaining sex positive.

Greetings: I am writing content for a new web resource by the Toronto Gay/Bisexual Crystal Meth Task Force. We like barebackhealth.net a lot and commend you for an excellent product. I am writing today to request permission to adapt some of the editorial material from your site for our own. Thank you for the great work you are doing with the site.

• Jack replies: Permission granted. Thank you for asking first!

Thank you for being one of the few people I have encountered to have taken our lifestyle so seriouisly in means of education. Thank you for taking the time to make a difference in so many peoples lives. Anyone who visits your your site and takes the time to really read it and absorb the outstanding knowledge you provode will exit your site with extremely heartfelt infromation. Thank you.

... And while I am in the mood to dole out praise, let me commend you on the work you do to raise the level of consciousness and awareness of Americans re AIDS and sexual practices and attitudes. You are an invaluable resource.

• Jack replies: Thank you, John. I do hope that this site achieves these things on a more global basis as well!

Thanks to your website, I learned [before I was sexually active] what bare back sex was all about. I knew what mistakes not to allow myself to get into once sex became part of my life. I understood before being old enough to bar hop or even visit a bathouse what types of men there were, and what types of practices existed. I knew what to avoid and how to practice others safely. So, in a round about way, I guess I am thanking you.

You may not even read this, but if you do i just want to thank you for having such an intelligent and honest Health Info page. Many barebacking sites out there I feel are preachy about barebacking and dont present any type of health info. Your health page is a good reminder about accepting the risks of your actions, and how to be smart about your activities if your HIV+Poz or -Neg.

Thanks so much, Jack. I really do appreciate your full, informative advice and help. You are doing a great job. Keep up the great website and assistance to people like me.

As someone very interested in barebacking, but not doing it (yet) I really appreciate your articles and info on the subject. Thanks again.